TOUR JOURNAL - EUROPEAN TOUR 8/04 WITH JOACIM CANS
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"It all started early Friday morning on my way from San Diego to Gothenburg Sweden to play some shows with Joacim Cans. As I got to the airport I was informed by the ticket counter agent that my tickets had not been paid for. They actually had, but they needed 30 minutes to figure out that they were. So after a bit of a delay, I was on my way. San Diego to Chicago, Chicago to Brussels, then on to Gothenburg.
Everything was fine until I landed in Gothenburg and figured out that the airlines had lost my cymbal case. Since the first show was two days away and we were going to rehearse the next day, I was assured that they would find them and I would have them within 24 hours.
So off to the hotel to check in. I decided to try and stay up and get on Euro time right from the beginning. If not, it throws everything off. So I hung out with Joacim and his family, had a nice dinner and then went to sleep.
Rehearsal was the next day, and I was using some funky cymbals, as mine had not arrived. We were in a very small room, but played the set right down one time and called it a day.
Since the next day we were playing the Gothenburg Festival, I was moved to a very nice hotel in the middle of the city. The whole place looked like it was furnished by Ikea.
Great room, great breakfast…..I really could not complain.
Sweden was very hot and humid. Even though this was an outdoor festival, the weather was a bit much. Since it stays light in Sweden this time of year until around 11:00 pm, it was kind of strange playing outdoors while it was still light. There was a large crowd of around 2000 people and the show went well. Even though we had a 4-minute sound check, the band played well and Joacim really worked the crowd. We played most of the songs of Cans solo album “Beyond the Gates”, as well as two Warlord songs, Child of the Damned and Lucifer’s Hammer.
The next morning we were on our way to Stockholm. It was quite a long drive, as it was still hot and humid, but we survived and put on a great show. The crowd was great and very active being prompted by Joacim. It was one of those hot and sweaty gigs, which I prefer to the cold ones.
After the show, we went back to the hotel as we had a flight to Hamburg the next morning. We took a bus to the airport then a short hour flight to Hamburg to meet the tour bus.
Germany as was Sweden, was hot and humid. The show that night was at Markethalle. This had to be one of the hottest shows I have ever played. I have played some very hot and humid shows, but this was the topper of them all. Not a big crowd, but a crazy crowd. It got so hot; we took a small break and let people go outside to cool off, as we did not need anyone passing out from the heat.
The band is playing very consistent and really having a great time, both on and off the stage. The other guys in the band are quite funny and entertaining. I am really enjoying myself.
We drove that night after the show to Ludwigsburg to the Rock Fabrik. I have played many of these places in the past.
We had a great show even though we had Heckle and Jeckle as soundmen. They were quite funny to watch, as they really didn’t have a clue of what was going on. We managed to play on and had another real good show. Again, hot and sweaty.
The last show was in Bochum and DC Cooper’s band Silent Force was going to be playing with us. This was a very nice venue with a nice stage and great personnel running the sound. I knew this was going to be great. Nothing better than doing a sound check and really being excited about how good it sounds. I knew the band was going to rock, so it was a matter of just waiting.
I had a chance to hang with DC for a while and talk about the Alfa-Dog material we are working on. He is currently finishing up 4 songs that Gary Wehrkamp and I have put together. DC was quite excited and said he would get me a disc in the next week or so. I can’t wait to hear it.
Silent Force put on a great show and DC’s vocals were up to their usual high standards.
Everything went as planned for us. The sound remained great and the band played on. Great crowd as several journalist and press people were invited by the label and showed up to this show. This show really proved what a great live band Cans is. We all had a great time. Unfortunately I had a 5:30 am flight out of Hamburg the next morning. Everything got packed and we were on our way to the airport.
I got about 5 hours sleep and then was rolled out of the bus and into the airport. I had a 7:00 am flight to Brussels. No problems but when I got to Brussels I found out there was a delay on my next flight to Chicago and I would be sitting at the airport for about 7 hours. I was not a happy guy at this point. So after killing the time, I was off to Chicago and hopefully home.
When arriving in Chicago, customs was packed with people. It took me about an hour and forty-five minutes to re-check my bags through to San Diego and I had to run to my plane. I literally walked on, sat down and we were in the air.
I finally arrived home. I was very happy to be home as I had been up for approx. 30 hours.
Even though the flights were long and the weather was hot, I had a great time with Joacim and the band. This was truly a great trip."
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