SF Folk Explosion Tour 2004 2004-04-24T16:35:01Z tag:tour.mcmf.org,2005:/weblog//1 Movable Type Copyright (c) 2004, mcmftour Hamburg, Berlin, Denmark, Sweden, and Camp Folk Explosion 2004-04-24T16:35:01Z 2004-04-24T09:35:01-08:00 tag:tour.mcmf.org,2004:/weblog//1.25 2004-04-24T16:35:01Z Hamburg, Berlin, Denmark, Sweden, and Camp Folk Explosion:. Jeff Ray It has been awhile since we have been able to interrupt the flow of the tour to sit down and write in the diary. Too many overnight drives, from one... mcmftour mark@antsclimbtree.com Hamburg, Berlin, Denmark, Sweden, and Camp Folk Explosion:. Jeff Ray

It has been awhile since we have been able to interrupt the flow of the tour to sit down and write in the diary. Too many overnight drives, from one city to the next. When we get to a city we have often been subjected to a mixture of awe, chaos, and simply trying to deal. Well, now I am writing this while we on the ferry to Finland, and have about 8 hours of boat time to reflect back. We are located in an almost crevice like sitting area, that both looks over the cheesy gambling bar, and through the window, the mass expansion of the Finnish sea .and the .. all our sleeping bags, and stuff are lodged in between the seats. We have taken over the area, and Benji describes it perfectly as Camp Folk Explosion.
Thinking back….

Hamburgh… Knust.
Hmmm I will let others comment about our experience at Knust. The sound person, Marta was wonderful, but the show was on an Easter Sunday, and… was not so well attended. Early before the show, Nate, Trevor and I checked out the huge gaudy city carnival, which was located beneath large concrete bunker, built by Hitler, in which the walls were so thick with concrete, it was almost impossible to destroy, so it is now a practice studio for musicians. While wondering around the carnival I saw that they had the Motorcycle Wall of Death, which is a cylindar wooden building, with a slight incline on the bottom which allowed precision motorcylists to ride sideways on the wall. This spectacle that thrilled me as a kid, and probably was wisely eventually outlawed in America. We were all amazed, as three different cyclist did there sideways tricks, defying gravity, and totally blowing our mind. Good stuff…
We had the next day off,
off, was more of a day to relax… We did pick a great city to have a day off. Leena (a friend of Benjii and Christopher), and I, hung out in her neighborhood and went to a local flea market where I bought an old Grundhig microphone, and enjoyed checking out the same sort of junk you can get just about any flea market across the world. My new friend bought a arm band radio that actually worked. We tried to tune in the local underground radio that we had listened to earlier on that had played some great stuff…
In the evening we met everyone at a club where the band, Aavirika.,(spelling?) from Finland was playing. I don’t think we danced so much in our lives. Such an incredible band. We noticed that Beulah and Preston School of Industry were also playing a couple of night later. Both of the San Francisco bands, were ironically shadowing allot of our tour. Nate and I sent send cryptic messages via, tour poster, and to Nate and I friend Eli Crews, and Myles… And.. an even weirder irony is that normally the bass player, in Preston, Dan, is The Durgas’s bass player back in San Francisco. Small world.

Tuesday, we played a record store called Michelle’s (were I picked up a copy of the new Mum album, which is pretty good), and was owned by such nice and cool people.

Thanks to Martina, and Leena. Martina helped us with our show in Krefield, (moe on Krefield later...) and came to see us in Hamburg. A dedicated fan and friend...

Onto… Berlin…

Berlin, if I remember correctly, was a good show. The crowd, the place, the city all contributed to a good night. Ausland, was the name of the venue and Christopher in a moment of déjà vu realized that it was the exact spot, then a squat that A Subtle Plage had played there 10 years earlier. The people who ran this club were mostly volunteers and all were very cool, particularly Elizabeth, who ran the place with a nice smile and firm resolve.
The place was packed, Christiane of the wonderful East German restaurant, Walzwerk, in San Francisco, was there as well. She was visiting friends, family, and perhaps was culling from her roots more inspiration for her restaurant. A friend of one of my best friends back in San Francisco, showed up as well and graciously wished me a happy birthday. Yes, it was my birthday, and kept the information low key since, I would rather put the attention on a good, show, and be able to appreciate the people, and place that surrounded me. A birthday, cake, party, song would of cut through the atmosphere like a shrill barking poodle. I was happy to be with friends, playing music, with musicians that I respect and like, in an incredible city. It was one of my best birthdays I have had. Berlin has an incredible energy. We were only able to explore a bit of it, and it was East Berlin where we were at and supposedily most of the best clubs, art and music venues are located. After our experience, I certainly believe it.


