Minneapolis council OKs smoking ban - Non-smoking Music Fans will soon breathe easier

Minneapolis council OKs smoking ban

Beta Band play to play Dublin, and I'm there in spirit

(5:13 p.m. Dublin time)

In a few hours time, Beta Band will take the stage in a Bud Rising Music Festival show at the Temple Bar Music Centre in Dublin. Unfortunately, I am back in America now and will not be there. The Beta Band is one of my favorites that I did not have a chance to catch live this year. As a consolation, however, I will be getting live phone reports from the show from a very special friend who promises me a first hand report and will hold her mobile phone up so I can catch a song or two. (Nary a doubt that Howwastheshow.com's reach is world wide!)

Recently, Beta Band performed a live studio session for London's 104.9 FM XFM (www.xfm.co.uk) which is archived in broadband hi-fi right here. Quite a lovely set, I might add. Though an older show, you can also watch a live concert from London's 93 Feet East from September 17th, 2001 archived here.

(7:05 p.m. Dublin time)

Erin rang me from the venue where she just heard the sound check. The Beta Band played all of Assessment and Easy, the 1st and 4th songs from their new LP "Heroes to Zeroes." In a weird twist, she was just hanging out outside with the band, but didn't realize it because she hadn't seen a picture of the lads, who are: vocalist Stephen Mason, drummer Robin Jones and DJ/ sampler John MacClean who all hail from Edinburgh and bassist, Richard Greentree (pictured above.)

(9:39 p.m. Dublin time)
I just got my anticipated phone call, and for the first time was on the other end of a multi-minute transatlantic mobile phone transmission of a live show as the Beta Band played "Assessment." In the past I'd always thought it was odd to see people holding up cell-phones at shows (Jim Froelich had commented on this weird phenomenon to me at one point), but having now received one of these calls I must change my opinion. I definitely picked up a bit of the energy of the show, which was only augmented by Erin's enthusiastic words, "This is awesome, I wish you were here." I really felt "jacked in", to borrow a phrase from Neil Stephenson's Snowcrash.

See Erin's full review on the main site here.

Har Mar Superstar in Shocking Family-Oriented Performance

Har Mar Superstar exhibited a surprisingly family-suitable charm on Monday night in his pre Steve McQueen movie performance at the Music and Movies in Loring Park. Playing with a live band consisting of John "Strawberry" Fields on guitar and Michael Bland on drums, Har Mar opted to close out his set in red gym shorts instead of his normal tight green underpants, and though the lyrics to the songs were the same, his toned down in-between song banter gave them a less risque feel.

Har Mar debuted his upcoming new single DUI (which stands for Dialing Under the Influence) due out in the UK on August 16th (more info here) saying "This next song is going to make a lot of people a lot of money!" a theme he returned to more than once later in his show. From his traditional "give it up for me" he dropped the "because I'm fucking awesome" part for the sake of the children.

Har Mar was the perfect gentlemen Monday night, demonstrating his ability to put on a real ALL-AGES show for anyone doubting this after the second of two appearances at the Minnesota State Fair were cancelled in 2002. A nice touch was women lining up with their ID's in hand to prove they were of age before getting a chance to snog with the flabby, sweaty celebrity.

Last weekend when flying home from Dublin, Starsky & Hutch was the in-flight movie, and I had my first chance to see Har Mar Superstar in his role as Dancin' Rick. In the film, Rick has a dance off against Ben Stiller that must be seen to be believed. Har Mar's role is larger than I thought it would be; although far from a main character, it's still more than a mere cameo. Starsky & Hutch comes out on DVD today (July 20th, 2004.)

Har Mar made his appearance in Minneapolis between shows at the Siren Music Festival in Brooklyn, New York, shows this weekend in England, and a show next month in Los Angeles with The Donna's and Ima Robot.

Here are some pictures I snapped last night at Har Mar's show in Loring Park.


Har Mar and dancer girl


Har Mar climbs on the stage railing to get a better look at the massive audience that has assembled on the grass in Loring Park to witness his performance.


Har Mar ("back stage") after changing into gym shorts jogs back onto stage to the sound of a drum roll from Michael Bland


Har Mar works the crowd.



