Morning folks!
We are now drawing to the end of this little spell away, which has brought us to London, about to head north to Lancaster for a wee show tonight.
So we've had a really great time away - first Scotland for a couple of shows, doing a little personal goal of putting a King Tuts notch in our belts. Dundee, then a couple of days off before a substantial Glasgow to Harwich drive to get ourselves to Holland.
Merchinator Graham Brown joined us for this jaunt, serving a good few hours at the merch table, but mainly serving as chief instigator of mighty craic, inappropriate farting, and banter tech as it's been described.
One of the highlights was that we didn't have anywhere to stay sorted in advance for four nights in NL, and seeing as it's hitting spring, we threw a couple of tents in the back of the Big Unit.
First day we drive around near Zwolle, following campsite signs, and end up at a farm with a couple of caravans in a field. Turns out it's actually a campsite so up go the two-men tents and we have a little kip before the show that night in Het Vliegende Paard (The Flying Horse). Come back later that night and there's ice all over the tents, but suck it in, we're here now so bed down we must.
Two hours later, wake up to sound of mental moo-ing and the feeling of freezing cold from the waist down...Turns out a cow gave birth in the middle of the night, and also we realised one needs to wear at least all the clothes you were wearing during the day, plus more before jumping into the sleeping bag. 30 minutes in a hot shower later and fairly normal temperature slowly returns...
Day 2 brought us to Amsterdam, doing tourist-y stuff, and trying to avoid getting knocked down by all the oodles of cyclists.
Day 3, now this is where the fun really starts. Dave and myself had been to this theme park in West Holland called Duinrell as kids, so in an effort to re-enact our childhood we hit this place, and did we hit it hard...Massive selection of water slides and other such fun. 8 hours of that kind of fun tires a boy out, so off to sleep in the trusty two-mens again.
Day 4 to Nieuwendijk, which was a really small suburbian area with one cafeteria, loads of houses and one brilliant rock venue. We had 5 hours to spend before soundcheck so we hit nearby Breda, where they were doing a world record to make the world's biggest cup of coffee, I think it was supposed to be a cappuccino. 23000 litres later and hey presto, well done Breda, you've earned a place in Mr Guinness' book.
Show in Xinix was so good, 2 minutes before we went on, there were 6 people there, and suddenly about 120 people just appeared to watch us. What good timing. You can check some photos of the show
here.
Day 5 was back from Utrecht to Hook van Holland for another 8 hour ferry session. 2 coffees and 4 episodes of Long Way Round sorted this brother out rightly.
Back to London for another video shoot on Monday, this time for Kid Go Get It, which is a track from album number two. We'll not be airing it for a wee while so don't get all excited just yet.
The very talented Karen Hopley was taking care of directing/production and general storyboard stuff, we provided our mugs and rock, and the also very talented Henrik Potter lit/gaffered/best boyed and generally helped a great amount, as well as a well oiled machine of 5 other lovely peeps. A good solid 13 hour day followed by a curry session on Brick Lane = good work.
So that brings us to today I think?
Onwards and upwards...
Matt