Five more days until the tour officially commences, but Edward has already started his tour diary!
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day One
October 13
Of course, referring to this tour as ‘Post Pandemic’ is wildly unrealistic but it sounds better than the “Everyone Stopped Bothering to wear masks and pretend COVID was no longer a problem Tour 2022”. I’m sitting in Heathrow Terminal 5; a busy, hassling sort of place but nestling in my list of ‘airports I hate’ at a respectable 15th.
So what is my least favourite transport hub? Frankfurt is certainly a contender for its rudeness, size and its ability to make the innocent traveler feel like a cockroach.
But no… The VERY WORST airport in the Kaspelian Diary of Horrors is Amsterdam Schiphol. I recall one horrendous night after a one hour flight in a frightening storm where it took nearly double that time to get through Passport Control ( pre Brexshit too!). The crowd was crammed into a small corridor . Here and there it actually swayed from side to side. People screamed , small children were crying incontrollably. And the unnecessarily pedantic officer in his uniform wanted to see the whites of everyone’s eyes. Naturally I did make a complaint.. it was acknowledged and passed on. Bah!!!
Let’s be positive and dwell on the wonder of Southend Airport. You have to go there….
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Two
October 14
A day of rest after a wonderful welcome from Randall and Elisa.
It could be my imagination but I swear Transatlantic flights have become harsher since my last one in 2019. I sat one row from the back and the seat was so constrained, it felt more like a small cage.Things became far worse when the person in front of me put the back of her seat back, forcing me to do the same. I didn’t dare look behind at the poor soul behind me. Still, i contented myself by watching “Yesterday” again (what a wonderful film!) and (confessions time), “Notting Hill”. I’m such a sucker for those romantic movies, I’ve been known to cry in public….The picture depicts Sebastian- a new buddy of mine!
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Three
October 15
‘If God had intended us to fly, he would have given us wings.’
Instead he gave us jet lag. It’s 6am as I type this missive, after an hour or so of revising song lyrics in my head. At around 1.30 am I indulged in my own take of ‘counting sheep’ for around 30 minutes.I’m living in the future…7 hours in the future to be precise. Even so, tonight was a little better than the one before. Come the next life, I’ll take those wings…
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Four
October 16
The luxury of 8 hours sleep means your humble narrator feels a little more energetic today.
We rehearsed for hours yesterday and there will be another session this evening as I can’t deny that the schedule does appear a little daunting.
Even so, the early U.S tours were arguably harder. For a start , we all now take the ease of phoning home for granted and there’s the added luxury of actually SEEING the person on the other end of the line.
In our first American tours it was all about phone booths at gas stations. The booths were invariably outside and the luckless caller would need around 30 x 25 cent calls to squeeze in a sheepish ‘how are you?’ before the dreaded beeps of death kicked in.
Later tours saw the introduction of the phone card, but choosing the right one was like entering a lottery. More than often the cheapest cards offered the best value even if the sound quality wasn’t the greatest. Then there was the A.T& T card which gave the caller a decent line for more money but seemed to last for around a minute. Progress can be wonderful.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Five
October 17
An enormously intense day as we run through the set a few times. Rehearsing is in reality MORE exhausting than being on the stage. But if ever there was a nice place to put the pieces together, it’s here in the Colorado mountains. That’s Philippe in the picture!
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Six
October 18
Finally we’re off into the great unknown. Salt Lake City is around 9 hours from here, so it seemed smart to break the journey into two halves.As you’ll see by the picture, the T-shirts take up considerably more space than the humans in our merry bus. However it was not always this way. On our first tour of America back in 1989, the concept of someone actually buying a Legendary Pink Dots’ T-shirt seemed like an alien concept. It was thanks to a friend ( I’m sure it was you, Olga! ) who suggested we should give it a try. Elke made a delightful design on a piece of paper in a New York hotel room and we printed maybe 100 . They are extremely rare now partly because finding the time for laundry is tough on tour and we inevitably started wearing them ourselves.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Seven
October 19
When I think of a city , my mind is filled with images of the ancient glory of Rome, the breathtaking speed of New York, the dignity of London ….
In America EVERY dot on the map is a city. We spent the night in the city of Grand Junction, Colorado and , no disrespect intended, it bears no relationship to the buzzing hubs of activity mentioned above.
