dEUS on tour Official Podcast

13.04.2006: A soundcheck in Moscow, venue B2. Somewhere in the afternoon.

Then comes the riff. Then comes the drum. Then comes the vocal.
Then it happened: the living dream of a soundman I guess –ho com’on don’t push it too far- : a live impro that becomes, 2 years and a week later exactly, the first track of the new album. Judge for yourself. It’s all in here. After 25 seconds on this pod you’ll have it. Followed by the album version. Isn’t it quite unique? I love to think so.

But back then we were at the end of a two year tour. Now it is just the beginning. It sounds weird to say it after 25 gigs all over the place but it’s a fact we kept noticing while on tour: People know the album better. The new songs are better played. The gigs, also, are getting better. And as with any birth, life has a meaning to the elderly only when it comes with fresh (who said flesh?) experience. In a sense. If u know what I mean.

14.05.08: Another gig in Moscow. And a good one it was. Damn, no impro this time. I guess it will be for Bangkok. Or Vladivostok. Or Vodkadistok.
But this time we were moved to the MUCH bigger venue. About 3 times bigger. Good for 2600 people. Hum…was it too early? Was it a bit too ambitious? About one thousand Russians showed up, including the locals who are driving black Mercedes and having the full 4 course menu served on reserved tables, while « enjoying » the music. Which is, I think, really good considering where we were? But isn’t it always nicer/groovier to play in front of full houses, instead of lees then half full places ? I think you know the answer.

Caviar wasn’t on the list, and gOD how bad can the food be in this country, even a fly wouldn’t stand on it, I’m sure. But local beer, also known as Vodka, did find its way to our surroundings. And a few really nice people and bars we discovered.
It’s always cool to be ambitious. And so is dEUS.
So let’s see if we fill up the venue …at the end of this tour. To get History to repeat itself. Would be a gentle circle. Wouldn’t it?

Stockholm is actually closer to Moscow then you’d think. Geographically speaking. And maybe politically, too. Read further and you’ll know why I think so.

But between those two gigs we did a little radio show in Brussels. On a Sunday. Or was it Saturday? Went OK, anyway. Even though I had to crank it up a bit, I admit it. I don’t like to do that but hey, sometimes you got to cope with what’s coming from the stage. And lordy were they tired or…did they go out the night before? Maybe I was tired. So: loud it was. From the stage and in the venue. Maybe too loud. Sorry for the first rows. And to the lovely birds that were singing close to the venue. Enjoying the only « river » we got going through Brussels. « La seine » they dare to call it. Ha ha ha…

Karin Dreijer Andersson –from the Knife- showed up to play with us the week after. In her native country. She finally managed to find a baby-sitter…in Göteborg!
Can I take this opportunity to ask the lovely people of a beautiful country named Sweden to urge their government….to learn to chill!
Everywhere we went, it was, like, DON’T. Don’t smoke here… but there. Don’t you think you should have a glass of water? But, Mister Bouncer, I only had one glass of white wine. Go out! Don’t get into the bicycle lane…or die. Don’t ask any more questions…or I call the police.

About 400 people were at the « Debaser ». I know Tomy wasn’t happy about that. Neither was he about his sound on stage. But another good gig it was. Whatever the feelings he had. And after 9 years it seems normal to me that you have to rebuild your reputation and your place in the always evolving « market » that music has become. Com’on…even Oasis sell…2000 copies in this country. I know, we don’t like them but it’s for the numbers…only.

And thanks for the lovely day we had after. Wandering around the old city. Nice nice nice. Even the lunch we had was perfect. And with the charming company of Mauro, Alan, Fonzy and Tomy, a perfect end to the club tour « mission » was completed. I’d say. Again, reply to this pod please, if you have anything to say. Or ad, or admit, or pretend. Or think…or know.

Next round: Summer festivals. We will be coming to your town. Or country. Or village.
So get the grass ready. Put the cows in their dormitory. Or abattoir for the non veggies.
The milk will be fresh, anyway. So will we.

In the mean time, read some books, talk to your neighbours for a change, ride a horse …or a camel…as long as you do it with your iPod tuned to Vantage Point…or maybe Miles Davis would do…too. Up to you.

Thanks again.
Take care again.

Love,

Vp.

