Damo

Damo Suzuki with Francesco Donadello (Drums), Luca Giovanardi (Guitar & Electronics), Olivier Manchion (Bass) and Emanuele Reverberi (Violin, Trumpet, Effects)

After Roma, took train to Luca and Ricci in Reggio Emilia as next days destination Carpi is not far. Travel by train in Italy is quite cheap if you compare with Germany or Britain and this route is nice, one after another beautiful Landscapes are coming and go.

The train from Roma had one hour delay, so I couldn’t catch up Luca at station in time. I don’t carry cell telephone, so he cannot call me. Anyway now a days very difficult to find public telephone. So, I decided to find his place by myself. Found no taxis at station, walk for while then I found market I know, at middle of the city. At the marketplace, somebody was calling me from far.. “D-a-a-m-o-o-o!” I wasn’t expecting anybody. Soon I found the owner of the voice……I found there Olivier with his wife Fabrizia and Matthieu, his son. So, they brought me to Luca and Ricci’s. Otherwise took hours to find their place, they told me she is a pregnant and they were looks so happy. I can’t imagine Luca as father…(I’m not meaning negative..understanding needed) ….next time I come here they are three!!!!  

Next day, relaxed day, in afternoon we drove some twenty minutes to Carpi. The venue is communist-meeting- kind of (culture)club – and this kind of place are everywhere in Italy, I heard from somebody. There are many rich communist in this part of Italy. This is season open day, so sound man came very late. Olivier joined us after sound check. Olivier came later…this is first time I perform with Olivier, the man with touch of “Jean Paul Belmond” since long time. We had enough time, eat in at the venue with all people who are involved in this show….this is quite often in Italy.   October 4 2008 (Saturday) Italy Piacenza @ For Sale Damo Suzuki with Cristian Calcanile (Drums), Paolo Cantu (Guitar), and Xabier Iriondo (Guitar) Luca and Ricci brought me to Reggio’s rail station. They looks so good future parents. Met Xabier, Varentia and Paulo came from Milano at Piacenza rail station.

Before they came I had talk with an old man, who was very curious to know about Japanese language, so I gave him short lessens. Funny named venue “For Sale” was not yet open..(Already sold?)but, we had luck to go to Wobbling market just cross the street run by social aides. I bough very tiny cafe set. Every time interesting to see old toys, watches, clothes, dishes…some nostalgia stuffs.

Olivier expected to perform with us, but he was not able to do for any reasons. The venue is wide than from outside. Relative huge place for city like here. After performance all Milano teams went back to home, I stayed here at Gianluca, young music student.

Damo Suzuki with IH8 Camera: Karel De Backer (Drums), Elko Blijweert (Bass), Teuk Henri (Guitar), Aarich Jespers (Drums, Percussion), Thomas Noppe (Guitar) and Geert Waegeman (Violin, Theremin) http://www.scheldapen.be/

Antwerp is the cultural metropolis in Belgium. A couple of years ago I visited for first time during my short holiday as spontaneously I’ve got idea to go for culinary tour in Belgium. Belgium kitchen is very well known. Flanders is one of most important gourmet temples in Europe. At that time I was a little wondered why I never performed here before in such cultural rich city. The guy named Elko suddenly contacted me to perform in Heaven Hotel Festival, his label festival even I’m not belonging.

They found it will be interesting to perform with me and selection of sound carriers from label’s different bands. Thomas, the guitarist picks me up from beautiful railway station. Here speak Dutch which is quite similar to German, so I could understand what he was saying. After while he brought me to my hotel, was at harbor. It’s cabin in ship. Small room ..but, everything is inside, wash place, shower, toilet..window is round, sea eagles are playing out there. Relaxing for while, Thomas showed up again and brought me to the venue, placed at a bit outside of city center, stood alone in industrial area, former custom house surrounded by garden with trees. An artist build small house on tree, I don’t know who made this, but sure that he must be a perfect dreamer as it’s so fits together in this garden. Children are very curious (I’d say I was too) what is inside and climbing on steps.

This venue has two places for performing, I and Belgium sound carriers are going to perform in garden where you can find stage. After sound check all casts are sitting together inside with long table for dinner. When our performing starts, it was a bit cool and wet outside..but, nice to be out. There are an another stage inside.

Damo Suzuki with Anthony Barratt, Einar, Per Gisle, Leon Muraglia, Emil Nikolaisen and Raymond

I have good friend named Leon, I know him since 10 years. He was the one organized my first performance since around 30 years in London at the end part of last century. Since then I know him, also arranging Kosmische  events. He changed his living sphere from London to Oslo.

He invited me to come around a month before.. Elke had never been in Norway even she has her very best friend…a Norwegian lady. This offer is a part of huge festival, but we perform in the venue, same venue as I performed two years before with Skull Defects, a Swedish band from Gothenburg. We decide to stay in Oslo for five days instead just perform and go back home. Norway is most rich country beside Switzerland, living standard is so high also things are so expensive…socialism orientated society…..still…bad side of medal is here you can find most junkies in the world…sure this is parted from population in percentage.

