Damo

Damo Suzuki with Jay de la Cueva (Bass), Carlos Icaza (Drums), Julian Lede (Guitar), Carlos Navarrete (Keyboards), Alexis Ruiz (Drums) and Martin Thulin (Keyboards)

A couple of months before when I got this invitation, I was really curious and found I have not that much knowledge about Mexico. Tequila, Maya culture, Pyramid, Tacos…Yes, I know Mexican music. early sixties. Trio Los Ponchos was quite often in Japan.

Last year I performed in San Diego and found many Mexicans in audience. Now I know quit bit more of this country and I have to shout … What a country!! What a fun!!! You can drink best tequila here for sure, is origin country. Mexico City : Population 25 million. the biggest city on this planet. 10 million cars and half million taxis make part of sound and smog of the city. 2000 meter high from sea level….

Carlos and Julian picked me up from airport which seems to be quite middle of the city. This was First Impression, Airplane from Amsterdam landed here. Both guys seemed to be too much respect on me or if a monster is arriving . They didn’t know what to expect. Then they saw this tinny shaman..Grey long haired hippy museum man, then their last on shoulder fades away.

They brought me to Hotel in the middle of city, area called Historical Centrum. Hotel is my thought typical Mexican style, around the garden is rooms in several flats high. Mexico city don’t have much high building, so surface of the city is huge ..endless.. even from airplane. Later joined by Ricardo who had been in Japan and able to eat Natto…sticky, stinky soy bean topping for rice. I know many foreigners in Japan, they live here for more than 10 years and so, they loves Japanese food but, they cannot eat Natto… But, Ricardo is only first time there he said and he really loves this. Anyway Carlos is an artist, run label, Julian is a musician has solo project he said it sound like kind of living theater but one man project and Richard run very beautiful venue I’ll perform in two days.

We went to opera, because I wanted buy some postcards, there is book shop in opera theater which is very gorgeous. Front of it is square; many people are hanging around in hot loud air. Carlos was buying something there, later he presented me is book about art and culture of Mexico in English. It was nice gift I like books and I like to have books. (At the moment I am reading about Japanese history, I am getting old and find myself missing something…..last time in Japan I found that actually I don’t know many thing about my native country. So, I begin to read.)

Richard stayed there for Opera, Rest three of us went to old pub/restaurant, then I had opportunity to try „real tequila for first time. Tequila Classico!!! Tequila has been my love for sometimes. Normally in Europe you drink tequila with salt and lemon. Here is a bit different, beside glass of tequila serve peppered tomato juice in same sized glass like tequila. You put bit salt on between fat thumb and point finger, lick it then tequila into your thirsty throat then bite lemon then drink peppered tomato juice. This is the culture. I love this ceremony and its healthy way to drink alcohol for sure. You are losing Vitamin C (Hum. there was song like this in last century, humm…) when you drink alcohol. So, this is practical you bite vitamin to support. Then this peppered tomato with much substance…..I LOVE IT!!!! 🙂

Everywhere I go I am curious about domestic foods (already you realized), This is one of enjoyable reason for travel, isn’t this? ….so I wanted to order something special. Julian helped me to order meat in chocolate souse, he said it’s specialty here….Sometimes I use chocolate to prepare souse when I have stake….I use a small block of bitter chocolate. But, this souse here I saw front of my eyes is used sweet chocolate and much of it….sorry, it’s Not my taste really. ( A couple of days later I tasted same souse in Oaxaca, it was far better taste, anyway I tell you later this local city has better tasted than this crazy monster city.) As usual I had jet lag, but tequila was soooooo Gooood!!! So, I had to order more and more…when time pass by more fun….its makes you surely drunken, but different…so refreshed and next day you never have hangover even you’re much fit…my body said keep on going. Command center in my brain is captured by this small attractive liquid.

Later Ricard showed up with some people and took place at beside our table. Then, Alex. Who was helping for advertisement form first ever performance in the monster city, came with gift. First day in first time visit in Mexico was really amazing, nice company of these nice Mexicans (Julian is born in Argentine) and kind of culture shock with better moods. Next day was an interview day, I, Carlos, Julian and Alex went to modern part of Mexico city (drive took quite long in middle of traffic jungle) with very interesting modern architecture…this is DNA which make me curious about buildings …my father was an architect.