Photographer Dave Maloney has a number of additional photos from this show in a gallery on Har Mar's site here.

Mayor RT Rybak Stage Dives and Crowd Surfs at First Avenue during Rock for Democracy

You probably will hear it here first folks, unless you were there or someone who was there told you about it.


Making references to the late, short, "funny-looking professor" with the crazy hair who was once our senator, Minneapolis Mayor RT Rybak fires up the crowd of 1,350 at First Avenue. (1,250 paid entrances should have raised a good chunk of dough for the Minnesota DFL). (Click for full size photo)


Rybak made his bid to become the first mayor of Minneapolis to crowd surf at First Avenue. Anyone want to challenge his claim? Aside to RT: Next time, you might want to flip over on your back to protect the, uh, giblets, you know. (Click for larger version)


Meanwhile, over at the Bastille Day celebration in Uptown, there seem to be a good 800 more people watching headliners Quintron and Miss Pussycat. (Click for full size.)


Back at First Avenue Sideways plays their brand of instrumental mod rock featuring Jessy Greene and Gary Louris.


Festivities at First Avenue are interrupted for a mock "press conference" featuring howwastheshow.com writers Shawn Boyd (left) and Nancy Jane Meyer (right)interrogating an ersatz Gee Dubya Bush (center.) When asked about the elusive weapons of mass destruction in Iraq, GW pulled out a plumb and let it swing back and forth before the audience, repeating, "There are weapons of mass destruction. There are weapons of mass destruction" until he hypnotized himself and ran from the stage screaming insanely.


Earlier in the day again back at Bastille Day vocalist Jenn Gori ledThe Bleeding Hickeys in an awesome and inspiring show. $3 PBR's were the perfect beverage to drink while watching this lively act. And Gori made use of an extra long mic cord to jump into the audience and sing to individual members including a couple of 4 year old girls sitting on a blanket who seemed to enjoy the special treatment.


More Bleeding Hickeys. The Bleeding Hickeys music is self-described as "out of the garage, and on to the dance floor punk rock."


Trailer Park Queen is a "Parody Band" at Bastille Day. Their covers of Grand Funk Railroad's "We're an American Band" and Courtney Love's "Doll Parts" were okay with a casual listen, and really funny if you were actually paying attention. Oddly enough at Bastille Day, when the fat lady sang the show was still far from over.

July Street Festival to Commemorate 70th Anniversary of Historic Strike

July Street Festival to Commemorate 70th Anniversary of Historic Strike. One Day in July features The Strike, Brother Ali of Rhymesayers, Clay Moore Trio, Kari Tauring, Heads and Bodies, Paul Metsa, Belles of Skin City, food and beverage vendors and much much more.  Saturday, 7/24/04.  2-10 PM.  6th Ave N. and 3rd St. N, Minneapolis Warehouse District.  Free Admission. All ages. More info at www.1934strike.org.
 
Full press release follows:
 
July Street Festival to Commemorate 70th Anniversary
Of Strikes That Made Minneapolis a Union Town
 
Young Union Activists Aim to Keep
Memory of 1934 Workers’ Sacrifices Alive
 
Minneapolis, MN (June 30, 2004) – Music and memory will combine in a street festival scheduled for Minneapolis’ Warehouse District on Saturday, July 24, to honor  the 70th anniversary of a bloody confrontation that resulted in the death of two strikers and the wounding of  65 more. The festival, called One Day in July, is being organized by young members of Minneapolis labor unions who want to keep the history and significance of the 1934 events alive.
           
“We found that very few people in our generation know about the day in July 1934 when the Minneapolis police opened fire on the striking truck drivers,” said Kieran Knutson, 33, a member of the Communication Workers of America and the lead organizer of One Day in July.  The Minneapolis labor turmoil of 70 years ago is widely regarded by historians as a major turning point in labor organizing during the tumultuous Depression years.
           
One Day in July will take place at the intersection of 3rd Street North and 6th Avenue North, a block south of Washington Avenue in the Warehouse District – the site where police opened fire on unarmed strikers in 1934. The street festival, which will be free and open to the public from 2 to 10 p.m. on July 24, will include food and beverage vendors and feature musical performances.