Copenhagen. We arrived in Christiania, Copenhagen exhausted,. Don’t really have time or energy to explain completely the history of Chrisitiania is about but… quickly… it was a armed forces compound that was abandoned and had been taken over by squatters in the 60’s. The people established there own brand of anarchist rule, turned buildings, into cafes, schools, bike shops, grocery stores, etc… as well as built houses around the perimeter of the small lake. Eventually it had become a haven for those who wanted to get away from the slilted society that we live in and there was an acceptance of people who were different as well...there was a tension in the air, the Hash Pusher alley had been torn down a few months before and the present government, which is a bit on the conservative side, were sending the jackbooted police to walk around the area to keep things in check. Sure the drugs and public drunkenness maybe give off a bad vibe but the idea behind the community seems to remain strong, and seems to be a … now it was close to war zone. The show was set up by my friend Beninigne, who believes in Elves, and I interviewed her… (on the tour I am trying to document people who believe in elves for a potential Headlands project,


Malmo. Was one of my favorite cities, shows, and experience on the tour so far. A few of my good friends were there, Anna, Cecilia, and Therese, I met a new friend, Helia who helped run the club and also happened to be a singer and sang with Radius that night. We had to leave though for Stockholm after the gig, so our time was short.

Stockholm. Kulturhuset. www.kulturhuset.stockholm.se . A Swedish Culture center that houses presents much art, theatre, film, and... music like our crew.It was huge on the outside, (and in), (bigger than the San Francisco Main Library)ominous, but once we got inside, inviting and pretty cool to play inside of a Library, and next to a window that overlooks the city. Thanks to Anna, Sabrina, and of course Christian for helping put this show together.