 

 Moscow, where Vantage Point (the album) really started. Stockholm, where life (the basic one) goes weird. [16:06m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 dEUS on tour Official Podcast - Moscow B1 Max Venue: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 dEUS on tour Official Podcast - Instant Street live Moscow: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 dEUS on tour Official Podcast - interview Tom for Russian TV: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

It’s getting pretty funny to have to think back to gigs we’ve played a few weeks ago. So many things happened in between. In « real life »: family, social life, tenderness…a fucked-up home car and bills side of things. And in the « other » life, the one on the road, where all you got to care about is…the gig. The rest is taken care of by others for you. From food to drinks, from beds to…hum, let’s say, renting a bike for a city trip in the town we’re in. Even the cigarettes are provided in the rider. And the towels. And the toothpaste I keep forgetting is always around in somebody else’s pocket. Even the sun was around and generously provided on those few dates. Thank gOD. Nice one.

Because weather does change things. To us and the way we spend our day chatting/sunbathing on nice terraces after soundcheck. Good times to talk. To chill. To get close. To laugh.
And to you. Because it’s so much nicer to pick up your bike to go to the gig. So you can drink. So you can keep fit, too. And so we can all gather outside after the show and re-do our little but beautiful and sexy world.

Zurich has always been nice to dEUS. And this one was no different. Oh no. Great audience. Dancing kings and queens. All I could see were big smiles on everybody’s faces. Let me know if I’m wrong. You can always post comments on this blog. Yes, right at the bottom of this post. Push the comments button and write something. We’d love to have your views on this. Fresh air. Different impulses. Just say yes, like a James Brown thing…and do it! We’ll read them. But not at breakfast, please. Let’s say at beer o’clock.

Vienna was also under the sun. Windy though. And I have to say that when we arrived at the venue we were all pretty scared. What a rundown venue this is. What a winy skinny tiny stage it was. Even the mic stands were pieces of art, and gosh I love art. But on this occasion we had to be able to use them. And eventually put mics on them. So we had to replace them with basic black mic stands. Hoooo I hear the local promoter say.
Again, sorry for the artists who made them, but musical art nowadays has to be able to express itself via microphones. And cables. And amps. And speakers. We thought they didn’t know that there when we came in.

But another great and smooth gig it was. Sweaty. And groovy. Almost like a damn good white Russian. But that’s for next week.

Vienna, see you in October. I’ve been told it’s gonna take place outside. In an open air situation. gOD of good things and times, make it be a splendid sunshine, right. Deal? As cool as…

But what’s on this one you start asking yourself, reading over my shoulder:
You’ll get a little demo from a band you know and a little chat with people I met after the Zurich gig, and Smoker’s Reflect live from the same town and time.

Our good friend Dave McCracken, producer of Vantage point, was in Vienna. So I picked up the mic and asked him to tell us his inside stories about the recording of the album.

And, yeah, keep keep keep on listening…don’t give up. Even through silence. John Cage was right,…and you won’t regret it.

Truly yours, and see you next week dear all.

I’m off to fix the damn car.

Vp.

 

 Zurich-Vienna: where it all went well. Damn well. [23:18m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 dEUS on tour Official Podcast - Zurich holidays part 1: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 dEUS on tour Official Podcast - Zurich holidays part 2: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 dEUS on tour Official Podcast - Zurich soundcheck: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 dEUS on tour Official Podcast - Tommy back in his childhood: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 dEUS on tour Official Podcast - Vienna Flex venue: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

And a second birthday it was. Stef’s turn to become a grown up. It took place on the 9th of May. Hoo ugh…wait, wait. We were in Zurich then. That’s not for this pod. But for the next one. Wake up, dude !

Ok, where am I, right now ? In Linz, Austria. On a sort of morning after. Not that I went partying last night -as all the band members did though, to an overcrowded cool DJ bar next to the hotel- but there was a wedding party taking place at the hotel we stayed, right above my head, right above my bed. And you could hear, feel and almost touch all of the action. Those high heels on a wooden floor. Acoustics and hotels. Damn…

Linz ? Hold on. Isn’t it close to Mauthausen ? Yes, it is. Mister Proust is doing his job today. I remember visiting the former concentration camp in this « city » when I was a teenager. Oh lord. How to describe those painful and vivid memories. I remember reading at the time that the camp commandant allowed his eleven year old son to shoot prisoners with a rifle in front of their own porch. And, man, the « wailing wall », welcome present for the prisoners who arrived there. And the chambers.

But what’s wrong today ? Did someone put a « gloom » sugar in my coffee this morning, at breakfast. I’ll have a break. Another coffee. And a smoke. And will be back.