Still, the ‘city’ that really had me questioning the nature of things was surely Buford, Wyoming. The sign said it all – Population : 2 ! That’s the 2 guys who ran the gas station. There is no airport in Buford.
The first show is tonight at The Metro Music Hall in Salt Lake City ( an actual city) If you’re in town, do come along!
***
On stage in around 90 minutes for the first time in nearly 3 years. The ‘Legenadary Pink Dots’
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Eight
October 20
The first show of a tour is a nerve wracking affair. New songs, a new kind of energy, a huge test of memory, and the slightest slip can truly rock confidence.
Even so, this adventure couldn’t have started in a better place than Salt Lake City. The audience in this rather remote metropolis is hugely supportive, appreciative and kind. They were on our side from the start, and we feel that we passed the test we set ourselves. Having said that, we’re happy we made it to the show at all. We left Grand Junction with the simple goal of quickly finding breakfast and fuel. But there was NOTHING …FOR MILES!!
The landscape transformed into something resembling The Sahara. The fuel gauge plummeted, pleading ‘Feed me, Feed me’. With maybe 10 miles left before a stuttering stop, a gas station appeared – and Lady Fate smiled down on us from that glorious blue sky. Where was this oasis of Salvation? The sign said ‘Dead Horse Point’. I guess finding gas was even harder a century ago….
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Nine
October 21
I’m typing this missive in the leafy outpost of La Grande, Oregon after a long haul through Western Utah and Idaho. It’s an empty land but the photos below prove that there are nice surprises along the route.
We’re heading for a show tonight in Seattle at Madam Lou’s and we received a warning that the air in the city could be borderline toxic because of those tragic fires in the forests. I’m hoping the rain will help.
Seattle is a special city for me. It was my first taste of the U.S.A when cEvin Key drove me there from Vancouver back in 1986 for a solo show at The Fabulous Rainbow. I’m looking forward to seeing friends that go back for decades, remembering fantastic events that happened in the times I stayed there. One particularly unforgettable moment was when an old friend, Dale , showed me his Tesla Coil in action with a lightning bolt that reduced a quarter to a mis-sharpen dime. Rumour has it that he accidentally started an underground fire back in the 80s with one of his less successful experiments.
Seattle….I love the city. I just wish it rained a little less.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Ten
October 22
The show at Madame Lou’s in Seattle felt like a special one last night. Such a friendly venue where the band and the audience were treated well, and it felt like we rose to the occasion.
Still, as I type this, it’s a new morning at a busy little motel close to the airport. It’s LOUD here. Every few minutes a plane rumbles over the roof. The highway competes with an incessant roar. And, just to complete the audio feast, switching on the bathroom light triggers a fan that actually succeeds in obliterating all noise anywhere in the vicinity. Ah, the romance of life on the road! No complaints though….I missed this during the endless lockdown.
Off to Portland for the next show in a couple of hours. It’s another city that’s close to my heart as I’ve spent quite some time there over the years.
Hopefully see you tonight at The Star Theatre.
The completely unrelated accompanying picture was taken on the OTHER side of the very beautiful Washington State.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Eleven
October 23
A day off as we drive hundreds of miles South towards San Francisco. Last night’s show felt good.A large listening crowd in a stunningly beautiful old theatre with spectacular lighting and rumours of ghosts in the Green Room.
I think we rose to the occasion. We had to…it was Portland! Even so, I can’t help but recall our first tour of the States back in 1989 at the other Portland 3,000 miles across the continent. The venue was The Tree Cafe and, like the movie we all know and love, the band was opening for an amateur theatre group. It’s also Stephen King territory ( I’m a fan!). Think ‘ Needful Things’, a hint of ‘ The Dead Zone’ . ..
Around 30 or 40 people watched us and seemed to be as confused as we were about why the event was happening at all. After a reasonable performance I remember retreating to a corner for a quiet coffee when a polite spectator approached me. The conversation was peculiar…
HIM: Sir, do you mind if tell you something?
ME: Sure, do go ahead.
HIM: I think you really sucked tonight.
A VERY CRUSHED AND CRESTFALLEN ME: Oh……..
HIM : Well, I didn’t think you actually sucked. I just like being provocative!
ME: Oh…
I smiled politely and made a hasty retreat. He presumably took a leisurely drive back to Castle Rock to provoke some other hapless innocent.
