DL13
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Registered: 04/04/07
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| #1 |
It's a couple days before the opening show of the tour, but we're leaving tomorrow, the 9th ("number 9, number 9..."), so I thought I'd start my (literally) running commentary here.
We're making the trip the day before rather than risking hitting every traffic hotspot, diversion and delay along the way on gig day.
This blog will start and stop, as the tour does.
So, you'll have to keep up with the date schedule to know when to check in.
Two shows on Thursday and Friday, then home til the London one.
September moves at an easy pace and, while none of the tour is over the top grueling, the next months are denser, itinerary-wise.
Travel, as always, is all over the place (again, literally!).
Looking forward to working with the setlist I came up with during the 'pre' shows.
Haven't listened to the album much.
That's a good sign.
Honestly, once a project like that is finished I don't really get anything from listeing to it.
And, seeing as I've stopped, it must be done.
OK, time to do more packing.
Only a couple shows, so not bad as far as what clothes to bring, but things like my backstage bag, etc, have to be done now for the rest of the tour because they go with Simon and the gear after the first show.
Endlessly and breathtakingly fascinating, no?
Teef8ckinghee...
I'm gone.
More from the road. ~
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| | DL13
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Posts: 713
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| #2 |
September 10th - Crosby Civic Hall
Well, what a nice start to the tour.
Great, warm Merseyside audience (Is there any other kind?).
I have to admit I had a bit of a rocky first half.
A couple of minor guitar things (the new one) distracted me and caused me to swallow a few words, a couple of times.
The guitar is wonderful tho.
Avalon did a top job of building it for me.
In the interval, Simon said he can always tell on my face when that sort of glitchy thing occurs because he sits thru every show (poor guy!) and I said 'Well, I hope the people can see it too. I mean, it's real. It's life. It happens, So there you go.'
You know, I suppose the idea is to get your bottom line - the times you really struggle thru - to still be of a high enough quality to please the crowd.
I don't expect to have the same kind of good time that they do.
And, besides, as I've said, I work in the kitchen, so, sometimes, I know too much to eat in the restaurant...y'know?
Second half was cool for all of us it seemed.
I am so pleased that the new songs are going over so well.
I think they're good songs or I wouldn't play them.
And, you know, if it turned out that people consistently complained that they'd rather hear mostly old songs that they could sing along with, I would have a decision to make.
But, the question wouldn't be 'Should I put more karaoke favorites into the show?' but 'Should I bother doing this at all anymore?'
If I didn't feel like I could communicate anything new to everyone, I'd have to wonder what the point is.
Anyway, it seems to be working out that I won't have to take that forced early retirement.
Cool. I would be so bored.
OK.
One down (too soon to be counting?)
Later. ~
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| | DL13
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Posts: 713
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| #3 |
September 11th - South Shields Custom House
I usually remember this place as we pull up to it and, certainly, when we walk into the building.
I can't recall ever having a bad night here.
The audience is always absolutely keen and receptive and appreciative of what I choose to deliver.
Tonight was no exception.
I used my old Takamine guitar for this show.
No, not because I felt compassion for the old git(ar), but because the new one - yes, the same one that was wonderful last night - seemed to have slipped a bit overnight and was impossible to tune at soundcheck.
It's a great instrument.
It just needs looking at.
It will get sorted.
In the meantime, I have my trusty Tak, which Adrian said is probably chuckling to itself, thinking 'Oh, so you've come crawling back, have you?'
Adrian is most likely correct.
Met a darling young lady, while signing stuff, after the show.
Erica, 7 years old, said she had a nice time and would see me again.
We took a photo.
Hope her mum sends it in to us.
We need as many sweetiepies like Erica on our fan photo page as we can find.
Actually, she found me.
Long trip home tomorrow.
Leaving early.
Hell, it's almost 'early' now.
More next week, following the London show.
Or when the spirit moves me. ~
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| | DL13
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| #4 |
LONDON CALLING...TWICE!!!
I'm looking forward to The Bloomsbury tomorrow night.
Always a great audience and, living in the big city, they see everything or at least have the opportunity.
And, next week, I'll be participating in The Sunflower Concert, also in London.
Now that I have more details about what I'll be doing, it seems like it will be good fun.
The idea is that everyone has been asked to sing songs that the audience will recognize immediately, as soon as they begin.
Iconic stuff.
Won't tell you exactly what I'm doing, but to say there will be one very old Hook tune, as requested by Wix and Nick, the musical directors, one suggested, out of the blue, by the fellas and one rocker that I brought up because I would have liked to have done it at The Beatles Day show in Liverpool. but it was taken.
And, with Macca's keyboardist in the band and, since I'm already in Beatles mode (I kinda always am tho), why the hell not?
I think I may be joining in on a few other artists' tunes as well.
Perhaps a little harmonica will be in order.
Flap 'em and see if I fly. ~
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| | DL13
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| #5 |
September 18th - The Bloomsbury, London
A quick one right now as I'm on a dodgy hotel computer.
Good night. Lovely audience.
Some shouts for requests - 'Beat It' had to be the most provocative, but, no, I didn't attempt it or the moonwalk - but they were very receptive to what I did play for them.
Some old friends I haven't seen in awhile.
Don't think they were the least bit surprised to see me still at it.
Home late Saturday night.
Will do Newbury then and see if there is anything I want to add to this one.
Til then, it's back on the motorway. ~
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| | DL13
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| #6 |
September 19th Newbury Corn Exchange
I'd never played this venue before.
Got to town really early in the day.
Didn't have a hotel because I was coming home tonight.
So the gig was it.
I wandered around Newbury.
Nice day, pretty place.
Bought a cup of tea and a muffin and walked down by the lock and read for a while.
I had a pretty damned good time at the show tonight and the audience seemed to as well.
Great response at the end of the evening.
Out at the 'meet and greet' after the show a woman came up to me at the side of the autograph table and snapped in my face 'Why didn't you do Sylvia's Mother??? Everyone was very disappointed.'
I smiled and said 'Oh sorry, but it didn't ruin the whole show, did it?' to which she hissed 'Yessss!' and stormed off.
Now, this may sound childish, but that kind of hurt my feelings.
I mean I really do give every song, every night careful and separate consideration.
And, no pity party intended here, but I work my foolish ass off up there.
I would hate to think that for all my efforts, one song, or the lack of, would make everything thing else I did suck.
A few other folks, nicely, asked about that particular song, but said they'd enjoyed the show very much.
In the longrun, I can endure the handful of folks who come with a preconceived setlist in mind, as long as it's always countered with 'I never thought I'd hear you do Judy 'live'!' and 'Great to hear 'Cooky and Lila' again!' and 'Love the new songs! When's the album coming out?'.
For the record, I have nothing at all against Sylvia's Mother.
I love it, as a matter of fact, because it's a good song.
A lovely story.
I don't leave it out to make a point.
It's just one of those songs that I find I have to walk away from every once in awhile.
The disgruntled woman from tonight may never come see me again.
And I might do the only song she likes next time.
You never know.
I here I am thinking that touch of unpredictability is one of the best things about my 'only child' shows.
I'll admit it started to concern me after 2-3 people asked about that same song.
Until someone told me that there were lots of people in the bar before the show that thought they were gonna see a guy with a cowboy hat.
So, there were trace elements of the dark ages there tonight.
A few that thought I should have sung a particular song and worn a particular piece of apparel, even tho I never did the latter.