]]> Shondorf,Frankfurt, Hamburg 2004-04-13T20:53:52Z 2004-04-13T13:53:52-08:00 tag:tour.mcmf.org,2004:/weblog//1.24 2004-04-13T20:53:52Z Frankfurt, Jeff Ray Last nights show in Frankfurt was sort of a slow burner compared to the Fairyland like experience the night before at the Schondorf, (more on that later.). It was a small club called Klub Keller, almost cellar... mcmftour mark@antsclimbtree.com Frankfurt, Jeff Ray
Last nights show in Frankfurt was sort of a slow burner compared to the Fairyland like experience the night before at the Schondorf, (more on that later.). It was a small club called Klub Keller, almost cellar like in aura and aesthetics, with decent sound. I personally was exhausted, and thought we (Radius)played a bit rough but the crowd seem to enjoy it. Lazarus, Nate (sans mask and makeup), and The Durgas all played well. The best part of the show was running into old workmates from Rainbow Grocery, as well as hanging out with x and Ralf old friends of The Durgas, (they have so many on this tour). They introduced us to the local beverage, a sort of Apple cider like alchohol. We stayed in their flat and it is simple and elegant with round grass like carpet on the floor that we used as a mattress. Ralf is a photographer and his photography of buildings and people remind me a little of one of my favorites Robert Frank, which sure enough he had his book, The Lines of the Hand, and print of his on the wall. Another added addition to the wonderful hosts that we have had, and that is what has made this trip so much more enjoyable.
Shondorf, Christopher
We are stuck on the freeway between Frankfurt and Hanover–making the freeway safe for the freeway! We needed recovery time, still lickin’ our wounds from a great all night , nuit blanche at Schondorf. So we decided to sleep in, since Hanover is close enough to Frankfurt…but we forgot a little important detail: easter long weekend…STAU AUF DER AUTOBAHN!!!!!! Ahh, and I thought we had it all covered….but it gives me the opportunity to make this long overdue tour entry. I expected Schondorf am Ammersee to be a tour highlight so far…had really expected nothing less! It was just one of ‘em gut feelings…It was destined to be a great evening and a lasting night because the misty moon kept her yellow belly full, providing us with an extra dose of gravity to keep us on our light feet; because of the great red wine that Ruppi brought up from his infamous wine-cellar – “MEIN LEBENDIGER WEIN”, alive due to its almost champagne-like bubbly manner, ALIVE in spirit! No, this was to be a memorable night because of the very nature it came about! It was meant to be, you see. An idea that came about spontaneously, during Ruppi’s numerous, infamous wine-tasting events that he hosts at his home .We had spent many off days at their family house, during our long tours with A Subtle Plague, always happy and eager to accept their great hospitality and friendly conversations. On one of these occasions, we dreamed up the idea to find a day to play a concert right there in the shadow of a beautiful simple church. A concert to be played in a 400-500 hundred old barn-like house in front of the town cemetery…(in fact it is rumored that there are still two corpses buried right under their kitchen floor…we challenged Nate Denver to wake their ghost; a challenge he happily accepted and successfully so, but that’s another story for a moonless night!) Schondorf is a hobbit-like village situated in the hills of Bavaria, shadowed by the Alps, at the foot of the Ammersee . . . Fast-forward: Munich, at the Substanz, the night before this memorable night. Due to some wasted time spent at the police HQ, the night before, hassled by a skewed notion of speed; suspiciously stuck behind a police car they were stopped for questioning!!!! Ruppi and his sons had to leave their car behind. It appears to be “suspicious” to drive old cars in Bavaria! I should note this to be quite natural, being the birthplace of the best vehicles in the world, if only everyone could afford such luxury… Anyways, the car keys had to be left behind, there wasn’t enough floor-space at our hosts, so we decided to drive to Schondorf right after the Munich concert in our own magic pumpkin, not the prettiest sight on the road either! Ruppi immediately produced some bottles of his famous red wine and before long we realized the sun had risen, snowing…we slept a few hours and then proceeded to prepare for the concert. We set up in a barn-like chamber with low ceiling and a beautiful large carpet; Mark Edwards working his usual overtime to get the sound system working just right; a speedy return back to Munich to recover some left equipment (grandma’s new vehicle definitely made up in speed what the old family car lost the night before); Ruppi, Hai, Flo, and Sebastian working overtime to make this a memorable night, with enough food, beer and wine, music, dance, and good humor; setting the mood for a successful night! Oh what a night!!!! Our host family had invited all their favorite friends (some of which Benjii and I had known since our own childhood) and before long the wine and beer was flowing to the sounds of Christian Pallin; laughter and forgetting was settling in, followed by all the other musicians presenting their various talents; we all had a great time performing; a dj table was set up, and a young local dj started spinning a variety of house, hip hop, electronic, after which his beautiful sister Yana took over; oh it must have been like 4 in the morning, and of our troupe only Mark and I were still up, as well as all of the Berchtolzheim family (our hosts), Andrea from the Substanz, and a few of the brother’s friends; we proceeded to dance into the morning. At about 7:45 I went about waking everyone for our trip to Frankfurt, where we were expected at 3 o’clock in the afternoon! T’was a long


Quick entry:Jeff Ray
We played Knust Monday night, took a day off on Tuesday in this beautiful and hip city, and then played a record store today called Michelle's. Great place.
We are going to Berlin tomorrow and playing the club Ausland. Highlight of Hamburg, going to see AAveakor (spelling??) crazy dance band from Finland. We danced all night to this insane band. The other highlight was visiting the huge Carnival located near one of Hitler's bunker, (now converted to music practice spaces), and experiencing the Wall of Death, where motorcycilist defy gravity by driving sideways along a circular wall. Amazing...
More details later...

