Damo

Damo Suzuki with Eat This: Evan Flux (Bass & Vocals), Holle Forster (Drums) and Yuki (guitar)

Yesterday, directly after landing at airport, Evan and I went to interview at Triple R radio station picked up by Evan’s attractive girlfriend, has old timer car from around 50’s. I guess I had been here once a couple of years ago. Last show in Australia for a while.

Next year at this period I would like to go to West Africa. Have been there for a couple of times. Dry and Hot, places are best against gout. And I was feeling good there. Sound check at 3:30PM, as last act have to be there as first to sound check. Everything is easy, sound check has been delay. Good weather for a glass of beer, which I had to avoid. I don’t like to get worse with gout as I fly back to Germany the day after tomorrow.

Tonight is a kind of festival, before our performance I’ve enough time to hanging around. The venue is in Brunswick, a little far from city center. Art center kind of venue. Oh, how long I was there. From load-in time, everything changes very slowly. It’s doesn’t matter sit on bank bathing sun, weather is perfect summer day with bit breeze. Melbourne changes the weather quite quickly. Sometime in the night you need sweater even in summer time. But, today seems to be perfect summer.

Audience came slowly, around midnight a lots amount of people at every part of the venue. Quite enough amounts of people came to this one-day festival.

Damo Suzuki with Scot Cotterell (Electronics), Leigh Hobba (Sax, Clarinet) Tim Panaretos (Electric Bazouki), Lisa Rime (Bass), Julian Teakle (Guitar), Matt Warren (Drums)

I arrived Hobart already two days before the performing day. My friend taxi driver Tony wanted to show his island has been sending me some information by mail. Tasmania…. cleanest air and water in this planet. As I heard there is plan to transport this water to Victoria by pipeline.

Sound carrier and organizer of Hobart show Matt and his wife Sally picked me up from airport as usual. Wait!!!, this time is a bit different. Matt is now philosophy professor. (I know him around 10 years, but, I didn’t know he was studying Philosophy) Congratulations! He’s a visual artist as I know him and also as a drummer. Now professor of philosophy! This time here is much warmer than three times I visited before. It’s just like the summer I know.

Next day I had appointment with Tony at café just on the corner from Matt and Sally’s. Tony is a biker, he loves Tasmania, and last year he brought me to Mount Wellington, Airwalks and some other places. He has new plan this time, I will see. More into Tasmania, he was meaning in his mail. Back in nature program final destination Strathgordon. If I had more time, he could arrange three days trip with canoe and some other adventure. Weather is quite good for driving …Will be just good trip. A Silent island. At the end of the world. Through some tiny village, We stop at Upper Florentine Valley where around 30 nature-love-people are staying there protecting against road fortifications which kills hundreds of old heritage trees and it’s Mammoth-Dinosaurs-living -like fantastic ambient.

Some of members are set themselves on part of tall trees protecting Road fortifications cut trees, built some brocades. Sometimes people from the city come and join them. I spoke with friendly young guy with rasta hair from Kent, UK. He is an activist. He showed us the area, which was really fantastic path into like-non-human-area of this planet. Amazing place. There were positive energy and I got such an amazing feeling, exactly.. This ambient and people here gave me energy. There are such people who really love nature and want keep this planet how it is for next generation to next generation, In fact nature exist far long years than we exists. We came here as stranger. We have no right to destroy even bit of them.

Then back to the roads again. Through forest, small river, you are middle of nature. I understand now Tony wanted go with bike (He has special machine, made in Italy) and he was happy to lend me one of his other machines. I’m not a rider, have no license even I never drive bike. Tasmania is really great place for biker. Perfect place for Tony. Tony now is learning twice a week at English teacher course. When this finish in few months. He is able to be a teacher abroad. I know many English tongue people doing this. He’d never been out of Australia, most far place he ever went was West Australia and he loves Tasmania best in the world.

There are some people I met they never traveled much but, they love their local the best. I know some friends in Norway, Switzerland, and Austria. All places with beautiful nature. At final destination Strathgordon ends this road (Gordon River Road). Strathgordon is kind of touristy place with their dams on Lake Pedder and Lake Gordon. Lake Pedder is artificial lake, this form exists since 1972. It was hydro program to flood original lake. If Tony didn’t say this is artificial lake I never thought this is. Place for meditation. So quiet even in touristy season now.

We went for lunch the restaurant near by, huge saloon with view and just few people. When we back to Hobart, I felt Hobart is a big city.

YouTube :

An Another version :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBJkC4yrMy0
More ?

