Damo

Damo Suzuki with the Wood Burning Savages http://regionalculturalcentre.com

There is young tree piece band from Belfast, they offered me pick me up in Letterkenny bring me to the venue in Belfast. I’ve little contact with this band Electric Octopus https://www.facebook.com/electricoctopusofficial/

They came exactly in time at noon. Good thing in this drive was they don’t hear any music, after while I said to them if they have recording of them. Surely they had, listen to them. They improvise and every piece is long, is it sound something like?….just like Network. Just they’re permanent member, guitar, bass and drums. They’re psychedelic instrumental band. They mailed me if we can play together, unfortunately this time also not happen, so then we spend together in car drive for around three ours, as they took country road that is quite like puzzle. I don’t know if they’re not good in geography of this area. Black Box is the venue I performed few times, nice place.

After sound check I hang around in front of the venue, weather is so good. Many people are on the street, ladies dressed in thin textile, everybody is happy. What happened? Is it payday today? Maybe just from so fine weather. Every corner of the city, any people, all in good moods. As usual, some of sound carriers already performed with me.

…..I never had been at the airport you have to pay for drop-off. This is Edinburgh airport, it’s incredible, I really don’t know any airport charge for this. Anyway E-da brought me to check-in. Then our way is separated, I again a man in plane, travel to next spot, local promoters are promised during tour in Ireland thy treat me well as I travel with attending person due to my long illness in case something goes wrong. having 2 breaks and E-da back to his home Brighton, he may stop at Leeds, it’s really long way back. I took propeller flight (? Any way it was small machine, my memory is not clear.) for around 35 minutes, arrived in Belfast. I wasn’t expected that short flight. Picked up by Jeremy, he invited me to stay extra days before and the after the show one day in Letterkenny. Wonderful offer, I like country side. It may really good for me to have enough time, rest myself in Green island. Co. Donegal is interesting spot as I’m interesting in Celtic culture. Northern Spain, Bretagne and Normandy, they have something to do with Celtic folk. Landscape is similar, rocky beach shore, many rainy days, rather cool weather, hospitality people and not these areas are not that much into tourism. Also, oyster?

Jeremy drove me to his village, he told me he moved out of Letterkenny and now living more countryside. One day we’re invited by a portrait painter who is also taking care of beautiful Glebe House and Gallery. Also attended by Bjorn, a German architect friend lives this area for many years. It’s so nice space with much of nature, peaceful place, he has two children, for children amazing place, woods, and lake nature play garden. 

Damo Suzuki with Wozniak : James (Bass), John (Drums), Sarah (Guitar, Vocals), Simon (Guitar) and E-da (Percussion)
http://themashhouse.co.uk

Edinburgh is dark city, something mystery from all these gothic building and castle, even I feel fear it’s scary from illumination spot on church and old dark buildings late the night. First cloned cow came out here? We have hotel tonight and tomorrow (a break) middle of the city, in front of park, near to National Gallery and Museum. Big size room face to main street, where bagpipe player play some of popular scottish folk music tunes that everybody know again and again for tourist from all over the world. Typical symbol of Scotland you can imagine. Edinburgh is no doubt 2nd touristy city in Great Britain after London, double-decker tourist bus and busy street. Visitors from everywhere.

The venue placed at middle of busy old town. Stair steps up. When we arrive already sound carriers are there busy sound checking. I felt visitors here are restrain or shy when I was at merchandising table. Maybe they don’t know how looks Damo Suzuki and don’t realize he is selling merchandising. Sometimes this happens, I talk with them and ask me my name. It’s won’t bother me at all. Just it’s so fun and funny.

Next day I had break, grey sky and pouring rain, we stayed comfortable, in the afternoon just went for cafe. A lazy day. So now time to say good by to you and also to E-da, thanks for supporting me and it was nice to tour with him, I’m sure he enjoyed as well as he joined most concert as sound carrier. Next day, I took flight to Ireland, next E-report I’ll report you from green island.

Review of the show :
https://www.productmagazine.co.uk/music/live-review-8/

Damo Suzuki with Rob Alexander (Drums), Suzy Rodden (Synth), Iain-Findlay-Walsh (Guitar, Bass), Simone (Guitar, Bass) and E-da (Percussion)
https://www.stereocafebar.com

Last time I performed in Glasgow was while ago, tour with my sound carrier friend Japanese trio Mandog and two other Japanese sound carriers, among them Mo-chan from Bo Ningen on drums also same venue like today. I guess I performed in this venue twice already, if my memory is right. Good size for my kind of music. It’s quite functional venue, live music space down stairs, upstairs with busy pub/restaurant. Sometimes, Network performance is joined by booker/promoter of the show, today’s show is in this case. Iain is young smart guy who arranged this show and played guitar. Opening band is from Aberdeen, some of them performed with me many years ago (as I haven’t perform in Aberdeen many years.) and know the same guy who arrange shows in Aberdeen. For me Glasgow has kind of charm that difficult to explain, the city has something other cities don’t have. Girls dressing different.

