Monday, 05 October 2009

"It's OK, wee man!  You've got 'two third tour' syndrome, that's all."

These were the encouraging words of my mate - Steve Jones - on the phone yesterday.  I was telling him about feeling a little bit cranky, cantankerous, irritable and just downright tired and ready for the hills.  I then spoke to Matt (Tori's drummer on this tour) about it, and apparently it's a well know thing, this old 'two thirds tour' syndrome.

I'm feeling a lot better now though.  It only lasted a couple of days.

I knew things were going sque-wiff when the Tour mole and I had a huge row about wind turbines, and whether or not they're a good thing.  I was arguing for them.  A valid discussion but hardly argue worthy!

Had a good gig in Antwerp last night.  It was good to learn a bit of another language.  You see, I'm introducing myself each night and saying that I'm happy to be where I am, in the local language.  So far it's been OK, but I haven't tried out my Polish yet.  It's funny learning things in other languages.  It all just seems like sounds to me.  I know what I'm saying, but what I'm hearing doesn't sound anything like I think it should.  For instance, to say "I'm very happy to be here" in German you use the word 'glücklich', which means lucky.  But every time I say it all I can think of is pouring a glass of wine or something: glücklich glücklich glücklich.... anyway...it makes sense to me....

I got evangelised in French at the gig in Paris, by a security guard.  I didn't understand everything he said, but I got the gist of it.  Essentially telling me about the imminent apocalypse, and my need for Jesus.  That's about all I got out of the 5 minute barrage.  I always find it interesting with zealous evangelists of whatever religion, that they tend not to ask questions about you.  They tend to not be interested in your story or even whether or not you're already a part of they're religion; they just plough into you with an onslaught of quotes from their given book, and speak in a way that only they themselves can really understand.  It all seems so utterly futile to me!  Whether it is or isn't is hard to say, but it certainly seems pretty useless.  It's like trying to interest someone in the restorative power of music by bombarding them with the beauty of minor 5th augmented 7th chords, relative minors and the mixolydian mode... it means nothing right!?  Better to play you a piece of music, wouldn't you say?

Speaking of (or speaking around) the afterlife.  I'm reading a book at the minute (another one of the many I've brought with me) called 'SUM - 40 tales of the afterlife'.  It's a great book with 40 (as the title would suggest) short stories, or fantasies is maybe a better word, about the afterlife.  It's often funny and always thought provoking.  The guy doesn't have an axe to grind, he's not pitching ideas that he hopes will catch on and become religious doctrine (at least I hope not).  He's a Neuroscientist called David Eagleman (cool name eh) how is just musing on the possibilities of the afterlife.  It's a very good read if you're interested.  And the best bit is, you can read a chapter in about 2 mins...perfect for the likes of me!

So, I'm now being ushered out of the venue, so I'd best sign off.  We drive to Berlin tomorrow and have the evening off, so I think we're gonna meet up with some other guys from the tour and go to a Rum Bar that the mighty, and ALWAYS informative, Steve Jones told me about.... till we speak again:

May the wind be always on your back
And the sun upon your face
May you never get a kick in the arse
When you bend to tie your lace

I think that might be Yeats... or Butler...I can't remember....f

Snow capped mountains of Monte Blanco, Italy


Living the rock 'n' roll dream in a Parisian tunnel at rush hour


people watching at a French café


Anyone for crabs?