Damo Suzuki with the Holy Soul: Jon Hunter (Guitar), Trent Marden (Guitar), Pete Newman (Laptop), Kate Wilson (Drums) and Sam Worrad (Bass)
http://www.thetoffintown.com/

I don’t know why I become Gout often here in Australia, is it for humid? I’m not drinking that much (everyone has different measurement). Anyway I go to West Africa instead, next year. High temperature and Dry climate are good for Gout. Also I love Sahara. I know as I traveled West Africa for a couple of times. That was weather I feel comfortable from bone to brain even you feel quite stoned from heat. It’s true when you get older talking too much from sickness and you get much more sick. So forget about.

My sound carrier friend Oren had regularly his program at Toff called “Maximum Arousal”. He invited me to perform at this program, also he arranged cameraman to document series of “Maximum Arousal” Backing band is Holy Soul, just week ago, performed together in Sydney.

Supporting band is the Kits, I performed on same stage in London, last December. This venue is easiest venue I ever had, as I’m living in same building at 5th floor at Tim and Sally’s, the venue is 2nd floor. Even I can reach the venue through back door stair steps. D

ays in Melbourne is very comfortable, also I’m resting myself here. Tim and Sally is really nice people. They have two children, Ales and Henri. This time I saw Henri for very short time as he study at internat. Mainly I go to Queen Victoria market quite often after mailbox check and some works in my room, back side of the building. Good summer weather, change weather quickly, hottest period I missed this year. Many tragic story with bush fire captured all newspapers, donation here and there, young people organized charity concerts for victim of bush fire.

My room is very quiet and different world, when I come down to street….Swanston street is one of Main Street in the city and it’s so near to Chinatown. Full of people after people in hot street. Many Asian people, some times you doubt, if we’re in Tokyo, Singapore or Hong Kong….But, people here are very relaxed even they talk quite loud. 4 million people in Melbourne and relaxed city centre. It’s surely nice spot if you like to live.

Damo Suzuki with Tim Freeman (Percussion), Juliet Hunter (Violin), Ryan Manolakis (Drums), Patrick Saracino (Bass), Paul Turnbull (Sax) and Daniel Varricchio (Guitar)

Adelaide has population of one million, a small Melbourne with Mediterranean temperature. So, automatically Italian and Greek people draw much of population here. Daniel and Patrick (Their family comes also from Italy) picked me up from airport and drove direct to their domicile. Old Mediterranean style house (guess from early last century), high to ceiling, cool room temperature and nice veranda, grapes are hanging presents shadow on table and their vegetable garden with Eggplant, Pumpkin, Tomato …and Fig tree…. They know my kitchen from last year . So, I have to open „Damo’sKitchen”..For this reason, Maybe this is one of reason I stay here a bit longer than last. So, I didn’t’ t find space for sight seeing on my timetable.

Anyway I’m not really touristy person, I feel much interesting to eat drink and something else together with local people. Even play darts, chess or poker…. Exchange with local people has much part on my trip and it is good so, as this is my special experience and know much deeper about country. Also I like “by accident” more than plan. Accident is very personal and own challenge and experience. I’m really happy to know many people and have many friends everywhere. This is my opportunity people treat me as one of their family and long time friend.

Adelaide has also nice market, Daniel and I went for shopping foods. Strange, not that much fish shops…anyway today we wanted to make some vegetarian food as Daniel’s girlfriend, a dancer son will be in London is vegetarian. Today is performance day between sound check and show time, we have plenty time, so I decide to cook food at break.

At the venue there are veranda at 2nd floor, we had very relaxed and comfortable night before/after show enjoying good breeze, day time heat was forgotten. Even temperature was cool……and I feel my old friend Gout is coming up and say me take care I’m here!!!!!.. Oh, It will be heard next days, or weeks……..

TT Review :

Damo Suzuki with the Holy Soul: Jon Hunter (Guitar), Trent Marden (Guitar), Pete Newman (Laptop), Kate Wilson (Drums) and Sam Worrad (Bass)
http://www.myspace.com/hopetounhotel

Visiting Australia in European winter time since 2004—6th year. Supposed to catch airplane from Düsseldorf to London, flight schedule display at airport shows my flight is canceled due to snowing in South East England. Oh, what can I do?…so early in the morning I’m not awake enough already problem….Once again I have to improvise, memory of last year turn back…..last year fog made my flight to London delay and couldn’t catch connecting flight to Melbourne via Singapore.

I thought this time would be fully chaos like last year. Last year…even my suitcase was missing for a week. Oh, no this time again! (History repeats often twice) London met snowing since 18 years and quite chaos in the metropolis and destination metropolis Melbourne is historical record heat..around 47 degree saw in television. One extreme to another extreme. This time also take flight via Hong Kong. This is really long stretch from Europe to Melbourne (Better next time, I arrange tour if I go to Japan then after to Australia).

