Switzerland 2001The 3 Swiss gigs all went very well I think. If you haven't noticed, my touring schedule has been ultra-lite since all the way back to last spring! It's not for lack of trying either but, for one reason or another, nothing has panned out. But these 3 shows were important and good for me to do. It had been a long time (4 years?) since I'd last played solo in Switzerland and it was good to get back there. I always forget just how very lovely this country is. The leaves are just starting to turn color now in the mountains and everything is sparkling and bright. My first night was in
Winterthur (just outside Zurich by 30K) along with Barbara Manning and The Go Luckys and also Phil Shoenfelt and his Czech band Southern Cross. I was first up this night and played to a small but appreciative audience. I felt a little bit stiff and out-of-synch but that only comes from not having gigged in awhile. I have a handfull of new songs that I wanted to try out and it was the perfect night to do so. One thing about new songs I think is that you must play them live to really see how the song will work out here in the 'real' world. Does that make sense? For me playing a song live is the last step in the whole songwriting process. It is on stage that all the square corners are rounded off and the rough edges smoothed down. Of course there is also the fact that you can crash and burn with a new song a lot easier as well. This often happens but at some point you have to take the chance. A lot of times for me anyway, a new song is the real thrill of the song list I'm playing on any given evening.
Anyway on this night all went well for me I think. I had a good time and it felt good to be back on stage again! Phil and Southern Cross play a dark and brooding kind of rock with good lyrics, melody lines and musicianship. Very strong and good to hear. Barbara is a friend of mine from way back even before I released my first CD in '93 I think. She is an outstanding songwriter, singer and guitarist. Over the years we meet at different clubs in different countries and it's always a pleasure to hear her and her band. For the last 3 years she has been playing with the Steinbach brothers Flavio and Fabrizio (The Go Luckys). A good night for music on this Friday.
Saturday, 13 October. I was at a small club just at the German border Stein am Rhein. This is a beautiful and perfectly preserved mediaeval little Swiss village right on the Rhine River. As it was only about a one and a half hour drive from Wintertour I had plenty of time for sightseeing and so I took the opportunity to visit a restored 10th century monastery in the towns center. Another perfect day made the afternoons walk very pleasant indeed. Although the press had given very good previews of me and my music for these three shows, still not so many folks came out again tonight. I don't know if it's because of the strange days we live in or what but certainly it's disappointing to not have a good turnout at a concert. I played 2 long sets tonight though and we all had a good time. Hosted by Rich and his lovely wife his club (Rich's) features a great room, good food and wine and a friendly and appreciative audience. My good friends Peter and Claudia drove down from Stuttgardt in their camper van and after the show we sat outside the club drinking beer, listening and talking about music until 5AM! Check out time at my hotel was 10. Great time in the night but the next morning - Ouch!!
October 14, Zurich at El Lokal. Victors new club here in Switzerlands largest city. I was excited to be back here as I had always had great shows at Victors old club El International. Great audiences, ambiance and Victor himself is big fan of all kinds of music and the perfect host. Not disappointed either with the new "digs". A much larger venue right on the river there in Zurich, a nice stage and sound system and still the same great audience made this show the highlight of my little CH tour. I shared the evening tonight with an Austin Texas band called the Rainravens (Blue Rose Records). I think it was a nice combination of sounds on this night. The Rainravens play standard Texas bar rock with good songs, picking and singing. They kicked off the evening with a set and then I played an hour set in the middle and then they closed down the night. I felt great and had a good time playing my songs. As I said before, it's always a pleasure to play here in Zurich at Victors place and that still holds true. I'm looking forward to my return.