Many Norwegian people believes Norway is most beautiful country in this world. Proud. In fact there are so beautiful spots all over this land…all in pure nature, some parts are really lonesome. Fjords are amazing. very Norwegian and one of most beautiful landscapes in nature. Leon and Rob picked us up from Airport ..was already after 11PM, when we arrived at Leons (We are going to stay here) girlfriend Guro was there preparing food. Leon and Rob are members of Radio 9 will support us tomorrow, even Leon will perform with us…..I know him for long around 10 years, this will be first time I hear his live, even first time I perform with him.

Unfortunately Guro cannot come to our performance as she, is a journalist, has to travel to Spitzbergen (Hu…very interesting place , far north and isolated from the world….I don’t know what there is like..but, interesting space..for sure) We drunk until early morning, conversations had long legs. Like last time….I had enough time for sound check to performance. Where Blå placed is former factory ground. There are some spaces for artists and bands. Beside the venue small river runs and this makes countryside atmosphere. The city is in heat with young music lovers from all Europe. We stayed very cool metropolis for another three days.

Took boat for Fjord tour, so small islands..some of them only one house in small island. Water is very silence and everything seems to be very peaceful. Feel people living here must be happy. Edward Munch Museum was so closer to Leons. A couple of years before, I was at exhibition of same painter in Melbourne, since then I found his painting amazing. So, was nice to come to his city even I found Melbourne exhibition was much more interesting as they had paintings of his different period.

If you take a walk, you may find anything which is interesting…like a small bottle bar…Bar selling only small bottled alcohol. We found cool restaurant, Det Gamle Raadhus which was build as city hall in 1641. Furniture inside is 17th century style and foods they served was fantastic. It’s not cheap, I mean Norway is very very expensive everywhere, so just forget about it. Even they are a Michelin Restaurant. We went to touristy area at port to eat at very beginning of Oslo days, As usual touristy place is not really a good place to eat. But, quality in Norway is really good. Look, just tap water!!!! Oslo has most clear tasty tab water in this world. This is real socialism, they have it FOR EVERYBODY.

Rob and Leon are tuff, all nights, we stayed with them, they went out until morning grown…

Damo Suzuki with The Lahn: Members of Ichy and the Killers, Shortyhands, Tod des Trompeters and Viitaly Tschernobyl and the Meltdowns

What Damo Suzuki is doing around 2 months without performance? He is smallest production in the world. Organizing concerts, booking flight and some office work. He has no manager, so he should do everything alone. He is manager and road manager…a girl for everything.. He was planning to get better with Italian language and almost to visit lingual school in Italy.. Some weeks ago, he got an offer from architect named Maurizio, asked if he has interest to come to Innsbruck for two days. One day just kind of warming up meeting and 2nd day performance at very special place. At this period I had enough time as I mentioned….also my girlfriend has vacation, so we decided for short trip through Austria by car before we get Innsbruck…a week trip. I have been in this country for a couple of times. Elke had never been here. So, this is good occasion, for me to know more deep and for her exciting first visit here.

Our trip begun from Linz, a kind of culture capital beside Graz in Austria. They are European cultural capital of this year. The city is world wide well known for Ars Electronica Festival, a visual art festival and also composer Anton Bruckner born here near. We reached Linz in the night, try to visit pub/restaurant called Josef, I was there for two or three times. They have amazing toilet..(I guess I reported it last year) They make their own beer….three or four different assortments. Also, they have nice kitchen (Unfortunately kitchen was closed during summer time..they had only buffet. So we didn’t stay there, instead we went for walk around to see some interesting spot.) But, we are not able to find good restaurant that night and tired from drive around 700 of kilometers.

So, we found place at garden of not tasty restaurant. Next day we went amazing museum Lentos, the house changes color time to time during the day as this is completely covered by half reflex mirror outside. They had exhibition of Austrian painter Oskar Kokoschka, is energy tanked man he had bad fortune, but he had enough power to win against all of those solution.. Elke was so interested on his life in interview manor through headphone. He has amazing life, so she bought prompt his biography book. We were really happy to know this amazing artist, his arts and life. Also near the museum, there is energy shop just opposite street. We bought small tool box which make water and air clean within 60 diameter. Believe or not, it works.

Next step is Wien, one of cultural and historically very interesting city in Europe. On the way we saw huge perfect rainbow one end to other end clearly you can see…. even it was double rainbows ..one rainbow over one rainbow…I had never seen this sort of rainbow before . A Nature theater. Visit friend Matthias, a sound man. …We didn’t have dinner yet, so but, we found not really good food ..it was kind of American junk food bar restaurant as it was already too late and were outside of Wien…, had to have something in stomach you know, quite savage thought…next day we found an amazing small restaurant which made us really happy that we could forget bad food late last night, in middle of the city.

