Road Journal - Michael Katon Tour - 2/8/14

 Saturday, 2/8/14 – The road tires me out and runs me over itself, but I kind of like it, too. Living on hotel tea and bad (sometimes REALLY bad) takeaway, there’s a similarity to the days that can be hypnotic. Is it Monday or Thursday? Hard to tell. Few real choices to make, our route is planned by the Tour Manager and we just jump in the bus when she says…it’s a bit like I’d imagine the Army being, except without the guns. And yet I’m always curious about where we’ll be next – Wales? Well, what’s that like, then? Apparently, really really beautiful hilly countryside, liberally covered with sheep, and towns and cities with unpronounceable names that seem a combination of lovely old architecture and contemporary urban blight. But there’s always something new, new country, new venue, new people, and it’s interesting. Last night a biker bar in Wales, tomorrow a ferry ride in a possible hurricane, and tonight…hey, all I know is it’s somewhere in Wales.

  

Riding through the middle of Wales…it’s beautiful, terrifying, mountainous terrain, really another country from anywhere I’ve been before. Driving through part of the British Super Storm, a hurricane-like system that’s biting it’s way through the UK, and I’m wondering if this was such a good idea. Tanya is driving very well, but also pretty fast, and sometimes I think she’s over-confident. Lots of hairpin turns and very few guardrails – and plenty of sheer drops down, way down, to the swollen rivers. The country is so flooded, it’s incredible. And yet the countryside is so beautiful and the villages are so picturesque, even in this crazy rain. We stopped at a B&B for lunch, at a very nice place, but the power kept going out, and then back on, and then out again. Poor woman couldn’t even open her cash register!! Couldn’t even make change. We gave her a little bit over to help her out, which she appreciated – still, kinda crazy. She said this kind of thing never happened usually, it must be the storm.

This is a very long drive! Apparently we're going from the south of Wales all the way to the northmost point, or close to it, in Colwyn Bay. And we're on a two-lane highway which is not fast going even with Tanya's expertise. Hopefully we'll be there in time for the show!

Road Journal - Michael Katon Tour - 2/6/14

Down the street from Colin's in Stoke-Albany. I was feeling a little better, so I managed a stumble down the block and took a few photos. Beautiful place.

 

Thursday, 2/6/14 – Well, I’ve been sick since Sunday, really. Sick is pretty uninteresting, so I’ll leave that out, except to way I’m very glad we had a couple of days off for me to get over it, and we had the hospitality of our friends the Watts’, who put us up again. They’re such nice people and they made it so very much easier.

Resting up from this virus the other night when I heard an awful, amazing racket! Went downstairs (this was around 2 in the morning) to find Tanya, Bee and Colin Watts all playing his collection of Claxtons and Car Horns, marching around the kitchen and laughing hysterically!! I have no idea what brought that on, except maybe a little red wine and the punch-drunk goofiness that happens in the middle of tours. Somebody passed me a horn, so I joined in the orchestra for a while and had a half-glass of Cabernet, then went back to bed. Somewhere there is a photographic record, but I’m pretty sure it will never be seen. Just a silly moment.

I was much better, if not 100%, when we played The Talking Heads in South Hampton. At first the place didn’t look like much from the outside, or even seem that it was a working business, but once inside it was fine and the people, the owners, and the opening acts were all very nice. Dinner was a “buy-out”…they gave us some money and pointed us at the only restaurant around, a Chinese take-out that served me some completely inedible meal…probably the worst I’ve ever had, and that’s saying something! I mean, I’m not Anthony Bourdain, but I do know chicken should be cooked all the way through. And that bright orange stuff on it was really hideous in every possible way. Wow. My playing was all right but my head was spinning from an antihistamine – I made it through, though.

The tourbus' equipment section. Not completely packed yet...more gear to come...but you get the idea.

 Dream # 1 – Sort of a Harry Potteresque dream. These young people were finding strange powers through these ancient stone masks. You could layer the masks up to do different things…travel through time & space, fly, etc. – kind of cool.

Dream #2 – I had some kind of cooking show (maybe because of the bad chicken) and I was talking about food. At the same time, I was getting my new studio together, which was very nice, large and airy. I had some professional helping me, a small Puerto Rican guy who was assisting me in getting everything organized. I remember being so pleased at having staff! A good dream.