Three radio interviews found the place in modern private university. Afternoon other three interviews at cafe near to my Hotel. Between morning and afternoon interviews, Mexican sound carriers came together and played some music at one of their rehearsal room ..but, played together with mainly sound carriers who don’t perform tomorrow. There was positive energy and recorded as option to one of morning radio interviews. All went to for lunch and it was fantastic restaurant, looked so traditional ambient…I ordered fried fish…appetizer was nice too. I felt I am getting into this nice country and at this stage I’m really sure what will be tomorrow at the performance…..MUST BE only positive things happen.

It is naturally with surrounded by such fantastic people nothing goes wrong. Here tequila, there tequila. many told me I have to try Mescal when I go to Oaxaca….Sure, I will do. I am already curious about this magical word, it stamped on my brain already. And they explained me Oaxaca is just opposite to Mexico city, quiet and small and heard about Pyramids on Mt.Alban. But, already Mexico get me…deeply. Axel told me, tomorrow is only one interview, but what kind of….. Third day I wake up and not hang over, I drinking quite a lot tequila after tequila since I entered his country. (Even this E-report smells like tequila!!!) With Interview guys, interview guy and cameraman, who is writing for cultural forum for financial paper. we spend afternoon together sitting at street cafe comfortable, watching people go under dull sunshine, having an another party. Interview man told me that this financial paper has good cultural part…In Germany too there is financial paper called Frankfurter Allgemeine, they bring also very best cultural pages.

Later joined by two middle aged musicians, One of them was singer handed me a CD saying “Please listen to this…Also, there come another interview man. Later I invited them to my hotel room for continue relaxing different way.

Time for sound check comes, party is good but, I have to be clear main reason I came to Mexico is performing. I went the venue, strong looking historical building. Already sound check with all these Mexican sound carriers were remarkable, so just looking forward to the performance. After sound check went to eat Mexican food in old ambient with round table for 8 people. After yummys with stomach satisfaction…DJ music as support…the DJ from Spain who lives in NYC, I met once in Palma de Mallorca, he introduced me at the restaurant.

In Venue is already good filled up with young people. At entrance some young people clapped their hands when they saw me. Nice welcome gesture…but, I am quite shy fort his kind……Quick steps to backstage. Performance itself I don’t have to explain how it was….it was just like what I experienced last three days here…..just positive.

Great reaction in audience, after show everybody has smiles on their faces, many photos here and there.

Damo Suzuki with Ishiatama-Zizo: Katsunori Akutagawa (Guitar), Tetsuya Akune (Guitar), Yuji Takagi (Bass) and Toshiro Usui (Drum)

Soundcheck is at 12:00 midnight….Humm so, late? Show time is around 2AM…oh, what kind of place is Kumamoto? So, I had enough time.

Kawamura wanted to me to stay in Oita and enjoy myself and take good vibe from this city. he is a great host, we drove to soccer stadium which is just made for 2004 World championship which is too expensive for this part of Japan and after they don’t use it. Many places in Japan you can find such project like theater any kind of cultural buildings which looks so luxury but not really used. Wasting of money he said to this soccer stadium with all possible luxury, remove able roof and so on. We took breakfast near by at shopping mall which is looks like standard US shopping mall with all these ugly fast foods. but, in Japan you can find still something interesting things to eat. …after we drove to Usuki-city (which is impossible to read in Japanese Kanji letter : Chinese letter equally) famous for Old Buddha figures from ancient Japan. from  6 century, very first time Buddhism enter to Japan. I’m not Buddhist, but I’m very interesting in history. Also I wanted to go out of the city to nature. He seems to like drive, such old Buddha figures smells of 1,500 years. This time in Japan I found many things. So, I decided to travel top to bottom of Japan one day……I will make it in year 2010. I discovered Japan. This is the land where I was born and glow up…..I should have known better. Can remember, One foreigner artist said Japan is so small country, but in this tiny space you can find many interesting thing, culture, foods, local to local so different, every inches you can find something curious….I totally agree. Italy is also similar.