 

So, this one is about Munich and Milan’s gigs. Got it ?

Rewind then.

Munich. Nice venue, friendly people, very good gig. But, Germany, what’s happening ? We used to fill up those places with dancing chicks and drinking dudes. Aftershows and smiles on our faces. Last chance before the autumn tour at the Melt festival in Berlin, this summer. And be in the mood to celebrate, chat and dance. Please.

Milan. Magazzini Generali. Much better than it used to be. GREAT audience. Still Italy though. It’s weird to see how much they try to be as good as can be, but then those stairs in front of the stage, keeping the audience about 5 meters away from the action. It may be relevant for the bloody ( and great ) Rolling Stones stadium show. But in a club, please.

Anyway, another good gig it was. Truly. And honestly. But again, what happened to the afterparty. Com’on guys, you know we like to hang out after a show, have a few drinks and talk about stuff. Why have you got to rush home straight after the show ? Let’s get it back that way in the future. We all love it. Deal ?

 

So on this pod I decided to let the people coming to the shows give their point of view on the music. You’ll find a lot of little interviews from German and Italian fans, recorded before and after the gigs.

You’ll also get a cute impro from Mauro, recorded during soundcheck. And a surprise, a cover of a dEUS song -by dEUS- that will –and could- only exist here. Sometimes it’s great to press the record button, almost accidently, during soundchecks.

« Favourite Game », live in Milano, will be joining us on this journey. With a digital gap included. Oh well, that’s live innit, no tricks.

And Tommy will, again without knowing it, be the finishing touch. Let’s not make this as a trademark. How boring trademarks are. I’ll think about it.

Later.

For now, enjoy whatever you do, thanks to all the « unknown » voices that took part in this pod, and, yeap, don’t put too much sugar in your coffee. You never know what memories will pop up.

Take care.

v.

 

 Munich - Milano: Sorted. [16:53m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Well well well. Those things happen. Even though they shouldn’t. After Germany, Holland, the UK and France, where all gigs went the way they should have, the way we wanted them to go and the way the audience expected them to be…we came back to our own, holy little cool  country for a series of home gigs where the expectations were, how can I say it,  a little high. And then I am just being polite.

It was in Hasselt, near the city of Ambiorix and hometown of our very own Highness Mauro Pawlowski, that the first act of the 6 little meetings we also call gigs we had with Belgium, took place. A “rendez-vous” that we are about to end (and celebrate, I know it, follow my eyes) later on today at the Ancienne Belgique in Brussels. By the way, as this will only be published tomorrow, for those who were not there let me tell you that you missed a gorgeous/ cool/ sexy afterparty at the bar Le Central.

Ha ha ha….rghhhh.

And down the Hasselt gig went. And really badly down it ended. Little technical defaults, loads of them, all put together. At the same place. And at the same time. It ended up being the worst dEUS gig I have professionally experienced. Damn, man, what a weird situation to be caught in. You’ve known the people for years, travelled the world with them, shared unique moments, winks and laughs. And ba da boom…

Damn. Let’s not even think about it anymore. You have it in this pod faced with the views of Mauro and Alan. The Gentlemen that they are.

And much more. An interview with French radio producer Bernard Lenoir, who invited dEUS for the 3rd time to play live at his radio show « The Black Sessions ». A radio show that I’ve been listening to since I was 12 or 13 and which made me, for instance, discover Jeff Buckley long before I had the chance to work for him. Followed by « Oh Your God » from the very same show.

Then you’ll have the inside view and great taste (and smells) on French music by Mauro. All included in this unusual menu.

Tom will be the finishing touch…even though he doesn’t know it !

Sorry again Hasselt. Revenge on Werchter festival. Promised. No fingers crossed needed.

And thanks again to all of you who came to the shows…and enjoyed it !

We’ll keep seeing each other…and keep rocking.

Bloody nice weather here. Have a nice Belgian Trappist, and you’ll feel it too. Wherever you are.

Take care,
v.

 

 Worst...and...best case scenario. The return. [22:47m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 dEUS on tour Official Podcast - Backstage Liège: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 dEUS on tour Official Podcast - Paris oh your god soundcheck: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 dEUS on tour Official Podcast - Tour Eiffel before dEUS Gig: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

 

 dEUS on tour Official Podcast - Tour Eiffel after dEUS Gig: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download