Foy Vance: Days 27 & 28 Zabrze, Poland

Days 27 & 28 Zabrze, Poland

Saturday, 10 October 2009

We travelled to Zabrze yesterday from Berlin, a mere 5 hour drive, which seems like nothing at this stage of the game. The thing about Zabrze (pronounced Zarbshu - for some reason-) is that it would seem, to all intents and purposes, that no westerner has ever been here. Which, incidentally,would be a great thing in my opinion. I had such high hopes, so the second I saw a McDonalds sign I was devastated!!

When the Tour Mole checks hotels he just goes online and looks at everything available in that particular area. However, when he checked for hotels in Zabrze, ABSOLUTELY NOTHING came up! It took a bit of working to find anywhere at all, but he eventually found somewhere... mmmm somewhere.... This hotel is the closest to Hotel California as it gets. A very bizarre place altogether. It's very clean, the few staff that man the place are very nice, and it has everything that you'd expect a hotel to have but there's just something extremely odd about it. Aside from the staff, Tour Mole and myself, there didn't seem to be anyone else there!

We went into the restaurant which had around 16 tables complete with white cloths and roses...very well laid out, BUT... NOBODY there! Tour Mole and I sat having a meal together, in a very large, and very empty, restaurant listening to Elton John's Greatest Hits full blast. The English menu had things on it like Readies(?), which turned out to be cabbage, and crudes, which meant 'vegetables in general'...odd! It was a real experience though.

The waitress didn't speak a single word of English and we don't speak a word of Polish aside from thank you, so ordering was interesting. I finished the meal with a cranberry flavoured Vodka.....well I am in Poland after all...it was very nice.

We woke up this morning and went to Autswitz. I sort of feel like the less said about this the better really. Enough to say that it was a very heavy place to be, and yet somehow completely unassuming in the cool Autumnal sunshine. Joanne asked me to take some pictures for her so I did, but it wouldn't feel right posting them here, I don't think. It's not a tourist attraction, it's an historical documentation of what to avoid. It was sombre, and I'm glad they've retained that reality for people to experience. I've been to a lot of historical sites and there's nearly always a café close by so that you can relax there for a while, but there was no such thing here, and rightly so!!!

I'm glad I've been there to see it, but I wouldn't be in a hurry to go again, unless my daughter starts studying the holocaust or something.

Anyway, enough heaviness....the world is again discovering hope from East to West, in spite of everything!

The gig was great tonight, it didn't go where I expected it to, mainly because I broke a string. Funny how such a simple thing can change the direction of an entire set! The Polish people are a great audience to play to!! Looking forward to Warsaw....and of course, the road home!

Till tomorrow....THE LAST DAY OF THE TOUR!!

p.s. Matt and John are gonna come out and play the set with me tomorrow night in Warsaw, so I'm looking forward to that....keep you posted...f

Last bit of the Berlin wall still standing (although not for the wrong reasons)

Why have a table for two, when you can have a restaurant ?

This tasted just how it looks - fake! (that's meant to be fish by the way)

Comments

miner

Man! I saw you on stage in Zabrze. You are amazing. This is the first gig in my life where supporting artist is equal to main artist. You were preparing songs on stage like a cook making dishes, adding ingredients, spices, e.t.c. Absolutely stunning. And yes! We both love Tom Waits :) . Zabrze seems odd? You shoud see Chorzów, Sosnowiec, Gliwice... This is a strange place to live...

Kuba

I know that Zabrze is a specific place (mining industry area), but I'm sure that you will feel more familiar in Warsaw ;-) As regards concert, it was fantastic gig, and I appreciate "Back in Black" (as a bonus compared to Berlin show) See you again today in Warsaw!

mar

Foy, I think your staff should better prepare your tours, so you won't have to be in such places like this restaurant and hotel. I can assure you that Diana Krall and Chris Boti who perform in Zabrze next month won't have such experiences. And about hotels in Silesia, Members of Genesis, U2, Metallica and other groups playing in Silesia didn't complain. Nevertheless, your show yesterday was great!!!.

kate

thank you for the amazing show yesterday. :)

Dave

Haha, I like your post:) Actually, I didn't expect such a amazing gig before Tori yesterday in Zabrze! You're great musician! I wanted to buy your cd, but it turned out I was prepared;) I hope I'll find it in some internet store. Good luck man and you're really welcome in Poland again. Must see Crocow and Wroclaw next time:)

bdr

It was amazing! Thank you and see you again.

