Damo

Damo Suzuki with Raffael Lenz (guitar), Stephan Grasl (electric bass), Sebastian Leopold (drums), Matthias Kampf (gongs/soundscapes/loops) and Lorenz Kainz (guitar, ambience)
https://www.aera.at

Wien has been always one of my favorite cities in Europe.
Not just me, even magazine like “Economist” choice Wien as the world’s most livable city in the world, even two years in raw!
This ranking based on security, infrastructure, culture and education, health and atmosphere quality from 140 metropolises of the world. Wien has 99,1 point from 100 possible point (!!!), incredible….if I had such point in my school days?

Actually, I’m not found of ranking and award stuff, it’s main stream ranking. Still just being there I feel comfortable, kindly people, city atmosphere, service at pub/restaurant, you feel positive and I totally agree. Main theme of travel for me, culinary : Excellent, reasonable price, good quality.
By the way, an another magazine stand even since 10 years in raw keeping the best city.

For long years Austria is my favorite country, they have good politic too, for example, just think about living, government is buying space and build reasonable price apartment for Austrian citizens, not like some other countries renting room price is getting explosion, hard to pay rent. They do things for people. Also interesting to know around 2 million people not having cell-phone.
This mean something to me, I’d never own cell-phone.

Last time I performed here is while ago.
Few years ago (already long ago) Elke and I drive through almost all part of this country and we were positive influenced that time. Just one thing is missing, Austria has no sea! I can’t help. Quality of living here is excellent, I have to say.

I made my mind already what I do when I arrive Wien this time.
Go to restaurant and try “Tafelspitz” a national traditional food, last time I had this in Linz and it was amazing yummy.
This time at a famous traditional restaurant, it was more yummy and good quality (clean!) that stayed in my stomach for many hours that I didn’t have to get dinner afterwards. This is good example of quality food cooked with healthy quality local materials and well-balanced stay in stomach for long time. Oh, I like this proud traditional food whenever I come next I have to taste it again!

April last year our young friend Lorenz arranged Network performance in Munich where he lives. This time in Wien, His friend and our friend Raffa arranged release party for his band Half Baked Cheese, so I was invited perform with them and Lorenz as guest guitarist.
Opening band was Karaba from Munich, also Lorenz’s brother plays keyboards. Last year I performed with them. And after that show, members of the band and their friends came and celebrate Elke’s birthday at balcony at our Hotel until early morning.

Our show started with 10 minutes introduction long Gong sound of Matthias.
My show may too short, some of guests claimed.
But, it was release party of my friend, so please take it as it was.

Next day, on Saturday evening some friends show up one after another for Dinner at grand floor of the hotel placed on very well known Ring Street.

I’m very sure, everybody in the world likes chocolate and schnitzel.
Even some never tried, when they once try they like it.
Both are everybody’s daring in culinary sense.
I like restaurant like here, open kitchen, also from street you can see process of Wiener schnitzel making. And you can see how clean chefs are proudly cooking this famous yummy Schnitzel.
Some of us (win experts?) and old pair next to our table negotiate with us were invited excellent seldom wine test that you cannot get everyday by friendly table manager. Wine experts were amused. It was special occasion for them. Unfortunately I wasn’t a wine taster this day. I tried ice-cold beer that was also good with the Schnitzel.

Then, Déjà-vu effect like in Munich, we enjoyed drinks at balcony, almost especially for us reserved on 8th floor cafe at the hotel with Wien roof landscape where also serve breakfast.

Damo Suzuki with Phobophobes: Dan Lyons, Elliot Nash, Chris OC, George Russell, Jamie Taylor
https://www.windmillbrixton.co.uk

Normally it’s not happen, trustful booker Tim of the venue didn’t contact me before the performing day for long time for any reason. Until a week before this date I didn’t know if this would happen or not. It’s strange feeling as I’ve performed here for many times and he is trustful person, it’s almost like a home game. He contacted me again at start of this tour. He said no worries, it get filled up with visitors on the performing day even just 1 week to go, his words happened true.

I don’t much care as Tim has been arranging each time very interesting band even I was not sure about sound carriers until sound check.
There is always young musicians here would like to join Network if there is opportunity next time. I hear each time someone say, “Damo, next time I will….”
The venue is not in the center, but London music fans know this space and the venue enjoying good call., even awarded as top 3 venues in London by Time Out magazine.

I personally like to perform here, one: above I said Tim arrange fantastic talented band, one: atmosphere is kind of nostalgic and one : sympathetic visitors that visited my show here many times and talk to me before/after the show.

Damo Suzuki with Lapis Lazuli
https://www.ramsgatemusichall.com

Nice thing for Alan is he doesn’t switch on radio to listen any music. I said him he can put as driving without music may bore or not good to concentrate driving. He knows I’m not familiar to listen music, it’s somehow disturbing my creativity. But, he is our captain, he can drive comfortably, and I don’t mind he puts music. Then I automatically shout my ears.