But, hey! I've had 'business people' tell me I'd be an 'easier sell' if I'd just wear an eyepatch.
'C'mon! It was so long ago. Nobody would remember it wasn't you!'
Yeeeaaah, uuuuh huuuuh...piss off.
I'd know.
So would the guy who actually wore the thing for real.
I can't imagine that would be good for anyone.
Oh, except maybe for those 'business people' I mentioned.
Anyway, a lovely night, overall.
Even if I did feel a somewhat bitchslapped by the insinuation that my show was pointless without any one song.
But I'll get over it.
And I won't change a thing.
And, maybe one night, if the spirit moves me the one about that girl's mother might rear it's poetic head.
Ya just never know...
I like that.
Next stop..the Sunflower show! ~
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| | DL13
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| #7 |
Believe me, I know I can get a little thin-skinned sometime.
A bit too 'on my sleeve' for my own good.
Especially right after a show!
Here's the deal.
How long is it?
Usually six or seven minutes after I leave the stage before I'm out in the lobby?
I'm still very much in that mode.
I haven't wound down or taken much of a breath and I'm out, listening to whatever people want to tell me.
I'm not on a fishing expedition for compliments (tho it's lovely to get positive feedback, isn't it?), but an empty, sweeping statement like the one I heard last night makes me flush.
Wonder if anyone remembers me mentioning the prize comment of the H&H tour -
After the show, having just had a really challenging and emotional exchange with a severely disabled, but very sharp gentlemen in a wheelchair about Shel and his writing and how it had always moved him so much, some woman grabbed me for a photo and, then said 'Oh, and lose those trainers! They don't go with jeans.'*
From the deep to shallow end in about 90 seconds.
That comment didn't hurt my feelings, by the way.
It just made me shake my head in wonder.
Anyway, thanks for all the words of support.
While appreciated for their thoughtfulness, they weren't necessary to lift my spirits or bolster my confidence.
I'm fine.
Like I said to someone earlier, the day I don't take it to heart I probably won't take it at all.
Cheers, m'dears. ~
*So, what do trainers go with then?
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| | DL13
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| #8 |
I also believe that when people in the 'meet and greet' queue hear the folks in front of them say complimentary things to me they figure if they go the other way their comments will be more 'original'.
Anything to be different, I guess... ~
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| | DL13
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| #9 |
Sunflower Concert rehearsal...
Got up about 7:30.
Left 2 hours later.
Getting into London is always a joke.
Arrived at 12:05, only 5 minutes past schedule tho, thanks to Adrian's wise planning.
Said 'hi' to all the players.
Filled my giant travel mug with tea.
Ran thru my 3 songs, twice each, and two runs at a song of Margo Buchanan's that I'm playing harmonica on and that was it.
The band sounds great.
We were done by 1:30.
That left 24 hours before I'm due at the theatre for what will essentially be a 'linecheck', meaning we make sure everything is plugged in and coming thru the right places.
There won't be a chance to actually go over anything, so we'll just flap 'em and, hopefully, fly!
I told you the 'theme' is that everyone will sing songs that are iconic.
Ones the audience will know immediately.
It could be one of your own or a 'cover', as long as it's recognizable from the get-go.
I'm doing Steven Stills' Love The One You're With, with a little harmonica added, for good luck
I'm also doing The Beatles Get Back.
Very cool that 'Wix' Wickens, Macca's keyboard player, is in the band and sharing the musical director duties with bass player, Nic Fyffe.
The 3rd song I'm doing was a personal request from Nic and 'Wix', so how could I refuse?
That song will be...Sylvia's Mother!!!
Teef8ckinghee.
I've known for weeks that I would be dragging the old girl out for this benefit.
Like I've said, ya just never know...
Playing harmonica on Margo's version of Buddy Holly's Not Fade Away will be cool.
The show doesn't begin til 10-10:15PM, because of a few other charity thingies that will happen before it.
So, another long day.
It's gonna be another one of those 'lost' shows.
You just do it and roll on.
I'll let you know how it goes.
Unless, of course, you were there.
In that case, you tell me.
~
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| | DL13
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| #10 |
Adrian and I took a taxi from the hotel to soundcheck and back this afternoon.
As we were getting out and paying the fare, the driver says 'Hey, Dennis?'
I said, 'Uuuuh, yeah?'
He says ' I saw your show at St Albans a few years ago! Your dancing during Walk Right In really made me laugh. I thought it was great!'
I leaned in and said, 'My friend, you are one of the few people who actually call it dancing.'
He again says 'Oh no, mate, it was good fun. Really made me laugh!'
I said 'Well, if I ever see it I'm sure it will have the opposite affect on me.'
He waved, wished me luck and pulled away.
A real teef8ckinghee moment.
Gary Brooker, the wonderful singer and piano player from Procol Harum, is also doing tonight's show.
I ran into him on the stairs and introduced myself.
As I said my name and was wondering if I should add 'used to be the lead singer with...' (it's always up for grabs), to my delight, he interrupted me and said, 'Oh, you're Dennis. You play with Bill Wyman.'
We exchanged a few words about what a nice man BW is and went on our separate ways.
It's very nice to be thought of 'outside the Hook box'.
Anyway, the concert is in a couple of hours.
Thank goodness.
There have been too many hours with nothing to do since our brief rehearsal yesterday.
More later. ~
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| | DL13
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| #11 |
September 24th Sunflower Jam Porchester Hall, London
The place was set up like a charity ball, with lavishly decorated round tables and chairs.
Rather informal dress for such an affair.
Took a look at the crowd from up in the VIP Bar.
Jeremy Irons, onstage, hosting the actual fundraising part of the event.
Spotted Bob Harris, tho we never bumped into each other.
Saw Richard Branson out at one of the center tables.
I'm sure there must have been lots of affluential/influential people in the audience who's faces escaped me.
The band went on at about 10:50.
Much later than was originally scheduled, but speeches, raffles and a late Newton Faulkner (know him?), who was supposed to do a solo acoustic set earlier in the evening, but was delayed.
The musicians started with an instrumental, Edgar Winter's Frankenstein, after which 'Wix' brought on his lovely partner, Margo, to sing a couple of Rolling Stones songs.
I played harmonica on the second one and stayed onstage for my turn.
Get Back was fun.
The one that got away on Beatles Day.
The band was smokin'.
The one about that girl's mother was next and had the crowd, who was ready to hear lots of songs they knew, singing their hearts out on the choruses.
After decades of doing that song alone, even with Hook, it was nice to have the whole band and background vocals. (H&H band acknowledged.)
I ended my segment with a funky version of Love The One You're With, with some more harmonica slipped in for good measure.
I really enjoy throwing myself in the deepend with songs I've never sung before...and you can't count the times I sang along with the records.
The band was rocking on LTOYW and, then, there I was, gone.
It was my duty to introduce the next performer up and that happened to be the one and only Suggs from Madness.
Once he found out it was me what warbled Sylvia, he hugged me alot.
Good old Suggsy...you know him, you love him, you buy frozen chips from him.
Gary Brooker was on next and, let me tell you, he sang A Whiter Shade Of Pale like it was 196? and that tune was and is in a bitch of a register.
Nice fella too. Always refreshing to discover.
Bruce Dickinson from Iron Maiden was the next and final performer.