I saw the set on 10.10.2009 in Warsaw, the next-to-last piece was amazing, what was it?

daliusz

I’ve also been there. I mean at your gig. And my opinion wouldn’t be different from the rest – it was a really great experience for me and you were awesome! By the way, Zabrze, I guess, ought to be pronounced “Zabshe” were SH should sound more like S in word “vision” or “usual”. Version “Zabshu” isn’t a basic word. It is used when you reply on a question “In where?”. In polish you say “I am in ZabrzU”. But basic word is “Zabshe”, so having question “What is it?” you will answer “This is ZabshE”. It’s grammatical matter. Don’t worry. Polish language is strange as well as difficult. That’s what everyone says. I hope you are not disappointed with being in Poland (after all), so we will see you and hear you again!

monica

Thank you for the great memories from Zabrze... You are really fantastic musican. God bless you and hope to see you again in Poland:)

Shauna

Maybe you should post those pictures... I think people should know about these things to drive home the fact that there is hope, even after the most horrific suffering... Hope you are enjoying the tour! Take 'er easy! :)

Christoph (from Germany)

Hey Foy, been an amazing tour! Drop me a mail, please. Oh, and Kuba: nice meeting you in Warsaw. Drop me an e-mail too, please: gsdfgaggdsssd32@me.com Cheers, Christoph

Urszula

Hey Foy, I was in Zabrze as well not expecting to much as Im not a huge Tori fan and have to say had a great suprise. Your gig was AMAZING, I even cried during the last song (that never happened to me before...) Man you're great. I couldnt wait to the end of Tori's gig to buy your CD :) (but pls dont tell her.... ;) ) Anyway that was awesome only a bit too short, your album is awesome as well too bad you had only a chance to see Zabrze (for me very depressing place) & Warsaw... also weather didnt help to have a great first impression for someone who has never been to Poland...next time you should come to Krakow or Wrocław. Hope I'll see you on stage again and not as a support Good Luck :) Ula

air

You were amaizng in Zabrze!!! Thank you! I bought "Hope" and i'm listening all the time. I hope you'll visit Poland and play for us soon!

Ariel

Hi, Foy, your performance in Warsaw was really amazing!You are a great musician. Tori always works with wonderful people. I wanted to meet you in the foyer, after the show, but I was with a friend and she had to catch a plane in the morning, so we had to leave. Anyway, I just want you to know that I was really touched by your music. All the best!

Eddie

Tori's concerts are always magic, like a mysterious spiritual ceremony and this time you contributed something special and really unique to the atmosphere of the evening. Thank you and good luck!

Kim

Hey Foy - I am sad to hear the tour is ending but hopeful that you will be States bound sometime soon to play at the Ballroom...though I imagine you would rather go home and rest for the next forever. haha. I will keep bugging Adrian and look on here to see when you are headed our way. Hope you get to rest soon and hope to see you again soon!! Take care, Kim

ally

Ahh, back from tour and blog updates stop!!

cole

Yo Foy, I'm a huge huge fan of yours. I somehow stumbled across one of your videos on youtube a few months back and have been listening to your stuff all day at work ever since. Baillie's Blood is my favorite song. What is it about? You need to come to St. Louis Missouri and do a show. Peace.

Sybel

Greetings F.. Please come to America...specifically...Michigan. Stumbled on to "Hope" recently and love your music. Love the photos of your EU tour too!! AND...Ella looks like my daughter when my daughter (now a doctor) was young.... your music and photos are wonderful. Bring your family to America too.... and to Michigan. Welcome at my home... good food, clean beds and country air... and good music...Best Wishes for continued success...

You can follow any responses to this article through the comment feed .

Days 27 & 28 Zabrze, Poland

Comments

Post your comments

Recent articles

Subscribe

Recent comments

Related content

Days 27 & 28 Zabrze, Poland

Spread the word...

Comments

Post your comments

Recent articles

Subscribe

Recent comments

Related content