Road Journal - Michael Katon Tour -

Michael Katon, midsolo.

Saturday, 2/1/14 – A couple of days, 2 gigs, 1 night of strange dreams. Thursday was the Beaverwood Hall in Chislehurst – a soccer team’s hall that has frequent Rock shows. Dressing room next to the stinky toilets, very cold and gnarly. Good folks working there though, some sandwiches and an ale (or in Johnny’s case a glass of wine, and of course a soda for Mike) took off the edge and cheered us up. A small turnout but a happy crowd – the opening band was the Dave Jackson Trio, a real nice bunch of people and a cool band. And Mike is sounding great!! One of the great things about touring with him is just getting to watch him play, and he’s really kicking it out this time around, too. His solos are amazing, especially some of his slide work. I don’t know how to convey how much fun it is to back him up when he’s rockin’ out.

Dave Jackson Trio.

 Next gig was down the road  in Sutton at the Boom Boom Room (love the name), another soccer hall, with the same support act – booked by the same promoter, surprise! A bigger room, better PA, nicer dressing room and much larger audience. I was extrapolating on the bass lines in the tunes, playing more melodic licks in the more static numbers, developing ideas to make them more exciting in the low end. And nobody yelled at me, so I guess I’m doing all right. Plus, Mike’s been giving Johnny a solo in “Rip It Hard”, and the other night after the drum solo he gave me the nod to take one…so that’s been in the show, too. I had to wing it at first, just because that’s the Michael Katon onstage way, but by now I’ve got a better idea of what I’ll do with it…where I can take it to…not that it’s ever gonna be the same every night by any means. But I’ll tell yah, following a Johnny Bee drum solo ain’t easy!! He’s really been tearing it up, and he’s so musical and high-energy…it’s a treat just listening to him go. They're not just solos, they're like complete percussion compositions, spontaneously done. Pretty remarkable stuff! I have to take the vibe WAY down at first when I start out, just to give some contrast and let the song breathe a little. I get busy later, and it seems to work, people get rowdy and clap along and shout so I must be doing something right…but man, following Bee…it’s good for my character, that’s for sure. 

Mr. Badanjek on the groove.

 

Another IM session with Cynthia after the show. Even with the Skype unavailable and me typing on this teeny keyboard that makes it hard to do apostrophes or capitalize anything (my replies look like I’m Archy from Archy & Mehitabel) it’s a huge comfort to be able to talk (or write) with her. It’s still freezing subzero cold there and she’s cutting her way through chest-high snowdrifts…I feel guilty I’m not there to help her out. She’s doing all the hard work and I’m just being a Rock & Roll Bum.

Dream # 1 – I’m at a bookstore, and I find a series of comics with beautiful illustrations. There’s no dialog, just pictures – but they’re so amazing that I’m actually transported into the drawn scenes, and then back when I close the book. I’m thinking, “That’s pretty cool”. Then I go into a record store and see the same comics on a rack. I also see David Bowie, who’s standing there, so I walk over and introduce myself. He’s really nice and friendly, and we’re talking about his work and the fact that he seems to listen to everything, that his music seems informed by all the other music that’s cool and happening at the time. I’m saying, “How do you ever have the time” – and then our eyes meet in instant amused understanding – “Or do you have some researchers who listen for you?” He’s laughing and nodding, and I’m telling him that that’s gotta be a cool job, and that he should hire me, too. Then I wake up. A good dream.

Road Journal - Michael Katon Tour - 1/30/14

The MAN, Michael Katon, in his customary Shotgun traveling spot.

 Thursday, 1/30/14 – Riding through the wet and fog (well, it IS England in winter) towards Chiselhurst to The Beaverwood!! Really, I couldn’t make up these names. It’s a British thing. Tanya, our intrepid Tour Manager, is as usual doing a fantastic job getting us through all this. She’s ultra-competent and a lot of fun to travel with, we’re really fortunate to have someone like her.

Tanya attempts a little-known German driving technique.