Wien is Wien..very special city, very rich in culture. We walked in city centre and we found this small restaurant which is quite old and had atmosphere, What they had on menu was really for gourmet and generally in Austria, foods are not that expensive and it has good quality. This is one of things, I really like this Alps republic. Good quality and for every pocket something. Also we visited museum, exhibition of Bad Taste Art”;..it was like name of exhibition..nothing was really innovative. Actually we planned to go to Salzburg next, but we went to Steiermark, South Austria, famous for good food and well known amazing pumpkin oil. It was really good idea to be in Steiermark, landscapes are so green and proud mountains. Before, I love to live in seaside, but since a couple of days to live in mountain side is not bad…there are beautiful indigo colored lakes. They have energy.

Day is getting dark, so we found in Sankt Georgen, very tiny spot a Hotel Restaurant by accident which was if I had right tips in lottery. Fantastic cuisine and huge rooms for not fat pocket money. Amazing!! If you travel by car this kind of spontaneous experience is fun. To find something which is not big marked in tourist guide book. You can find amazing spot by yourself…own experience to tell. Good foods and beautiful landscapes, I have to remember what is reason we come to this land….Yes!!!! don’t forget to PERFORM!!!

We visit spontaneously Salzburg, Mozart city, really attractive spot…but, rush with tourist over tourist… Some decade ago, I came to Innsbruck for winter sport while I was young like fresh fish. But, I had never been here in summertime. We had appointment to meet Maurizio on his architect office at 4PM. Without any handicap we arrived exactly at 4PM, this was really exactly that Peter, the guy who often attend us during our stay here, was wondering how we manage it exactly in place to come. Architect office was just beside railway, Maurizio, Verena, Peter and other people well come us with tea and snacks.

After joined by Lissie who is a girl from Tirol you can imagine, brought me flower she picked up on her path to mountain side. Also the guy named Martin lent us whole his apartment for next three days. Lissie and Verena bought us foods. First day, for sightseeing and at the evening session with local band in club. Once here in Tirol, should have to go to mountain..this was next days program. Verena bought us three days ticket for tourist. There is well organized cable cars to Hafelekar which is 2,330m from sea level. Its perfect place for ski. Dreaming winter time in summer. An amazing panorama from there, not only to see Innsbruck city, mountains are so near and wild views. Amazing view point. Mountain train and Cable Car, we arrived, so Lissie sung Tiroler folk songs songs and we salute with snaps…

Some of mountain top were still rest of snow, so Verena, Peter and Lissie did summer snowing, just with normal shoe without ski. The venue was under the roundabout, open space middle of junction, is round space, a couple of bands performed before me, but unfortunately constant rain kept people away…but, space was fantastic place…one and only stuff.

Tirol is also nice place to eat, we had good menu with people together. Next day, we met for breakfast, but it was already around 1PM, we were planed to back home through Romantic Street and stay one night on the road. Fantastic mountain view in Tirol is over and cross the border to Germany. Southern Germany is beautiful too. Were too late to find Hotel on the way, so we continued driving went to home even it was some 700KM…….

Damo Suzuki with The Lunar Dunes: Ian Blackaby (Bass), Adam Blake (Guitar), Saul Eisenberg (Percussion), Hami (Drums) Krupa Pattni (Synth, Vocal) and Larry Whelan (Keyboards, Saxophone)

Took early flight, next day Back to home. Cologne London is such near, depend on flight and weather, it takes between 45 minutes to 55 minutes. It’s much near than fly to Berlin on air kilometers. This is reason why London is the city in Europe I perform mostly. And not bad place for my kind of music. Now a days there are many cheap flight as well in all over Europe. Sometimes no charge, just pay airport tax. Lay down on sofa at Gerald and Sylkes at Crouch End for few hours. Seldom to perform West London, people here are different from East and North London. Today’s special is my friend Gerald do DJ.

I saw attractive girl walking down the street from the balcony of the venue (the venue has a pub) and after I found she is sound carrier too. Opening band is something very special, they’re boys between 13 17 years old and they brought some girl fans, they’re around 12-14 years old. What kind of music they play? …..you can try to answer three times…. But, I’m sure you never find right answer. They don’t cover any of those young age heroes. Instead they performed experimental music…can you imagine? At that age? Sweet thing is that they asked me how I think about their music in interview manor with recording after their performance. They were happy to hear my opinion about their music. I have opportunity to experience such situation with could-be-possible grandson generation.

The Lunar Dunes perform regularly in this venue or somewhere around west London. Hami visited me at an another London performance two weeks before just for short time. He contacted me a couple of months before that they were willing to perform with me. So, there were positive energies.

London is international city..but, public transportation in late night is not that good for huge city like this. There is night bus, but it takes long time slalom through city and as foreigner its quite complicated. But, still better than Tokyo. In Tokyo, last train is something like 11:30PM or even earlier depend on where you go. There is no public transportation even there are many pubs, night clubs open and thousands of drunken zombies wandering…….