The pictures were taken by Johnny at last night’s show…
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Twelve
October 24
It’s still early here in Red Bluff as I type this. For sure, I’ve stayed in better rooms. The stench of old tobacco smoke seems like it’s baked into the walls and especially the curtains; the TV doesn’t work ( maybe that’s a good thing!) and the bath has no plug ( I’ll improvise). Even so, we’ll be moving on towards San Francisco in a few hours so I’ll live with these minor discomforts.
It’s always a thrill when we cross that Bay Bridge as the famous city of love & peace treated The Dots well over the decades.
Even so, it’s a strange reality that when we play just a stone’s throw from any of the big California cities, it’s a very different story ( San Diego and Santa Ana excepted). Back in the 90s I recall a fine show in Frisco with a seriously large crowd only for around 30 people to turn up a day or so later when we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge to San Rafael. Then there was the more recent trip to Huntington Beach. Technically it’s part of the huge sprawl of Los Angeles yet the crowd numbered a mere 28!
But if we’re talking of those ‘What are we doing here?’ scenarios then my mind can’t help wandering further back to our first show in Copenhagen In 1986. Upon arrival at the U Matic club, the venue’s manager pointed at a stack of speakers and wires in the corner and suggested we hooked it up soon as he was leaving.
Come showtime the crowd numbered around 20, half of which was a group of American tourists hoping for a quiet night out. They left halfway through the first song. I guess some of those dots on the map just aren’t pink enough.
It’ll be fine tonight at The Chapel. Amen.
Ps. The photo depicts the magnificent Mt. Shasta which we passed on the highway yesterday.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Thirteen
October 25
It’s coming up to 7am in this hotel in Hayward, California.Last night’s show at The Chapel in San Francisco was a stormer. It’s such a beautiful venue, and respectfully echoes its history as a chapel for the departed and we were told that a few ghosts drift down those corridors ( I didn’t encounter any!). Still, there’s no time to rest as we’ll soon be heading South for Los Angeles and a show at the Echo Lounge.
The City of Angels is a favourite destination for me but I’ll never forget the trauma of the first time I was there. That was when I was opening for Skinny Puppy with a one-man show. I was riding high as the gracious crowd at the Variety Arts Theatre demanded an encore and let me know that I was creating something truly worthwhile.
All was fine until everyone emerged from their rooms in The Ambassador Hotel to find that the Tour bus was gone. I’d actually left my passport inside that vehicle, and I had visions of thieves haring down a distant highway and a very premature end to a dream for myself.
In fact the bus had been towed away. It was a remarkable feat as it was huge ( Bon Jovi used that bus before we did!). The cost of retrieving the vehicle was quite possibly eye-watering but the tour duly went on.
The picture depicts The Chapel at soundcheck time.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Fourteen
October 26
Body to Brain ..Why are you doing this?
Brain to body…Shuddup, im revising my lyrics
Body to Brain… I’ve been sitting in this bus for hours, everything aches or itches. You woke me up at 5am .. I need a goddamn break.
Brain to Body…Stop whining. It’s what we do. We’re on tour dude.
Body to brain. Oh yeah, I forgot. How many shows so far?
Brain to body. Five
Body to brain. FIVE ?????? We’ve been sitting in this bus for days and you’re saying ‘Five’ ???’
Brain to body. Yup, Five….
Body to brain…How many more to go?
Brain : 21
Body: (a strange creaking , moaning sound. No words)
Brain : You ok?
Body: W – Where are we going today?
Brain: Phoenix
Body: I remember Phoenix. You can fry eggs on the sidewalk. Fire ants.
Brain: Yup. Fire ants.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Fifteen
October 27
An enjoyable show in Phoenix last night at the welcoming Rebel Lounge. We’ve been playing at that venue for close to 30 years, and I cannot deny that it was a destination we dreaded back in the 90s when it was called ‘The Mason Jar’. But now it’s a great place to play with an excellent sound system, lovely people running things, and a small but hugely supportive crowd.
Even so, Day 15 will be spent on the first mega drive. We need to reach Austin by Friday and it’s maybe 16 hours plus the loss of an additional 2 because of those pesky time zones. We also intend to make some portraits of the band as the desert is a perfect backdrop, and we may even find a cactus to gather around.
I’ve never been a photogenic natural. When a lense is pointed towards me, my face contorts as if I’m sucking on a lemon, I don’t know what to do with my arms, my attempts to make my hair behave result in a catastrophe resembling a ransacked flea market. But a band picture is a necessary evil.
