Diary

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……

http://www.nightnday.org/

I had 3 days break in London. I met Maya again, invited her for the secret concert on 8th to perform with me and also Gaetano, a young Italian composer invited us to visit him and we did.

Last time I performed here was just a half year ago. It’s kind of home address whenever I perform in Manchester. This time very special….Double feature show with first singer of Can Malcolm Mooney. Didn’t see him for around 20 years. He seems to be OK, he was so friendly and nice person still and he sung a couple of Can track’s for his fans.

Then my set with Jay the ever sound carrier in Manchester and this time with his brother Ben on Drums and other local sound carriers. Andy Hall who wrote original Can Book, also Jono and Sandra visited the show.

Damo Suzuki Elysian Quartet: Jenny Logan (Violin), Laura Moody (Cello) Vincent Sipprell (Viola) and Emma Smith (Violin) 2nd Set will be joined by Adem Ilhan (Assorted Random Instruments) and John Paul Gandy (Piano)
http://www.southbankcentre.co.uk/

Gerald picked up me from Paddington station we found us difficult find each other, each of us were there exactly at appointment time, but took 30 minutes to find ourself we stands on misunderstanding. Then after went directly to the venue across Themes …

On time table stands sound check between 2PM to 6PM. This is classic music venue and part of Royal Elizabeth Hall. Today’s menu is acoustic based music with classical musicians. Organic food on dish. Sometimes really nice to perform at concert hall like this. This is built as concert hall so, naturally sounds are great, people works here are very keen on what they do and positive way they’re very professional.

To work with classic music stadied artist is different, they are serious…no mistake is allowed (I felt them while waiting for sound check, at sound check and also after the performance). But, positive thing in them is they have wide perspective in sound making. So, you can create far father much into space and time..into nature….A couple of days later I heard recording of this concert (and this sounds amazing) …..

Elysian quartet performed far well also they took vocal parts (sound really nice) ..there are many cool parts…. Adem and John Paul joined 2nd sets. Both guys are also fantastic. Gerlad who organised this show was really happy that music went far well…so as he had this idea I and classical musician perform together. I am listener of classical music (Favorite : Mainly Russian classical music from first half of 20th century) and this with my love to music for many years. So, it was really nice welcomed change perform with classical sound carriers.

After show I met Jono and Sandra (Sometimes she sit on my knee when she was baby, I don’t know if she can remember) brought daughter Lara, told me she would like to sing with me one day…So, I have to live much longer and do this one day. Also an Italian young opera singer Maya introduced me herself and we talked much about music…we felt really familiar…

Damo Suzuki with Youthmovies : Al English (Guitar), Stephen Hammond (Bass, Keys), Andrew Mears (Guitar), Graeme Murray (Drums), and Sam Scott (Trumpet, Flugelhorn, Organ).

Ady, one of organiser of the show picked me up from train station. I know how to get around here. Oxford is one of my favorite city in England. Within one year to perform in Oxford, this time local band Youthmovies, who going to perform at Fuji Rock Festival, Japan this summer, joined Network.

They are young sweet guys around 24 years old, very ambitioned band …they told me they will be in professional music circus very soon… in a couple of days. Anton, I met last year in Palma de Mallorca at the festival showed up with his girl friend from Bath and three times concerts organiser in Oxford, Stuart.

It’s really nice to see old friends again here and there. Graeme, the drummer told me that I performed with him last time when I was here….I was fully forgetting, I am very sorry ….There is no excuse…but, around 400 sound carriers in Year? ..I will remember you next time!!!! Excuse me!!!

In a way the event was quite interesting line-up. 2 Noise duets and a heavy metal band as supports. Much energy was in the room. After show went to the band member’s place, but, we are quite late…and also we were tired..

Damo Suzuki with Black Carrot: Oliver Betts (Tenor Sax, Bass Recorder, Electric Piano, Percussion), Tom Betts (Drums), Stewart Brackley (Electric Bass, Contrabass, Voice) and Euan Rodger (Percussion, Tapes, Voice)
http://www.thetinangel.co.uk/

Sarah who works together with concert organiser Richard picked me up from the airport last night and brought to Rich’s place…On the way we saw traffic accident, a young man were on their road laying..hope not bad thing happened, so we had to take an another way. Richard is in Scotland with his label stuff

So, this time I didn’t see him and he lost chance to experience Network sound. Coventry is absolutely first time to perform. There was 2 sets before Network performance. But, Both bands are members of Black Carrot from Leicester, with whom I will perform again at the of this month in their home town.

The venue is nice venue separated drink and performance room. Stage is a bit small..but it doesn’t bother me that much. Some told me that tonight many music police was in the room…around 80 percent of audience was musicians….Which is quite normal at my concerts, they watch at and research and some of them ask me after the show if there is any possibilities to perform with some of next Network performance.

Its nice..many people greeted my idea of Never Ending Tour and Network ideology, feel there are more and more people step on this path and enjoying spontaneous sound making getting with friendship with create time and space of the moment.

1st Set: Damo Suzuki with Yoshio Kuge (Drums), Yuriko Mukojima (Violin) and Takashi Ueno (Guitar) 2nd Set: Damo Suzuki with Jimanica (Drums), Cal Lyall (Analog Synthesizer, Effects), Mori-shige (Cello), Mitsuru Nasuno (Bass) Teruyuki Oshima (Guitar) Both sets: Masahide Ando (Live Mixing) and Ohpia (Lighting and Visual Manipulations)

I was invited from Cal, a young Canadian who lives 9 years in Japan and supporting Japanese underground scene and organised this show at this venue. This was entrance free concert that’s why I was not informing on my website until other Tokyo concerts are over to avoid difficulties to get audience in other venues. 

Co-curator Tabata, whom I performed with the first show of this Japan tour on March 1st. had to go to hospital and stay there unfortunately. (He is now getting well…. I take this space to send many love to him.) Roppongi where this venue placed is kinda trend setter area in asphalt jungle Tokyo for followers of fashion whom interesting about what is the trend. Very international ambiente. Owner of this venue Mike is an american. There was a supporting band and 2 Network sets which is organised as “Neverending Mystery Singer show ”

After the show I and Cal and three of his friends from US and UK hang over at Japanese noodle restaurant eat Ramen and Cal’s place as I had to go to airport very early in the morning to catch the plane back to Europe. It’s fun to be together with four foreigners, British and US American they speak Japanese and they know much about Japan now even better than I do.  This time It was really a nice visit to Japan and had many experience this time…an exciting trip!!!!

Early next morning I left Cal’s apartment, Love-san was waiting for me at Sin-Okubo station took me to airport by his car, during drive and also at airport I was not able to speak and some short seconds I slept. it was not good manner from me that I didn’t have much communication with Love-san….My battery was quite empty…..But, with happiness fly back to home.