Damo

Damo Suzuki with Andrew Gaddow (Moog), Peter Newman, Phil Williams (Tapes) and the Holy Soul: Jon Hunter (Guitar), Trent Marden (Guitar), Kate Wilson (Drums) and Sam Worrad (Bass)

First time, I take off Melbourne – Sydney by car. Which takes something like 8 hours, people say. Yesterday, I, Jon, Trent and Kate took on ride, Jon as driver. Rest of the Holy Soul went already they have to work this day or something.. Tim once told me it’s quite boring to drive this route, you see almost nothing. Yes, I can remember this It was my first trip to Australia we met in Sydney, he and Henry, their son went back to Mel by car, I, Sally and Ales, their daughter by plane.

Anyway, we planned to stay at Motel on half way. This was city called Holbrook, mark of the city is black long submarine middle of city park. Some say it’s not real one made out of wood..some one say it’s real one. Anyway you cannot miss it almost at middle of nowhere on highway No.1. Driving in Australia is feel like very slow and at this area not that much traffic. More transporters.

We were hungry at middle of the night..but, we found nothing. So, first we did next day as going to get breakfast. Actually Tim was right…landscapes were quite boring until around 200 km to Sydney. It had been changed to green color dominated landscape… We dropped Trent at his parents place, then we had appointment with Gunther, my German friend, German bumerang master on the way. Gunther lives around 50 km outside of Sydney, in very quiet place with his wife Brigit. Took rest and he brought me to the venue. Today we had two supporting bands. The drone heavy band and Tex Parkins, who remind me of Frank Kollges in Cologne, a conductor for improvisation orchestra. So as Tex is conductor of big orchestra, improvise experimental which two members of the Holy Soul joined.

The night was really hot, spoke with many people after the show. Some girls wanted hug and kiss me…(This is good part!!!)

Review of the show :

I stayed two more day at Gunther & Birgit place and I cooked for them, 3 courses veg menus, Gunther is vegetarian and also new learned cheese fondue. We made a bit of touristic as well nearby.

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/

Tim has building at Swanston Street 252, middle of Melbourne. In this building you can find most popular pub in this 4 million metropol called “Cookies” (I was really surprised when I found on floor, barrels of “Kölsch”- Beer from Cologne “Gaffel”) ..a great pub with thousands of assortment from all over the world, Sally, his wife’s book and CD shop, Boutiques, Karate school and roof top is an open air cinema with bar. last year April he opened “Toff” the venue with fine restaurant, cooking material they use come by plane long way from Italy day after day. And at this building, I stay whole my Melbourne stay every year since 2004 at Tim and Sally’s etage (They have one daughter and son….and two dogs.)

They have great kitchen, so I cook here during my stay and sometimes friends and friend’s friend are coming and enjoy “Damo’s Kitchen”..soul food. Best place to go for me is Queen Victoria Market. Just few block from here. There I buy fresh fishes, organic Vegs and meat and just nice to walk around…it’s huge market. I can reach museums, Federation Square in few steps from here….it’s really middle of the city. Mel is one of my home and nice to be here in European winter time (then here is summer!!!!) it’s big city …but, people seems to have no stress, many baskets on the street and the city has atmosphere. Off course they have tram!!!

This time, I found Australian tour is kind of spiritual tour. I perform tonight with the Holy Soul and next Mel performance is together with Hi God people and It’s so fucking great be alive. also last few days I made radio show with a Jehovah’s Witness. The Holy Soul is based in Sydney, I performed with them two times..first time together in Mel at Tim’s “Toff”. This is organized by Oren, is organizing every week show here called Maximum Arousal series, an experimental music event. I met his wife Naomi with her new born baby on elevator. First time at this venue, Tim invited some of his friends.

Before show starts we sat at Toff Restaurant for small yummys …was really summer day. Tim put some mattress at very closer area to stage, that everyone can relax. Also stage has curtain..it’s better than without. Feel much intimate with sound carriers I perform with before start. One crazy girl came on stage when still curtain’s closed and talked to me. Soon, she brought her boyfriend as well.

Since three years I had not performed with the Holy Soul …they changed member as well. Drums is now female drummer…. Kate and new guitarist Jon. Supporting Band Blank Realm comes from Brisbane and some of them performed with me a couple of years ago in their hometown. Some Japanese are in audience. I found the face I know, she was at my concert in Chikyuuya. Tim made big enough backstage room. He made really nice venue which is really friendly to sound carriers. When he had this idea to make his venue, a couple of years ago he asked me for advice I as sound carrier.

And he made it really comfortable, friendly atmosphere place…….

