DABE YOU, I DARE YOU
Eventful week in Stringoland. Monday I headed to Seattle, wherein I immediately started a load of laundry, requisitioned an express job from my dry cleaner, and ate a bacon deluxe with cheese at the Red Mill…Posies reunited, as per tradition, at Darius’ house. Next day was all about running around, mailing this and putting tabs on my car and basically unpacking so I can pack again. And listening to blistering slabs of rock from Slipknot et al. Wed. we Posies rehearsed for several hours and also met our video team, director Steven Orritt, DP Aaron, stylist Michelle Crane (who happens to be married to the nice bloke who owns the studio we work in!).
So, Thursday, we turned up to the former Ranier Brewery, now the HQ for Tully’s coffee…a big yellow wall with a big parking lot; in other words--perfect for our uses. Many friends showed up for cameos, incl. John Roderick (Long Whiners) and Matt from the Capillaries’ pit bull! We had a top-notch crew and perfect, cloudless weather. The only bit of footage I saw was of the four of us performing on our levitating platform (that’s all I can tell you) in front of the, er, smokestack…surreal-ly blue sky…dressed up right (a la the Muppet Show, but not dressed as Muppets).
Friday I was on a plane to London… as I was checking email sitting in some lonely corner of JFK airport (could be anywhere, right?) at about midnight, pallets of Harry Potter books started to roll into the bookshops, in anticipation of the release of the latest in the series, which was Saturday…in fact, my flight from NY to London shuttled the winners of an essay contest wherein Harry Potter fans wrote about why they like to read the books. For the record, I’ve never read one…anyway, as a further extension of the promotion hoopla, each passenger was given a copy of the weighty tome, probably decreasing the 777’s fuel economy significantly. I passed it onto Dom when I got to Paris the other day. I sat next to young Richard, from Vancouver WA, maybe around 13 years old, whose brother was one of the contest winners. He seemed incredulous that I hadn’t read any of the books, and assured me that J.K. Rowling was a ‘very good writer’. He was a real nice kid and very polite. I wished him a good first trip overseas…I woke up basically when we landed-- and headed to the Milestone Hotel, freshened up, and headed down to Hyde Park. 83,000 folks, folks. Being the end of 2 years of touring, my 7th year playing with them, it was a highly emotional night. In fact, I think it was for all, and it almost impeded the progress of performing the music…almost…we pulled it off, let history be the judge, but I sense we made it happen. After the show, I happily sauntered off into the night with friends, and finished off a bottle of champagne (no, actually, three!!). I remember something about karaoke (‘Still’, by the Commodores) and then I remember having to quickly pack and part the Milestone Hotel at 8 on Sunday morning…drove to Paris with Matt D., breaking in the Posies van…got there in time for afternoon tea, and was very happy to be reunited with the girls. Dinner that night with band, crew (of two: Joe Norcio, Posies employee since 1993 and Matt Downey, fresh recruit), Marc B. the manager of We, and Dom & Aden Stringfellow. It was superb to have everyone in my hometown, in my neighborhood no less, but by the end of dinner I was face down in the tartare,
On now, the Posies show by show by blow by blow
PARIS 7/18
I was able to enjoy a couple of hours at home this morning, got cleaned up, dressed up (in other words the same clothes I wore for 3 REM shows, 3 travel days, a day off in London, and the Posies video—although I did get a new tie from Dom upon arrival to Paris!)…had croissants and tea with the girls…played with my beautiful daughter…and then hopped a cab down to a café by the venue to meet band, label, and press. We had photos taken (against a brick wall in an alley—ouch!) and did many interviews. The girls came for lunch, and I trailed Aden like a secret service agent as she pursued pigeons on the sidewalk. More interviews, sound check. Dinner at the venue. On the bill that night were a local band called Coco, and Cheap Star, for whom I produced and engineered 5 tracks last summer. They are doing another 5 with Jon and will have a co-produced album thusly at some point. In any case, both acts did an admirable job, many folks showed up (some musician friends, Robb Benson, Xavier from Tahiti 80)…I don’t think anyone including ourselves were prepared for what a punk little band we have become. Things threatened to start out with a serious whimper when my gear didn’t work at the top of the set—so I just plugged into my amp and blew doors—we are playing new amps that Fender hooked us up with to try out, and they are massive sounding (thank you Neil). I require a great deal of heft in my sound, and these were not shy. The distortion channel sounds very raw and not too spongy. Channel switching, very good idea! After the show, people were sweaty (none more so than I, my shirt literally looked like it had been immersed in a sink) and all were happy.
