Check out the new pictures in the photos section, tons of shots from the recent Disciplines shows and more.
LONDON, 6/4
We were rested and ready for this night’s show. We’d had a drink with my friend Rangi the night before, and since England shuts down at about 8pm on a Sunday we were not into any mischief. Monday’s big projects were to buy a travel iron, which I managed to do quite brilliantly, and mail a CD to Calexico’s management (for something KS related). Finally at about 4 we grabbed a taxi and headed to Brick Lane. We spotted Josh Weller, the organizer of the night, walking into a club and told the cab to halt. Naturally, we were on time and the club was locked up tight. It eventually opened up and then there was a short wait for the various bands to bring their gear and at last we could soundcheck. 93 Feet East is a slightly grittier club than the Borderline, but that’s to its credit, I think. It’s one of your slippery metallic stages, kind of concrete box of a room—you know, rock club. 93FE wins the award for the most thoroughly graffiti’d dressing room ever. I had to really search hard to leave some razzing for the Duloks who just played there right after us.
We had a band dinner at Bengal, which everyone told us was the best of the 100s of Bangladeshi restaurants that line Brick Lane. It was one of the only ones that * didn’t * have touts outside hassling potential customers (god, did we feel like easily marked tourists) so that was a good sign. Yep, it was killer. We spent a little time in a hipster coffee house, a very Seattle-style place whose name escapes me. I read a newspaper backstage. The other bands started to play. I sort of couldn’t pay attention, just trying to stay focused. The MC for the evening was a very friendly Welsh dude who basically kept telling the crowd they were rubbish before every act (he was right of course). He got an A for effort and D for calling us the ‘Disciples’ 20 seconds after I reminded him it was the Disciplines (and it was on a video screen in front of him, he might actually get an F for that). But we tore into it, true to my word I tried a slightly more confrontational style, but also gave as much ‘fuck ya’ll” attitude as I could. I think it worked, and I think we played even better than we did at the first London show. The audience were typical cold fish of London, but they had a nice bar in the other room to hang out in, so, they stayed, which is saying a lot…some people even danced a bit, which is huge, it’s like getting the Buckingham Palace guards to breakdance. So, after the show, I was pretty happy. We had lots of friends back there to say hello, in that awful room it felt like a real aftershow.
Claus and Baard left early in the morning, so Bjorn and I parked ourselves at a series of cafes, eventually I headed to the train station and before I knew it I was in a crowded club in my neighborhood, which I never knew existed, called L’Opa, watching my friends Kite and Fly perform. The next night I went to see the Who, courtesy of my friend Rangi, who is on their crew. Dom and I got to watch from the soundboard. You know, the Who really got me going on the high-energy rock thing, the jumping, the thrashing, the going for broke every night style that I incorporated into the Posies, for example. I surely wanted to be Pete Townshend when I was 13. And the band, now down to two surviving members, continued to impress. Pete still sounds like Pete, Roger still sings like Roger. Their set list hits all the high marks, the new songs are good; I had a great time, I’ve seen the Who 4 times now in 3 different decades, I’m just glad they’re still doing it. Me, I have a slightly different philosophy than the band –I hope I * live * before I get old. I had the pleasure of meeting Roger, and Simon Townshend, after the show, both of whom were very friendly and extremely healthy looking! Roger gave me some warm up tips, and we chatted about songwriting for a couple of minutes. Good stuff! Of course it’s hard to be cool when you meet someone that has been a part of your musical life for so long, but Dom said I did pretty well. I had fun, anyway, and I know I didn’t do anything completely stupid despite the fact I was a bit intimidated!
The next day I slept in, and unfortunately so did everyone else, we got some dirty looks from the crèche bringing Aden in on the late side. I can’t imagine what kind of life they think we live—well, I can, I think it’s pretty much like the one we do; we travel a lot, we don’t go to 9 to 5 jobs and no week is like the other, and our little girl is not like the others. She is bright and funny; unfortunately she doesn’t always respect authority (she respects us, but not always the people at the crèche). We’re working on it. But hey, she’s certainly not a drone. You can’t mistake her, or miss her in a room.
That night it was Kite and Fly’s birthday, they are twins, I’ve known them for years, and I had the pleasure of meeting their mom and sister, who live up in Queensland (it was, coincidentally, my friend from the Who’s crew Rangi’s birthday, and he * also * lives way up in Queensland). We went to a great little wine bar called Wini Jun’s for a birthday drink, and then had dinner together. Yep, this week has been a good one for the babysitters…
On Friday I played 3 hours of tennis with my friend Remi, he’s getting married this week and going on a long honeymoon so this was our last chance to play for a month or so, in all likelihood we overdid it but it was great fun. I could barely walk up the stairs when I got home at about 10.30 that night.
Yesterday I spent a brilliant morning with the girls, at the market, at the park etc. and then flew to Barcelona. I attended the seminar that I will be teaching today, yesterday’s was taught by Spanish engineer Paco Loco, and then had dinner at the always mind blowing Arola restaurant (at which I will be playing next month!). Hit a coupla bars, the usual Barcelona thing! Anyway, I’m at my hotel now, and probably will post this tomorrow, with a description of the class and show, as there’s no internet here at the hotel. Boo hoo. The Roland Garros men’s singles final starts at 3, that’s a bummer, as I have to leave for the class at 3.30! It’s like that, eh?
OK, time for siesta…one doesn’t get to do that too often…it’s like 90 degrees outside and thus I am inclined to take it easy…if only I had my rackets and a partner here in BCN tho’!
Love
KS
Esplugues de Llobregat, SPAIN
