After getting off of the phone with our friends in Christiania, and booking a show there at the very last minute...
the crew packed themselves and their gear into the car and headed to the San Francisco Airport. Since we are all broke, spending our money on new CD's to sell, airplane tickets, extra equipment, etc... I made a challenge to keep our spending at a cieling of the impossible 400 dollars the entire tour. Mark and I (Jeff) agreed, in a meek counter bid Trevor said, "well I only have a 140 dollars to spend so I guess I will beat you guys there." Cigarettes and coffee could go a long way.... In the earlier planning stages of the tour Nate told us a story from when he was touring in Japan and in a similar monetary deficit. Some punk kids on the tour dared him to swim out to a boat that sat in a ways off the Japanese coast for 500 dollars. Nate in a mixture of bravery and insanity went for it.... With the water being cold and the distance farther than expected he almost didn't make it. He did make it to the boat, which was occupied by a Japanese family, probably having a nice holiday boat ride. the kids back on the shore made good in their bet and shelled out the 500 dollars that paid for most of Nates airplane ticket. The Folk Explosion tour officially will do dares and various other acts for money and do not think it below themselves to exploit this opportunity.
Here is the beginning of our tour diary. A letter from Christopher, who, with his brother, is already in Budapest, waiting our arrival.
From: graigrai@yahoo.com
Subject: Re: Orphanage/ Kinderdorf
Date: March 19, 2004 7:18:44 PM PST
To: ray7@pacbell.net
Jeff, Mark, Nate, Trevor and all...
In terms of the Kinderdorf concert on april 26th,
we'll just play it by ear...no worries! The Kinderdorf
is, as I had explained, a village that "houses"
orphaned and/or abused kids, and has been doing this
since it was set up to help with all the orphaned/hurt
kids of WW2. We had a great concert there last year;
they were incredibly generous and their hospitality
exceeded any expectations...And the kids...wow!...they
left us all feeling so good about being musicians;
music and its healing abilities...You all wouldn't
regret it for sure...so we'll keep it definitely in
mind! It's a heartening experience...
My flight was easy and fast...after so many years of
travelling, it still amazes me how we step into this
man made bird, and it transfers us thousands of miles
away without much ado! And there's even entertainment
along the way...(not the best, though...hahaha, but if
you bring along your own, you can read-up/ listen up
on your missed opportunities...or just take some
valerian, settle into your seat with some good tune in
your earplugs and awaken at your destination!...and if
you are asleep you don't notice any of the air-bumps
either!!!)
The sad news upon my arrival here, was twofold. First
the news of the violent flare-up of tensions in
Mitrovica, Kosovo, and now well spread within all of
Kosovo!!! When I entered our apartment, the TV was on,
and BBC was showing the violence erupting on the
bridge that separates the Kosovo-Albanians with the
Kosovo-Serbs...the very bridge we played on, a year
ago to help ease tensions between the two prominent
enthnic lines (the concerts were part of the United
Nations peace initiative and reconciliation efforts
between Kosovo-Albanians and Kosovo-Serbs). It felt
sad and strange to see BBC interview UN-officials who
were trying to make sense of the "sudden" re-surge of
violence, the very same officials who organized the
successful concerts almost a year ago. And seeing such
violence errupt again...it must be hell down there
right now, and my heart goes out to all the people of
Kosovo as well as those great officials that are
working so hard and against all odds (and by their
mere presence, endangering themselves) to help restore
peace within the country.
At this point I had just about put down my bags, not
believing the news, when the news shifted to another
story, that jolted my now already bruised heart: The
story of Bertrand Cantat, a popular French Rock
singer, who in a rage of anger, beat his lover, Marie
Trintignant, to death in Lithuania on July last year.
It happened to be the opening of his trial...Well,
this accused man is a friend with whom we have
toured and recorded/collaborated with much in the
past. I had, of course, already known about the
terrible and tragic incident that occoured that
summer night. It was sad, however, to see an old
friend, intelligent and incredibly talented musicians,
father of two beautiful kids, someone we have shared
many pleasant moments with, standing trial, all
broken, pale, and shaken up...guilty of an horiffic
crime!(he has fully admitted his guilt, but his
defence wants this case to be tried as a "crime of
passion", instead of a crime of "involuntary
manslaughter", which he is accused of. The outcome
will determine the lenght of jail-time -- the
difference being quite considerable!) To know a man
accused of manslaughter, that has been a friend for so
many years, really brings it home, and makes one
reflect upon oneself; how we make decisions and lead
our lives...and the consequences of our actions.
Anyways, it was a strange welcome home for me, and put
me into a reflective mood...hahaha...but I am so happy
to be here in this beautiful city, and all the more
excited to do this tour!!!! On my first night out, I
went to see Laiko Felix, and incredible violinist,
whose compositions and arrangements combine Roma
(gypsie) with Hungarian traditional tunes...He's
incredible! (to make it all the more ironic, we shared
the same bill with him, and Bertrand Cantat at the
Olympia in Paris many years ago!!!!) It was a great
concert!
Jeff, another thing very important, could you write a
press release -- consisting of one healthy paragraph
-- about this tour, and all its musicians...and post
it to me as soon as possible. (Also post it on the
website as a "press release"). This makes it easier
for press/journalists to print something already up,
instead of having to work it all out themselves from
the website...we'd basically feed them the informatio
we want them to print! This makes it alot easier for
everyone...Thanks so much! (I would do it myself, if I
wasn't such an unalphabet, or not so insecure when it
comes to writing...hahaha)
We have also KREFELD confirmed at the "Kulisse" on
April 10th!...Finally!!!!...hahaha
o.k, got to get to bed and help get over this
jetlag...it's 4:15 a.m. already!!!
peace and see you soon! Have great concerts!!!!
Christopher