Damo

Damo Suzuki with Monstre: Morgan Landuré (Ellectric Guitar, Stones, Noises), Arnaud Le Gouëfflec (Bass, Moog), Fabrice Louisin (Drums, Percussions) and Lionel Mauguen (Electric Guitar, Special Effects)

Missed the first train, so not possible to get Eurostar train from Paddington to Paris. Cannot remember what happened yesterday. I was too drunk, must went Hotel like Zombie even it’s just next door to the venue. Brain watch took a bit late to wake me up….Oh shit!!! I missed the train. But, anyhow, anyway I have to reach today’s destination Brest, Bretagne I had to buy new ticket which was almost 3 times more than normal as I wanted be in Paris quick as possible if it’s possible I get connecting train to Brest. But, all are not happen. I arrived quite boring travel under the Dover Channel. They asked me to pay for new ticket…but, there are even less than half full. It’s business, man. New ticket from London to Brest was quite OK, they asked me for penalty and difference to pay…so, this was also much but, not too much like heartless Eurostar. A zombie through London, through Paris..around two hours later find myself in the train. All these trip I took a bit more than 8 hours in train…..for waiting train and Gare du Nord to Montparnasse including….around more than two hours…no half day!!!!!! Bretagne is nice place, beautiful landscapes with atmosphere, even I was tired….really really tired I didn’t close my eyes, feeling I’ll miss something…It’s travellers feeling. TGV which waiting for me at Montparnasse were so long train…must have 18 wagons or maybe a bit more. The train was separated in two front wagons are going to Breast as final destination. Following wagons are Stop at Rennes. It’s comfortable train with comfortable seat. Comparing with German or British rail, it’s not that much expensive. Britain and Germany has sometimes really shameless price. A couple of days before I took train from London to Leicester which takes anything about 1 and half hours…have to pay around 70 GBP without not that much comfort and modern like TGV. 2 hours delay for Damo’s arrival…..still they showed up at station. First went to small friendly Hotel, which has wireless access. Then to the venue short sound check…just me few second…sound was already good. Sometime timing to take food is problem. I cannot eat that much before three hours start performance. This was really good I have around three hours, I promised my self don’t drink any alcohol today. But, this rural was just for fantasist. If you’re in France…you don’t miss wine. So, one wine is two, twos are three…….. People say French people don’t speak English…. but, this time it was not true…all sound carriers and their friend spoke with me English and we understand. Support acts are one Japanese named Makoto Sato ho lives in France for 30 years, I was Jealousy about his eloquent French. He looks so satisfied with his life and keeping smile on his face. He usually performs as trio, unfortunately one of their members is sick, so they have to do with two instead three. But, it was really enough sound even just two of them are making. Our performance went well…. like most of times.
Review :

Visual:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABMsTugkVn0 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yNtOBNya_Fw

Damo Suzuki with Mark Andrews (Drums), Mick Bund (Bass Guitar), Oliver Denyer (Percussion), Jon Male (Guitar), Ann Shenton (Moog) and Rob Weston (Machines, Effects)

Yesterday, I spend a break day in London, so it’s easy travel today. Also it was good to have rest as today and tomorrow’s performance are very far. I’ve to wake up early in the morning to catch first train to London, then Eurostar to Paris, then to Brest, Bretagne. First time I visited this small famous town near London called Windsor. I don’t have to have to explain about this city. I’ve never interest in monarchy. Or should I say, why people need this? I say, this is just peaceful small city, my taste, very similar to Oxford. This day brought spring.

Beginning of this tour weather wasn’t that good, much like England cold and wet everywhere I had to cover myself in warm clothes. Change the train at Slough, from train saw Windsor castle few minutes later, so this train is special train to Windsor. Many schoolboys and girls in group not only British, there were French schoolboys and girls. Here is really touristy place. It’s not difficult to find it if you get out train. Many restaurant, souvenir shops tight together around the station. Sam, the young booker at Fire station Arts Center picked up me while I was begin to shop after waiting for him bathing sun on the bench. Only few blocks away you can find the venue, which is former fire station. The building must be from end of 19th century or beginning of 20th century when Britain had much power and rule the world. There were young skinny charming girl working at the art center, she likes sound check. Every time band plays here she don’t miss sound check.