NYON 7/19
My daughter saved my ass! On the one day I needed to get up with the most urgency, my phone failed me. I was supposed to meet the band at their hotel at 7.45, however I didn’t wake up, and Aden cried at 8…always looking out for papa. Unfortunately, that meant that I got no quality time with her, as I had to rush out the door and grab a cab to meet the band, who were sitting in the van near the hotel. With some effort and excellent navigating by YT, we drove across France to Nyon, Switzerland, site of the Paleo Festival. REM headlined one of the nights of this festival 2 years ago, which is how I came to know it—but it’s been on for 30 years now—it started as the Nyon Folk Festival—the first year featured French trad folkies Malicorne—I am prob. the only person reading this outside of France and PQ that owns one of their rec’s….anyway, cleaned ourselves up and did some press, and radio talkin’. Got to watch about 40 minutes of Ravi Shankar’s set, with his daughter also on sitar, two tamboura players and a brilliant tabla player…something so purely uplifting, and dare I say, transcendent, I felt smarter just sitting in front of it…but my heart was also elevated. Anyway, at 11.30 that night we put our gear onstage in the club tent. About 15 people milling around inside, most folks had gone to the mainstage area to soak up some Lenny Kravitz. Oh well. But, when we finally hit the stage at 12.30, we pulled people on their way out of LK etc., and managed to have a great crowd and a very devastating rock show—gear bouncing around on the wobbly stage, blood sweat and torn buttons. We’re off to a good start.
DUBLIN 7/21
We had a brutal drive after the set in the direction of Dublin. Out of Switzerland in the pitch dark, morning scooting across the French countryside, finally making the 2pm Chunnel. Tunnel Sous La Manche! Set the clocks back and its 1.30 when we hit England…stop for lunch and drive and drive and drive…finally reaching the north west corner of Wales at about 10.30 at night. Had a pub dinner on the set of Straw Dogs and then after some controversy, boarded the ferry for Dublin at 2.30 in the morning. Got in just shy of 6 and found our way to A.M. O’Grady’s house…yes, THE A.M.O’Grady that’s supporting us on our Irish tour dates. After some sleep/email checking, we hauled our gear up 3+ flights of stairs to record a live session on Today FM, some of which has been broadcast already but will also be played this coming week. Then over to Whelan’s, site of the Posies’ Irish debut in 1996; a Posies acoustic show in 2001; and a fantastic KS show in 2002. Ever dependable Whelan’s was no let down as we whipped up another great crowd. Thanks to the Jackson sisters for merch sales! It definitely goes up a notch when you have beautiful, identical, brilliant women from the Cayman Is. hawking your wares.
CORK 7/22
The completely professional and accommodating Cruiscin Lan had us in for a gig, the Friday night Corkonut Banger’s Ball—It’s a Rap. (a little inside joke for ya there). An incredible amount of FOTB devotees were on hand—I’ve never signed so many copies of our 1993 oeuvre in one place. Gotta love that. The rock & roll brutality continues…one guy was really getting worked into a frenzy by the Posies oldies. Out at a nice bar afterwards with new friends, ‘Definite Door’ was played by the DJ and whiskey was fused with cola. Despite the mixing of shots and alcohol…well, let’s just say in two days we’ve all been fine, but one wedge of brie was molested, and Matt broke his noggin on AM O’grady’s wall, and lost a fight with both the window in our hotel room last night and his dinner shortly thereafter. Can’t wait to see what Saturday night in Limerick brings!!
Love
KS
Limerick, IRELAND
