SUNDAY SUNDAY HERE AND GONE

Look how orange that beard is. With the green hat, my head looks like a tricolor thats being hung sideways out a window on the day of an Ireland world cup fixture. Brian took this photo of me right before he walked in a hape of dogshite while we were out on the road yesterday morning. Speaking of the road...

Doesn't she look beautiful in this photo?? She is a harsh mistress at the very best of times but she must be served and obeyed. And its all worth it to see her beauty shining as immaculately as it is in this photo. This was also taken by Brian yesterday. He was in good photographic form. Today we had a day off. I woke up and did a bit of work on the computer. My voice has been a bit tired and hoarse from all the singing, Germany doesn't enforce the smoking ban in most places so the venues are back to the old-school way of being smoke filled. I like it on some level cos it gives it a much more Rock N' Roll feel but after six nights of passive smoking while trying to belt out 90 minute sets im a little bit off. Ill be back on form for tomorrow night Im pretty sure. In the afternoon today we took a walk around Langenberg filming footage of some of our favourite bits of this strange little town. Ill try edit the footage and post it sometime. In the evening we just had a nice home cooked meal and watched The Commitments on DVD. Fucking incredible movie, never gets old for me, and everytime i watch it i see more and more funny shit.

Tomorrow we drive to the lovely Bavarian town of Bamberg, Im anticipating that we are gonna blow the lid off the venue as we have been playing like monsters. Really enjoying the shows.

OH LITTLE TOWN OF LIPPSTADT

Last nights show could be considered a home fixture, not because any of the band have any ties [or affinity, or affection] to the little town of Lippstadt but because our German Label 'Tonetoaster' is situated a half hour away. The venue was pretty good and the crowd that attended was surprisingly our biggest of the tour. Not our most passionate but good none the less. The gig got off to a wierd start because of a fucking idiot who was making a cunt of himself up the front. Dancing aggressively [to really slow songs] intimidating those around him and getting up onstage and trying to grab the mic. I had to even stop and re-start a song on his behalf. Youd think there was one person in the venue who would have the authority to fuck the guy out on his ear...but no, his meat-headed handicapped-looking presence had to be endured by us, and by the kind people who paid in and were trying to enjoy the gig for about 8 tunes. It almost ruined the gig for me personally as i kept on getting blood visions of having to deal with him myself. That would have involved a broken guitar and a gormless inbred shitebag picking his face up off the floor. Thankfully it never came to that, although after the gig Gary told me that he was edging close to levelling the guy with his bass. At one point when he was trying to get up onstage Gary pushed him off in the midst of a bass riff, without missing a note - Keith Richards eat your heart out.

When eventually the piece of shit realized he had little audience left for his idiocy he left and a really good rock n roll show took his place. We played two new songs, one of which 'Horrid Prayers' we pretty much only got together in the soundcheck [i love that shit] and the second tune 'Milk Fight' let to an inspired moment where Brian went from banging the keys to doubling up on the drums with Ken to jumping out into the crowd embroiled in a wild feral carny-dance while banging a spare tom drum that was hanging about. Legendary actions from the curly headed fella, what made it even more entertaining [for me anyhow] was the stern looks of blank bewilderment in the faces of the packed audience [with the exception of only a few] while this was going on. I have a great love for the German audiences and they are always very good to me, I'm puzzled by them sometimes, but try to not let that puzzlement take away from how much passion the band and I believe is necessary to do what we do. We were firing on all cylinders last night, the gig ended in chaos, it was fucking great. Id also like to mention our support band 'Western Comfort', they seem like a bunch of young guys who have a bright future ahead of them, they did a great Devo cover and the singer had a really powerful voice.

After the gig we hung around to try and sell a bit of merch, offload some of our new record etc etc. Inspired by Brian's earlier antics i decided to stand by the merch stall beating a drum to try and 'drum up' a few sales as it were. It actually worked...I might try it again, sense of humour was in short supply in Werkstaff last night but im thinking in a more punk type venue such a marketing strategy might actually pay off. Beating a drum to try and sell more CDs?...that really is flying in the face of everything thats cool about rock n roll isnt it? But being on the road is what we do and selling our trinkets is what makes that possible so coolness [as ever] doesn't really come into it for me.

