a dream summers night
In sweltering, humid heat my tour manager John picked me
up to drive us to
Heathrow for the next adventure in Switzerland. We like to
stay in a hotel the night before departure. I also try to arrange a flight
after mid day. I remember when air travel was much more enjoyable and faster.
The time spent hanging around and the increased number of delays is as a direct
result of more people travelling with less resources on the ground. In other
words, the inconvenience experienced by air travellers is caused by simple greed.
Our flight was delayed by about forty five minutes so
not the best start but at least the show was not scheduled until the following
day. Our next adventure in Switzerland will be one where we fly in, play the
same day and return on the following day. That will be a bit more pressured but
do able. The train ride from Zurich to our destination was a treat. The trains
are modern, run on time and are very comfortable. The contrast with recent rail
debacles here is massive. I like travelling by train and would do so more but
for the poor reliability here in the UK.
Our host Kurt Mathis picked us up at the station in
Kreuzlingen which is near Lake Constance. The area is very scenic and very
clean. People do not drop litter here or anywhere else.
I never know what to expect when I am travelling to a
private show but I am never disappointed. Kurt turned out to be a very pleasant
and interesting host. I had met him previously at one of the Chappo gigs at the
Shepards Bush o2 show but only briefly. Kurt took us into town for dinner. John
and I went for the Perch Frites made
from the fish called Zander. Delicious.
After our dinner we sat up until around five in the
morning drinking fine cognac and getting to know each other. part of the night
was spent around the fire Kurt had made in his garden. We all acknowledged the
power of fire and how we all gravitate towards a fire in the open, no matter
where we come from on the planet. It was a great night. I don't do this often
these days although John and I have had a few similar sessions over the years
we have been working together. So finally, to bed and I slept like a log.
I'd had all sorts of plans to visit places of local
interest but it was so hot I opted to loaf around as preparations were being
made for the evening party. The stage was the decking under a balcony of the
new house Kurt's brother is building. The garden is large and the whole place
was once a factory. A very neat PA system was set up and a hunt for a suitable
seat for me was set in motion. Soon I had sound checked the system and I was
very pleased with the sound. The sun was hot but there was plenty of shade.
The time passed steadily. My bedroom was a 2 minute walk
from the stage so it was perfect for preparing for the show.Kurt had hired a woman to run a bar and a couple who
served the best barbecue ever.
Slowly Kurt's guests began to arrive and the DJ kicked off with a good old selection of
the good old days tunes. After sampling the barbecue it was time to perform. As always I had compiled a set list before setting out but I never keep to it. Of
course this is not really possible with a band where things are set out with specific
keyboard sounds and other constraining but necessary chronological events in
mind. Occasionally I would change a song order on stage but rarely.
Halfway through my set some young people began heckling
from a garden nearby. I returned fire with some very strange universal/ non
language based noise which my audience joined in with. We all had a laugh about
that and I continued. My audience was so very attentive and very appreciative. John
reckons I played the definitive version of Belle of Trevelyan. I had been
recording vocals on it some days before the trip so that seems to have helped.
The recording of the new album is going well but slowly and I don't mind. It
will be finished when I am totally satisfied with it. It is a lot to do by myself
but I am enjoying it very much. I do intend to collaborate with a few others as
things develop but there is a way to go before that. My mate Ramblin has
dropped by to do backing vocals and we have been having fun recording his Korg
drum. It is an amazing tool filled with exotic sounds and designed as an instrument
to be played rather than programmed. Excellent!
I have been editing my novel The Instantanium and
writing new sections. It has been a retreat for me for many years. Somewhere to
go to when I need or want to. Now it is time to finish the thing. I could go on
and on with it but the time has come to call a halt.
The temperature in Kurt's lovely garden dropped a little
as I worked through my set. The audience called for an encore. Actually I felt
exhausted. I had poured myself into the songs but I had to return to the stage
for my lovely audience. I cracked out a version of There's a hole in it and
that was me done. All good. I think most had a good time and I know Kurt had
the best time. he had gone to enormous lengths to make this party and my stay
with him a success and it was that in spades. My hosts always look after me
very well and this was no exception. I had a really great time.
Sitting around the fire again after most people had
left was a lovely way to come down after a gig and the company was special. The
people who hang around in the early hours are always cool to me. They are still
awake for a start and they usually have great tales and wisdom to share. After
a few more glasses of cognac and some great interactions I left for my bed. I
wanted to be fairly fresh for the flight home.
Next day I got up at about midday and made my way into
the sun baked garden. John was about with Kurt. We took a few photos,
breakfasted and Kurt took us to the train headed back to Zurich. Everything went
smoothly after that and we arrived back at Heathrow on time, collected the car
from our hotel and headed to London.
After dropping me off John was heading home to
Cornwall. He is one of the few men I know who still loves to drive and he is as
good a driver as I have ever had the pleasure to be driven by. He texted me at around 2.30 am to let me know
he was home safe. All good.
We'd had a great time. I like travelling with John and
he looks after me very well. We are off to Trondheim in the north of Norway for a few days next and then on to Switzerland again a couple of days later. Thanks from both
of us to Kurt who made it all worthwhile.
peace