It’s 6.30. I have an appointment at the first Waffle House of the tour to attend. The picture was taken close to the General Patton museum yesterday. Whatever the strange object is, it seems fully prepared to defend itself against annoying tourists like me.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Sixteen
October 28
We left Phoenix at 8.30 a.m and eventually arrived at Fort Stockton, Texas close to Midnight. The night’s intensity on that unending highway is overwhelming- quite simply, it feels like there is a total absence of light.
We made the same journey in the other direction before and knew about the challenge of finding somewhere decent to eat along that desert highway. This time we were not going to be caught out, and a little research by Erik uncovered an Indian restaurant that actually stayed open after 8pm.
Naturally the collective imagination of the travellers drifted towards an exotic Asian oasis, a scent of saffron, pictures of the Taj Mahal… The reality was a deserted corner of a shopping mall with endless Cowboy music.
For most of our time there, we were the only guests. At one point another man entered and sat by the bar to sample the food and seemed to be struggling. “ Oo weee It’s SPICY. It’s SPICY!!” was the declaration to just about anyone in earshot. Eventually the food was delivered. Plastic plates, plastic teaspoons, plastic containers… But did it ever taste good!
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day… the number between Sixteen And Eighteen
October 29
I’m superstitious. The number suggested above is my unlucky one. I know it’s kind of lame but I respectfully ask you to indulge me.
We had such an intense time at The Levitation Festival in Austin last night. We arrived at around 5pm but were not scheduled to hit the stage until 12:30 am. With a string of bands lined up to use the same stage, a soundcheck felt unnecessary, so there was an awful lot of waiting for that special moment.
Matters we’re not helped by the fact that there was no Green Room, no comfortable space for the band to retreat to. It meant much pacing around on the patio on what was a rare cold evening in Austin and eventually we had to dive back into the van which we’d been physically attached to for the last two days. When energy is so pent up over such a long period of time, something just has to give when the wait finally ends.It did.
Forget the hour of the night, the performance was incendiary in Austin. Quite literally it felt like the room ‘ levitated’ . This was a night that we’ll remember with great affection. A mere 3 hour drive to Dallas today and a show at Three Links. Let’s say we’re very much in the mood!
The picture depicts a street we encountered on the way to Austin. It’s the first street I’ve encountered that has been named after a jellyfish.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Eighteen
October 30
The weekend before Hallowe’en in the Deep Ellum district of Dallas was bound to be lively. The Three Links Club where we played opens it’s entire front to the World outside so I found myself singing not just to our audience, but also to an army of passers by who would pause awhile to watch from the street before moving on.
Quite often I’d spot Satan watching from the other side of the rope that separated the club from the street party, then his entire family would show up as well as a few walking bananas, traffic cones, invaders from the Planet Urrrf, assorted gorillas, goats ….you get the picture . It was Hallowe’en and people could go out again.
We had an enjoyable show before a warm hearted crowd who zoned out from the mayhem on the street and listened, without being TOO distracted by the music outside. A short drive to Houston awaits us today. The picture below offers a taste of last night’s atmosphere.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Nineteen
October 31
We had a surprisingly fine show in Houston last night. It’s been a difficult city for us over the years and the prospect of a Sunday night show late in October was worrying, but plenty of good souls turned out to see us .
Even so, I’m going to switch the subject to that plate of cheeses in the photograph below. It was part of our backstage fare in Houston and I think you’ll agree that it looks tempting.
I sampled the palest cheese first but failed to detect any kind of taste, so I zeroed in on the Emmental. I swiftly concurred that the holes in those slices were preparing the consumer for the substance. Again, the taste had left the room. On to the orange slices…Aargh..there was nothing there and it was the same for the other ‘variety’. $16 for a plate of rubbery air.
Good people of America, you are missing out.
That’s my rant for today. It’s Hallowe’en and we have a driving day to New Orleans.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Twenty
November 1
I’m typing this in a hotel close to New Orleans Airport. I can’t deny that I was sorely tempted to head into that special city for last night’s Hallowe’en celebrations, but I had the beginnings of a head cold so I opted for caution. Happily I sweated things out overnight so I’m very much up for tonight’s show at the Gasa Gasa club, but I intend to vegetate in this room until we leave.
In reality we never quite know what to expect from accommodation on tour. Sometimes it can be literally palatial, but on many occasions I’ve had small, unwanted roommates…I will not elaborate.
