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.

VIVE EL SUENO - BACK TO BEING LAZY

So my intentions to keep this up every day hasnt really worked out but its been difficult. Internet access is not always easy to come by in third world countries such as Germany or Norway. Im in Oslo now, since I last did an entry many things have happened most of which ill go into in as little detail as humanly possible.

Since january 11th i have..

- Played and enjoyed the rest of my German solo-tour the highlights of which are too numerous to name but Lemgo, Berlin and Sarstedt spring to mind. I love germany and germans, its official.

- Had 2 epic days off in Berlin in which i got to see many friends, Colm and Sarah, Scott and Derek, Admiral Black, Tom Schwoll, German Sarah Brendel...Really had good laugh hangin out with the lads and a Spritualized sing-song with Scott G that lasted till about 11 o clock the following day fun times.

- Got to see my wife for the weekend when i arrived in Oslo, this was a real treat she came out for a few days so we could have a little bit of a holiday together.

- Did numerous bits of publicity in Oslo for the release of '100 Midnights' it came out in Norway yesterday and its getting great reviews and a lot of attention. The highlight of my promo was shooting a video performance of 'Downtown' and going arse over tit in the snow. Rock N Roll.

The full band gigs start tomorrow night in Oslo, Hog, Bren, Steve and Dan are just touching down as we speak so im off to collect them from the train station and take them to the hotel, which incidentally, is far better than anything we are used to!!!

Stef.

FOTO FOTO

Good Owl buzz in the snow in Schwerin

Good Aul buzz in the snow in Munich

The view from the passenger seat on a 7 hour slow trek to the north coast of Germany

ITS B-B-BLEEDIN' B-B-BALTIC!!!

After a crazy long drive yesterday im mainly fucked-up snowy conditions myself and Michael reached the former East-German town of Schwerin. Hats off to Mick for his driving skills as well as patience and concentration, it really was a treacherous journey. We recieved a warm welcome as well as a hot bowl of soup from the owners of Cafe Kuntabund, lovely venue reminded me of the kind of place youd see photos of the Velvet Underground playing in NYC back in the day, lots of the small venues in Germany actually remind me of that, anyway, i digress. The gig was great, the best one on the tour so far, im staring to get my voice back and the comedown from all the heavy drinking of xmas and new year is almost over and im back on an even keel. Im trying to eat as healthy as possible and limit my drinking to seven nights a week.

This morning after a nice breakfast with Bea the owner of the venue and a bit of a walk around Schwerin we set off for Kiel taking a slightly longer and safer route. The city of Kiel is situated on the Baltic sea, its a big shipping port, its fucking freezing. Im writing this from tonights venue 'Prinz Willy' where i have played before its a great little spot so im looking forward to the gig. Im also looking forward to tomorrow which will be my first day without doing a gig in 14 straight days...its tough at the bottom.

STEFAN MURPHY IS A LAZY BASTARD..AND OTHER COLD HARD FACTS

Having started up this blog in good faith its come to my attention that i havent bothered my arse with it since the 23rd of September last year. So, my friends, from a band-apartment in Bamberg [Bavaria, Germany] im gonna attempt to get it going again. HERE GOES!!

I cant even begin to remember what i have been up to since we last spoke but things have been ushering themselves forward in the usual fashion. There was a short acoustic tour in the US in October taking in some great solo shows in Chicago, Pittsburgh, New York and Philadelphia. A really nice holiday followed this including some quality time with family in Atlanta GA and the wedding of one of my dearest friends in Las Vegas too. Ive also had another little run in Germany since the last as well as gigs in England and Ireland. As 2009 became 2010 the band and I had a great little tour with GRINGO BANDIDO [Halden, Norway] around Ireland including some of our favourite haunts. I look forward to hooking up with the Gringo boys later this month when we return to Norway, and if i can manage to keep up the blogging ill tell you all about it.

Right, back to the present. Im in Bamberg, Germany, its snowing like hell, but a beautiful sight to behold. im 3 dates into another solo acoustic tour, things are going well. I have my good buddy Michael Langewender as tour-manager and spiritual guru. Driving conditions are bad but the mood is upbeat. An overview of the tout looks like this so if you know of anybody who is in or near any of the locations please tell them to come down and say hello.

06.01.2010 – Heilbronn, Red River Club (20 Uhr, Eintritt: 5 €)
07.01.2010 – München, The Potting Shed (20 Uhr, Eintritt: frei)
08.01.2010 – Bamberg, Blues Bar (21 Uhr, Eintritt: frei)
09.01.2010 – Schwerin, Cafe Kunterbunt (20 Uhr, Eintritt: 5 €)
10.01.2010 – Kiel, Prinz Willy (20 Uhr, Eintritt: frei)
12.01.2010 – Oldenburg, Salon Jürgenz (20 Uhr, Eintritt: frei)
13.01.2010 – Lemgo, Beat Cafe (20 Uhr, Eintritt: 3 €)
14.01.2010 – Schwerte, Im Reiche des Wassers (21 Uhr, Eintritt: 5 €)
15.01.2010 – Losheim am See, Dresch-Keller (21 Uhr, Eintritt: frei)
16.01.2010 – Paderborn, Cube/Capulet (20 Uhr, Eintritt: frei)
19.01.2010 – Berlin, White Trash (21.30 Uhr, Eintritt: 3 €)
20.01.2010 – Mainz, Hafeneck (20 Uhr, Eintritt: 7 €)
21.01.2010 – Lippstadt, Mokkaccino (20.30 Uhr, Eintritt: frei)
22.01.2010 – Sarstedt, Rainers Rockhouse (20 Uhr, Eintritt: 5 €)

Other than that, i hope you all had an amazing Christmas and a happy new year, I had a joyous time with my wife and all my family, it was particularly amazing to spend quality time with my Nephew 'Nathan' and Niece 'Grace', two of the most precious little things in the universe....TALK TO YOU ALL SOON