Travel to Kumamoto is better with bus than take train. So, beautiful landscapes through Aso national park. Aso is very famous for it’s volcano tourism . I was there once when I was a school boy. Bus reached Kumamoto a bit late. At bus terminal, three members of Ishiatama-Zizo (Ishiatama means stone head, Jizo is kind of Buddha figure which is not that huge, standing quiet on path, you can find it in China and Japan but not in India.). Akutagawa is contact person, who organize alternative music performances in this local city Kumamoto, normally run his record shop. Kumamoto has one of three most beautiful castle in Japan beside Sendai and Himeji called Kumamoto-Jo also there is Aso national park, Amakusa, a bunch of Islands as touristy attraction. Historically very heavy weight in Japanese history and supporter of new Japan system at end of Syogun period. Foods here are famous “Basashi” horse meat Sashimi. We had much time to sound check, so I wanted to go to eat and taste this Basashi…Sure I can eat it in Tokyo as well. But, look when I saw dish friendly old woman brought. No compare to Tokyo’s tinny slice here they serve much wide slice and taste better. Yummy. And this could be local horse meat. Mainly Japanese import horse meat come from Australia..Basashi, you can get in Tokyo must be imported goods…anyway I have to research. It’s fits really good with Uronhai(Uron tea, Rice snaps mix which is my favorite drink in Japan)…Good food and good drink ..What I need more?…Just good performance will be done!!!

Stacia, once was dancer of Hawkwind in 70’s, now she is visual artist staying in Kyoto for a while visited me this performance from such a distance by train she said she took something like 5 hours or so. So, this is first time I saw her since early 70’s. She contacted me as she was flying from Dublin to Berlin, seat beside her was one of my Irish sound carrier friend….I guess Robin, so anything on conversation Damo and his Network story was fall down from his mouth, he gave her my mail address. again such a small world we are living in!!!!…isn’t it nice?

Kumamoto is local city far south from Tokyo, still here I found foreigners in audience and next day in the city. After the performance is ” Uchiage” Members of Ishiatama Zizo wanted to go home as they don’t drink and they cannot drink if you drive. But, anyhow I let them come also Stacia did. The Izakaya was newly opened. three days old…very noisy place. Everybody is shouting…much energy. We were after concert and maybe quietest group of that pub. Fortunately I had one day break. Maybe Akutagawa wanted to show me a bit of Kumamoto. Unfortunately weather wasn’t good ..Constant rain..

Breakfast we took at noodle restaurant. Kumamoto has famous ramen (ramen is Chinese noodle soup in Japanese flavoured style and this is one of most popular food beside curry rise on kind of fast food field,) This was yummy and so deeply cooked pork bone souse. Actually Akutagawa wanted to drive me to Amakusa and Aso National Park area. but, weather wasn’t good . If we’re there we couldn’t see nice view anyway and also we slept to early afternoon. so, Day is shorter also it’s in March. Went to Kumamoto-jo. This castle is really amazing and huge than I thought. It’s strong looking. There was not that much tourist..it was tool late and we couldn’t get enter “Tensyukaku” (Main building of castle) We walk through park, you can feel silence of souls who lived here and fight against enemies . Some small foreigner tourists group were there surp rising and enjoying at same time. After we went to Chinese tea house which Akutagawa’s friend own. This kind of place you never come alone if you’re a stranger. It’s at side street 5th floor or something in building. But, this might be good for owner, then comes only special people this way to drink very special Chinese tea served in tiny teapot put this into cup upside-down and take bit of Chinese warm snacks…

Next day Akutagawa brought me to Kumamoto airport. we ate there traditional Japanese breakfast. Then back to Tokyo, Haneda airport. This was my last performance trip this time in Japan. I went to “Syojin-Ryori” restaurant, retrospective my travel. This time I found many good things in Japan and I’m happy that I was born here in such an amazing country. It’s so strange, I was in Japan so often, but this time I had good vibes through. Also I saw (thought with “Gaijin’s” (Foreigners) perspective too as most of the time Elke attended. If you go to eat together with friends, we felt Japan is “Luxury for everybody” you can enjoy and tasty quality food for that cheap and we share. Love-san asked me to go to “Izakaya” he found. It’s tiny space bottom of dead end street. 1st floor for 8 people and it’s very tight and 2nd floor for 8 people, but this place was something special.

That day late in the night owner was working alone cooking, serving in one person. We’re some sound carriers and wives. Love-san drove me to airport like last time. We had enough time at Narita airport…buy souvenirs and off course eat!!!