One of the strangest stays I had was in Copenhagen a decade or so ago. I emerged from my room and turned left into the corridor with my enormous heavy case in tow. The walk seemed endless, but I encountered no Exit sign, no elevator, so I turned around.
In a slight panic I strode past my room, on and on to the other end of the corridor. Again, no exit, no elevator. I turned around once more; there was nobody to ask, just an endless hypnotic carpet. I took another 180 degree turn and spotted some stairs which I duly descended. Somehow I found my way to the part of the hotel rarely seen by the paying public , a domain of garbage cans and small furry opportunists. Thankfully there was an alleyway back to the sanitised World. I never set foot in that hotel again.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Twenty-one
November 2
Last night had to be one of my favourite nights in the unique city of New Orleans. Although I was not feeling 100% well, the deep listening audience helped me forget my head cold for 90 minutes and, by the end, the whole room was spinning in Space.
Still I’m happy for a day to recover even if it does involve a 10 hour drive to Orlando. I must say one thing that impressed me the most about this hotel is how blissfully quiet it is. While there is a TV in the breakfast room, I suspect it hasn’t been switched on for years. That’s rare in America.
I’ve eaten in restaurants with 4 or 5 other people in the middle of nowhere where I’ve counted over 50 wall mounted televisions all seemingly tuned to different stations. Breakfast in a hotel frequently means Fox News doing its best to try and make the diners angry with the toothpaste still fresh; it is all consuming, deeply unpleasant….
Even so I have to think back with a smile to a morning in a Super 8 on a previous tour when Ray was our sound wizard. The TV was LOUD – offensively so. The consumers did their best to be a little louder as they attempted small talk. It was a cue for Ray to take action . He marched over to the babble box and – wait for it- switched it OFF!
The silence was palpable. The tension was excruciating.Questions were asked on Capitol Hill. Marshall Law was declared in South Dakota. Nice one Ray!
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Twenty-two
November 3
Florida. A state where the air is so thick you can cut off a slice and spread it on your bagel.
Florida. When it rains, the highway almost instantaneously transforms into a river under a cloak of heavy fog.
Florida. Where everyone else in the restaurant seems to be dressed for a round of golf.
Yes, we made it to Orlando, Florida, and a hotel close to Disneyworld. In reality the theme park isn’t really my kind of place, but I do recall a show on this patch many years ago.
It was at The House Of Blues which is a chain of venues throughout the U.S.A. There can be no disputing the fact that they are classy establishments with great sound systems and first class hospitality but they just don’t quite fit with The Pink Dots.
Never was this more apparent than when we were booked into The House Of Blues in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina around 25 years ago. It was Winter, the tourists had left, and 28 people showed up to lean on the barrier before the stage in an orderly line. Truly one of those ‘What are we doing here?’ occasions. As we left after a surreal night, someone shouted with no irony whatsoever, ‘Y’all come back now!’
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Twenty-three
November 4
Why did it take us over a decade to return to Orlando?
Perhaps absence makes the heart grow fonder but last night’s show at Will’s Pub was a stormer. The room was full, the audience was as warm as the tropical night and we rose to the occasion. The only slight minus was the lack of a band room – I spent much of the evening sitting on the patio, where a pub quiz was going on. Shamefully I managed just two correct answers during the whole night.
Today we have an early start as we’re set to play at The Masquerade in Atlanta. It’s a city we always look forward to performing in, but I do remember a bizarre non-event a couple of decades ago.
We’d driven a few hours from Washington DC, duly unloaded all our equipment and were preparing for the soundcheck when a sheepish club owner delivered the bombshell that the show was cancelled. It seems the establishment forgot to pay for a license to sell alcohol and the bureaucrats shut the club down while we setting up.
In that scenario we did what was necessary as the audience showed up throughout the evening. We put up our merchandise stall on the street, partly to deliver the bad news personally and to salvage at least something from a sad day. It turned out to be merchandising bonanza. Life can be strange…
The picture below is from last night’s event.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Twenty-four
November 5
It’s one of those mornings where I cannot argue with the sentiment expressed in the attached picture. I‘m typing this missive with a bit of a headache after one of those nights which could be classified as ‘too tired to sleep’.
No complaints, it goes with the territory. Touring is a thrilling, ecstatic experience but there are moments when the physical toll feels very apparent. The good news is that we have a gentle 3 hour drive to Asheville today and a similar run to Carrboro tomorrow. That’s followed by a day off. It’s time enough to heal and I must say I’m stoked about our show at The Grey Eagle in Asheville tonight.
