The little things add up.

Unfortunately that wasn’t necessarily a good thing last night. Basically, the contrast between night #1 and night #2 went from 100% crazy to 100% frustrating.

The Ascent Into Descent…

First and foremost, I haven’t been able to get online for shit. I literally get about 100+ messages a day on various sites and email, so it’s been a tough to stay on the ball with all the QN5 label stuff with no internet access. (boo-hoo, right?). Well, finally, we got into Cologne, which seems a bit more “upscale” of a city than Hamburg… more boutique hotels and coffee shops, etc, but the GPS stopped working in the city and we were basically lost for a good hour. Being lost in a foreign city where the traffic signs are in a foreign language is a bitch – especially when damn near every street is a one-way. It’s basically like driving in downtown Boston. (tee-hee).

We hit up soundcheck, which of course, wasn’t going to be ready for another hour or so. Valuable time spent sitting around waiting for something that can be done in 10 minutes when you’re short on sleep and time, Moving on…

Upon arrival to the hotel, we realize that we’re on the 4th and 5th floor….of a WALK UP, We’re talking, Lower Manhattan-narrow-ass-stairs-walkup. Some of you might remember that I fucked up my lower back something awful in Holland late last year, so it’s been tough lugging the luggage around in general. But DAMN, this shit was no joke to get up the stairs.

Gasping for breath, we arrived in our rooms. Wireless access was supposed to be free…so I was looking forward to checking in. Of course, the shit wouldn’t connect to any network whatsoever. Next thing I know, my Wireless Adapter uninstalled itself. (NOTE: Obviously this eventually was fixed).

(BTW – DJ Forrilla Says hello).

Bewildered

It was showtime for me, so I hit the stage to be met with a bevy of bewildered faces. I’d put money on the fact that, save for 10 people, no on in that room has heard me on anything but “Love Ain’t” & “616”. Normally, I don’t give a fuck about any of that, cause I’m confident enough in my ability as a performer – but sometimes crowds just don’t connect with you when they don’t know your shit. Take a look at the difference tonight:

CHICO….

...THE MAN

Generally, I think my songs are just too wordy for folks, but I think it might be far worse in another language. I guess I’ll never figure it out, cause in Duisburg, even with the sound all screwy, I managed to work that entire crowd into a frenzy. Dah well, tomorrow’s another day, right?

Post-Show Probs

So, once I get off stage, it’s merch time. We’re working this tour without a dedicated merch person, so I’ve took the reigns for these first shows. Last night, I was supposed to get some help dragging these 2 GIGANTIC duffle bags through the crowd and to the table. Of course when the time came, there was no help in sight. So me and my fucked back took 3 trips up the stairs and through a sold out crowd lugging these things along while knocking over drinks and invariably stepping on a lot of toes. Once there, I realize that we’d inadvertently setup merch next to the club’s bass-bin/subwoofer. I woke up this morning with a horrific ear ache. I really need to start taking better care of my hearing, cause I’m really not trying to have my physical well-being reflect my stage name.

At the merch booth, this one chick kept BEGGING me to sell her a shirt for $15, even though the shirt costs $20. Now, girls pull this shit all the time because they tend to get away with it, but I normally don’t play the game. She kept on and on in front of a crowd of people that I still needed to tend to, pleading that she “Only had $15”. After 5 minutes of straight haggling, I decided to let her cop the shirt for $15.

She hands me a $20.

What the fuck is wrong with people?

Anyways, back to the hotel. My fucking laptop is assed out. Nothing works. I’m physically exhausted. The room is fucking freezing. All I want is to take a shower…

There’s no hot water.

[sigh]

I’m SOOOOOO fucking looking forward to tomorrow.

Hollerate,
Tone.