Performers committed to participate in the festival so far include The Strike, a political punk band from Chicago; Brother Ali featuring BK One from Rhymesayers Entertainment, a Twin Cities hip-hop collective; Sicbay, an alternative rock band; Clay Moore Trio, a jazz group; Kari Tauring, an acoustic folk singer; Heads & Bodies, a post- punk political band; Paul Metsa, folk/blues singer and band; and Belles of Skin City, an art-rock band. Commitments from additional artists are pending and will be announced later.
           
All performers are donating their services as a tribute to the sacrifices of the workers of 1934. 
“We want the character of the event to be popular and powerful, in the spirit of the '34 strikes,” Knutson said. “And, we hope to make this an annual event to keep the history alive and to connect it to the challenges workers face today.”
           
The murderous assault on workers in 1934 was the culmination of a series of three strikes that year organized by Teamsters Local 574. The bloody confrontation on July 20 occurred when the anti-union business organization known as the Citizens Alliance demanded that Police Chief Mike Johannes attack a crowd of unarmed pickets.  After the deaths and injuries inflicted by the police, pro-union sentiments rose decisively in Minneapolis and spread nationwide. Later, a special investigation commission appointed by Governor Floyd B Olson found that “Police took direct aim at the pickets and fired to kill.  Physical safety of the police was at no time endangered...”. The historic events are recorded in detail in William Millikan’s A Union Against Unions: The Minneapolis Citizens Alliance and Its Fight Against Organized Labor, 1903-1947, published by the Minnesota Historical Society Press in 2001.
           
Members of the organizing committee for One Day in July include Kieran Knutson, Communications Workers of America Local 7250; Jason Evans and Holly Krig, United Food and Commercial Workers Local 789; Jim McGuire, Office and Professional Employees Union Local 12; Peter Molenaar, Teamsters Local 970; Kevin McKenzie, Teamster Local 320; and Jeff Pilacinski, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3800. Volunteer first aid is being provided by union nurses.

Funding for the event is being raised through the sale of program book ads. 
           
The organizing committee has established a website: www.1934strike.org.

Rock For Democracy Brings Local Musicians Together for Inaugural Fundraiser Sunday, July 18th

PRESS RELEASE: 
 
Event to Take Place at First Avenue and 7th Street Entry;
All Proceeds will Benefit the Minnesota DFL
  
MINNEAPOLIS – June 30, 2004 – Rock For Democracy, a new organization dedicated to using music to educate voters and raise funds for progressive local and national candidates, will hold its inaugural event Sunday, July 18 at First Avenue and the 7th Street Entry in downtown Minneapolis.  The impressive line up features, members of Golden Smog, the Honeydogs, Ike Reilly Assassination and a number of other artists.  All proceeds from the event will be donated to the Minneosta DFL.  Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 at the door and are valid for both venues.  Doors will open at 7:00 p.m. with music starting at 7:30 p.m.
           
 “We are very excited to hold our first Rock For Democracy event with such an fantastic line-up of artists,” said Ryan Dolan, founding member of Rock For Democracy. “This show is the first of many we have planned in the coming months to support individuals campaigning for office at both the local and national level.  Through additional events in the coming months, we hope to educate voters and encourage people who have not previously participated in politics to get more involved in the extremely important elections this fall, as well as provide financial support to progressive candidates.”

Rock For Democracy’s mission is to educate voters, encourage involvement in the political process and raise money for progressive candidates.  The organization is working with the Kerry Campaign to coordinate their involvement in the event.  In addition, representatives from former Vermont Governor and former presidential candidate Howard Dean are collaborating with the organization to support the show.  America Coming Together will also be present to provide information on voter registration. 

Adam Levy, another founding member of Rock for Democracy and local group the Honeydogs added, “The response from local musicians has been amazing.  Everyone involved knows the stakes are high for the election this year.  I think it is going to be a very exciting event and the cause is extremely important.”

Artists and groups scheduled to perform include members of Golden Smog, Jessy Greene, The Honeydogs, Dana Thompson, The Flops, Iffy, David Poe, Kraig Johnson and the Program, Chan Poling, Sideways, