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Posted at 03:25 PM on November 20, 2008
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As usual, we are there in good time for the soundcheck.
I did in the beginning of this tour, dispute with the other two about
getting to a venue at 4.00 pm, when showtime is usually 8.30. That is
four and a half hours of hanging about and one can get a tad
impatient, but in the end I must concede I like being able to take
time over the soundcheck; dinner; and then wind up to the show.
You have to get your soundcheck done in time as most Dutch sound
crews/ lighting men must observe the great Dutch time honoured mad
dash for dinner at 6.0 pm on the dot. I used to say to my great friend
Hans Bouwer, a Colonel in the Dutch Army, that all an aspiring enemy
would have to do is invade Holland at 6.0 pm. They could take over the
whole land without firing a shot as most of Holland is having dinner.
Charlie Watts of the Rolling Stones on being asked what 25 years in
the Rolling Stones was like replied, 'five years of music;
twenty-five years of 'angin' about.'
In some ways that is so true. It is also part and parcel of the job.
The Theatre at Zoetermeer, is a hard place to get into; one of those
bewildering concrete edifices that is an architects's joy and an
artist's nightmare. Matt tries the front entrance and is sent to
artist's entrance/stage door. To get to it I have to drive along the
pavement/cycle track. How's about that for a piece of planning?
Stage door. Only to be told that we load in further down.
I back into a concrete tunnel next to a parking garage and finally
that is it. The area around the door is a sad monument to the crass
dictums of Brussells and the 'no smoking ban.' Why we can't have rooms
where people can smoke in peace and inhale into simple extractor fans,
is beyond me. Instead we get the situation like at the stage door
here. Drifts of tab ends up and around the steps and the stench of
burnt tobacco hanging in the air.
Load out. Michael (sound ) and Raymond ( lights ) help us in and we
also meet Patrick who controlled the lights. Another great piece of
planning we encounter quite often- and today is no exception,- are
dressing rooms strategically placed as far away from the stage as
possible and in this case downstairs. However we meet a lovely Indian
lady, Rosalie, who is just a lovely lady, and looks after the
downstairs bar and so forth.
Coffees. Soundcheck and once again, we are working with real
professionals. And folks, once again the place is deserted at 6.00 pm.
DINNERTIME.
Rosalie brings us a fine steak each. I ration myself to one glass of
wine as I'm driving. The atmosphere is pleasant and various artists
and technicians, working in the big hall upstairs, drop in for coffee.
James Bond is up on the TV monitor in the corner.
Peter Voorbraak, the Director drops in to welcome us, a nice guy
pleased that things are sold out, who with typical Dutch directness,
asks me how old I am. I ask him in return, to guess and he comes in
with 55. That'll do.
Showtime. We are sold out and I hear the applause in my dressing room
tannoy as the two go on up to kick things off.
The stage sound is exactly as we set it up at soundcheck, and that is
not always the case, as when actual people come in, the room acoustics
can change drastically.
On through the first set and all on good form. The audience are
typically Rotterdam; warm and responsive, and we grew to just love one
guy who shouted out wonderful things to a point where later on in the
concert we actually got him up on stage.
'Lord of the Ages,' ended the first set and brought the roof down, so to speak.
Twenty minutes pause, and Elrieke is taking care of merchandise in the foyer
Second set and we build it on up through the new songs, not least the
Funk Weevils ( Matt and I ) and our tongue in cheek version of my
'European Union Blues.' This is simply a send-up and spoof on a Chuck
Berry lick ( and sadly having seen him in concert the other night, we
had it somewhat better) and this has aroused some interest not least
appearing on 'u-tube.'
Out on 'Paradise Row' and 'Airport Song.'
Dash down to the dressing rooms; grab felt-tip pens then up to the
foyer to meet-and-greet and sign CD's.
We load up. Linda heads off with Elrieke, Matt and I run back to Soest.
The idea is to have a nightcap or two. I think we had one, muttered
things about brushing teeth and the next thing two decidedly jaded
rock n' roll animals collapse into bed and oblivion.
It is 4.30 pm.
As ever night becomes day and day becomes an extension of night.
Goodnight. See you at the next one.
Chris.
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