Air conditionning broke down in the club last night. Neither Michel nor I could move a finger without nearly fainting. It’s mainly why I wasn’t so talkative last night during the show, too busy trying to breathe in the heavy smoking dirty air! But we made the show right. That’s the point: never show anything but the show! The walk in the afternoon by the canal and the city center was brilliant, the little light you need in the busy tourbus life.
Today, arriving in Jena around 2, soundcheck and internet work, looking forward dinner, the first real one since Grenoble. Kassablanka is a very punk alternative venue. Do people really live in these old wagons??? Funny for this little neat town Jena is, kinda cute, lots of students. Let’s see if they’ll show up tonight! If you gimme proper food, I’ll be on fire one more time! HUNGRYYYY!!!!!!!
Didn’t write in a long time, didn’t feel like. Back in France for the 1st 3 shows in very good conditions. Lots of driving but such a nice weather, happy about all the performances especially Lyon for Nuits Sonores. Let’s say it wasn’t technically the best one -hard location with feedback not hearing very well what we were doing…- but emotionnaly the strongest. All friends and family showed up, Michel’s sister and brother in law who are so dear to us. She heard us writing our 1st songs in his bedrooom in 96 and her boyfriend does all our videos. 1st time they could see us since our last appearance at Benicassim 8 years ago, and I think it was a shock. They didn’t expect such a big show with lights and Regis’s precious videos. Backstage everybody was a little dizzy from it, including us, it was so hot on stage, sweat in my eyes. We enjoyed the night till sunrise, cooling of with our crew.
We drove to our hometown Grenoble for a day off. Michel was overwhelmed by sleeping in his own bed, while I stayed at my beloved grand parents’. We all went to a classic Brasserie restaurant called “Les Archets”. If you ever go to Grenoble, try the Ravioles and Quenelles, the locals dishes, there’s nothing like it. If you wonder what it is, search on internet!
Next stop: Vienna. Bus parked in front of the canal, summer heat, a walk in the city and a nap before the low tech show. Easy after Lyon!
See you!
Back on the road. Alarm clock 5am flight to Berlin bus to Poznan. We left rain for sun, the sky showing us how warm can be Poland and its people. Nice way to start again. We spent the last 10 days at home recovering from the trouble of the past dates. I didn’t write about it, just needed to forget, pass on. I even asked my friends to talk about something else than work, sorry for no details, unglamorous. Period.
Back in music in lovely Poland. Yes, Poland is lovely, believe it or not. We have a new driver, seems lovely too but you never know. Discovering the beautiful red brick venue, giving a special flavor to the show for sure, especially with the projections on it. The magic of lights. Polish audience so enthousiastic, singin all the songs along, we just had to follow the flow. I enjoyed hugging Jacek yesterday, the only techno Polish star running Recognition label. Such a sweet guy. But we missed his live act, as well as Pier Bucci as we had to leave straight after the show. In the ferry to Denmark under the heavy rain. Goodbye sun. Through the dark windows of the bus, a landscape of weather desolation, grey and green, bridges over a futuristic sea with a romantic scandinavian touch I feel for. Reminds me the trips to Finland as a kid.
Tonight Martinez will DJ, he has a special place in my heart, playing for my Batbox release party in Paris a few years ago, he left a great impression, able to mix a groovy minimal track of his own with an Aphex Twin hit. He invited me back at Vega, same place tonight, for a memorable back to back vodka DJ set! I doubt I can reach this kind of mood tonight, not easy on tour. A show needs so much focus and balance, there’s a time for everything!