]]> Pictures From First Two Weeks 2004-04-06T18:00:55Z 2004-04-06T11:00:55-08:00 tag:tour.mcmf.org,2004:/weblog//1.23 2004-04-06T18:00:55Z Here are some pictures from the first two weeks of the tour.... mcmftour mark@antsclimbtree.com Here are some pictures from the first two weeks of the tour.

]]> Passau etc... 2004-04-06T13:55:50Z 2004-04-06T06:55:50-08:00 tag:tour.mcmf.org,2004:/weblog//1.22 2004-04-06T13:55:50Z Passau, The missing entry. On Friday April 2nd, we played in Passau. The venue was called Winterhaus, and it was set up by Josh who is an old friend of Mark Edwards. The venue, people, town, and our show were... mcmftour mark@antsclimbtree.com Passau, The missing entry.
On Friday April 2nd, we played in Passau. The venue was called Winterhaus, and it was set up by Josh who is an old friend of Mark Edwards. The venue, people, town, and our show were a high-light so far on this tour. The vibe was especially great for our music. The place was packed, with attentive folks, and they seem to like the eclectic collection of music. Josh and his fiance’ invited us over to stay at their lovely flat, which is part of an renovated school, located across the Danube river. They are set to be married at the local cathedral that happens to house the largest pipe organ in the world.Nice times, nice places.

Speaking of Josh, and … of Passau they both came with their friend who is one of the owners of Winterhaus , to our show in Regensburg which is located a couple of hours Northwest of Passau, and is also on the Danube river. The town, which can also be described as a small city is also very beautiful gothic churches, mixed in with very modern clean buildings. It is known as one of the technology centers of Germany. The venue was particularly interesting with two floors of music, a café, and recording, art, practice, studios upstairs along with youth hostel like accomidations for the visiting musicians. Why we don’t have something like this in San Francisco I do not understand. We played in the basement which was decorated in a submarine motif, and the upstairs was occupied by a German folk singer who curiously was dressed up in Native American garb. Apparently there is a great interest in the Native Americans that include full on faux Cowboy and Indian battles throughout local parks in Germany. Bizarre fetishes are everywhere.

A note on an earlier experience. The difference between the borders of Czech Republic and Germany is like night and day. The Czech side is a bit chaotic and disorganized, with prostitiutes lining the side roads to service the truckers who sometimes have to wait months to get through the border. The German side is so organized even the cords of wood are neatly stacked on the side of the perfectly coifed farm house, with it’s finely divided rows and patches of farmland. Here is a perfect quote from the Polish zine, Plotki, (www.plotki.net), which Christian picked up at The Globe café and bookstore, that, even though it describes the difference between Portugal and Europe ,the effect is the same.
The text is by Jolanta Kossakowska from Warsawa, and the title of the article is Sweet Disorder.
“A friend of mine used to say that our equateness ÷ Portugal and Poland – have many things in common. These are not only the very first letters of the names; both Portugal and Poland are two unimportant wild lands, situated at the edges of the great cvilised Europe. As you fly to Lisbon, you can notice the exact moment you pass the border between Europe and Portugal. Harmonious vies from the window, so organsed and full of symmetry are suddenly replaced by the chaotic abstract picture of colourful fields, industrial sites and settlements. This is my country, he said, Portugal,”

We played Munich last night. Much fun!

Here is a note from Radius's Mark Edwards...
Just a quick update from the road. We're in Schoenndorf, Germany, which is a tiny little village near Munich. We are staying in a small country house, which is over a hundred years old, and has been restored nicely.

We're playing a gig tonight in the house, which has a large brick-floored room where the instruments and the PA will be set up. 75 or 100 guests from the village have been invited, and I'm pretty sure we're the only show in town so there should be a good turnout.

Ropi, the father of the house, has a habit of traveling around Europe and collecting bottles of wine that winemakers make for themselves, without any of the preservatives or processing that wine made for sale has to have. He picks up a bottle here, a bottle there. We drank three of them upon arrival last night, two from Tuscany and one from Venice. I imagine we will dip back into the collection before tonight is over. They are also planning to make Caipirinha, which is some concoction of limes, sugar, and Brasilian firewater.

