Dear Freundlings,
I'm now back in Montreal enjoying the cold, damp fall days und the odd beautiful golden or red tree. I miss you Europe and all your tasty glory! I miss you Euro friends und clubs und ocean! I will return some day in the near future, don't worry...
As for North American freundlings, I'm currently planning a few special book launch parties that will feature me, home made snacks, artifacts featured in the book, und the book itself! I also will be DJ'ing for the first time with an uber nerd posse. Can't wait to tell you more details...
Now let's step back in time...
Euro-Lucil
Where is Euro-Lucil to begin? Well, right now I'm at the Charles de Gaulle airport a Paris. My last few hours in France after a triumphant and wild 3.75 month long tour, ja! I rocked uncharted hose-territory in the "GAS" region (Germany, Austria, Switzerland), Greece, Portugal, Spain und the Basque region in France. There are too many tales to tell so I vill rock ein photo session so that you can see how it was in images nicht in mere words. (woah....three French military dudes just walked past me brandishing rather large machine guns...can't wait to be back in Canada!)
Bavaria Tour Vehicle:
Somewhere between Bavaria und Switzerland (i.e. Lindau!)
Started off the Rainer Von Vielen tour in style! For the erst time ever I didn't have my passport with me (left it in ein backpack in Bavaria!) und after being detained at the border, fined, etc. I eventually ended up ("identity" less...ein vrai alien) in Lindau with this view:
As I waited with fingers crossed for Michi to borrow ein car, pick up my passport, drive two hours to pick me up und then drive me to Winterthur, Switzerland, ein sculptor (who was vending his wares beside me on a bench) told me about the creation of all mankind by seven women. Quelle trip! Nothing that a little ice cream couldn't cure. (these army dudes are circling me...in ein creepy manner!)
Winterthur, Switzerland
While das show was rather poorly attended, I rocked it nonetheless (getting there 45 minutes before I hit the stage!!!) und afterwards we (Rainer, Niko and I) made our way to the "hotel" where we stayed. Bizarre convent meets mental institution style lodgings - uber industrial design. The door to my 6-cot room featured in this stunning photo.
In the elevator mit NIko - we enjoyed this sign telling you what kind of things you couldn't smoke - pipes, gross und klein cigarettes/joints - HILARIOUS!
Immenstadt, Bavaria
The home of mein GAS distro und booking - beautiful mountainous Immenstadt! Despite the fact that mein Yamaha was mis-behavin' (i.e. the power cut out drei - 3 - times!) a little impromptu stand-up und storytelling saved das day und in the end we hosed gross-zeit! Here is das uber punk rock crowd und ein photo of Rainer in action:
Augsburg, Bavaria
We spieled in ein bizarre 5-room dungeon in schoen Augsburg (after I sipped hot soup und ginger tea all afternoon...it started getting cold und I started getting the "sniffles"!). No ventilation und packed wall to wall mit crazy University type hipsters. I was sporting mein pirate-hosen und there were 3 boys in matching black und white striped shirts that compimented mein ensemble nicely. Bravo Augsburg! Here is ein picture of the enormous brewery across the street from das club und ein wunderbar picture on the wall in the hotel after the show:
Traunstein, Bavaria
Wow! Bavaria! My first zeit seeing public cigarette machines...even in the most rural areas there are cigarette dispensers. If you are a few feet high und have a bit of geld (money) you can treat yourself! The outside of "Festung" war quite lovely but the light rain seemed to deter the Traunstein'ians from leaving their cozy homes. Rainer und I rocked the haus nonetheless...
Vienna, Austria
Oh ja...Austria! Mein erst zeit...En route - Rainer und Michi trying to figure out the best route to Vienna.
After looking at wedding cake buildings I did ein soopah interview mit Nina at FM4. We talked about subcultures, old school conservative nature of Vienna, mein existence, musik...Here ist ein pic of mein creatrice Krista outside the amazing "Funkhaus". After das interview Rainer und I went to the lovely Theatre Rabenhof for ein sound check und intimate cabaret evening.
Und after many years of music making I decided to go into the real money business. You got it. Banking! Here ist mein first bank in Vienna:
Ha ha. Very funny! Ech. I'd rather eat cardboard sandwiches and drink moose drool than run ein bank any day...
Athens, Greece
Aahhhh...escaping from damp, cold GASland, I flew to Athens, Greece where I immediately fell in love with the people, the city, and the temperature. The Rokos brothers, who booked und promoted (und DJ'd!) the show at Blue Bar (in my top 3 of the entire 3.75 month tour!) greeted me at the airport und it was all uphill from there.
In my hotel das view of the city was pretty cool indeed und the interior staircase was uber trippy und creepy!
After the UBER show we danced all nacht! DJ Swazeeky made ein guest appearance spieling mad mixes. Here I am mit the gang! Und ein tourist shot from the top of the acropolis so you can see just how infinite the city feels.
Fundao, Portugal
Bilbao, Spain
No real pictures here because we were too busy learning the Basque language und eating tapas to take the zeit to snap pics. Oh! Here ist ein low quality pic that one that ein uber cool girl Esther sent me of us rocking after the Bullit show. Bilbao war sehr cool und beautiful indeed!
Back in France und Pays Basque:
Toulouse, France
Mein second time rocking Toulouse...this time downtown at das punk rock venue Fantomas. Ist war ein sooopah show! Packed und sweaty to be sure. Sadly the curfew 22:00 - mon dieu - stopped me from hosing early but I will return to rock it again to be SURE. It was the erst time that ein "fan" grabbed the hat from mein wee kopf. He was then offered beers in exchange for it at the bar. Luckily Krista got it back for me! Punk rocking it, hat thieving it, an interview for a documentary on women rocking Toulouse...this night war sehr epic, ja! Pics of Laurent und Edwige (Laurent of "Einstein on the Beach" - booker of mein French dates und Edwige of Edmon - creator of das bird on mein piratehosen) at das venue, me in mein "dressing room", me und mein freund Pop the Fish, und the post show snack stand - Coq Snack! JA!
GRAND FINALE in St. Jean de Luz
After staring at the vagues und the surfers trying to ride them, I checked out das uber former squat venue "Gaztext" (pronounced "Gaztechy" in Basque). Graffiti und a giant wale out front. This crowed ROCKED mein hosen so I spieled extra long und we danced until the wee hours...
Everyone pitched in (I was stranded on a table!) when one of the rooms flooded due to fantom tap occurence (oooooh...). Uber mop crew included the light man (left), ein Golgoth 13 member (middle!). Go boys bo!!!