Weather was good as I and some sound carriers sat outside the venue drinking beer, I drink glasses of white wine. waiting for performance. Yes, finally spring came. This „Drinking was really mad to me later on…I tell you. Opposite street stands fake Japanese restaurant, I’ve checked already for dinner tonight. Bad thing happens when I drink too much. Already at terrace of the venue I had some glasses of white wine. The wrong thing I choose……Syouchyu=Japanese rice snaps. From this moment to next morning I was kind of „blackout…cannot remember anything. Under such a nice spring weather with beautiful light, taste of drinks were really amusable one became two became four so far…Even I cannot remember performance we did. Even I don’t know if I’ve got performance fee. Also I lost sunglasses and digital pocket camera. (Few days later some people mailed me the performance was good, then I felt better myself.)

Damo Suzuki with Den Elliott (Bass), Ben Goldstone /aka George Lazenbleep (Home Made Noise Generating Machine), Tom Harrison (Electonic, Samples), Alex Johnson (Synth, Guitar), Nik Rawlings (Vocal, Guitar, Trumpet), Philip Robinson (Saxophone, Banjo, Pocket Theramin), Julian Lee Seagar (Drums, Percussion), Henry Tomkins (Drums) and Jon Tye (Moog Synth)
http://www.exeterphoenix.org.uk/

Leeds to Exeter train took around 6 hours, long but, comfortable without any change…just direct. Sound carriers come one after another to the venue, which is not like last time. It’s at the 2nd floor parallel there is festival, auditorium is used for an another concerts as I heard of electronic music festival.

Around 12 sound carriers showed up from this area of South England, a young sound carrier guitarist from London joined as he meant he enjoyed that show in Bordens last year, so he came here to play again. Also the guy from Tucson, Texas joined, he is just in holiday with his wife and they’re 14 hours on the way, just they arrived today to UK. They will stay South England for a couple of weeks. Patrick the promoter of this show was quite worried about amount of sound carriers he got and he was asking to me by mail. How he will make it….I just said if you’re worry about it then apart in two parties, one with sound carriers who has birthday in January – June period and an another group with July to December.

Once in while I performed a show (I guess in Australia) after sound check all sound carriers sat together and usual communication after we found everybody of us Capricorn.
Recordings of the gig:

Damo Suzuki with Stu Bannister (Bass), Richard Formby (Guitar), David Lazonby (Saxophone), James Mabbett (Guitar), Richard Morris (Keyboards, Drums) and Neil Turpin (Drums)
http://www.brudenellsocialclub.co.uk/

Back again since one and half year of absence. When I saw Paul pick me up from rail station even I didn’t have feeling that we didn’t see us for such long. Paul is organizer of Network performance for 2nd time. Took bus to his place where is quite closer to the venue. Rest for a while, E-mail check is one of regularly solution I do on tour. Nice news is that he said he sold already good amounts of tickets.

The Brundenell Social Club is one of nicest venue in UK with inner flair of 40’s, 50’s. If you stand in audience sight is wide. When I arrived there, sound carriers were already set up their equipment, ready to sound check. Leeds show is mostly special, they have two supports bands after their performance they join Network performance. Also quite often they have good acts as supports. It had been never changed this style from Jonny to Paul, two different bookers. Jonny is busy with university stuff to organize and no more making booking for bands, so Paul is doing this since last time for me with his friend Chris who will become father for first time in April. I tell you, there are many babies on the way. One of factor I’m intensive on this solution is hat I myself will have a baby….no, not my own. I will be grandfather for first time and I’m very exciting, also I’m very happy that my family tree is growing a bit. …Am I conservative? When you’re instant composer like me, you’re intensive in living, living with traveling, new friends here and there, then meet new sound carriers and create time and space of the moment. After some people come to me and speak how they enjoyed the show, shaking hands, kiss on cheek, hug……So, every time is „Living, and „Living is positive and „Light. So, I’m extremely happy to be grandpa. At same time, I just wonder where all times are gone. Now, my 2nd son become father….

Paul cooked veg lasagna for sound carriers, he said he is cooking often…..it’s good thing if you like to live healthy. Homemade food has its own energy and never based on commerce. Home made foods are one of results of life style and philosophy…. responsibility for own life. Leeds sound carriers are once or more times performed with me already. Niles, Dave…..

After the show I met Kim, Dave’s wife telling me how they enjoyed Canada at their friend place. By the way, Paul will move to Canada for a year, he said. Many new faces in audience. Result was again very good night. Next day, I cooked for Paul and his wife later saw cinema Che Guevara’s story, which wasn’t not my taste. After we went gig of Fuckin Tank, they once performed with me and this night.