There is no direct flight, so at least you have to make one stop, if you fly from Europe towards south, Singapore or Hong Kong. Then wait there for few hours (Hong Kong airport is OK…you have free WIFI, so I informed Tim that I will be late) It’s takes altogether around 33 hours (!!!) but, many times it took more than this…this time something like 37 hours. Also this stretch is crazy with temperature change beside time difference of 10 hours.

Tim promised me to pick up from Tullamarine airport, but he totally forgets. So I was waiting him for an hour. Called his place, but nobody came to phone, so I took Skybus (Shuttle Bus from airport to Southern Cross Station, bus terminal in Melbourne city), Taxi is quite expensive for this far. I used to walk from Southern Cross Station to Tim and Sally’s. Only 5 blocks, it’s easy walk even with big suitcase (Surely it has wheels). If you near to Swanston street then you may find some drunken people on the street and bars and clubs even late in mid-night. Warm air covers me, forgetting European wintertime. As I had been often here, so I feel like come back to home. Buildings, trees, street, warm air….hey, I’m here again!!!! When I arrived their place on Swanston Street after midnight.

Tim & Sallly is living really middle of this metropol on 5th floor. To get there I have to discuss with doorman, have to explain them I’m visitor of Tim and Sally and will stay here for a month, etc..as they have pub called “Cookie” most popular pub in Melbourne, even you can get Kölsch beer (Beer sort from Cologne), which is quite surprise to see barrel here at almost opposite side of globe. Also they have 2nd floor music venue ” Toff” where I also perform. I knocked the door it took quite long to wake up Sally, and she was wondered that Tim forget to pick me up from airport. He usually is very trustable and solid person. (Everyone has sometimes blackout, so what..) Many Aussies told me this year is worst year in young Australians history.

Here near Melbourne is captured by bushfire. (Normally not this part of continent.) Queensland is flooded. Catastrophically summer. Global warming? Next days it’s difficult to miss on streets, on the street and shops there are donation box for victim of catastrophe. Newspaper capture space first one to 5,6 pages only about bushfire. Otherwise Australia is very peaceful country. Few days later first show in Sydney, John and Sam from Holy Souls picked me up from Domestic airport. Went to Johns place with small garden where three other young artists are sharing house. I was still tired from jet lag…(I’m not good with this phenomena)..I went deep sleep like shell in deep sea. If you fly against rotation of planet, it’s heavier with jet lag like this time.

When I wake up everybody’s gone for party (Yeah, yeah young people of today..) Suddenly in middle in the night (Actually it was not so late…21 or 22 o’clock…my watch goes different) I woke up, somebody through small stones hit window and shouting my name…I have to open the door, the voice shouted. Then came Tara and her boyfriend came in. At this stage I was quite hungry and she was asking if I’m hungry…and she cooked for hungry Japanese man….pasta with tomato.

Next evening performance at Hope Toun Hotel, third performances at this venue. A couple of days talk of the town for some young people was which concerts they go to….as parallel to our show there is show of sound carrier friend Acid Mothers Guru Guru. Some claim why have to arrange like this. It’s true, we could put it together as an event. A couple of days before I heard that Kawabata (AMT) is sick and he and his pal Tsuyama is not able to come to Australia at all. As far as I heard, poor Mani has to arrange spontaneously his line-up. He found some old friend saxophonist in Mel and other guys. Our performance went far well and people are happy. People who went to Mani’s show have also enjoyable evening after I heard from some people. Next day will be historical heat day…forecast was 47 degrees…but, it had not happen.

I cooked for 8, 9 people vegetarian dishes (as I heard Kate, the drummer is vegetarian.) Vegetarian cooking is quite difficult. Many vegetarian restaurants cooks not that good, it’s high energy like if you cook meat. Anyway, I believe for well cooking, you need good clean water, organic materials which comes from local and select season vegetables. If I have much time maybe three or four years, I would like to study Syojin Ryori which is originally cooked in Japanese temple. Buddhist doesn’t eat meat and also Japanese tradition is not well known eat meat. Anyway …everybody seems to be enjoying my food after sightseeing together, mainly Museums, Botanic Garden, Sydney’s trademark…Opera House and beautiful but, touristy port…. Back to Melbourne…On Wednesday, Interview with Gunnar, Luneburg, Germany through Skype. There was a lot of connecting problem during interview. But, he said OK..He can use that material….. He arranged the show on April in his city.