We reached Ramsgate earlier than we planed but a bit late for Lunch. I wished to bring nice restaurant for first UK visitor Hayashi. Since he’s in UK he didn’t eat anything remarkable. It may not much course him as he is first time here, even so he seems to be enjoying, every single small founding is worth for his travel. Eat at motorway restaurant is almost punishment. So, I thought finally I could bring him to reasonable fish restaurant or something here.

I was here this small port town once, so I know some places, we tried to set ourselves in a fish restaurant. Unfortunately they closed kitchen at this time. Place like here just waterfront, I like to have fish, nothing else. We went to Greek restaurant next door. Unfortunately, they don’t have fish dish we expected, but at this time of the day it’s not easy to have something you want to have even if in larger city. Sorry to Hayashi that I didn’t bring him to one good restaurant. He have to leave UK tomorrow.

It’s a small venue, up stair is pub also merchandising space. I know already some faces from last time, some speak with me, some keep distance, but eyes on me. I met few old friends.
Lapis Lazuli is young improve band I remind of Electric Octopus from Belfast. Like return of hippie time me again.
They recorded show and recently released this CD:

The entire unedited improvised set from Damo Suzuki and Canterbury unsigned act Lapis Lazuli. This double-disc album signifies the 6th release by the Canterbury band, and represents one of the kaleidoscope shows Damo played as part of his 2019 tour.

The second disc to the album is titled using an anagram of ‘damo suzuki lapis lazuli’; ‘Louis Padilla’s Muzak Uzi’, – a collection of jams recorded and mixed leading up to the live concert. This disc does not include Damo at all, as the band’s one and only encounter with him was at the show!

The album was mixed live and recorded by Ramsgate Music Hall’s in-house engineer Al Harle, and mixed / mastered by Lapis’ Neil Sullivan.

Release date: 31st January 2020
Mail Order: lapislazulithebanduk@gmail.com

This is last night for Hayashi.
He brought Champaign that he’d got from a stewardess in plane, excuse for something, I forgot.
He wanted farewell drink. Kan-Pai!, Cheers!, Skool!, Prosit!, Nastrovia! What so ever.
He said he had good time even it was so short, he is happy that he travels not like usual tourists, enjoy every three concerts with in three different cities, three different formations, three different music. Still we three walk around this small town, small snacks to eat, late in the night.
Hayashi have to take train early in the morning to get flight back to Japan that departure time is early afternoon.

After departure in Japan two days later, he reported me he enjoyed oyster bar at Heathrow that I recommended. Finally he has got something better healthy food.
Indeed, oyster in England is really good, has tradition like former capital city (for short) Colchester! They have tradition since Roman Empire time. Jersey, Weymouth, etc….

Live Documentation :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVUPVhQ6wfo
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ETmEJZPckKI
https://www.facebook.com/Lapislazulitheband/videos/1576556389135458/

Damo Suzuki with Ian “Budgie” Jones (Drums, Percussion), Al Roberts/Aka Jim Noir (Bass, Guitar), Ian Smith (Bass, Guitar) and Keir Stewart (Keyboards, Effects)
http://www.carltonclub.org.uk

In London Hayashi booked same hotel like me, but with window, so we went together for breakfast very closer next morning.
I don’t name it but if you’re an English you know where we took breakfast. Since few years I get breakfast at chain Organic Cafe, seldom take breakfast in Hotel. On tour I try to live like normal (= like at home). Which food I take is important to keep condition from travelling stress. Majority of foods I take organic at home, so on the road it’s fine to find place like here, order fine double Espresso, Chocolate croissant…. it’s my usual breakfast like South European people sometimes baguette with cheese or tuna …. small breakfast. For me this ceremony is necessary not damage my liver before I take daily issue of medication that is very strong that effect start 1 or 2 hours later. Beside this medication, I take variation of vitamins and minerals in the afternoon… Suzuki prepares immunity. This is the basis of all.

During drive, I sat back seat to relax, some times lay down. Anyway I saw many times English landscapes, so today co-pilot seat I gave to Hayashi, is very curious, also has will to try to speak in English with the Irishman. Soon, Hayashi got friendship with Alan.
-Hayashi told me after his first UK trip, he enjoyed conversation with Alan so much as he never have such opportunity in Japan or elsewhere he was, no chance to speak with locals.

Alan and I stayed at AirBnB with three rooms.
Accommodation is the thing I rate not from how gorgeous is house or from furniture. My measure is how landscape around is. It’s for me not depended on quality of architecture, I care much about landscape as main, well stay in city is anyhow stressful, too much information. I originally come from rather province, so I feel much comfortable to be in silence or place able to see season change. So, it’s strange like here at this AirBnB. Hayashi booked Hotel near by through tourist office in Japan

I’d been performing in Manchester quite often.
But, this part of the city is first time, I guess.
It’s near to that famous Old Trafford, home ground of Manchester United.