It will our first ever appearance in the city after frequently encountering people who travelled from there to see us in cities like Charlotte and Atlanta. And, speaking of Atlanta, here’s a big thank you to all who showed up at the Masquerade last night and offered such wonderful support.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Twenty-five
November 6
Last night’s show in Asheville was glorious. I always suspected that the remote town in the mountains was a perfect place for us to play and I wasn’t wrong. A large crowd turned up at The Grey Eagle and literally had us treading clouds, and without doubt, this was the best hospitality we’d experienced all tour.
Thankfully it’s a short drive to The Cats Cradle in Carrboro today as I confess that I felt sick overnight. It will be a day of medication and taking things a little easier. Love’n’peace E
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Twenty-six
November 7
It was a case of ‘Softly Softly’ in Chapel Hill yesterday. We checked into the hotel before driving to the club and the guys kindly allowed me to skip the soundcheck and rest before the show itself. It helped. Sadly whenever I get a cold in November, I feel the after effects in my bronx and chest.It’s manageable at home but on tour it’s especially hard.
The good news is that we’re going nowhere today so I’ll stay in this room, listen to ghostly radio plays, indulge in a little musical composition and sleep here and there. We crossed the halfway point last night. We’re heading for colder places. We’ll be ok….
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Twenty-seven
November 8
Quite a day for The Pink Dots to be playing in Washington DC.
I confess I’m taking a ‘head in the sand’ approach to the news today as, when it comes to politics, I feel more and more helpless as the years pass. For sure I always vote but I can’t remember the last time I actually voted FOR rather than against something.
Call me naive, but what is so frightening about a gentler, kinder World that actually has a future beyond the next 50 years? I’ll stop there. Give a troll a finger and they’ll consume you whole.
Ironically I still remember sitting in a diner in Baton Rouge with the band when Barack Obama was voted in as President back in 2008. It was impossible not to be swept up by the optimism surging in the U.S. at that time as a real change for good did seem possible. But in that diner the simmering anger was palpable.
I have no right to lecture anyone. Vote for LOVE.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Twenty-eight
November 9
Another medicated day. I gave in and requested antibiotics yesterday so this diary entry is being made from a slightly altered space.
Being sick on tour is a challenge I could do without but I’ve been there plenty of times before. Probably the lowest point was back in 1995 when I was diagnosed with pneumonia an hour before a show in Amersfoort, The Netherlands. On that night I sang from a chair and lasted a whole half hour. As the saying goes, ‘The show must go on’.
The good news is that we have a short drive to Philadelphia today after a nice evening at the Pie Shop (what a friendly, great little venue) in Washington DC.
For now I’ll take things slowly.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Twenty-nine
November 10
We had a fiery show in Philadelphia last night but it was not without its challenges.
The one crucial condition we always ask for when playing a show is that a parking spot is reserved for our merry van. It means the placement of a few cones before we arrive and if that doesn’t happen the consequences can be dire.
So it was yesterday. There was literally nowhere to stop, and we must have circled the block a dozen times before giving up and trying ‘Plan B’. That alternative was grim, involving the van being parked a couple of blocks away and the equipment being ferried down the road, across a busy intersection.
We’ve been there before. I remember an incident in Los Angeles where there was plenty of parking space but also the presence of a couple of screaming stormtrooper cops who wanted to tow our bus with the band still in it .
Ah the joys of the road…
Off to New York today and a show at The Sultan Room.Hopefully see you there!
The photo depicts the Philadelphia sunset through the window of our van.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Thirty
November 11
We’ve had some memorable shows in The Big Apple over the years, but last night at The Sultan Room may just be my favourite. The music venue is attached to a Turkish Restaurant, so excellent food and hospitality was assured from the moment we arrived. Even so, nothing could have prepared us for the magnificence of the room itself.
The stage was backed by a wall of LED lights which ultimately added up to what was possibly the most utterly psychedelic experience I’ve ever enjoyed in performance. Indeed there were moments when it felt like the whole room was elevating and I swear it had nothing to do with the antibiotics. A nice big crowd for the occasion too and I admit that it’s going to be a hard night to follow.
Even so, the goal is always to fly a little higher as the nights pass . We’ll do our level best to take things further at The Middle East in Cambridge tonight. Hope to see you there. Do pass the word on!
