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.