Bang Bang Berlin

There was traffic even before we got to the practice space to load the van. Then half the people in the band were not there. Rest were either flying, driving other ways or going to be picked up at home because there were other things that needed doing. Oh well. En route to Berlin. Drive. Stop. Pee. Coffee. Repeat a few times. The drive scenery was great though. Bright sunshine and it’s fall as you all know so lot’s of colour and tree’s to look at. Loved it. Arrived exactly on time at the Bang Bang Club. Set up and everybody arrived. We did a sound check then did a few interviews, one of which was held in the toilets. All headed off for something to eat while the band Mega! Mega! did their soundcheck. Was a very late show. I don’t think we played until 12.30 or so. Was fun to be back in Berlin again. Good show. Afterwards we hung around for a bit then headed off to our hostel where we grabbed a few beers.

Barely slept because of the beds in the hostel and the fact that I forgot to put in some earplugs to drown out the snoring. I think everyone else is also just as tired. Our rental van is taking some getting used too. The seating is so totally different from the White Pearl. It’s sucking all our last bits of energy – there’s no comfortable position to be found. Back in Amsterdam by 8pm after having left Berlin at 11am. Traffic as always as soon as we cross the border back into Holland. Two days in a van. Over and out.

Picture by Sely Friday 2009

Lucky Sings At School

From our day at the primary school in South Africa the day before Oppikoppi

Thanks Enschede

(Can’t seem to upload pictures at the moment).
-There was some confusion among our ranks when our tour manager sent us info by accident that we had to be in Hengelo for the Enschede School party. But we got everything sorted.
-Before we could even unload we were off for something to eat. Mussels and fish soup it was and it was very very good.
-Gobbled food to see Miss Montreal play.
-Very crowded Old Market Square with eager young student minds ready to party (and learn later the rest of the year)
-Backstage was in the activity room of the church. Run by two lovely people; Willie and a girl who’s name I’ve sadly forgotten.
-Backstage was also the gathering room for all the Emergency Service People. It was fun to be drinking beer in the midst of all sorts of the local police enforcement having their coffee.
-Backstage was also the watering hole for two police horses. Their names I have also sadly forgotten.
-We held a little boat race during our set between two students that had to bring food to our sound man FOH Martijn. The girl stage right capsized and sank about midway. The guy stage left made it all the way and kept going past the FOH desk….
-Miss Montreal had some confetti canons. I think we need some as well.
-It was a long drive back. The back seat people napped.
-Back in Amsterdam we were followed around by a Police car. They finally stopped us after we drove into two dead end streets looking for parking spots. I dunno what they thought we were doing at 3am other than looking for a freaking parking spot in Amsterdam (An impossible chore). They had no sense of humor though.

Back To School

Confusing drive out of Joberg. Off the beaten track. We’re off to the area around Oppikoppi. Off to play at the Mamodimakwana Primary School in Swartclip which is located on a Platinum Mine. THe ground here is a rich deep red colour. I thought my eyes were deceiving me but it was that red. My guitar cables are still all red and dusty. We arrived a bit late and the Belgium band Balthazar was playing for about 50 little kids ages 4-10 all dancing around in a semi-circle around the band. It was kind of surreal to see them playing outside in such and atmosphere. Otto (Lucky Fonz III) played after them. He kids loved it. While we set up after Otto a little girl had grabbed one mic and had started singing some song. All the rest of the kids joined in. I have no idea what they were singing but it was fantastic. We played for about 25 minutes I think. They loved it. I loved it. Every time I started to jump around so did about 40 little kids in front of me. Voicst has never played for such a young audience. A couple times during each song I got goose bumps looking at their faces as they expectantly watched to see when we they could jump up and down again. They’d start smiling and get all energetic. Fantastic. While we were cleaning up one little kid was hanging around close to Joppe and eyeing his kick, snare and hithat combination. Joppe gave him the sticks and he started to play. Within seconds Joppe was surrounded by a bunch of kids all wanting to play on the drums. An hour later we finally got to leave after everyone had had their chance. We headed off to Oppikoppi near Northam. Koppi is the hill/ mountain near Northam where the festival is held. Oppi means on top of.. so yes Oppikoppi is on top of the hill. But also basically in the middle of no where in the bush. We got our passes and wandered around of an hour but then had to quickly leave. We got put up in a game ranch about 10 km away. A few very bumpy dirt roads later we arrived at a huge 10 meter high ‘jurrasic park’ style electric fence. Arrived at the lodge in the pitch black. GReat to see soooo many stars and shooting stars aswell. We all sat around a large fire outside drinking beer completely surprised that it was only 8pm. It felt like midnight. (I’ve got some video from the day at the school but will have to upload it later back in NL.)
Pictures by Sely Friday

A Few Days In South Africa

It’s now been a week that we’ve been driving around in the southern hemisphere. There are so many wonderful things to see, do, taste and touch, and smell. I haven’t had that much time to get some pictures online but I did get a few from the first three days. For those new here, my self included, I have been posting pictures and stories the past year on my own site @ www.nassio.com/hurryupandwait. For the moment (until I get back home) you’ll need to check out the dialogue there until I get this new place on our newly designed site figured out. So check out the Hurry Up And Wait, and for now a small vid from the van….