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Thirty-one
November 12
Another spirited and satisfying show at The Middle East in Boston last night but again it was a venue where it was difficult to find a private patch. It was a case of hiding in the shadows of Johnny’s traveling store or claiming a chair in the venue’s office. Ultimately I did a bit of both but it made the night feel very long.
Winter beckons now as we travel North towards Montreal. There’s a border to cross which, I admit, always stresses me out, and quite a bit of time pressure as tonight’s show is an early one. Wish us luck!
The picture depicts a poor soul who spent a little too much time in the office.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Thirty-two
November 13
Last night at Bar Le Ritz in Montreal was hugely nostalgic. The room was packed, the people were loudly appreciative and many faces were familiar. It’s a special city for us and there’s always a little extra pressure to hit new heights as the sense of expectation is high. I think we passed the audition. With such support from those watching it would have been hard to slip up.
One old friend watching us was Steve the Sword Swallower (Stiofan de Geata) .We’ve known him for decades after he performed in Montreal as our opening act back in the 90s. The Pink Dots have had some unusual openers over the years, but Steve beats the rest hands down.
Even so the entertainment began backstage when we first encountered him. After a long chat on subjects such as how to imbibe fire safely, Steve stunned the whole Dots’ touring party by suddenly declaring, ‘Time for the soundcheck’. Out came the sword, down went the sword and then it was time for dessert.
Onwards to Toronto and The Velvet Underground tonight. Do spread the word.
The photo offers a potential remedy if the performer should have a sore throat.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Thirty-three
November 14
It’s a Monday morning in a comfortable hotel South of Toronto.
Last night’s show was one of my favourites in that great Canadian city which was much to do with the excellence of the venue, The Velvet Underground. But as I began to type this missive, the enormous penny dropped that in less than a week the adventure will be finished. Sure there are two Time Zones, several major cities and (later today) Niagara Falls to come, but the sense of disorientation can be overwhelming.
It hits hardest when I think back a week to another hotel in bright warm sunshine in a green corner of North Carolina. It’s a little mind blowing. We do the same thing every day but the World changes at breakneck speed. I admit, it is a bit of an addiction!
The picture is this morning’s view from the Third Floor window.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Thirty-four
November 15
With a show almost every day we rarely enjoy the chance to be tourists but yesterday was a glorious exception. Our route took us to Niagara Falls, and although I’ve been there before, the weather allowed a view of the sheer magnificence that I’d previously been denied.
It’s cold now. The poor guy on the plinth cannot be comfortable in November, but he has an awesome view. Back to reality tonight with a show at The Grog Shop in Cleveland. Maybe see you there!
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Thirty-five
November 16
You could be forgiven for regarding a cold damp Tuesday Night in Cleveland as one to forget. However last night’s event at The Grog Shop bucked all expectations. A big crowd defied the elements and propelled the band into one of the most spirited performances of the tour. The show was, quite literally, a stormer!
Now we have to raise the bar higher for another 5 shows as this Tour needs to finish on a ‘high’.
Astonishing to think that it will all be over by Sunday. Any concept of measuring time in a logical way is shot to pieces on the road. The clock laughs at our attempts to keep pace with it and there are moments when I could not tell you what day it is.
We’re off to Chicago and a show at The Beat Kitchen today. Hopefully see you there!
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Thirty-six
November 17
Much of yesterday’s drive to Chicago was spent on the Ohio Turnpike and I had to remember the first time we were on that long highway. It was back in 1989 and we were doing our utmost to get back to New York in time for a hastily arranged show at the end of the Tour.
Alas, the plan was doomed. Our battered recreational vehicle (previously used by The Plasmatics) gave up and died on that road. There was no repair possible either. Two of our party hitchhiked to the closest town and actually attracted the attention of local journalists when our story became known. I guess not much happens in that small corner of Ohio. Even so, we had to replace the vehicle and we sadly missed the show but just about made it for the plane.
A nice show at The Beat Kitchen in Chicago last night but now we have a long haul to Minneapolis. It’s cold out there.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Thirty-seven
November 18
The haul from Chicago to Minneapolis on a cold November day is unforgiving. Snow is ever present, the trucks are intimidating and the road is just so so long. Having said that, the Northern city is a special one with a warm gracious audience and we had a fine evening at the 7th Street Entry. Still, thinking again about the drive, I had to recall an even longer spin in that part of the World back in 2003.