At that point in the festivities, given that it had been a long couple of days, there was no ensemble cast song scheduled for the finale and we still have two of my shows to do on Friday and Saturday nights, we hightailed it outta there.
I hope they raised bags and bags of £££ and that everyone involved had a good time.
Me?
I'll soon be bouncing down them A and M roads again.
See you at the end of one of 'em. ~
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| | DL13
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| #12 |
September 25th The Grays Thameside
A nice venue. Good sound.
Had a good night here last time too.
Friendly crowd tonight, if a bit reserved at first.
After the show there were lots of questions about when the new album will be released.
A good sign.
Recv'd a sweet letter backstage before the show and a little prezzie in with it.
A pair of monogrammed socks.
Yup...black socks with a big yellow (or is it gold?) DL on each one.
(Thanks for fighting the urge to have LEFT and RIGHT put on there too.)
I must admit the socks were a first.
No, I take that back.
I have recv'd socks before.
One pair had a #8 on them.
But, monogrammed?
There's the 'first'.
Had a couple hours drive after the show tonight and we're still only halfway to where we're going.
Midday leave to go to another hotel, which is still an hour or so from the gig.
But, when we come back to it after the show, we're that much closer to home.
Ah, the complexities of travel planning.
Thank goodness I just have to sit and read till we arrive somewhere.
3:20AM...so, later. ~
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| | DL13
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| #13 |
September 26th Torrington
A venue and area I had never been to before.
A nice, comfortable theatre.
Many of the audience had not seen me before either, but were open to and up for just about anything.
They just 'got' me, that's all I can say.
They allowed me to be everything I am and showed so much appreciation for what I did.
I'll definitely head back that way in the future.
Home tomorrow for a few days.
Up at 6AM.
It's 3:15 now.
Almost pointless to try and sleep, but I'll cast my eyes on a book and, probably - hopefully - faint for a couple hours.
More after the next gig or, possibly, before, if anything of interest should happen in my life.
Once again, I'm to be delivered, like the Royal Mail, only with more speed and certainty, thanks to Adrian.
Later, folks. ~
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| | DL13
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| #14 |
October 1st (Already???) The Platform, Morecombe
Been here quite few times in the past several years.
Usually a good night.
This crowd, while very appreciative of the new songs and more left field Hook stuff, really felt like they wanted to SING!
Couldn't deny them that after indulging me as much and kindly as they did.
So, yes, near the end, the dear old girl lead them in song once again.
Where she works, she works.
Lots of folks with some lovely comments at the 'meet and greet' after the show.
Everybody interested in the new album's release.
Cool.
I shudder to think of all the photos of me there are in people's homes and scrapbooks and wallets and goodness knows where else!
They love to bring the old ones for me to sign.
Yoiks!
Signed a Dr Hook's One And Only Farewell Tour brochure tonight.
Full of my baby photos.
OK. Off to Scunthorpe in the morning. ~
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| | DL13
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| #15 |
October 2nd Plowright Theatre, Scunthorpe
Lousy weather in this part of the UK.
Chilly, dark and pissing down.
Good night to be indoors, anyway.
This is, I believe, only the second time I've played this venue.
Nice room and, as last time, a very up, ready for whatever crowd.
Folks of all ages too.
I like that.
I was pretty loose (not that I'm ever very tight) with the audience.
It felt right.
I don't think I've ever felt this much positive anticipation about having a new album coming as this time around.
I've tried to include things from the album that would represent what's coming.
Seems like I'm succeeding in that.
Cool.
So, we move on the The Stables at Wavendon tomorrow.
Another nice venue.
Sounds good and I like the way the audience is seated.
Reminds me of The Mitzi Newhouse Theater at Lincoln Center in NYC, where I did Shel's play, The Devil And Billy Markham.
Seems like a million years ago.
Jeez.
Later. ~
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| | DL13
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| #16 |
October 3rd The Stables, Wavendon
Now, I don't wanna waste yer time with my whinges and bitches about how tough life 'on the road' can be.
And, you may have noticed that I don't devote very much bloggity blog space to that particular subject, while, in fact, just the daily bumps in that aforementioned road would need a dedicated page on the site.
Perhaps I could call it just that - Bumps In The Road.
Perhaps, not.
But, can I say that it's so mind-numbingly boring to just sit in a hotel room after a show, with nothing but 2 BBC channels, Channel 4 and six sports networks (yaaaaaaaawwwwnnn!) on the TV to distract me.
Especially after most likely having sat in the vehicle and a dressing room (until it was time to be wuuuuuuuuuuuuunderful!) for the rest of the day.
Thank goodness for books and this laptop...when it's connecting OK... just like it isn't at this hotel.
Anyway, what I was getting at was that I actually fall asleep earlier on the road, because all possibile activities are exhausted sooner and I eventually just faint.
Say 2-3AM?
The irony is that the housekeepers lay seige to the hallways and surrounding rooms as soon as people start checking out.
Say 8AM?
Vaccum cleaners humming, headboards banging as they make the beds, rattling bottles and cans that refill the mini-bars, socializing, whistling...sigh.
So, the lie-in affect is sort of spoiled.
And, do they give a toss that some of us haven't even checked in til 1AM the night before?
Simply put, no.
They don't.
This morning I found out, all too late (early), that my room was right next to, on the other side of the connecting door to, practically inside, the housekeepers store room!
So, not only did I here all the noise they would make, I was there right from their 'good mornings' to each other.
The other added bonus were the members of a wedding party that were obviously sooooooo f*cking happy for the bride and groom that they stayed up, shouting their congratulations, along with a few arguments and near fistfights, til all hours.
So, the next time I don't bring stuff like this up, just know that a good 45% of the time, I just didn't bring it up.
But it happened.
That's life on the road.
All I can say is I'm pleased that tonight's gig was at this particular venue.
For the reasons I stated last night.
The Stables has the makings of a good gig even before I arrive.
So, as tired as I was (I hope those newlyweds stay married at least as long as I'm still on the road), it was not a struggle to rise to the occasion.
Nice audience.
A fella came up to me after th show and, kindly, said, 'How is it that every time we see you you get better and better?'
I said, 'You want a straight answer to that question?'
He did.
I said, 'Because every time I've walked out on that stage, alone, I've felt less and less like I'm supposed to be that guy from Dr Hook. Like somebody they used to know. And, these days, I feel like me.'
And that's the truth...the whole truth and nothing but.
I'm a very specific person.
I've been a very specific person for as long as I can remember.
For me to wrestle with that uncertainty now, at my age, is a joke and total bullshit.
If there's one thing I'm sure of (and, it may be the only thing that falls into that category) is who the hell I am right now.
For better or worse.
When that guy at a gig last week told me that alot of people were expecting to see someone wearing a cowboy hat it was like the friggin' Twilight Zone!
I've said it before, it's great to have an illustrious past, unless you wind up feeling inferior to it now.
Mercifully, I don't.
So, it may seem that this addition of the blog was about everything BUT tonight's gig.
Not really.
I just looked around my room.
TV is off.
Pete Doggett's You Never Give Me Your Money: The Battle For The Soul Of The Beatles is beckoning from the bed.
What a fabulous book.
All about the legal battles between the parties, from the break-up to the presnt day.
Lots to unravel when you're that successful.
It probably sounds like a tedious read.
Uh uh.
A revelation or two on every page.
Highly recommended!
The bed looks like a big double one, but, on closer inspection (lying on it), it is actually 2 single beds, with the scary potential of separating in the night.