The post gig drinks was a lot of fun. We had great laugh with the Barstaff, they plied us with Tequila I gave Kenny a ring that i have been wearing on my finger since 1998 [when he was 10] as a reminder of life on tour with The Mighty Stef, we had a drink and an owl sentimental chat n' hug session and then we all ended up around a grand piano while Brian wheeled out as many Queen, Bowie, Elton John and John Grant tunes he could hash together and we had a singsong until home time. It was the earliest night of the tour so far, We are all knackered. My voice needs a bit of a rest so thankfully today is our day off, the only day off of the german tour.

Good times brothers and sisters, good times. We are still on top! - I think today might involve all of us lying in one double bed eating milk tray and watching the Commitments. We have given our souls to rock n roll, precious reader. There is no going back now. Happy Sunday!!!

Guest Books are popular, Bands are usually keen to express themselves with witty statements and cute drawings, here is our attempt at being 'funny'

STRENGTH TO STRENGTH - THE BEST TOUR EVER

Im reporting to you from Langenberg after a long drive on a cold sunny morning from the City of Flensberg which is close to the Danish Border. Last nights gig was really great. Small venue called Hummels Eck, great crowd. We played a lot of songs that we hadn't been doing the previous nights including 'Sunshine Serenade' 'Russian Roulette' and an amazing full band version of 'John The Baptist Part 2' which sounded big and evil with the full band. This mornings drive was nice, I listened to Velvet Underground 'Loaded' and Spacemen 3 'Playing With Fire' and was transported into an amazing state of mind. I even got to writing some lyrics which i never do on tour. Traditionally i write nothing down, or i do it on a scrap of paper and then lose it. I have decided this year that im gonna carry a notebook with me everywhere and see if i can become disciplined enough to write down my ideas. Hopefully leading to some great songs. We'll see how that goes.

Before Flensberg it was Kiel another Port town right on the Baltic Sea. The venue was great, the gig was enjoyable [setlist pictured below] Afterwards the venue owner 'Dicki' took us to a late bar/club that used to be an old social club for sailors. This place was amazing, the inside of it was completely decked out like a ship and it had lifeboats hanging from the upper level which you could sit in and have a drink. We got talking to some great heads including the bass player from German Hardcore Punk Band 'Smoke Blow' who come from Kiel. Really cool guy, looked like a sailor. I love Kiel, i have played there 4 times now and never a bad night was had.

Above Fredovich Plays the Mandolin, Below - There is gonna be a Rock Show, Both pics from Berlin.

I have to say, so far this tour has been one of my favorites ever, far from glamorous but full of soul. Every night the music is going from strength to strength the morale among the four of us and Michael our tour manager is really high. The borrowing of Ken Mooney from The Urges [Garage-Psyche institution from Dublin] has brought to the group a great drummer but more than that a great individual whose company is an absolute pleasure and who boosts the soul levels of the band an untold amount. It may be the hangover talking but its days like this that I really feel vindicated for choosing this path in life. Tonight we play in Lippstadt, i cant wait to get up on stage and sing a few songs. Thats pretty much what its all about for me.

GO EAST YOUNG MAN !!!

Chemnitz was cold as the proverbial witches tit but Subway To Peter (love that name) was a great venue. Really good crowd and despite my amp Getting a little bit fucked up we played a great Rock N Roll gig. The post gig pageantry (as predicted by exiled Irish Rock N´Roller John McKeever) involved the house special...Vodka with Garlic in it. Guess What....It was fucking lovely. Way nicer than ordinary vodka...It almost felt like a meal. The Highlight of the Chemnitz experience though was the Band Room that we slept in. Ill post some photos of that when i get the chance.

Next was Berlin. Colm joined us for the Gig and Shaun for a few tunes, Georgia Girl was a beautiful moment. The crowd were great. Best gig of the tour so far. Schokoladen is a top venue. Later on we went to Le Cercle Rouge - a beautiful new bar owned by Fredovich from King Khan And The Shrines. We had a couple of swallies a couple of Tequilas and mused over the inappropriateness of having a band called KKK Radio and having a song called Black Hitler but how amazing it would be to hear it announced on the radio. The simple pleasures of shite talk!!! - Great Night.

About to jump in the van to go to Kiel now. Ill post some photos soon.