 

A good gig at the Robin 2 in Wolverhampton (there you go again, UK!), a large venue where we were treated very well (although, as with all other UK gigs so far, no load-in assistants). Interesting…over 10 years ago I played at the original Robin. I noticed on a poster there back then that the next week, Jack Bruce would be playing. Of course, I was impressed! I mean, you know, Jack Bruce. Flash forward to now, at the Robin 2, and I’m looking at the posters, and I see playing next week…Jack Bruce!! Coincidence? I think not. I think Jack must be stalking us.

I try, every time I’m on a tour like this, to develop a part of my playing that I want to further, to improve the music and keep things exciting and fresh. One thing I was working on before we went out was my pickstyle playing…I played for years with a pick early on, but haven’t done it as much recently. And much of Mike’s music lends itself to that technique…he writes and records all his bass parts that way, so it’s part of the sound. And it’s appropriate for this aggressive style, both in tone and also for playing certain idiosyncratic rhythms; things just fall better playing that way. I’ll ditch the pick for the more Bluesy numbers or when I’m channeling (ahem) Jack Bruce, but I’m using one for a majority of the songs. 

 I think this is the Robin 2. Hard to tell from this shot!!

Johnny Bee has finally got some food to his specs, so he was pretty happy. Bee is a sweet guy, crazy as a loon in the best possible way, a fantastic drummer with a wealth of stories from his extensive and impressive life as a Rock musician (I mean, just his recording credits alone – Alice Cooper, Edgar Winter, Mitch Ryder & The Detroit Wheels, Dr. John, The Rockets, Montrose, Nils Lofgren…and that’s just for starters…) but he’s very sensitive about his dietary needs! He has some very pronounced opinions on what he wants in the way of food, and he’s worried about keeping healthy if he can’t get some rather specialized items. I can understand, it’s difficult eating right on the road, but I tend to just try to make the best choices from what’s available. I know Bee is used to a more high-end touring lifestyle though, and he’s a little older than us (though not by much!) and I’m a little worried about whether he’ll be OK on  this rather rugged trip. I guess he's seen lots worse though! We’ve all been challenged with sleep-deprivation and, indeed, with some occasionally inedible meals. So far, so good, though…we’re holding steady. And having some fun doing it, too!! Really, I think it's gonna be all right.

Road Journal - Michael Katon Tour - 1/29/14

Groovin' at the 100 Club, London England.

Wednesday, 1/29/14 – Played last night in London at the famous 100 Club!! This joint has been in business since the mid-40s, and has hosted everyone from Louis Armstrong and Billie Holiday to The Sex Pistols and The Clash, as well as lowlifes like Motorhead, The Who and Paul McCartney. Amidst others way too numerous to mention. A heck of a stage to play on!!

We had two opening acts working with us – Rev. Farriday & The Longdogs, a Guitar/Harp/Drums trio with slide guitar and a cool rootsy sound; and Vdelli, an Australian rock trio, also very energetic and good. We played well, aside from a few glitches – probably only known to us – and got a good response from the crowd. This thing has tightened up tremendously in just a few gigs, and it’s turned into a powerful show. Really fun to play with Johnny Bee now, we seem to have achieved that intuitive rapport that’s so essential, and he’s just a drummer of such high caliber, as well as being a great guy and a lot of fun. And Mike…I’ve played with him a lot over the years, but he’s just extraordinary right now. Really playing at a whole other level, and obviously having a good time doing it!

 And I’m having a blast playing too…I know where I can stretch out and show off and where I can lock in the pocket (sometimes both at once!), and helping to drive this band is a gas. I’m pretty jazzed with the night…and being up on that historic stage was both a privilege and a huge charge. This is really what it’s all about for me…playing with a great band, immersed in the music, in the groove, in an amazing venue with an audience that’s totally with you on the ride. Some really delightful folks in both the supporting bands and in the crowd, everybody seemed to be having a great time, and I was as well!! Met some interesting characters backstage, too…strange, there always seems to be at least one very self-important promoter in the dressing rooms being unintentionally hilarious, and this place was no exception! Ahahahahah. Spinal Tap’s character Sir Eaton-Hogg was not so far off the mark at all, at all.

Slept really well after the show! Sounds uninteresting, I know, but man I needed it.  

Road Journal - Michael Katon Tour - 1/27/14

Pre-tour rehearsal.

