Damo

Damo Suzuki and Nikolay Oorzhak (Throat Sing) with Safety Magic : Michael Avsharov (Bass), Igor Rozanov (Percussion), Sergey Nebilsin (Drums), Dan Lerman (Tres-Guitar), Oleg Marjakhin (Saxophones), Peter Nikulin (Digeridoo), Oleg Pankratov (Guitar), Pavel Novikov (Tabula, Dorbuk, Bansuri)

Arrived around 8 O’clock in the morning. I cannot remember but it was light, just cold and I’am tired. St.Petersburg is one of my favorite cities in Europa beside Barcelona. Has own atmosphere, yes second big city in land has kind of feeling I like..has much culture (I don’t say Moscow has less) I mean..Barcelona, Melbourne, Osaka, Hamburg, Edinburgh…they are much more interesting than largest city of their land.

I heard once around 80 percent of land’s budget flew to Moscow and rest 20 percent share with all other part of Russia. You may see everything from west if you go to shopping in Moscow. But, very very expensive. For example men’s suits from So and so famous Europe brand costs enormus high, many Russian’s comes to Europe for shopping trip (even very expensive here) and go back with flight.

All inclusive Flight, Hotel, Shopping still it’s much cheaper to be in Europe. I don’t know this is true..but, I heard from some people. One say Moscow is most expensive city in the world nowadays. Well. let’s back to beautiful city St.Petersburg. We took bus to the venue we play tonight..first we picked up (An another) Katja, who sometimes organise my shows in Russia like last time. I know her since my first tour in Russia.

The venue is kind of night club atmosphere, quite large space. Katja took me to Sasha who will be my host for next two days. He is editor of news paper. he has collection of percussion instruments (He is percussionist and even he traveled to other places in the world with his music as well) also I saw some skins for Djembe which is preparing in his bathroom also he has hundreds of Whisky collection here and there..some in his treasure wooden box. He asked me if I like to taste some of them. I explained that before I drunk whisky and I loved it but, now I’m not that fun of Whisky ..even fine ones like he has.

Afterwhile I asked him if he can join our show the day after tomorrow as Djembe drummer. He was a bit surprised but, soon he found his answer…he will come with his instruments. The night was so long..this was same festival like in Moscow’s first performance. I had only 40 minutes performance but, there were many “voices” on run before my turn. Was alone in dressing room for quite long time. Tuva throat singer/shaman Nikolay asked me if he would make duet with me. Sure it’s welcomed good idea…perform together with one of my favorite etheno music Tuva throat singer.

He asked me after concert if it was OK…I said it’s always OK. I am awaken to travel to Tuva in near future. After concert one young guy asked me if he can join with his Djembe on Monday. I say why not then see you on monday.

Damo Suzuki with Safety Magic : Mickael Avsharov (Bass), Sergey Nebolsin (Drums), Dan Lerman (Tres-Guitar), Arcadiy Marto (Electronics, Sampling, Calimba), Oleg Marjakhin (Saxophones), Peter Nikulin (Digeridoo), Oleg Pankratov (Guitar), Pavel Novikov (Tabula, Dorbuk, Bansuri)
http://www.dom.com.ru/

Boris and Katja went to Ukraine for business, so Dan picked me up and I stayed for a while at Pashha’s office. First he brought me to his own cafeteria to take breakfast, he said he was waiting for me. I said since in Russia I drink too much and I feel dizzy..then, he served me vodka with a lots of pepper a small spoon full of it and wait until all pepper stay bottom of glass…this is good for that feeling I do always he said…I didn’t believe but, I tried for his kind service…I said it’s horrible!!!…..then after he showed me slide show and music he recorded in Goa.

The venue is an art space, I perform here for second time, venue with chair…nice and friendly people working here. It’s special atmosphere Today’s performance is just with Safety Magic..but, a bit change in member compare to last night. Nazar, the smiling violinist is not and Sergey plays drum instead 2 meter and more length giant drummer Andrey. (He was there for watching the show, second set he was banging table.)

Sergey is small one like me. He was a cook even win award, cooked for political party functioners..unfortunately I had no chance to try his cooking art. We had enough time to create time and space of the moment and audience get in trance. Before performance I had nice speak with Russian music paper man for interviews at the venue upstairs. As everytime move to St.Petersburg took this time night train.

They say it’s quite boring to travel this stretch at day time. Pashha and his assistant joined without any information without suitcase to travelling band (Do they have ticket?). I understand why they like to travel in the night for an another reason. There was vodka is going around and we had quite long but, quite a short sleeping night…Everybody drink a lots here. I might lay down for minutes..everybody in good mood. As I look back since I’m in Russia I drunk quite a lots.

In restaurant with Boris after every dish Vodka after Vodka. But, they have really good quality vodka which is impossible to buy in west. Good quality stuff they keep it for themself. French does too their great sortment of great wine….

Damo Suzuki with Safety Magic : Nazar Amanov (Violin), Mickael Avsharov (Bass), Andrey Romanika (Drums), Sergey Nebolsin (Percussion), Dan Lerman (Tres-Guitar), Arcadiy Marto (Electronics, Sampling, Calimba), Oleg Marjakhin (Saxophones), Peter Nikulin (Digeridoo), Oleg Pankratov (Guitar)
http://www.16tons.ru/

Before first performance day, I had two free days in Moscow. I spend a lots of time with my friend Boris and Katja. They don’t speak any language which I understand. So, they speak always with me Russian. I know them since four years, every time I come to Moscow I stay at their place which is in the city. Boris loves soccer (Manchester United Fan) so as I do (SC Freiburg Fan). We watch together world soccer in TV almost whole day drink vodka with some friends and also some members of Saftey Magic who invited me to perform 2 concerts in Moscow and one in St.Petersburg.