The sheets will prevent me from hitting the floor, but, it could sag into a semi-hammock thingy if I'm not on my guard.
Sounds restful, no?
Oh, sorry.
No more hotel horrors.
On to Wimborne.
No hotel because we're home straight after the show.
Hope the dressing room is comfy.
Yeah, sure. Uh huh.
Sigh... ~
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| | DL13
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| #17 |
October 4 The Tivoli, Wimborne
Got home late last night and have a lot to do today.
A quick blog to say that the show was really fun.
Lovely audience.
Ready to laugh and listen.
Once again, kind, inspiring comments at the meet and greet about the songs, my playing, singing etc..
The tour could not be going better.
Thanks to everyone who has come along and made it all so rewarding.
Sorry for the brevity of this entry, but I need the time.
You know I would rabbit on (and on) if I didn't.
Cheers, m'dears.
See you in a couple of days. ~
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| | DL13
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| #18 |
October 8th Library Theatre, Darwen - Night 1
Ah, the Library. Yes.
So concise, you have to play it twice!
Always a nice time.
Hard not to get personal with the audience.
First of all, unlike many venues, I can see the people.
I mean, not clearly, but I know where everyone is seated.
Two of my youngest fans, Leah (7) and Abigail (10), were there tonight.
See? I'm not the raunchy act some people tried to make me out to be last year.
So nice to watch these kids grow up, from tour to tour.
They must look at me and think 'Goodness, what's happening to this poor old fool?'
Seems a woman got to feeling poorly during the show and they had to leave.
Her husband drove her home, and, get this, he came back to watch the rest of the show!
No sense wasting two tickets, I guess.
Hope the missus feels better soon.
Nice folks out at the 'meet and greet'.
More photos.
I think I would scream and explode if I every attempted to look at even a fraction of th ones everyone sends in during a tour.
The 'DL meets his fans' page is a no-go for me.
Yoiks!
When I got back to the dressing room I did my usual end of gig drill.
Packed up my clothes and backstage bag and the fan and the kettle and the iron/board, etc, etc.
Adrian walked in and said 'Why'd you pack everything up? We're here tomorrow night too!'
Duuuu-uuu-uuuhhh!
Mr One Night Stand, in action!!!
See you for Night 2? ~
P.S. It's after midnight.
Happy Birthday, JL! ~
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| | DL13
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| #19 |
October 9th (Happy Birthday, John Lennon!) Library Theatre, Darwen - Night 2
Another good audience.
This place is so intimate that folks either have to get into it or decide to leave.
I didn't see anyone go.
Their was a family of 3 that had driven in the pissing rain from Blackpool with a broken window that wouldn't go up.
They were a bit late in sitting down because they had to find somewhere to park where their car with the permanently open window wouldn't be bothered.
The venue accomodated them, which I thought was very kind.
But, then, Jim, Simon and the staff at The Library are always a pleasure to see and work with.
One more show and we're off for a little over 2 weeks.
After that we're out pretty regularly with no substantial breaks.
I'll use my downtime wisely...whatever that means. ~
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| #20 |
October 10th The Brindley Theatre, Runcorn
As I suspected, a whole new venue for me.
Not built too long ago.
Sounded really nice from onstage (no, it doesn't always!).
Pretty verbal crowd.
There was one minor disturbance out there about taking my photo.
It doesn't ever bother me, but, sometimes, the venue has a policy to which they'd prefer people would adhere.
When I say 'disturbance', I mean a small bit of scuffling that I could hardly ignore and, so acknowledged, but nothing that broke the flow for very long.
Hey! Whatever goes on is part of what happened that night.
Can't fight it.
May as well embrace it.
Or, at least, deal.
My new guitar is still not right.
I used it fo a couple of songs on the 1st night at Darwen, but soon took it off and picked up the trusty Takamine I've been using for decades.
I developed whatever playing style I have on that guitar.
I beat it to death some, most nights and it still loves me.
This new one, as nice as it sounds, is a f8cking prima donna.
It was made in Ireland, so someone from the company is going to come to one of my shows there and see how I play and figure why the prissy, young Avalon is so afraid of me...and, as a result of it's irrascibility, me, it.
Off for a couple of weeks now before the busier second part of the tour.
I'll try to chill (still somewhat in tour mode), but have a few things to take care of.
Some, creative, fulfilling and necessary.
Some, just necessary.
I'll see everyone sooner than later.
~
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| #21 |
October 29th... and, here we are again!
Lots of forward motion on the new album and 2010 tour while I've been off the road.
I'm pleased.
Have a show tonight and home again for a couple more days.
Then, Sunday, we fly to Belfast and, from there, drive to where we'll be staying for the week while we do the Irish dates.
Looking forward to the shows, but wondering what the audiences will be like.
Haven't been there much, or not at all, in some cases.
That usually means I have to go back a few steps, setlist-wise, and remind 'em of who I used to be, but, this time I think I may take my chances (with, perhaps, some small modifications) and show 'em who I am today.
Did a radio interview with Omagh the other day and the presenter said 'Just so everyone has it straight, you're not the one with the eyepatch, are you?' (I'm pretty sure he knew the difference but was trying to 'help').
I get questions like that so infrequently these days that it's like a spray of ice cold water when it does.
But, you know, if it's not clear, let's get it that way and up front.
I'd just as soon know that everyone in that audience is coming to see the right person and leave their straw hats at home.
OK, better run.
Even tho we're not going to Belfast til Sunday, all my gear - clothes, guitars, etc, etc, etc - is traveling separately, so I have to have the circus ready to roll thru Ireland and Scotland by the time I leave for the Redhill show tonight.
It's had me in a confused state all week.
I keep forgetting I'll be home again tonight, tho my stuff won't.
The good thing is I won't have anything to get together over the two days in order to leave.
I will, in affect, have left already.
I could do this dance for another hundred years (really?) and never become complacent about it.
The day I do...is the day I don't.
Y'know?
OK.
Back to show biz. ~
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| #22 |
October 29th Harlequin Theatre, Redhill
Tonight's crowd was about the smallest - as in number, not stature -that I've seen on this tour.
There could be so many reasons these days.
I don't take it personally.
Besides, it certainly didn't prevent us from having a lovely time.
Very chatty audience from the get go.
From the woman at the beginning of the show who told me she'd never seen me before and I'd 'better make it good', to the fella who said his 8 year old son (Hi Darren!) wanted to hear a certain song, which I dutifully did, tho couldn't help but wonder (out loud, of course) if the request wasn't really dad's and ol' Daz got used, and back again to the same woman from the beginning of the evening who, near the end of the show, I'm happy to report, said I'd done a good job...and all the many exchanges in between.
Oh, and, when I stepped outside the stage door in the interval to breath something besides stale dressing room air, there was a nice fella who told me the first half had been 'brilliant'.
So, thanks to this crowd,
I pretty much knew how I was doing every step of the way.
So, now we leave England for a bit and head elsewhere.
Ireland is 5 shows in as many nights.
5 in row is pushing it.
I mean, I've certainly done it (and more) before, plenty of times, and can and will again, but, if I had my 'druthers, I'd never do more than 3 nights running and, when it couldn't be avoided, 4.
It's just a matter of making sure I can always give to the max.
But, with routing and blahblahblah, you sometimes take 'em where and when you can and show biz prima donna be damned!