Needless to say, I don't expect to get much sleep tonight. We went to bed at 5:30am this morning, and that was just the arrival party. Life on the road is hard.

The gigs are going quite well. We played Munich last night, and it was very well attended, especially for a Monday night. We got about half-capacity at what Christopher and Benji said is the hippest rock club in Munich. Josh and some of his friends made the trip to Regensburg for that show, so we're getting some repeat fans which is nice. Some people from the Munich show last night said they would come to the show tonight.

We had a crowd from Kinderdorf last night as well. Kinderdorf is a town of orphans in Germany, which we hope to play on the way back down. They were a very sweet bunch of teenagers that came to the gig, and they roadied for us as well when we packed up. Its really great to play for people who appreciate it so much.

Tomorrow we drive five hours to Frankfurt for another show, and Hamburg the day after that. I'll try to check in soon....

]]> April 4th and before 2004-04-04T11:36:02Z 2004-04-04T03:36:02-08:00 tag:tour.mcmf.org,2004:/weblog//1.21 2004-04-04T11:36:02Z After surviving Mark losing his plane tickets in the San Francisco Airport, a few moments before we boarded the plane, we finally were headed off to Budapest. We arrived in Budapest and even though the skies where grey and rainy,... mcmftour mark@antsclimbtree.com After surviving Mark losing his plane tickets in the San Francisco Airport, a few moments before we boarded the plane, we finally were headed off to Budapest. We arrived in Budapest and even though the skies where grey and rainy, and there was a pretty cutting chill in the air, our spirits rose when Christopher picked us up at the airport. He was in his usual cheery manner.
He took us through the industrial section of Budapest, a throw back form the Communist years, odd stoic buildings with pipes sticking out of them, to the flat that his family owns in the Octagon/Embassy section of Budapest. The building was built in the late 19th century and its ornate ness, of peeling paint, wrought iron gates, and thick graying concrete exuded history as well as the rest of the buildings in the block. Some interesting facts; The Torture museum which is in a building we walked by on the main Boulevard, has a basement that runs underneath the entire block that was once used to torture people, Jews, Gypsies, etc. during the wars. A horrible place that has since been turned into a museum that memorializes those who have lost their lives in these vast torture chambers.

We explored beautiful Budapest a bit, checking out the venue, Sark, (Proundounced Shark), that we would be playing, in, a nice cave like place, with good drinks and warm atmosphere. We ate some comfort food down the street at a Hungarian restaurant, then we went back to flat, watched some Jackass on Hungarian MTV, and waited for Benjii to arrive with the van. He had spent the last couple of weeks picking up the van in France, and getting it ready for tour, he was about three days late. We almost gave up waiting and started heading out to the clubs for the evening when Benjii pulled up in a pumpkin colored Mercedes van, towing along their wonderful vibrant mother, Neven du Mont. She had a van full of moving boxes, and she was moving in that night to her new flat across the hall from Benjii and Christopher’s. She was psyched to see a crew of men ready to help her move in. Her new place was on the top floor of a 7 story building and it was hard work but it was the least we could do for the famous matriarchal figure not famous for just for raising a family of talented musicians and artists but is also a celebrated documentary film maker, who made The Big Pink (which just showed at the Roxie), and is about the gypsy like life that her and her family, and hippie friends led traveling through the world. The film won the Adolph Grimme award, the most prestigious in Germany.
Some interesting facts: Her newest documentary that she is working is about the struggling film makers and writers at the Cannes Film Festival that reside in the campsights during the festival. She gets a candid look into their world by being in such a raw and personal location.

We picked our dear friend from Sweden, Christian Pallin, at the airport. He is also the noise artists, Pallindrone who will be opening up for us with his ambient noise projects that incorporate sounds of the city or town that we are playing in. Before the shows he will record the street sounds and mix in local radio broadcasts and then treat them during the performances. Due to the time change and a broken plane, Christian arrived about 2 hours late. While waiting for Christian. Benjii, Mark and I, (Jeff) swapped stories about music, shows, and the people that inspire us. Benjii’s story about playing Kosovo a few months ago, in a UN peace effort, to bring the Serbs and Albanians together for a concert. Very timely discussion considering the recent news of disruption and the burning of Serb villages by a group of Albanian youths. The bridge that Chrisopher and Benjii (in their band A Drastic Measure), had been blown up in the raid.