After sound check all sound carriers of the night come together had dinner together upstairs, talk and enjoy food. As usually I didn’t talk about music, just much more of my philosophy. As usual set up merchandising table short before door open beside Iain’s girl friend selling/control entrance. At many places some visitors are wondering I’m selling merchandising. I’m one man company, I’m flexible to do many things concerned to my show. I like this kind of moment before the performance, contact with audience already before the show a bit. Music is communication, this part is already part of my “live” performance. I’m not kind of artist stay at green room, perform and back to hotel. I like to have communication with people anyhow. Music is communication, my show start already at this point. Like to research people, interesting to know their mentality, character, whatever, I’ve interest in people also it’s study….character study. On travel I studying people, no, no I’m not intend to write book or so. People is very interesting everywhere. It’s part of instant composing, as I said communication is one of basic to create this kind of music as I don’t think I’m making music, my attitude is create platform where people is middle in it. So, before the show already people like to shoot selfies with me or they ask me for autograph, for me no problem, it’s part of my dairy work, don’t bother me at all.

Like you find my E-report, I won’t write down that much of concert its self. You may ask some sound carriers, I won’t talk about music before/after the show at all. Every visitor has their own opinion about result of fresh music of today. It’s not possible to compare one concert to other. Every time different, local to local different as sound carriers are different. That’s great thing, I have opportunity to involved in things like this. I get never bored, everyday is challenge, everyday build up new situation. As good chief use local fresh product, I mean I create time and space of the moment with ever changing local sound carriers. Some musician paint, take photos, musician in his way enjoying waiting time that is a lot. “Waiting” is most substance part of musicians life, anyway for me, begin with waiting for transfer, waiting for sound check, waiting for concert….. This “Waiting” time to use productive is my　tendency. Glasgow to Edinburgh distance is not much, just an hour to drive. Even such short distance both cities are different, one is industrial city, another one is touristy and may be elegant. Quite similar example to Liverpool and Manchester, Cologne to Düsseldorf.

Damo Suzuki with Daniel Broomhall (Organ, Electronica, the sound of UFO’s landing on summer grass in 2099), Charlotte Cartwright (Keyboard), Brian Christinzio (Keyboard), Aziz Ibrahim (Guitar), Lois MacDonald (Guitar, Keyboards), MONKEY (Drums), Robbie Rush (Guitar), Ben Ryles (Bass) and E-da (Percussion)

Flash back from 80’s Punk period.

The venue like this was common at that time. Using ruin like old factory as the venue. Sound check start delay pretty long, some of sound carriers didn’t appear at this time. This comes quite often, some works and some come from another district, so I just stay patience, drink beer bite potato chips. Generally I keep fester time of appointment, if I’m too early, I would do something else, if I’m good motivated I would use my ipad, write down some idea, story…there’s always anything to do. It’s just depend on motivation and daily condition. If this space is a bit warmer, I feel better. Anyway what I wanted to tell is I go any appointment much earlier, some time you may have experience special thing, the time and space is just enough, if this situation is in the city, you may window shopping or just walk around, find second hand book shop and you can do something that you don’t do normal daily life. If I see an attracting figure in show window, I may get one. Mainly this kind of time, I may buy thing which is not necessary to have, and this decorate my small space, I may remember where I was if I see them. Yes, souvenir for myself. I’ve interest in figures, they’re placed proudly on my glass rack.

Sound at sound check at the performance were totally different, empty broken empty unattractive space changes, make up to attractive space when audience is filled up. It’s like small festival with 4 opening/supporting bands. That mean I have to be there earliest and leave there latest. One of the band was young German band on tour. Hotel was quite near, but what an I do in Hotel, just hanging around here, people are getting organized and arranging the venue. The space is totally filled up, also outside on the street is good amount of people enjoying even uncomfortable weather bit wet and cold, anyhow. I know, English people are tough. As usually I communicate with people after the show, I tell you, especially two young ladies were cute. They’re 22 and 23 years old, invite me when I stand at merchandising, after my performance, one of them asked me if I like to smoke with them. This kind of invitation I never deny, also if you’re travelling talk with locals is one of nicest thing. I follow them outside like if I’m their dog. Still good amount of people outside, don’t go to home, sleepless people, after while, came to talk how young is audience here. „I’m sure I’m oldest one here“ I said. Prompt one of them said „Maybe you’re oldest one, but coolest one.“ This made me a day, you know so I have to write down here, it may better with fat spell. Michelle came here with her friend film maker Tracey, shoot her film here as well, also she made interview with E-da. She said interview with E-da was good.

Review of the show :
https://bagthing.co.uk/2017/05/review-damo-suzuki-the-white-hotel-19-05-17/