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1999 - 2005

Stevenson's 2004 European Tour Journal (p.2 of 2)

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Zaragoza, as seen from our tour van.
 10/13: Zaragoza, Spain
Magnet

We are literally 2 blocks from the venue before we get lost for 2 hours! We end up at the right address, but in the wrong town 20 miles away. The whole village of senior citizens and young ruffians come out of their homes to stare at the
space aliens that have landed in their community. It is pretty obvious that we are in the wrong place. Finally, we find the show. The Sixteens set is great. By the time we go on, Hopeless is passed out in front of the stage. The crowd is amused. The Spanish have senses of humor. Some water and a slap in the face gets him going. Good set.
10/14: Rennes, France
Mondo Bizarre

Today was the last of the nightmare drives. Another 12+ hours in the slowest and most uncomfortable van I have ever been in. Also, we almost run out of gas because there are no gas stations in France. Anyway, This is a show with our homies,

The Limbs and Neptune, Rennes, France
Neptune, from Boston. Cool, small bar. Nice show, good crowd, good folks running the place. Afterwards, Dan from Nepture and I decice to start an East Coast / West Coast rivalry. We are going to make a split record. Our side will be called We Used to Fuck Punks like Neptune in Prison, The other side will similarly cast aspersions of the manhood of the limbs. The next day Skot and I get a small tour of Rennes as well try to round everyone up. Very nice town!

Père-Lachaise Cemetary,Très Gothique, No?		 10/15: Paris, France
Glaz Art!

 The problem with Goth clubs is that everyone and their mother is on the guest list. Not to mention all the money for lights, decorations, bats, DJs, etc. 300+ people in the club at 10 bucks a head, and the band still makes
shit. Anyway, its all ok because, they feed us roasted chicken!!!!, as well as salad w/ feta and some excellent spicy mushroom dish. Delicious!!! I can hardly contain my pleasure. Good turnout. Oh, there is this guy wearing cop sunglasses out on the patio looking very bored. He is sitting with a beautiful woman on each arm. He must be the coolest dude in Europe! The next day we stop at Père-Lachaise cemetery and I make my second pilgrimage to Chopin's grave.

10/16: Strasbourg, France
Le Molodoi

Finally I find a cheap place to phone home. Check in with the better half and the folks and all is well. Good show. We do a ridiculous interview afterwards. Hopeless is passed out. Who knows what stupid shit the rest of us said.
10/17: Freiberg, Germany
KTS

We played here last time. Ok show last time. Ok show this time. Last time I hid out in the

Hopeless demonstrastes his psychic
powers somewhere in France.
van and listened to my Walkman most of the night. This time I hid out in the van and listened to my iPod. Funny how times change.


Turbo sets up a mini-Walmart in Stuttgard.

10/18: Stuttgart, Germany
Obw 9

Got to the venue early, which was high in the hills, so we take a long walk and descend into town. Based on the looks of the venue, when we get back, I'm expecting to be greeted by some joyless PC squatter punk types, but instead it's some goofy weirdos,
which puts us right at home. Turbo sets up a mini-Wal-Mart (see picture). I buy some weird, early 80s bootleg Neubauten LPs. Decent show. After, I get on the drums and Sköt and Hopeless grab bass and guitar for a jam session. Some people are dancing, We are having a good time. Mike takes the drums away from me and spoils our fun.

10/19: Bonn, Germany
Bla

Ok show. The next day we stop in Cologne to get a look at the Dom (famous church) Skot buys this amazing postcard with a picture from 1946 showing the church with everything for miles around it completely destroyed.
Dom, Köln, Germany
10/20: Kortrijk, Belgium
The Pits

Holy Cow!, Ramses feeds us steaks!! No, not fucking soy steaks, Real meat!!! Small crowd, but good response and merch sales. Good beer for once. The next day, Ramses 		Ramses in Kortrijk, Belgium forces beer upon up.
feeds us bacon and eggs! Wow! He also insists that we have a couple beers with him in the morning and then insists that we take 30 or so with us. He will not take no for an answer.
10/21: Groningen, Holland
ORKZ

Played here last time. I don't think any of us were really looking forward to playing here again. Maybe that's why Hopeless has been steadily consuming the beers Ramses gave us the whole way. Good dinner. By the time its time to play, there is only a small crowd and Hopeless is completely passed out. He half wakes for a few songs. People are not amused. The rest of us stand up there on stage like a bunch of jackasses playing mostly instrumental versions of our songs. Most people leave. This Dick Lucas look-alike dude takes the mike for a song. Then Skot, Jason and I do a pretty cool noise jam to try to salvage at least part of the set, but nothing can save this shitty night. Never had much luck in Holland. Worst show of tour and, not surprisingly, only show where we sold nothing!

10/22: Kiel, Germany
Alte Meierei

Hey Ladies, either wear a skirt or pants. Don't wear both. It looks really fucking stupid and doesn't really make any sense if you think about it. It's like wearing ear muffs and a hat, ya know? Anyway, we meet Flo, our booker at this show, 'cause it's his hometown and all. Second show with Squartet from Rome. Very nice fellows. Like Jazz? Like funk? Then yous would love some Squartet! Good turnout. Weird crowd. There are these brain damaged crusty punk knuckleheads who take over the front of the audience. I think everyone else was intimidated to dance because of them. Unfortunate, but decent show none-the-less.

10/23: Berlin, Germany
Mad n' Crazy

Back to Little Istanbul. Flo and Andre join us for the ride. We listen to the Flux Information Sciences bootleg for the 20th time. Turbo just can't get enough! The show is at this sort of Gothabilly bar. Kinda cheesy venue, but it's a great final show. Great folks at the club. Great audience. The Vanishing open and it's great to see them play after a long while. Berlin has never let the limbs down! Later that night I go to sleep, but most of the limbs and co. go bar hopping. Mike jumps on top of the bar and starts pole dancing to AC/DC. The entire bar starts cheering. Flo, however, finds it disgusting.

Bonus Berlin Fact: When we were in Berlin in 2002 we played at this squat called Subversiv and this asshole told me that he would make sure the limbs never played in Berlin again (see the 2002 European tour recap for more details). Anyway, the funny thing is that not only did we come back to Berlin and do two awesome shows, but Subversiv doesn't exists anymore. Showed that asshole!

Tour is over. Time to go home. Thank you very much, Europe!!!

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