Happily, we'll be in the same hotel for the whole time so, it means not having to pack, check out, travel and check back in somewhere every day.
A bit more restful during the day, anyway.
Helps my energy level.
And, let's be honest, 5 shows in a row is better than 'sorry, we could only find you 3 shows', innit?
After a precious day off, tiring and boring as it will be, after an early start and traveling, etc, we're in Scotland.
Been to Kilmarnock before.
Usually a good night.
Then, another day off to travel to the Inn at Lathones.
Two nights there.
The place is tiny (hence the double shows).
The audience is enthusiastic and right there.
Some would call it 'intimate'.
Uh huh. Like having an x-ray taken.
I remember the last time I played there I had little dental thing going on and wondered if the people at the front tables could see into my mouth.
Never caught anyone staring too long, so probably not.
Don't bother looking this time.
It's since been remedied.
This run will be the longest stretch away from home of this tour.
Listen to me...I'm getting soft, over here.
Used to be that I wouldn't see home for months at a time.
Even the Rhythm Kings schedule had me on the road for 6 straight weeks, even on the days off, because there was never really enough time for me to get home and back to the band and have it make any sense.
It would have been more exhausting just running back and forth.
Not to mention that I don't drive.
That usually slows things down considerably.
Was just thinking the other day that this tour will end at the very beginning of December, followed by the holidays and around mid-January, I should begin rehearsing with the band for the Spring tour.
40 or more shows.
I should just shut up about those 5 nights in a row, huh?
I'm in the unique, like, maybe, never before, position of having, physically, already packed and, technically, left for Belfast.
Doing it this way was strange, but it sort of frees me up for the next two days.
Wonder how many times I'll do the kneejerk 'Aargh! I should be getting read...oh, no, I'm cool' dance.
Dozens, I'll wager.
Sigh... ~
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| #23 |
November 2nd
Arrived late-ish last night at the hotel where we'll be staying all week.
Each of the next 5 shows will be an out and back from here.
Saves having to pack and check out and back in somewhere else everyday.
On the other hand, it leaves a whole lot of the same hotel to negotiate.
I find the absolute hardest part of my professional life is trying to remain stimulated and, as a result, interesting, in the vacuum that is the road.
A whole lot of sitting, thinking, walking around whatever grounds, streets or parking lot is the local terrain.
The room is usually, pretty basically, a desk and a bed.
Sometimes a chair or sofa is provided, but, the entire experience is so transient that it always feels like I'm attempting to relax on someone else's not so comfortable furniture.
The kind that says 'Oh, so what? You won't be here that long!'
Like some sort of waiting room.
So, the bed becomes my life raft.
I load up one corner of it with books and magazines and pull every available pillow onto it (and ask housekeeping for more, if there aren't enough. I like lots!), making it a familar bit of sanctuary in the middle of an otherwise generic environment
So, you climb off of that raft in the morning, check your email on the laptop and go down and see what there is to eat.
Sometimes there is nothing because the restaurant just closed seconds before you got there and doesn't open again til a few minutes after we leave for the venue.
Sometimes there's only what they call 'bar snacks' and 'lite bites', which are usually creamy, bread-y, cheesy concoctions that I really don't want to deal with.
Today they had a proper 4 course carvery lunch.
Looked nice, but far too much to eat with a show looming.
They said I could just have the vegetable soup tho, so that's what I did.
Followed lunch with a little stroll around so that tonight's onstage frolicking is not the first or only physical activity of the day.
After that there is nowhere to go back to the room...and onto the raft.
But, really?
Back to the bed only a couple of hours after you got up???
There's something a bit, uh, institutionalized about that, if you know what I mean.
Reading a great book (thank goodness!).
Frank Skinner's On The Road.
His account of his return to stand up comedy after 10 years away.
It's so insightful and honest and verrrrrrrrry funny.
Obviously, there are things in there to which I can totally relate, living as I do for a good part of every year.
But, it's a great book even if you don't live like a gypsy.
Just finished Pete Doggett's You Never Give me Your Money: The Battle For The Soul Of The Beatles.
Loved it.
There was a revelation on every page.
And, for guy who has consumed as much Beatles related material as I have, that's saying something.
OK, well, it's just about time to leave for the first show here in Ireland.
I'm pretty apprehensive about this week.
These audiences and I will be new to each other.
I want everyone to enjoy themselves.
I want to have a good time too.
They don't know my solo stuff as well...or at all.
I don't want to load the show up with Hook material just to play it safe.
I'd like to show everyone the new material.
Don't wanna disappoint.
Don't wanna pander.
Guess I'll see once I'm out there.
Time to go.
This blog helped to fill some of my vaccum time.
Hope it was worth reading. ~
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| #24 |
November 2nd Ardhowen Theatre, Eniskellen
I would like to thank a room full of people who had not seen me ever or for many years for giving me the opportunity to show them who I am today.
It was important to me and much appreciated.
I only varied the setlist a tiny bit from what I've been doing, leaving in all the new songs.
At the 'meet and greet' after the show I heard all the things I was hoping to hear.
This particular mix of old and new material seemed to work for them too.
Very cool.
Now that we've broken the ice, I hope we can take it from here and carry on.
I'd like that alot. ~
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| #25 |
November 3rd
I'm already seeing listings at venues for next year's tour that say 'Back to play all the classic hits!'
That sucks.
It's not the Hits and History tour.
I won't be playing ALL the classic hits.
I'll be doing what I always do.
Trying to put together a wildly entertaining show that contains material from my solo albums, some surprises from the old days and, yes, a selection of the hits.
We send the venues a well written bio that tells them who I am, what I've been doing, about the new band and album release and, while it certainly mentions my connection to Hook, does not lean very heavily on it, as is my wish.
For anyone to take it upon themselves to promise my audience what I'll being doing based on what they remember I used to do is lazy, unprofessional and extremely infuriating.
Of course I sing some of the great Hook songs in my show - always will - but I don't have to make believe I'm someone or something else to sing them, do I?
I have no desire to trick people into the building.
I want them to know what they are coming to see.
A couple years ago I was playing solo at The Bloomsbury in London.
Always a great night there.
Time Out magazine doesn't do reviews but they do a little pre-show thingy, telling folks who's playing and what to expect.
Know what they said about my upcoming show?
"Former Dr Hook frontman back to churn through the expected hits..."
Excuse me?
Churn?
CHURN?
EXPECTED HITS???
Fuck off!
I am not in a battle of the Dr Hooks.
I'm not Dr Hook and I don't want to 'be' Dr Hook.
(If I did I wouldn't have licensed the name to 'the other guy', now, would I?)
There are people out there who are only interested in buying a recognizable label.
As long as it says HEINZ on the can, it doesn't really matter about the quality of the beans inside.
Hey, that's fine with me.
If you wanna throw your hands in the air and sing your favorites with whoever just because you wanna hear those songs again, cool.
Carry on.
It's just not the game I want to play.
And, when these fucking lazy-assed listings come up, despite our best efforts to make sure they're accurate and current, they make me look like I'm in some sort of a competition.
It stands to reason that if you flash the name Dr Hook around in your listing, it's going to garner more immediate interest and probably sell more tickets and make more money.
On a commercial level that makes sense.
But it's a graveyard and I'm not dead.
I'll sacrifice to be myself.
At least people will know what they've paid to see.
I've had money.
I've had worldwide fame.
For the most part, it all just left me with some bullshit stigma that I work harder to get away from than others do to maintain.
