...was Joy Divisions original band name and i hoped(for more reasons that just that) that we'd at least get to see it. Poland lacks some serious infrastructure, particularly in the highway department. Our drives have been long 9 or 10 hour treks through desolate looking countryside of poured concrete homes and scattered farms. It dampers spirits but the shows have been really great for how different the two were. Last night we played a really huge professional venue, much like the upstairs of the worcester palladium, actually identical in size and layout. The crowd was huge and very receptie to all the great bands and we were able to peddle a good amount of our wares. The singer for one of the bands told us the venue for today closed so he was movn the show to his garage. This of course after the big stage was not what i had in mind but a good amount of people turned out and his girlfriend made us the best and warmest meal weve had so far. Were showered and crashing at their house tonight which is really quite nice.
After the Leipzig show, which felt more like Belfast urban combat training we stayed in a really cool loft i mentioned briefly before. Leipzig was the kind of situation where we drive through the city and see lots of great things to check out and realize we are not yet near the venue and as we drive and drive these points of interest turn into cautionary warnings which turn into squatter dwellings and our venue. Regardless, the loft after was really something, the walls were painted with trees and a ladder was built out of split logs that brought you out to the roof. The wholeplace had a very natural feel to it and the local inhabitants, both people and kittens were extremely hospitable. As we all hung out and settled in for the night I found a Thelonius Monk cd laying out. Nobody seemedto mind me leaving it on so as i fell asleep quite comfortably n the next room i could hear Monk drifting in. It was a perfect end to an otherwise ugly day. In the morning I felt my health returned and off we went.
Tomorrow we go back to Germany for a couple dates then into austria, I can't wait to see Vienna. Im told the shows are often lacking but the cities beauty makes the trip worthwhile Hopefully we will have the time to absorb some of the cities asthetics and enjoy better weather than weve had the last few days.
So far I havent found any really interesting gardens, some really cool vegetabe farms in Belgium, but not much else.
The people we meet along the way have all been great, i can hear everyone laughing downstairs so that's where i'm headed.
Half way done but still too far from home.