My last show with them here they recorded live and now they release CD “Voices” with four different singers..one is with me and it’s called “Highway Retrospection”  Boris showed me paintings, he bought from an Belarus artist. Even he asked me if I would like to perform in Belarus…there is nothing really happen. Anyway he likes all four paintings so much and he likes to keep it for himself than to sale anybody else. It’s very original styled painting and original…not so bad.

Moscow is the city of charm (dream like buildings and many beautiful girls), many cars and loud. The day before yesterday I arrived, almost from airport to the city traffic Jam, took around one hour or more. An another singer on “Voices” Inna picked me up from airport..pass control took quite a long around one hour. Since two years I had never been here..so, everything is kind of nostalgia. Anyway Russia is very special, rich in culture, history and many different folks. Foods here are amazing, Boris and Katja took me to Baku, Azerbaijan Restaurant, this place we were last time too. Funny thing on that day was beside our table there were around twenty people from mode business and they were showing season’s ladys hut collection. And some attraction, opera singer, pop singer and folk singer on Karaoke…some times tape doesn’t work..it was amazing to see them like film of Fellini. Boris said this is not everyday like this.

Next day Boris and Katja invited me to (Boris informed me) the best restaurant in Moscow “Pushikin”..really a fantastic restaurant foods are great, service by communicative pretty lady was great and also this old furnitures and tables, chairs, mirrors..it’s has all their worth makes together this nice atmosphere.

After a couple of appetizer and Soup I had great fish dish. I have small digital camera with me on tour. Mostly I shoot foods specially in country with gourmet. I don’t take much photos of people, one reason is that I will have problem and other reason is I will see them again if they’re my friend …..there is always next time. But, food? In case I come here again I would like to try other good things too. Dan, the guitarist of the band took me to Red Square by Metro….might be most beautiful Metro stations in the world. So, super de lux like palats…there are many figures.

Also went to Passha house out side Moscow, entrance to this luxury area has own security guard, he runs trans music label and own studio in Goa, India as well…he just came back from Goa a couple of days before. He’s friend of the band. Two days of relax and being tourist, first performance at 16 Tons…I performed here once at very my very Russia tour. This was “Voices” festival and very long night. Musicians who involved in Safety Magic’s release “Voices” performed. Only 40 minutes of performance with Safety Magic, they are changing members often. Some old faces I know, they were fine and nice evening………

There was one old man in Backstage..Old man? I’m old too..but, As far as I cannot see myself always I don’t think I’m old anyway. It was pity we couldn’t take any conversation as there was no language which connect us together. He is throat singer from Tuva. Nikolay Oorzhak. I’m long time since like this music and some times also in Buenos Aires I performed with throat singing (and elsewhere). But, they were Argentina. He was a very silence person……was invited for “Voices” festival. Sure without Tuva throat singing it’s meaningless in Russia what “Voices” means. His performance was great and this first time I hear original.

End of the performance I see Boris smiling and his is really happy.

Damo Suzuki with Booger Red, Maya Sapone, Voice Of The Seven Woods,Wolf People
http://www.finderskeepersrecords.com/

Andy, who organised first Network performance in Manchester few years ago, a DJ of tonight and friend of Malcolm picked me up from railway station St.Pancras. Manchester Gig perform on stage with Malcolm was his arrangement.

Today is it’s second act in London. As I had show fixed in London on April 2nd avoid to put my name on flyer/poster just as a special guest but, there was my photo from early 70’s beside Malcolm. After drink a couple of Guinness (I like black beer but, I prefer wine) with Malcolm, his wife, Andy and some friends we went to venue. There Maya, who will duo with me for first time and her boyfriend, Gerlad and Sylke were waiting for me and already a lots of sound carriers, sure there was a lots of sound carriers perform tonight…a kind of small festival atmosphere.

Maya was good way motivated and sound check with her was already good. I feel she is my daughter (if I could have…I have 3 sons, so I wished at least one daughter)….She is classical studied opera singer and improviser (She runs improvisation course in London)

Everybody enjoyed the performance as after performance some females hug me miss me…But, it’s nice… people act emotional from instant composing.

Damo Suzuki with Windowright: Neil Atkinson (Drums), Anthony Smith (Bass, Keyboards) , Matt Littlewood (Guitar/Laptop) and Astral Social Club

Huddersfield placed at geographically middle of Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, even there is possibility to take train in midnight as Manchester international air port transfer goes around the clock… Organiser Ned has been a bit changed, fresh married but, still a very friendly guy picked me up from train station. Relax a while at his place.

Today finally I perform with the Window Right, a local band who has original sound which is not so many young bands has. At the beginning of last year I performed here, they were supporting band and I really liked their live sound.

Also member of them contacted to me sometimes by E mail. I carried their Demo CD around the world for a while. It was funny first time I saw them last year. I said to them : Window Right? …I was surprised, I know your music, I am carrying your Demo CD everywhere . They were surprised too. So, we create time and space of the moment together for first time, also joined by Astral Social Club, a one man experimental band of Niel Campbel. I was informed that Anthony cannot join tonight for any reason….but, he came…

After the performance I was together with bunch of young guys, mainly musician. They like to perform with me too. They said it was something moving in their hearts that they want play together if they could. Huddersfield is small town..but, real music lovers here……