Time to go to the show. ~
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| #26 |
November 3rd Strule Arts Centre, Omagh
Kind of a quiet crowd at first.
Many people who had never seen me before, except for a smattering that had been to my Cookstown show last time I was over.
The front seats were pretty close to the stage, which was just about floor level.
The combination of the audience being right there and subdued and the two women in the first row who were chatting away like they were at home watching TV had me a bit tentative for the first couple of songs.
I finally asked 'Who the hell is talking?' tho I already knew and walked over to where they were sitting.
They didn't reply, but stopped jabbering.
Things like that always make me feel uncomfortable to have to address, but it had to be done...for all of us.
I managed to regain my cool, stayed loose and the audience got warmer and more receptive as the night went on.
I'm proud to say they were up on their feet at the end.
Once again, I thanked everyone for letting me be myself.
Nice comments about the new material after the show.
Can't ask for more than that, can you?
~
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| #27 |
November 4th Marketplace Theatre, Armagh
I've been here before.
Not often, but a few times in the past decade.
Once, it would seem from the photo hanging on their wall, with a band.
It's dated 2000 and clearly shows my Fender amplifier in the background, meaning that I played electric guitar.
I only do that when I have a band.
Nice theatre.
Sounds good.
Seems comfortable for the audience.
Lovely communication between us.
A few spontaneous conversational detours taken.
Again, very appreciative of the new songs.
I'm telling you what...with all the serious pissing down it's been doing, preventing me from even being able to get out of the hotel during the day, the audiences have been the true saving grace.
The raison d'tre.
The weather has been consistently dreadful since the second we landed in Belfast on Sunday night.
When Adrian and I got off the plane and did the 2 minute (that felt like 5) across the tarmac to the gate, it was raining and absolutely f-f-f-freezing.
That theme has continued.
Except for that two fingers up from Mother Nature, so far, so good here in Ireland. ~
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| #28 |
November 5th This post was forwarded to me from one of those 'official' (ahem!) Hook websites. Didn't leave an email address. What a surprise! 'does it ever occur to DL that very few care about who he thinks he is now...but do care a little about who he thought he was then..' Still faithfully reading my blog everyday, tho, aren't you? That's a pisspoor way to show how much you don't care. Teef8ckinghee... The glaringly apparent truth is that nobody really seems to care who 'Dr Hook' is/was anymore. I can live with that , if yaaaaw'll can! ~ |
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| #29 |
November 6th Letterkenny
Let me start by saying that the audience was absolutely brilliant!
A friendlier, warmer, more receptive bunch of people a guy like me could not want.
Easy to talk to.
Great response to the new stuff.
Lovely folks.
However, the venue was another thing matter.
Certainly not what we were told it was going to be.
It was, to my chagrin, in a hotel, in one of their 'events' rooms.
More accurately, an antiseptic, carpeted boardroom, more suited for presenting your companies annual fiscal returns report than doing what I do.
The lights, or I should say light, had one setting...
ON!
That was it.
I could see the crowd and they could see me.
When we arrived they had the seating arranged in tables and chairs, like a wedding.
Not my favorite.
That usually breeds a roomful of people, drinking and talking.
Adrian firmly requested that they lose the tables, rearrange the seats in rows, like a theatre or as much like one as possible and that the bar be closed while I was on stage and open in the interval.
All changes to my liking.
The sound in the room, to my and Simon's relief, was pretty OK.
As it turned out, it was a fun evening, mostly due to the audiences enthusiasm right from the jump.
I'd love to play for the people of Letterkenny again.
Surely, there must be a better venue. Despite the fact that the tour schedule says I'm playing tomorrow in Coleraine on Friday night, the gig is actually Saturday.
I'll explain more fully when I know exactly what happened but the goo
news is that it's SOLD OUT, so, everyone knew about it but us.
Unscheduled Friday off.
I can use it.
Four shows in a row is tough when you're up there alone.
It was gonna be five.
We're going to use the free day wisely and bring my new guitar to Belfast, back to the folks who made it, and see what they can do to get it right.
Really wanted the new one ready for action for this solo tour.
Shame. ~
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| #30 |
November 6th Day off...(sort of)
Took a trip to Belfast today to meet the guys at Avalon Guitars, the makers of my new, yet to be used acoustic.
Met Jim and Ernie, two very nice fellas and very 'tuned' in to guitars and stringed instruments.
Ernie seemed to be the man who actually builds 'em.
I want this new guitar to sound like my Lowden (also built by these guys), which is the open tuned guitar I use for things like Call Me, Ask Her, This Guitar and many more, but still feel like my trusty Takamine.
I've had that guitar since shortly after Hook and since I began my solo journey.
The playing style I have today was developed on the Takamine and I have no desire to have to renegotiate an instrument and change the way I already play because of a new guitar.
We determined that the neck on the one they built is too wide and pinpointed another few things that could be done differently (to make it similar to the Tak) and they are building me another one from scratch.
The sad news is that it will take about 4 weeks and won't be ready for this tour at all.
Siiiiiiiggghhhhhhhhh...
The next time I tour will be with a whole band and the sound of my acoustic won't be quite as crucial as it is when I am the band.
What can you do?
When we got back to the hotel, due to a circumstance here and a situation there, we decided to check out and move a bit closer to Saturday's show and part of the way to the B'fast airport, so we're won't be so rushed the next morning when we head to Scotland.
Being told that the show was tonight (while everyone else seemed to know it was tomorrow night) has jammed us up a bit.
We were planning to leave for Scotland on Saturday and have the night off before Kilmarnock.
What's that they say about mice and men?
Anyway, by the time we got to the new hotel tonight and had a bite, that was pretty much it for this day off.
Jonathan Ross is on in a few minutes.
It's on half an hour later on BBC Northern Ireland, after Have I Got News For You.
Robbie Williams is on with Wossy.
I'm pulling for young Rob.
There are those, of which I am not one, that would like to see him fail in his comeback.
Maybe, it's because of how affectionately he mentioned Hook, a few times, in the biography, Feel, but I'd like to see him kick ass with this new album.
My son ran into him in LA, at the opening of a nightclub or something, a while back and introduced himself.
He said Robbie was a very genuine guy, which is nice to know.
When Jess mentioned his surname, he said RW's face lit up and he called over some of his mates, saying, excitedly 'This is Dennis Locorriere from Dr Hook's son!'
Cool that the family name rang a bell.
He also said 'Tell your dad I want to sing with him...'
Robbie, dear boy, I'm right here.
I won't hold my breff', but I will watch the lad on TV in a bit.
If tomorrow night's atmosphere is anything like the last 4 shows, we'll be leaving Ireland knowing we did what we came to do. ~
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| #31 |
November 7th Riverside Theatre, Coleraine
New place for me.
Nice venue.
Packed house.
The audience seemed a little reserved right at first but soon loosened up and the evening rolled along very nicely.
I told them, before I played a note, that they seemed a little more nervous than I did.
So, five shows in Ireland in 6 days.
I think we may have broken some new ground and made some lasting 'friendships' here this time.
Funny, when I was packing up after the show I completely forgot tonight's show had been moved a night and I had the flashback thought 'It will be nice to have a night off...' about tomorrow.
Truth is, because of the change, tomorrow will wind up being the longest and toughest day so far.
Belfast airport, pretty early in the morning.
Turn in our rent-a-wreck.
