Thursday, 2/28/14 – Well, we're in Donostia, right up in
the Basque country on the northern coast, a very beautiful place. We are
literally on the coast, too…the B&B we’re staying in overlooks the ocean,
and although it’s rainy and windy, it’s also gorgeous. It IS damp in our rooms,
though…even the sheets are mildly damp from the humidity, and I’d be lying if I
said it wasn’t slightly uncomfortable. But the location really makes up for
that! I’m betting in the summer this is a spectacular spot. The owners, as
usual in Spain, speak no English, but also as usual we make our way by smiling
and pantomime.
The
venue we played at, Sala Doka, was a very big place, with good lights and an
excellent sound system. The people were really nice and friendly too…our opening
act was a group called The Inductions, who were very good indeed. We talked
(only one of them was fluent in English, but we managed) and had a good
conversation about music, the Basque world and life. I got a couple of their
CDs, which I’ll have to listen to when I get back home…I have nothing to play
them on now.
We
were presented with a cold smorgasbord of food backstage, which infuriated
Johnny and Tanya, who really wanted a hot meal. They left to find something
else in town, which I can understand I guess, but Mike and I were tired and the
food at the club was actually pretty good…essentially cold Tapas…and we both
figured we probably wouldn’t find anything better elsewhere. Looking for a
decent restaurant when you’re in a foreign country with limited time is a real
crapshoot, as we’ve found out before. Plus, it allowed me to eat and have a bit
of a lie-down before the gig, which I badly needed. I’m pretty much over this
horrible cold, but I’m still so weak. This touring stuff ain’t for sissies!
Both
The Inductions and the Helltown Blues Band put in great performances for a
medium-sized crowd…I don’t know how much promo had been done for this gig, but
the place was about half full. Still, you play the same no matter how many
people, and try to rock the house, and I think we did, too. Mike was telling
the crowd “It’s been a while since we played in Spain”, and I got on my mic and
shouted “And we love the Basque Country!!” which got a huge response. We can’t
forget this isn’t quite Spain! These days it seems the Basques are cool with
Spain, but they really like to have their culture acknowledged. And there are a
lot of differences…I’d have to be here longer to really define it, but I can
tell. Beautiful part of the world, and really nice people. One of the things I
regret about touring with a schedule like this is that we can never stay long
enough to really appreciate a place, its people and its culture. But that’s
just how it is.
Tomorrow
is the last gig of the tour!! Seems impossible, but true. It’s been seeming
like an endless string of dates, but now there’s just one more.
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