WATCH ‘AN TOUR’ WITH THE POSIES, Dec. 27 AT 9PM ON TMF, BELGIAN MUSIC TV
OLSO 12/21
At the last minute, I was informed that I would be the support act for Jim Protector, rather than the closer—this made more sense, as it let the dynamics build, and I was only going to play half an hour, anyway, and I got paid the same either way! So I was happy with the arrangement. A few people, assuming I was headlining, arrived too late tho…sorry folks! The Mono Café is a pretty small place, but it’s a great hangout. Right as you come in the front door, the stage is jammed into a corner on your left; you go straight thru an archway and you’re in a chamber that has the bar running the length of one side; you go straight thru another archway and you’re in a room with tables and chairs, with the short side of the bar still accessible; turn left and you’re in a tiny courtyard in the center of the building—this is the smoking area, and where most people hang out these days. So until the place gets really jammed, it’s pretty easy to find a seat it you don’t smoke! As most people are by the bar, stage, or outside.
Tho it was early by Mono standards when I went on at 10.15, the place was very busy, and word had gotten around enough that I was playing that there was a very decent crowd (paying about 12 euros, no less) filling up the front room and the bar area and the smoking zone completely. In fact, it was a buoyant enough evening that I thought it was a Friday night—and in fact, it was Thursday. I even mentioned during the show what a great audience they were, that usually a Friday crowd is harder to play to solo as they’re more into partying than listening. But whatever day of the week, this crowd was incredibly respectful and quiet, and appreciative—Oslo always seems to give me respect, for which I am very grateful. I played for about half an hour, and with the month of December at hand (in fact, it was the first day of winter, the shortest day of the year) I was able to pull out “Christmas” by Florence Dore, as covered by the Posies some years ago (and Boston pop genii Fuzzy before that).
Up next were Jim Protector, whose album I played on when I was in their hometown of Trondheim, last year with the Posies, and subsequently ended up mixing in two parts this year, in Oslo and Seattle. They have a unique blend of noise, disco, emo, and…lots of stuff. Ambitious, totally unique…the record is very cool (and no one has yet come forward to release it…check out some songs on their myspace site, accessible in my Top Friends). I joined them at the end of their set for two songs, on Casio and backing vocals. Both songs entailed very long jams, which were wobbling on the edge of collapse but never actually veered off the course completely. Good stuff! And they even slipped me some extra NOK at the end of the night. Gents!
The rest of the week had been spent in rehearsal with the Disciplines—plus a little shopping (for Christmas and for some new shoes), a radio interview on Norway’s biggest station, and meetings of a business nature—music and otherwise. We worked up 4 new songs and got our live set together for our debut next week (tickets are selling fast), at Trudvang Castle in Larvik on the 26th.
On Saturday morning I had to leave Claus’ house at about 9, he being kind enough to take me to the train station (Oslo airport is very far from the city center and costs almost 100 Euros to get to by cab—the train leaves from the heart of downtown and costs less than 20 euros—and it takes about 20 minutes; the car takes 45). At 9am it’s just sunrise at that time of year in Norway, and the sky was ablaze in liquid gold and fanciful pink. My flight to CDG was packed, and I slept in my window seat just to avoid claustrophobia (does that word have origins in being afraid of being stuck in the chimney?).
I had a great reunion with my family, and that’s what this time of year offers, at its best—the pause in work to facilitate traveling back to where you come from or wherever the people you don’t get to see often might be*. So, on that note, I hope you who are reading this, no matter what your culture or religion (you know my feelings on the subject), are able to take a pause in the struggle to thrive and survive, and to take stock and inventory of those things that are truly of value—friends, family and the opportunity to be a part of this world; and if you are prevented from doing the above...I hope you are either wise or forgiving.
*I don't think being generous to those in need should be a once-a-year special event, hence the omission from the list of the season's qualities
Love
KS
Paris