Check in and fly to Edinburgh.
Pick up another r-a-w.
Check in at an Edinburgh hotel for an hour or so.
Leave for Kilmarnock, which is about 70 miles away.
After the show, 70 miles back to the hotel.
Crawl back to the room.
Faint dead away.
Actually, I'm holding up pretty well, considering - ahem! - my age.
I never mind the rough schedule if the shows end up being worth it.
These definitely were that.
Gonna go read my Frank Skinner book for as long as it takes to fall asleep.
That's usually up for grabs.
See you in Kilmarnock, if you're going. ~
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| #32 |
November 8th The Palace Theatre, Kilmarnock
I'm tired.
Six shows in seven days is a bitch.
It was very nice to have an audience who was so much on my side tonight.
Lovely, encouraging comments at the meet and greet afterwards.
Pleased the album material is going over so well.
I've played this venue before.
Several times.
The crew are helpful and friendly.
Found me a jar of honey when I asked if there was any.
Not for tea.
Honey and lemon in warm water.
Keeps the old voice lubricated.
I never stop to think too much about it but the show I'm doing now is a killer on the pipes.
Not just the singing, but, also, all the talking I do.
My voice doesn't get a rest for the entire show (unless you want to count the interval).
Adrian tells me the first half has gotten about 7-8 minutes longer as I've been elaborating a bit on certain things I've been talking about.
So, I guess the show must be about 2 hours and 10-15 minutes.
Did I say I'm tired?
DAY OFF TOMORROW!!!
Leave the hotel late in the afternoon for only about an hour's drive to St Andrew's and the Inn at Lathones.
They had great food there last time.
It's been a week of hastily grabbed snacks, sandwiches and other assorted 'circus food'.
Sometimes there is just no time to eat during the day and, once it gets past 3PM, I won't eat anything.
Even 5 hours is too close to showtime.
Maybe the Inn will have something wonderful on the menu tomorrow night.
OK, folks.
I'm down for the count.
But, there will be a rematch on Tuesday evening.
Later... ~
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| #33 |
November 9th A REAL day off!
A comparatively short drive from our Edinburgh hotel to The Inn at Lathones, where I was greeted with a pleasant surprise.
The last time we were here I was given a comfortable, but rather compact room.
It seems they have done some serious converting and building since then, because this time I was handed the key to a newly done, full-blown 2 room suite with some kitchen facilities.
More like a flat than a hotel room.
Big lounge with a flat screen TV with cable and a CD player and an equally roomy bedroom with a giant 4 poster bed.
After the past tough and tiring week I can't say my feelings are hurt.
Oh, and a balcony off the lounge and bedroom, both overlooking the same huge field with 15 - yes, I counted them - blue-marked sheep grazing in it.
A welcomed change of stablemates from the businessmen who go down to breakfast at 7:30AM and let their hotel room doors SLAM! shut, who, then, return and SLAM! and, then, checkout and SLAM!, somehow signaling the housekeeping staff to converge on the empty spaces with vacuum cleaners and, of course, more SLAMming of doors and supply pantries.
Hotels are not accomodating to people who work, as an old Welsh farmer once called them, 'unsociable hours', like we do.
So,unless those sheep out back are complete assholes about things I should actually get some rest tomorrow.
And I don't have to leave for the gig at any particular time, but, simply, walk over to the other building, 20 yards away.
We leave here for the airport at 4AM on Thursday and head home.
It will be rather shocking to leave Scotland in the dark, drive to Edinburgh airport, fly to Gatwick, drive home and still be back by about 9AM.
HUH???
I won't go into the details of the dinner menu, only to say 'YUM!'.
Later... ~
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| #34 |
November 10th
Good little sheep.
So quiet.
And there are more of them today. ~
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| #35 |
November 10th The Inn At Lathones
Man, this place is smaller than I remembered it being.
The good folks are 'reach out and touch 'em' close to the stage.
I say 'stage' but it's actually a cobblestone area with a microphone and my guitars and table in it.
The intimacy of the room made the few people who wanted to talk to each other seem pretty loud and intrusive to all the others that wanted to listen.
Besides, song like I Can't Touch The Sun, for one example, is far too poignant for random, indiscriminate conversation to be happening.
I never understand it, even in a big venue; nevermind in a phonebooth.
Why some folks are not embarrassed to be the ones who are potentially pissing on someone else's good time is way beyond my comprehension.
Anyway, things turned out OK in the end, but not without a little intervention on my part, as well as by a few fed up audience members.
I'm here for another night and one especially loud fella, who decided he could to talk to me any damned time he wanted to, said 'See you tomorrow night, Dennis!', as I left the stage.
Uuuuh...ohhhh...uuuhhh...shit!
He's gonna behave tomorrow if I have to tape his ass to his seat and his mouth shut!
I should tell you how I've come to play at The Inn every year.
When I was on the Love Song Tour, my first tour back as a solo artist, in 1999, David Mundel, the proprietor of The Inn, was good enough to invite me and my band to stay overnight at the Bein Inn, another music establishment he used to be involved with, on one of our few nights off.
David and his staff were great to us and I appreciated it very much.
When David acquired this place and asked me to play I jumped at the opportunity to reciprocate his benevolence.
I always do a couple of nights.
Everyone here is wonderful and friendly and accomodating (tho I must admit, I'm pretty low maintenance, requiring very little 'extra' attention).
Having said that, the lovely Morag kindly and unexpectedly stayed late and cooked me something after the show so I wouldn't have to eat my customary 'it's whatever it used to be, only it's cold' post show food.
Again, YUM!!!
Went into St Andrews today to look around.
Adrian dropped me there and I took a taxi back.
Ran into a few folks who were going to be at the show tonight.
The cabbie, George, got my autograph for his wife, Helen.
He said he'd been to The Inn to see Andy Fairweather Low's band a week or so ago.
He said they were brilliant.
That's cool, because Andy and his band, The Lowriders, will be my 'very special guests' on the Spring 2010 tour.
OK, folks.
That's it for now.
'Night. ~
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Posts: 713
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| #36 |
Eleven-eleven
It's late afternoon and the sheep have gotten vocal.
They've been out there everyday, but it's only today that they seem to have something to say to each other.
The sun is fading fast and they're on the move.
Walking, talking, like factory workers, after the whistle, headed to their cars.
It was such an audible change that it made me go out on the balcony to see what was going on.
They have pretty individual voices, these blue-splashed cotton puffs with legs.
There's your standard, mid-range barnyard 'Baaaaah', but you also have a basso profundo version, a girlish, higher pitched one and, stranger than any I've ever heard (not that I was raised anywhere remotely near livestock, mind), a sheep that appears to have either a sore throat or, my guess, is a teenaged sheep who is going thru puberty and whose voice has not broken yet.
I wouldn't know how to spell it so that you'd get it, but imagine a spotty, fifteen year old with his baseball cap on back to front, going 'Baaaah' and not quite making it thru without emitting a hoarse little squeak.
I'ts easy (and painful) to assume that teen-sheep is crushingly embarrassed everytime he bleats and it breaks.
And, even now, you'd just have to hear it to really understand.
Sheep.
Gotta love 'em.
Or, failing that, eat 'em. ~
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Registered: 04/04/07
Posts: 713
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| #37 |
November 11th The Inn At Lathones (night 2)
Gonna make this short and sweet because I have 30 minutes to separate what's going with Simon in the truck, including this laptop that I borrowed from him because my Vodaphone thingy doesn't work up here, and what I'm taking home.