MONDAY NIGHT AT THE WAGENI

Tonight's gig was the Ideal start to the tour, I have played the Wageni on two previous occasions without the band and they were special nights. This night was even more special. We seriously lost our hearts on the burning sands in front of a really passionate crowd [especially for a monday night, but to be honest..they were a great crowd for any night].

We have a great van with a DVD player and CD and all that jazz....The only problem is...none of it actually works so we are reduced [or elevated to..depending on your outlook] channelling an ipod through the speakers of a Stylophone...It actually gives the tunes a Vinyl feel and mixed in with the sounds of the Autoban its a very unique sonic experience.

Our first stop of the Day was at some radio station..We sang we 'We Want Blood' i played guitar and sang the main bit, Kenny played tambourine, Brian played Stylophone [really earning its keep today] and everyone, including Gary sang backing vocals. It was Mondo's first ever time singing...and it was live on Radio.. A Star Is Born.

The gig was a great run-out for us, we kept it fairly uptempo with the exception of Death Threats and Come Over To The Darkside, the latter was my favourite of the night along with newish tune 'Whores Of Baltimore'. In the van home we had the Stylophone speakers at full tilt to the tunes of Strokes, A Lazarus Soul, Robert Wyatt, Staples Singers, Beechwood Sparks and more. Good Times!!

Next gig is in the former East German town of Chemnitz at a famous old punk haunt called 'Subway To Peter' the name fascinates me. Apparently they have their own home brew Vodka with Garlic in it and its customary for touring rock n roll bands to sample its delights. To be fair it cant taste much worse than Vodka without the Garlic. I have a lot of respect for Vodka, it tastes like i would imagine death to taste like, if it had a taste.

DUBLIN BANDS AND GERMAN TRAIN TIMETABLES DO NOT GOOD BEDFELLOWS MAKE

It's all in the headline. Michael our tour manager had to drive much further to meet us than he had planned. Some town that i dont remember the name of with a kebab shop that sold beer is where we ended up. So yeah, we were delighted. Exile On Main Street provided the sound track for our packed car journey to our final resting place 'Langenberg City'. Really itching for our first gig, It's so great to have Ken Mooney on board with us. Gonna do a Radio thing in Bochum tomorrow afternoon and then a show in the Wageni venue. Great place, cant wait.

Dublin To Langenberg Again.

For a change we are heading to Germany to get settled in tonight before our first gig tomorrow night in the city of Bochum. Our usual system is to get a 7am flight to Dusseldorf which can get you up as early as 4.30 to play a gig that same night. Im looking forward to trying it this way because usually by the time the soundcheck comes around for the first gig my nerves are frayed with tiredness and the buzz is fading fast.

So its Dublin to Dusseldorf, then to Langenberg. Making the best of quiet sunday by getting where we need to be.

AND THAT......

Was about the size..

Of my day

ALMOST A YEAR TO THE DAY SINCE MY LAST POST - SHEEEEIT

I knew this would happen. This blog was supposed to be a chronicle of the tour-life of The Mighty Stef. Almost a year has passed since i last posted. Shameful!!! - Since then i have travelled to many places, fun times in the USA, Germany, Italy and a summer's worth of great festivals [Reading and Leeds were highlights]. Parted company with Bren, Steve, Dan and Hog. Brian, Gary and Myself then flew the flag with the occasional addition of Colm. TMS & The Baptists was released in Ireland in December and then everywhere else just last week. We are about to embark on yet another tour of Germany followed by Scandanavia, followed by SXSW and a possible US tour. So basically, it is, once again, my desire to try and keep a little blog about whats going on. Well see if it works out.

I have been writing a lot of new material and its pretty certain that album number 4 will be recorded this year. Im already really excited at the prospects of that. The rulebook is getting burnt for this one, im sure all bands say that from time to time, I really mean it. Many songs written, many more in the works. All good stuff too.

Last year i listened to a lot of Television Personalities, Talking Heads and Velvet Underground, I played about a million gigs. I released one album with my friends 'The Baptists' and the album that inspired me most was 'Queen Of Denmark' by John Grant. Critically my work is unacclaimed and largely undiscovered by the wider audiences. Thats fine. I have a long way to go yet, I have barely started.