Damo Suzuki with Mat Anderson (Bass), Scot Cotterell (Electronics), Leigh Hobba (Sax), Reggie Norris (Guitar) and Matt Warren (Drums)

Australia is very far…..this time was really really so far. My flight from Dusseldorf had delay for 3 hours, landed at Heathrow airport….. out of schedule. So, I missed connecting flight to Melbourne. I had to overnight in Hotel near Heathrow and wake up early to get stand by for next plane to Melbourne. The guy called Hans from Dortmund, Germany, told me he was at my performance, also missed his flight to Hongkong, early next morning we met at airport again…told me he had to sleep in airport.

I had to stay in Hotel without my suitcase…so, Airflight office gave me all those stuff you need , soap, toothbrush, tooth pasta, etc packed in small plastic bag…it was stress…because British Airway’s office was closed at that Terminal and I had to go to an another terminal by train, after through customs, very late in the night. Next day fortunately I found a seat for next flight to Melbourne but via Hongkong. First time at Hongkong’s new airport…I have been a lots of times in Hongkong…this time only for transit. There you can use wireless without any charge. It was necessary to contact Tim in Melbourne that I come late. That’s good thing, this wireless stuff…but, what’s about electric smog?

Late night I arrived in Melbourne. My suitcase was missing. I had strange feeling when I found flight at Heathrow, I asked the woman at check-in where is my suitcase? She answered me…. No worries we bring your suitcase safely to Melbourne. 7th intense. So, I had to live for a couple of days without my suitcase….no change underpants or socks in middle of summer time….. Tim and Sally, my ever hosts in Melbourne lent me their son Henrys Jeans, T shirt and socks. He is getting big and he don’t need it anymore.

Only short stay in Melbourne …around 7 hours…..took plane to Hobart. I had been here in 2004, but this time for performance. Yey!!! Weather was really great late summer weather sun is shining …landscapes are in bright. Last time I was here, weather was dark and rainy even it was beginning of January, middle of summer and it was cold.

Hosts Matt and Sally picked me up from airport. Matt I met last year in Melbourne, Sally I didn’t see her since 2004. They both are artists and Matt performs this time with me for first time. Even we know us each other for quite a long time. Supporting artist Red Whyte, we know each other and his wife are doing Tasmania tour.

In audience was Tony. Has taxis..he invited me for trip next day to Mount Wellington, Airwalk, and Huon Valley. Astonishing at Mount Wellington was, even there is touristic place at top, they don’t have restaurant, cafe or souvenir shops…that’s great thing here. No commercial stuff. Tony is motorbike freak, own Italian motorbike…it’s best place to live if you’re motor biker. This landscapes and roads are perfect made for biker. He loves Tasmania, when he found plastic bottle or odds on path he collect them and keep tidy. If everyone in the world is like him …world is so clean. Respect!!! I cannot stand higher than 160 cm which is my height. Tony took after to Airwalk, It was horrible feeling on long bridge you can see down through bridge. I had not enough time to see landscape….it’s kind of nightmare walk on that bridge…. I don’t mind to fly, because it’s moving to direction. But, if I have to go with my own foot…it’s difference. I remember when I was first time in Australia Gunther took me to Blue Mountain, there I felt same like today.

Then drive to Huon Valley…..I had appointment at radio, so had to back to Matt and Sally’s house. Matt came along to 2 hours Can/Damo Special radio program. Moderator was Nobi from Aachen, Germany since 1974 he is living here with his Tassie wife, he met in Germany during her mission house to house as Jehovah’s Witness…. Nobi was a football player. During music is going on Nobi talk to me why I’m not Jehovah’s witness anymore and this. was nice afternoon. His companion at studio, a young guy is also JW. If you go to Australia…it’s nice to be on beach or some other touristic attractions…but, I recommend to go to Tasmania, they have four areas which is belongs to world nature heritage. It’s amazing place…Wild Nature pure. Tasmania has most clean air and water in the world!!!…I was informed.

Visual report :
Sally’s report : http://twosmallrabbits.livejournal.com/

Damo Suzuki with Zeitloop: Carsten Eckermann (Bass), Chris Toyota (Guitar, Loops, Synthesizer), Nikolaus Maaß (Drums) and Josef Wenninghoff (Guitar)
http://www.jz-karo.de/index.htm

Since a couple of years, I didn’t perform with Zeitloop, also they have new bassist. Today is easy travel day by car. When I arrived already Nikolaus the drummer was there.

Wesel is small city near Essen, Duisburg and population of about 60,000. 45 km to border to Netherlands. Not something special. Just one of those Germany cities, most people go to work in big city and come back in the night…a kind of bed town. I have never performed in this city.

Chris running booking agent and now he is father. Josef is the only guy who is not living at Cologne area. They are getting better and 70’s like music is coming out.