Damo Suzuki with Kento Adachi (Guitar), Yasushi Egami (Guitar), Emoto (Drums), Isami (Drums), Kengo Kato (Sax), Hiroshi Kawamura (Drums), Hiroki Misawa (Bass), Hiroshi Ogasawara (Bass) and Tomokazu Takeda (Guitar)

I had enough time in Haneda. I use to arrive airport earlier. Now a days security check takes long and quite stress and uncomfortable. In Japan you can bring only one lighter in airplane not more than two. Haneda airport is like Narita, there are many shops and restaurant, so I can hanging around quite comfortable, Took late breakfast…curry rise and beer. Curry is very popular in Japan…but, Japanese curry taste. not like Indian or Thai. This curry is everywhere quite standard taste and every place you can find it so often like noodle restaurant. Kinda Japanese fast food. Always nice feeling to travel to place I have never been.

About Oita I don’t know anything. Once I came to Beppu which is also in Oita-Ken. Kawamura, booker of tonight’s show and sound carrier picked up me from Oita airport told me that Beppu is Economically not good like before. Beppu is famous, in her glory time she was one of three most popular hot springs in Japan. Went to venue at first, sound guy was already preparing, Kawamura took me to Japanese style restaurant. Were in private room. If you come far from Tokyo, you find many different things….Lady’s are much naturally and has her own beauty. Even here you can find foreigner…

A young guy met at my performance is British. There are many English teachers from foreigner countries in Japan. Specially from UK, New Zealand and Australia. Two sets with different sound carriers. After show, with some sound carriers went to Izakaya, owner is a jazz fan, as usual small place, but very family good atmosphere. Kawamura knows this Izakaya very well, so owner just cooked for us some thing he thought about. not on menu. One of sound carriers is working for biggest local bank, One of sound carriers runs construction and building company, so, we talked a lots about economical matter. The bank guy remembered his composition “Fukuda no Baka” a protest song against former Japanese prime minister Fukuda when he was young. Song is “Foolish Fukuda” Was funny to hear his young age composition, he sing with guitar. Singer songwriter stuff.

Night was deep, this is local city almost nobody on the street at 3 in the morning when we left.

1st Set: Damo Suzuki with Dead Pan Speakers
2nd Set: Damo Suzuki with Astro (Analog Synth), Jyunzo Suzuki (Guitar) and Tomo (Hurdy-Gurdy)
3rd Set: Damo Suzuki with kazuhide Yamaji (Guitar) and Leningrad Blues Machine: Mitsuru Tabata (Guitar), Masahiko Shimaji (Bass) and Yasuyuki Watanabe (Drums)

One day Love-san took us for driving to Oku-Tama area of Tokyo to see plum-tree, it’s before cherry blossoms season. Between February to March, people go to see before cherry blossom season. On the hill was a lots of Ume tree…sea of plum flowers in pink and white color. This is small local fest. but still thousands of people visit, make picnic.

Oku-Tama is wonderful place, it’s very difficult to imagine this a part of Tokyo. Totally in nature. Tama is name of a river run through Tokyo..on the way we had amazing local landscape. Last night we had appointment with my Canadian sound carrier friend Cal, was cooking and made empty bottles and had a bit hangover, so I wanted to eat MEAT…as late breakfast at Korean style steak house. We visited also Sake manufacturer’s garden and tried local Sake in beside Tama-river. In the evening went to one of nicest chain restaurant enjoyed Japanese food. (This E-report is means not Electric report now…Eat-Report, ha, ha….)

An another I went to my uncle’s grave. He died early this year… after visited his widow, it was emotional moment that my tears didn’t stop. but, it’s doesn’t matter ..just let my feel go if I could see him alive….My father died when I was 5 years old, since then my uncle was just like my father to me, he advised me, gave my job at his company until I left Japan. She put her man’s photo on chair. He looks so happy and like together with us if he is alive.

Then after spend 3 days in Kyoto, one of my favorite cities in this planet!!!!. East and west of Japan foods taste different. East (Tokyo, Yokohama) taste stronger taste, West (Osaka, Kyoto) make it tender, soft taste…much tasty to me. Highlight of this tour department foods were “Syoujin-Ryouri” I experienced at Arashiyama, a bit outside of Kyoto city, a silence meditation area. Syoujin-Ryouri is zen-buddism food, so it IS veg food..but, in Japanese traditional sense. I love food which you can enjoy material pure without oil or butter even I enjoy just any kind of food, you know. It’s crazy good to my tongue then my body and soul, you feel something healthy things rules your body and soul, so a couple of days later I bought 2 Syoujin-Ryouri cooking books. I have many cooking book at home. really many. As usually I visited many temples. my favorite temple is “Ryoanji” famous for its rock garden. This place I visit every time whenever I come to Kyoto. Meditative place. I could sit there and watch rock garden for whole day. Kyoto has also nice downtown and foods shopping market which is like street of mouse, small shops are tight together if you are not too late, you can try many different Japanese traditional foods. snacks and drink sake here and there.

