Poland - the day After (well, now technically two days)

So Poland was a blast. Not getting there, or getting back from there, but the show itself. To explain the journey, well it's simple - Poland is in the process of completely overhauling its highway system to prepare for the European football championship in 2012, as joint hosts with the Ukraine. This meant that the only route to Poznan from Berlin was under heavy construction, was at best one lane going both directions, and at one point was even reduced to one lane, period; given the fact that this was the only available road into Poland in that part of the country, you can well imagine what wonderfully horrendous lines of traffic were created. And going out was even worse.

But the show itself -

We were playing in a smallish venue in the heart of Poznan, the old city center (construction dating back to the 1500s or thereabouts). We got there a bit late due to the traffic, but the only person there was a bartender - the stage was still covered with sofas and tables. Eventually the sound people came, and after some nice Polish beer (always drink the local stuff on tour - you never know what you might be missing), had a productive (if long) sound check and a nice dinner. During the dinner, the person who booked the show admitted that we should not expect a large turnout, as it was a cold, rainy Sunday night. When we got back there was maybe 15 people there, so she told us to have a drink and wait around for some more people to hopefully turn up.

And turn up they did. By the time we took the stage, the vast majority of the seats in the house were filled, including all the seats on the bar. The crowd was very enthusiastic, and we ended up playing quite a few encores. That said, what was most interesting was that in the middle of our set, one of the bartenders approached the stage carrying a tray of shots of Cherry vodka. Honestly, that's unprecedented for me, and as far as I can tell for most folks in the band. And let me tell you, it's a pretty awesome feeling to raise your glasses and have an entire crowd do the same and all shout the traditional Polish toast, "Nostrovia!" This was to be repeated once more during the encores. This meant that by the time we got off the stage, everyone in the band had had 3-4 shots (depending on pre-show drinking) and a couple beers. Needless to say, the drinking continued (Polish vodka with lemon goes down WAY too easily), and by the time we finally headed to the hostel, the entire band was stumbling drunk. Also another first for us. We've definitely all been drunk together before, but not nearly to such an extent.

After enduring the insanity of the Polish traffic once more, we finally made our way to Leipzig. Here we played an all-acoustic set at a small cafe run by a friend of our booking agent. Apparently she likes to showcase bands once a month, and manages to attract a sizable crowd. Last night was no exception, and the little room was packed with about as many people as would fit (I'd say about40). Anyone who knows me knows that I love Emanuel's music, and for the record I think it potentially loses very little when put in an acoustic setting. What it perhaps lacks in intensity, it makes up for in sensitivity, as me and the other non-amplified instruments can actually do things like dynamics, and vary our textures far more. It's a COMPLETELY different sound, but no less effective.

Also notable is that before the show, the booker told us that if any of us wanted to play a solo, this would be a fine opportunity. I made it known that having the chance to perform a movement of Bach in Leipzig, Bach's home town, was a long-time dream of mine, and last night I finally got the chance, playing the prelude to the 3rd suite in C major during our encores. And let me say, the Leipzig folk LOVE their Bach.

Today we have a day off, during which we only have to travel to Berlin, where we'll be staying the night, tomorrow being a second day off. We plan to use a good bit of the time to polish off some songs for a new album we're working on, but also definitely to check out some of the Bach history here in Leipzig before hitting the road. Kind of like a pilgrimage.