Europe Day 5

Where to begin, where to begin?

I'm writing this from the lobby of our hotel in Oslo, Norway, the somewhat vexingly titled Hotel First. David Gray has been on repeat on the lobby stereo since I walked in the door, which is eliciting a combination of nostalgia and annoyance. We arrived here a couple of hours ago after a leisurely 4 hour drive into the Western-most Scandinavian country, and have some time off before an incredibly late 8 pm load-in at the venue. Blog time!

First, however, a caveat: Please forgive the torrent of superlatives I've been spewing in these posts. I'm just so damn happy to be here!

Yesterday was as wonderful. Upon our arrival in Gothenburg, Johan drove us directly to the downtown hotel where we had our new copies of 88 Keys and Counting shipped. This was the first time Grieves or I had seen the Rhymesayers packaging and, while it's tough to feel overwhelming excitement over a project that is, at this point, over a year and a half old, the site of the RSE logo on our little record. I grew up listening to and idolizing the music and culture behind the Rhymesayers movement, and to have their support and endorsement is...amazing. 

After picking up the CDs, we continued into the heart of the city, finding a parking spot directly across the street from the venue. After a quick (and rather disappointing) journey into a Swedish thrift store, we walked across the square and sat down for falafel lunch. Not great food, but certainly not the worst fast food I've ever had. 

We wandered around the square for a bit, slowly making our way back to the venue. A two-floored affair, the club housed a coffee shop/cafe on the ground floor, with a set of stairs revealing a purpose-built space with room for about 300 people. Most of the venues we're playing have been around the same size, but all varying significantly in layout and atmosphere. While last night's sound left something to be desired, it was, by far, the coolest space we've played in thus far. 

After about 45 minutes of....nothing, the sound tech explained that we would have to postpone soundcheck until later. Great. 

Grieves and I ventured backstage and waited while a local film crew prepared to interview us...in the kitchen. The journalists were incredibly well informed, and I was shocked/flattered to learn that they had both heard AND liked my solo album! There were two interviewers on hand, one of whom reminded me of a character out of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. He had come prepared with handmade clay figurines of Brother Ali and BK-One...though had sadly run out of time before he was able to construct a likeness of Grieves or myself. 

Halfway through the interview, our dear friend Embee (of Looptroop Rockers fame) poked his head into the door. We hadn't seen him since December, and it was really wonderful to get a chance to catch up. We still had an hour or so left before soundcheck #2, and Embee took the oppotunity to drive us across town for a whirlwind tour of his studio space. Svenska Grammofon Studion was, without question, the most amazing recording space I've ever seen. The studio is home to a number of esteemed producers, engineers, and musicians, including Jose Gonzales, and the gentleman responsible for the sonic monster that is The Knife. A hulking complex of room after room after room of vintage Neve boards, obscure keyboards, and instruments instruments instruments, it managed to avoid any semblance of pretense while still embodying everything that a top-tier studio space should. While each room revealed a new treasure of sorts, I think that the lofted drum isolation booth, hovering 10 meters or so above the main tracking room, was the most impressive piece.

Embee took us into his personal room, and we had the chance to hear a couple of new Looptroop demos that they're working on for the next record. Amazing shit.

Back across town we went! Having now traversed downtown Gothenberg 4 times in under 2 hours, I started to get my bearings...at least I convinced myself I did. It's a pretty small city, filled with historic landmarks, so it's certainly not the most challenging place to navigate.

The show itself went really well with, yet again, another incredibly warm and gracious reception from an audience that had never heard our music before. It's exciting and scary to p[lay in front of a sold-out crowd of folks that don't know who you are, but each of the past 3 nights has proven that we must be doing something right?

Ali destroyed the stage with a level of energy and passion that is really, truly rare among performers that are on his level. He's truly a legend. He brought Grieves up for an encore song, a special moment to witness.

Halfway through Ali's show Embee led me downstairs to meet a local Prog rock legend:

After the show, Johan graciously drove Grieves, Embee, and myself back to Embee's place on the edge of the downtown area. We bid Johan a bittersweet goodbye, and retired to Embee's place for some Pocky, wine, and an oh-so-short night of sleep.

After some brief daytime exploration of downtown Gothenburg, Grieves and I jumped in the van with Ali, BK, and co and embarked on the drive that landed us...right here.

As a short aside, I took a long jog along Oslo's waterfront today during sunset. This place is absolutely beautiful...perhaps one of the prettiest places I've ever seen.

Now, off to hunt down some dinner, soundcheck, and more rap music!