Naturally we went to many different touristy spot as well…Kiyomizu-Temple, Nijyo-Jyou Castle, Kinkaku-Ji Temple…Sure if you are in Kyoto, don’t forget to go to Gion area where Maiko’s in Kimono, you can find ..also here is THE heart of Kyoto. Performance day, Elke went back to home.. Sakamoto is my school mate, runs the venue in Shinjyuju “Uruga” Shinjyuku area is one of most busy area in Tokyo day and night. At day time full of business people and shopping people, in the night change her face to pub, night club goers , also a lots of criminal efforts…

This is 3rd time I perform at my ol’ pals venue…he has always 3sets for me. Tabata is funny lovely guy, once I disappointed him as I said him there is no aliens in this universe… There are many story about him, he is very respected from many people so does my Canadian sound carrier friend Cal live just close to this venue. After show we hang around in the venue for a while, Sakamoto booked Hotel close to here in Kabuki-cho as I have to take airplane from Haneda, inland flight (also to China and Korea) airport in Tokyo, I fly to Kyusyu, southern island. Kabuki-cho is heart of Shinjuku area, one of highlight in Tokyo specially deep in the night…Night clubs, restaurant, telephone bar, bars…place for adult…imagine Reeperbahn in Hamburg. Sometimes people are fighting with knives, siren of police cars, etc…..

Tsujimoto is interesting nice guy who is kind of poet, musician. who releases monthly CD magazine called Hermitage. I met him this time at an another performance as well. Each time he brought me snacks he was meaning after show I have to eat small bit…Normally he is working at Japanese car industry. He came to my performance, he stayed until late so he missed his last train and tomorrow he have to wake up so early…I had space in my hotel room, he slept there… When I wake up..he was already away.

1st Set: Damo Suzuki with Cat-rat (Key), Junji Mori (Sax), muupy (Percussion), Mari Sekine (Drums) and Kanami Suzuki (Bass)
2nd Set: Damo Suzuki with Hiroshi Higo (Bass), Takayuki Kato (Guitar), Sachiko Nakajima (Synth, Keys) and Tatsuhisa Yamamoto (Drums)

Takazou and Yuu-san invited us for rehabilitation centre, take medicine bath and it made me not only relax, made me to believe in my body and soul. With this refresh ness we went to the venue.

Chikyuya is a kind of the meeting place for alternative artists who live in this part of Tokyo, a small venue and has kind of atmosphere which is quite special and sometimes crazy. There is always something happen. Takazou is always arrange this venue for me. He is now stopping alcohol and smoke so, he doesn’t come here so often like before. After sound check we went to Fish Restaurant near the venue….Since Izu peninsula, I am more crazy after fish. Fish makes me happy and bring me good energy. and this was really good fish restaurant too, had many fresh assortment that I could eat all of them….

Actually before my 1st set I performed with opening act…two young drummers, Eru-san, a pretty lady, (former hippy) owner asked me if I can perform with them. I said yes, what else I can do  here in filled up hot spot. Even tonight they have light show. Sound man was very excited and good motivated. Ken, Rie showed up..surley Kon-san who is taking care of merchandising for Cpt.Trip..I informed you that Kon-san visited my performances mostly..more than 40 I guess. My real 1st set was all female band. no not really…Mori san, the sax player is a male. Sound was quite tight and went far away. Mari-san I performed together in Club Havana played drums tonight. With Cat-rat I performed last year. To perform with a lots of females is fun. No doubt I love females..2nd sets is curate by Higo, favorite artist of Eru san. Every time I perform here, Higo curate for one set and he plays.

At break I have to go out. sweating like Niagara falls and to breath here inside is quite heavy duty. I need fresh air and cool wind!!!!. On the way back to Keiichi’s we visited small noodle restaurant. after performance I really like to eat noodle soup. this is best as I loose many substance. “Ninnikuya” the name of eat away restaurant means Garlic House. You can put many garlic as you like…it’s yummy and so cheap, you cannot imagine. Many single man, student, business man come here and eat noodle soup at counter, talk about their problem and life stories……