Tonight's audience was a lovely bunch of folks, all in the room to listen, laugh, sing (quietly) and have a marvelous time.
The fellow who was a bit disruptive last night was good as gold tonight.
I even chatted to him afterwards.
Not sure what calmed him down, but he was a whole different guy this evening.
My first two public performances of The Sound Of A Train, from the new album, happened last night and tonight.
It seemed to hold everyone's interest and got a big round of applause at the end.
Nice to have 'live' folks to play this stuff for.
OK.
Time to prepare to move closer to home and a few much needed days off.
Baaaah-baaaahye, sheep. ~
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| | DL13
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Registered: 04/04/07
Posts: 713
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| #38 |
November 18th Back to it!
Heading to Wakefield in about an hour.
We didn't want to leave it til gig day to do the 250 miles.
Was supposed to be gone already but Adrian has hit some weather-related traffic getting to me.
Doesn't bode well, does it?
How it makes me laugh when I see/hear people complain that I'm not playing in their neighborhood.
See you there, if you're going. ~
Later that same night...
What should have taken 4 hours, took more like 7.
It's not so tough on me, as I can sit, read, doze, drink tea and sit some more.
Adrian has to stay focussed on that long road ahead.
I don't drive, but I can imagine that commandeering two tons of metal down the motorway is one thing, but, crawling along in said vehicle, a few yards, stop, a few more yards, stop, must be tiring as hell!
A good man is Adrian.
Deals with the most stressful things in the most calm and good natured way.
We had a bite before the hotel restaurant closed.
I won't go into it, but to say that this time home was not the relaxing break it might have been.
It's a sad state of affairs when you have to gamble your sense of well-being on the peace and quiet of your hotel du jour, but there you have it.
Three shows in a row and, then, one and one and we're done.
Then, Xmas and, before you know it, band rehearsals.
And back on the road.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmm...
Time to lie down now. ~
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Registered: 04/04/07
Posts: 713
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| #39 |
November 19th Royal Theatre, Wakefield
I have been so lucky this tour to have had some of the warmest, most receptive audiences I've ever played for in my life.
Last night's crowd was on my side from the minute I walked out on to that stage, until the second I left.
Lovely, friendly people...except for the darling woman who emailed me today to say that she'd never seen me 'live' before and was totally 'bored' with my song choices (Why no Sylvia's Mother?).
She went on to say that I was 'self indulgent at the audience's expense' and she left the theatre 'angry' and 'feeling cheated' and that I'd 'not made any new fans' in her house.
Nice of her to speak for the whole audience, huh?
And, you know, it doesn't seem to me that I would have made any 'new' fans by playing all old songs.
This is not just a 'show' or a job to me.
There's a life going on here, folks.
She took 40 long years to come see me and expected me to take it all the way back to day one and let her play catch up.
Where was she for the H&H tour, which was specifically designed to do just that?
I personally emailed her and offered to refund her money.
No reply yet.
She's welcome to it.
Then she can't say she was 'cheated' out of anything but her precious time and there is nothing I can do about that but not take up any more of it.
Can't win 'em all, I guess, and, if you do, something is very wrong.
At least I know she was responding to who I am and what I do now and that's the way it is and will remain. ~
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Posts: 713
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| #40 |
November 20th Swindon Arts Centre
A new venue for me.
The people seemed comfortable.
Sound was good.
I'm really enjoying talking to the audiences more and more these days.
Do I mean I'm enjoying it more and more or talking more and more?
Both.
All I need is someone to listen and I'm away!
Lovely response at the end of the show.
Another strong example that who and what I am today works for some people.
That's all I need to know.
I want to get to the point that when folks see I am touring they think 'Oh, Dennis is playing. That's always a great show!'
You know, when I said I recv'd that negative email about the Wakefield show, in fact, the email came to 'fanmail' and was written about me, not to me.
It was 'I went to see Dennis...' and he did this and he didn't do that.
I guess she thought it would go to some 'management firm', who would promptly and sternly scold me and warn me to put more 'oldies' in the show because I'm losing fans.
No one expects there to be an actual human being at the other end of their keypad bravado.
I can only hope that recv'ing an email back from me sucked the breath from her lungs like her email did mine.
Wow! Three more shows and this tour is over.
Like alot of things it seems like it went quickly, until I think back to August's pre-tour shows.
Then it seems like it's gone on for awhile.
I've begun to plan the setlist for the 'Post Cool' tour (unofficial title).
I have to start getting them to the band members soon.
Probably should have done it already, but with one thing and another...well, I'm closing in on it.
More dates are in.
They should be posted soon, if they aren't already.
To be honest I haven't looked.
Switching off now.
See you tomorrow if you're there. ~
Ok, friends.
Later, from Newport. ~
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Registered: 04/04/07
Posts: 713
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| #41 |
November 21st Newport hotel
Thanks to everyone who sent me lovely, supportive email about the Wakefield show.
I have played alot of shows in the past several years, trying to build an audience for what I do today.
I've come to know those folks pretty well and, yes, I've asked them to stretch with me.
The ones who appreciate that - of which there are plenty and more all the time - are the ones I'll be left with in the end.
I'm not looking for acceptance at any cost and certainly not sacrificing the present and the future for remnants of the past.
I'm also not looking for world domination.
Only for water to seek it's own level.
If it's strictly an 'oldies' show you want, you know where you can get that and let the quality and authenticity be damned.
What I do is still the biggest part of my life.
I work hard to keep it feeling fresh and interesting for myself, in hope that it will also feel that way to others.
There is every indication that I'm on the right path.
I can't keep singing the same song(s) over and over, until some people get around to showing up.
If someone leaves the theatre pissed off because I didn't sing a particular favorite I'm always sorry, but I can't help that.
Truth is, I might even do that very song next time around if I think it works in the show...but not merely for old times sake.
Once again, thank you all for letting me be who I am.
Your support means alot.
As a matter of fact, it's all I have to go on.
Cheers, m'dears! ~
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| | DL13
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Registered: 04/04/07
Posts: 713
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| #42 |
November 21st Newport, Riverfront Theatre
What a nice venue!
A new place by the look of it.
Stage was big and roomy for lots of bounding around.
The sound was really good.
Another absolutely wonderful group of people.
I said it a couple of days ago - I've had some of the best audiences this tour.
Tons of folks at the 'meet and greet' afterwards.
I love that there are people of all different ages at the shows.
From darling Georgia, who at a tender age has already been to a couple of them I'm told, to the two contemporary looking young fellas who I'm sure made me look like part of a new 'boy band' in the photo we took, to pretty Laura who came with her mum but swore she wanted to be there (no 'drag-ee', she) and has been before and will be again. as well as all the young couples and folks a little younger to a little older than I am.
Very cool.
All in all, a lovely evening.
I even included 'Sylvia's Mother', played in silent tribute to the person who sent me 'that' email.
Pity she wasn't there.
Y'know?
Well, we head for home early in the A.M.
We have a few days off and back out for one show, another few off and out for the last one.
Adrian has to miss the next one because of a commitment made long ago, but, our friend Graham, who has been on several tours, including H&H.
Good man.
I'm in capable hands.
But, happily, Adrian is back for the last one...and it's only right.
Damned straight.
Might make some 'day off' entries here if anything of interest comes up.
Until then... ~
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