Monday, 1/27/14 – We wound up stopping and relaxing for a few hours in Stoke-Albany at our friend Colin Watts’ house (who treated us, by the way, like royalty), then drove to lovely Oxford, where we loaded-in up many a flight of fire escape stairs to the second floor of the Jericho Tavern. Our “Two Strong & Sober Men” who were specified in our contract’s rider never materialized, although one of the sound people did help us out coming in. I’m glad for many reasons that I talked Mike out of renting the refrigerator-sized (and weighted) Ampeg SVT, and into the somewhat lighter and more portable GK amp. Actually a more powerful unit, and with one 4X10 and one 15 cabinet, and a LOT easier to move! Sounds great, too.  We only took up one cab for this show…there’s a bunch of stairs, and it’s a small club. Still PLENTY loud! 

This gig is the retirement hobby of famous music promoter Phil Guy-Davis, a bit of Rock history himself and a charming geezer. There wasn’t much of a turnout, though (well, cold rainy Monday and all that), and although our set was good I felt that I was just banging out the riffs on some of the songs. Perhaps it was the dreary weather that was affecting my mood. I’m still working up variations on some of the material, trying to find things I can do to open up the tunes and build the dynamics. There were some really good moments – Mike’s solo on “Red Moon Rising” was kick-ass, and several of his slide guitar numbers were too. Load-out down the slippery fire escape in the rain, helped by a friendly Rock musician from the audience. A somewhat dispiriting gig – but interesting.

Trying out SX basses in Dutch music store. This one went with us on tour...not a bad little bass at all!

 

Talking to Cyn tonight via the Interwebz…well, actually Instant Messaging, since the wi-fi signal at the hotel is not strong…good just to be able to connect and have a conversation with her! But I find that the bad weather I left behind stayed around…it’s still around 14 below zero!! With more snow predicted, too. I really thought that we were done, Michigan usually only has like a week of really cold weather and we’d had that, when I left it had gone back up to 30 or something. Jeez. Here it’s just rain, rain, and more rain…a lot of flooding in the SW of England, some pretty devastating weather for folks there. But no 5-foot snowdrifts!!

Road Journal - Michael Katon Tour - 1/24/14

Saturday, 1/24/14 – Last night was our first gig in England – actually our first gig anywhere with this ensemble, the Katon/Badanjek/Perkins collective. Or as it has been billed, “Michael Katon & The Helltown Blues Band”. Our first show, in Newcastle, was interesting! It was held at the “Ex-Serviceman’s Centre”, essentially a British VFW. Our host Les Routledge was a genial, happy guy, dark-haired and built in that solid, blocky way that seems to be a standard physique in Northern England for men. His “Newcastle Blues & Rock Club” is a very recent venture – I think we were the second show. The hall was nice, with a large stage, a standing area before it and tables and chairs surrounding, with a large bar off to one side.

We were exhausted of course. Got there, set up and ate a few snacks, and left the two support bands to do their soundchecks. A couple of hours to try to rest (remember, we’d been essentially up since Wednesday and it was Friday night), clean up, eat dinner, and onstage we go – Mike had indeed constructed a set list, and even followed it, mostly. We were pretty loose (to us), even raggedy in parts, but then consider our condition and the fact that we’d had but two rehearsals together, most of which was Mike and Johnny telling stories, and given that, we played pretty damn well! Johnny especially was completely fried from lack of rest, but he rose to the occasion, supporting Mike’s tunes with his strong Rock chops and metronomic precision. Really an amazing drummer! We’re still working on grooving together, but it isn’t too hard, all that’s coming along, it’s our first show. Mikes starting the tour in better shape, physically and mentally, than I’ve ever seen him. I think that once he really warms up, he’ll be absolutely astounding.

Newcastle, 3rd encore, jamming with artists from the support band. They were great, but I can't remember their names!! Somebody help me out on this.

And folks in Newcastle sure seemed to dig us! Had a great crowd, very fun-loving and supportive, really nice Blues-loving people. Got called back for encores, and a few jams with members of the supporting bands, until the venue had to shut us down. A good night, although we’re glad to be done and back to our rooms.

I woke up, feeling great, only to discover that it was noon! I guess I needed the sleep. Ah well, back to the bus, a granola bar for breakfast but that’s OK. More soon.