The venue-building complex is quite old (perhaps) Victorian style.
We three were thinking to go to eat somewhere, maybe eat Ramen? We had decision for our hungry stomach, we had just junk on Motorway. I don’t have to tell, but eatery on motorways is boring, here in England, even gourmet country like France and Italy, they have not satisfactory Restaurant on motorway, just it’s boring….all captured by big chain restaurants. Nails of globalization. Every British rest place on motorway you only find chain restaurants/cafes, every rest place has exactly same foods (except one rest place near Bristol (if I’m not wrong), they have local farmer shop restaurant with another policy, it looks much healthy and refreshed)

It’s science for itself, so leave it. Moan doesn’t change so long cut off capitalistic method of profit illness, not mention of quality (= healthy life), far before quality lays quantity. I’m happy to see even a chain restaurant in Germany. There’re a few of this Fish Restaurant. That brings me relative fresh and my favorite of marinated Matjes. Simple but tasty! Oh, I became hungry just speaking about this theme. Old sentence say “old mans sex is eatery.”
So, we had planned to go somewhere to eat not fast food.
I was informed organiser of the show prepared curry for all sound carriers and staff, brought also local beer, so we stayed here.

Everything go so slow today at this Victorian style house. As I heard this is second time or anyway few time they arrange show at this space. Ian, contact person and bassist of instant band tonight is happy that ticket is sold out. Ian told me in his mail the venue is similar to Trade Club in Hebden Bridge where we perform together few years ago. The house is middle of residential area, very silence. It has garden, fits good for beer garden in summer time.
The performance starts a bit later than announced.
Local supporting act and band, visitors were so relaxed and positive energy flow over space. Everything is well, result is Ian asked me to play again next year.

Live Documentation:

Damo Suzuki with Gently Tender: Adam Brown (Guitar), Will Doyle (Drums), Sam Fryer (Guitar) and Pete Mayhew (Keys , Bass)
https://www.theoldbluelast.com

Two and half years ago while I had to spend my time in hospital, I met two Japanese medicine students in training there. One of them named Hayashi contacted me to visit my London show just few weeks ago. He’ll arrange to get 5 days break and just visit my show in London! Seems to be he didn’t have any other plan even he will be in UK for first time, so I invited him if he also likes to come along to other shows, join our trip. He is curious about music style called “instant composing”, he say he never experienced this, so he is exciting, at same time he probably is curious (from perspective of young doctor) how I’m living now a days after such heavy surgeries as he knew my situation at that time.

This is 3rd new thing I was talking about, on tour someone join my tour. (Ha, ha I opened space for tourist?) Therefore Alan lent a bit larger car, enough space for 3 people, luggage and merchandising inclusive.
So, Hayashi join us Manchester and Ramsgate. 3 Network performances then go back to his daily life, back to Japan.

Japanese has not many holidays, I don’t know how many days, probably all together 2 weeks in year? Anyway far less than most European countries. Their over sea holidays are very short, rush, tight and hard schedule. They’re able to make sight-seeing London-Paris-Roma in just 3 days. It’s normal.
Surely, Hayashi going to have his own short special holidays, hope he enjoys this trip, hope at the end of his trip, he find it was worth to spend his time with Network experience and bring some impact at home. We’ll see.

24 hours parking for 50GBP!, the hotel has no own parking even they don’t offer discount parking ticket around. Say, it’s middle of London. The hotel is modern and very expensive like London use to be. They have rooms even in cellar, every single space worth of business, even room without window. It’s not natural, to be one night mole. Stop, moaning! The venue is closer just few blocks away.

Hayashi and I had an appointment meet at the venue around 18:00, nobody was there in the venue, just a friendly female sound lady. I open back door to get fresh air, then Hayashi stand there, seems to be surprised suddenly I’m standing in front of him even we had an appointment in time, it’s something funny, open the door found face of young medicine student.

The green room is nice space with roof landscape of the city at corner of junction. On the table a bottle of Gin and tonic water.
I opened the bottle shared Gin with him.
This was mistake, I forget to eat dinner.
Sound check just with keyboard, other boys were somewhere else.
The venue has similar structure like the Lexington, recently I perform relative often, just few blocks away from here.

Gin?
I’d never tried this drink before even it’s trendy drink all over the world. After while I get really relax, I’ve enough time, the supporting band should have to play. I thought a band were arranged as opening band. No, there’s no 2nd set. Just one set with them.

Few weeks before, a female from Edinburgh mailed me she likes to experience Network performance, she arranged this trip. She showed after the show at merchandising space, she introduced her self. Thanks for spending your time whole way from Scotland.

Live Documentation:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X-vC8QtT4Gs&t=15s