It was a solo tour and we set ourselves the daunting task of getting from La Crosse in Wisconsin to Denver in a day. Phil did most of the driving and all went well until a flashing blue light appeared from nowhere in an obscure part of Minnesota. The officer was at least polite. “You went plain off the chart there sir” , she purred as she ushered poor Phil into the back of a police car.
She whisked him off to a courthouse in the middle of nowhere while we gamely tried to keep up in the van. The good police officer knew all about ‘being off the chart’. Ultimately the fine was a princely $128 and we were lucky. A couple of hours later and Phil would have been held in the county jail for the weekend because the court office would have been closed.
Happily ol’ Leadfoot was allowed to drive on but we respected that speed limit religiously. Today’s destination is Omaha and a show at The Reverb Lounge. It’s a show that needs a lot of love as the ticket count is worryingly low. Do pass the word around for us!
The picture just gives an indication of how things are out there today.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Thirty-eight
November 19
The ominous sign in the picture below says it all. Even so, while it is admittedly empty and cold here, we are in Lincoln, Nebraska geographically speaking.
Today we head to Denver, where we began this adventure back in October. It was a time when the sun shone as brightly as it does today, but then blessed us with its warmth. I can’t say that this morning. Today’s 7 hour run is a icy one. Everyone in the bus is wearing layers of protection including woolly hats, hoods, long socks..
Nevertheless the tour finishes in The Pink Dots’ American spiritual home with shows tonight and tomorrow at The Mercury Cafe.
As for last night in Omaha, the crowd was small but kind and wonderfully attentive.Nearly there…it’s hard to comprehend.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Thirty-nine
November 20
I’m in a hotel room high above Denver. Last night’s show at The Mercury Cafe felt like a gathering of the clans with old and new friends in abundance, a packed room and I had to think back to 1995 when we played at the same venue. It was our first ever show in the city and we were shocked by the turnout.
The atmosphere was similar last night and I have to confess it was my most nervous performance of the tour.
Even so my nails will be chewed to Ground Zero for tonight’s show at the same venue. Opening the proceedings is my first ‘solo’ show for many years with 30 minutes of completely untried material. I’ve been rehearsing in my head all morning and I panic whenever I miss a line.
Thankfully I will have friends onstage to help! My old friend Mark Spybey plays after the solo outing with a rare live performance of Dead Voices On Air, while The Dots will play the set we’ve been honing for one last time in the US at the end of the night. Let’s make it a fond farewell!
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Forty
November 21
And then it was over….The 40th day away for me and the 26th show for The Pink Dots in North America, year 2022.
There was a celebratory atmosphere at Denver’s Mercury Cafe last night. An opening solo set for me in fact featured the whole lineup of The Dots plus a jaw dropping contribution on violin and bass from Tom who plays with Devotchka. All rehearsal for it was squeezed into a half hour slot during the afternoon and we somehow pulled off a satisfying performance by the skins of our teeth. Next up was Dead Voices On Air, who were just magnificent. Then came The Dots’ American finale and it felt like an overwhelming release.
Now we’ll spend the next days squeezing T-shirts into overweight cases, fighting our way through Thanksgiving hordes at the airport but also raising glasses together to a remarkable month and a half.
There will be laughter. There will be tears and there will be another adventure beginning in just 2 months time.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Forty-one
November 22
The penultimate page of this diary. The shows are over but the traveling is not. Joep and Erik have the unenviable task of driving the van back to Chicago and will be flying back on Thanksgiving Day. I fly a day earlier.
Consequently yesterday was spent making the vehicle presentable for the rental company. 5 weeks of crumbs. 5 weeks of spillages. We’d actually been remarkably disciplined on the tour and had regularly disposed of the inevitable garbage, but after 10,000 miles a clean up is imperative.
It’s one more long drive and cannot comfortably be managed in a single day so the guys are stopping in Des Moines which means a mere 13 hour slog today. And me? I have the luxury of packing my bags and checking in for my flight.
THE POST PANDEMIC TOUR DIARY 2022 Day Forty-two
November 23
Bye bye Bailey, Colorado. Bye bye sweet contented munching goats. Bye bye Sebastian and Philippe (the dogs). Bye bye Winona the cat. Bye bye Randall and Elisa.
Flying today, it may be Hell as it’s a day before Thanksgiving- but I’m a fighter!
