Spain 2001Spanish Tour Diary.
This tour has been a long time coming. I think I’ve been seriously trying to get to Spain for at least 5 years now but for one reason or another could never get it to happen. Finally our good friends and Glitterhouse distributors there made it happen. Dock is their name and selling records is really their game but, in the absence of any interested Spanish booking agents, they booked the tour themselves and made it happen.
There is very little singer-songwriter support there in the way of venues or radio although there is some media support and an appreciative audience.
As always I feel that if I can just have an audience and a chance to present my songs in a decent atmosphere that basically I can win folks over to my side, sell a few CD’s and have a good time as well. This is what happened during February of 2001. Below is the short story…………14/2 Madrid@Moby Dicks. A short flight from Paris put me into Madrid and Spain for the very first time. Madrid is a huge city of 5 million people and from the air it really spread out a long way. I was met at the airport by Docks publicity hound and all around make it happen person Belén.
First we dropped my bags at the hotel and off we went to do a taped national radio broadcast which went very well. I played 3 live songs and also had a nice interview. A little siesta in the afternoon took care of the traveling blues and then it was off to the venue for a late Valentines Day show (start time close to 23H00). Belén was a little worried about attendence this night because of the day it was and also because this show was a late addition to the schedule but I think, in the end, it really came off rather nicely. Actually I was a bit rusty having not played a live show in more then 2 months due to the winter holidays. Perhaps it was good that not so many people showed up for this free show but we did have fun. I guess there were about 30 folks there (mostly solo guys-duh) but everyone seemed to enjoy themselves including me ! Moby Dicks is your classic indie rock venue with a good sound system, nice stage and professional crew.
It’s my understanding that it is THE place to play in Madrid. I want to go back for sure!!
15/2 Jerez@La Guarida Del Angel. This day I met Michael who is the owner at Dock and we would take the long drive to the south of Spain to near Cadiz (6+ hours). It was a clear but chilly day all the way south. The land was beautifully greening though and Michael said that it had been raining quite a lot the past month. Spain is quite a large country and the interior is full of beautiful rolling hills and gently undulating plains.
Jerez is the center of the "Sherry" region of Spain that the English seem to love so much (and in fact seem to own quite a lot of the land down there!). Lots and lots of vineyards and olive grooves everywhere. This club was located in the back of an old chuch that had been converted many years before. Inside the club there was some iron gratings that had the date 1632 stamped into them! Very nice little town with a cool and friendly audience this night. Happy to be in Spain! Happy to be back on stage!
Sold quite a few cd’s after the show and that’s always a good sign that a) I played well and b) there’s money in town!!
16/2 Puerto Santa Maria and Porto Real. A short little drive on this bright and sunny day down to the coast and very near the ancient fortress and port at Cadiz. We did the tourist thing in Cadiz in the afternoon walking around, taking pictures, eating and enjoying the beautiful day.
Cadiz seemed to be quite the tourist town too but with all the nice beaches and hotels you could understand why. Tonight was going to be interesting and a first for me I think. Two shows, three sets in two different bars in two different cities! A late start time (as always in Spain!) would make it a long night indeed but do it we must and do it we did. The first show was in a little tiny bar named the Munich Bar right on the water in Puerto Santa Maria. I stood in the corner with a little PA system and played to a packed house of about 30 people. As always for me I prefer this kind of show over the large venues with not so many people. It’s nice being able to connect and that’s exactly what happened at this friendly little bar. Lots of smiling faces and the beer went down easily. I played a one hour set and then off we zoomed about 10k to Puerto Real and Café De Poniente. A much larger venue but lots of people waiting for the show even though it was late. A fair amount of drinking going on as I guess folks were kicking off Carnival celebrations. I played two long sets here and afterwards I let a nice guy sing a couple of songs using my guitar which is something I rarely ever do. He played a couple of Elvis covers and dedicated them to his very pretty date and I hope it worked for him as he was very charming and actually sang quite well. It was fun for everyone and me included. A long, long night for me but we still had time to enjoy a late meal of seafood pasta that was very, very good. A satisfactory conclusion to a long but good evening.