The next couple of days before the show we had a run of the city. We visited the Buda section of Budapest which is over the Danube bridge, checked out the Labyrinths, (an underground lair of sorts, but a bit on the Disney cheesy side, not really recommended,) but Buda was incredible, lovely buildings, view of the rest of Budapest, including the huge Pariliament building. Interesting fact: Nate held a Falcon, from a Hungarian street performer. The falcom looked fierce ready to rip a pidgeon or Nate’s arm to shreds, but… luckily the wild bird did not get spooked and maintained it’s domesticity.
(enter Lord Denver) The street performer was actually a falconer and he was wearing a camo jacket. The falcon killed two pigeons, which the falconer had stored in his canvas computer bag, earlier in the day. The falcon did not annihilate my face or brains. The falcon is the fastest bird. There are bald eagles on the Hudson River in New York right now. To kill an eel you have to slam its tail on the ground because that is where the nerve center is. If you slam it’s head, it won’t die. It will jump into your mouth.


Interesting fact:Nearby up on the hill was a statue of an Eagle… The Hungarian mythology behind the Eagle is that it raped the first princess of Hungary and started the Hungarian blood line. It has been adopted by the Hungarian skin heads as their sign.


Our favorite field trip was to the bath house, Szenchenyi (sp?). It was rumored the famous and difficult champion chess player would be there, Bobby Fischer. We did not spot him but we did spot a collection of mostly local folks enjoying the hot spring bath outside in their trunks, a few surrounded by floating chess boards. The buildings were grand, the ceilings in a Romanesque dome, and the pools outside and inside had a chamomile like smell, mixed with sulfur. We challenged ourselves and our respiterory system by submerging ourselves in the dreamlike world of the steam room. The figures inside look like ghosts, and one of the only objects that you can see is the emergency calling system which is a pull chord and red button. It was rumored that the local mafia men, and their mistresses often meet in the steam rooms and dance classic dances with each other.
The is both suffocating and invigorating at the same time, and a cold bath afterwards is highly recommended to shock back the system and body to a more comfortable temperature.
Our first show at Sark, was great. It was packed with some good folks. Allot of them friends of Benjii’s, some of them we met during the first couple of days in town. A big hello to my friend Lotti, a reporter who lives in Budapest, and she w wrote a great piece about the show. I miss her already.


{Hello of the lazarus sorts. Driving in a van right now across countries I do not know,which could never be a bad thing.this trip thus far has been an interesting one to say the least. Budapest as a city becomes somewhat itself a labyrinth, tall brooding darkened buildings leaning always inward towards your path upon them, they feel like old brothers and sisters whose stories unfold in silence.I have spent far to much time trying to figure out the telephones here. They finally startred to cooperate. Took the best bath I could recall in awhile,have been doing the five Tibetans, always thinking of Kathryn.trying to find that quiet space with which lazarus exists for me. All of the statues here look as if they are going to kick your ass, the fearof god! The huns! Wishing everyone all the love that I could possibly muster.}

It is April 4th, we just played Prague last night at a lovely café’, The Globe. It was a last minute addition to our roster so the turn out was not the best but the music food, and drinks flowed. We all played an intimate and loose set for the crowd. Some of our crew went and checked out the Castle across the Charles bridge. Today we go to Regensburg.


]]> Airport Trip, Dares for money 2004-03-25T23:48:00Z 2004-03-25T15:48:00-08:00 tag:tour.mcmf.org,2004:/weblog//1.17 2004-03-25T23:48:00Z 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... mcmftour mark@antsclimbtree.com 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.

]]> Letter from Christopher 2004-03-25T23:02:11Z 2004-03-25T15:02:11-08:00 tag:tour.mcmf.org,2004:/weblog//1.16 2004-03-25T23:02:11Z 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,... mcmftour mark@antsclimbtree.com 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

]]>