17/2 Galapagar. A 7 hour drive back up north today to the mountains northwest of Madrid. It was back up the same highway as we drove down just 2 days before but Michael cruised along nicely in his Audi. He told me that the 4 lane highway was fairly new in Spain and that before it was just 2 lanes and quite time consuming. That must have been fun. The roads weren’t heavily traveled though and the trip went quickly. Once arrived we first went to the hotel which was located in San Lorenzo De Le Escorial to check in and then off we zoomed to Galapagar located I guess about 25k distant. The show was in a nice and modern theater (Teatro Jacinto Benavente). I guess about 100 people showed up for the free concert. I was quite surprised and pleased as I know not so many people know who I am in Spain. It is an indication though of the hard work Dock put into promoting this tour and also the interest of the kind folks in Galapagar. Afterwards we went to a local bar and had tapas and beer. Fun, fun.
18,19/2 San Lorenzo De Le Escorial. Two off days for me and much needed as I was pretty tired from all the shows and driving. I wonderful area of Spain to be resting in though. San Lorenzo is located in the foothills of the beautiful grand masif mountains outside and to the north of Madrid. Here King Phillip II had a beautiful church and monastery built in the 16th century. It’s a huge affair but really outstanding and in perfect condition. I spent one whole day touring the place. It’s full of beautiful books, costumes, furniture, paintings (Goya, El Greco, Bosch ect. ect.) icons and all nicely placed in a marvelous old castle and church.
All the kings and queens of Spain are buried here (and the rest of royal family )and great care is taken to preserve and care for the buildings and surrounding gardens. A must see place!!
20/2- Salamanca@Café Corrillo. I guess about a 4 hour drive to the northwest to another beautiful and very old university city. If your getting tired of reading the word beautiful here I must apologize but that’s the best word I can use to describe this wonderful land and what it contains. Salamanca has one of the oldest universities in the world. The cathedral and university buildings are all worth visiting both inside and out. The amount of gold and silver that the catholic church used in the praise of their gods will drop your jaw ! The central square, totally surrounded by 18th century apartements is also a must see. The show this night was in a nice professional venue. As you might expect in a university city there were lot’s of foreign students in attendence and I think I played my best show here on this night. People representing all the countries of Europe were there. Maybe about 60+ people payed. We all laughed and had a great time on a nice, relaxed evening.
21/2 Salamanca off day. I just did the tourist thing today. The sun shone all day long and although it was cold in the evenings, the weather was perfect.
22/2 Bilbao. A 6 hour train trip up to Basque country. I wanted an extra day to explore this much anticipated city. I’d forgotten that the Gugenheim museum was located here and I was thrilled when I saw the building looming there by the river. My hotel was located just about 20 minutes walking from the ultra-modern structure and after checking in I immediately set out for a closer look. Pictures of the museum don’t really do it justice. It’s a huge and stunning collection of form, color and presence right in the heart of the city. Bilbao is located near a river and surrounded by high and green mountains. A beautiful, old historical city and a fitting center of culture and finance for the Basque people. I enjoyed my visit here very much! It’s unfortunate that I didn’t have time to see the art inside the museum itself but for the next time I will for sure.
23/2 Bilbao @ Azkena. A taped live radio show this afternoon and then it was night and time for my last show of the tour. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect tonight but I think there must have been 100 people or so that came down to check out the gringo. Azkena is more of a rock and roll venue (my friends the Posies were playing there the following week) but I played a good strong set to a noisy but appreciative audience. A fitting close to a good tour. Eskerrik asko!That’s it friends. The next day I trained it back to Madrid and spent the night partying with thousands of other Spaniards (and everyone else for that matter!) on the streets and in the bars celebrating Carnival. It was an early wake up call the next morning for my 8H00 flight back to France and my head was not so clear but the jet arrived safely and so it was over. Big and heartfelt thanks go to Michael and Belén at Dock for all of their many helps and kindnessess and also (as always) to Glitterhouse Records for their support and encouragements. And of course to all the kind folks who worked the venues and made the shows happen in each of the cities muchas gracias!
!Looking forward for sure to my return visit to Spain next October. See you then!!
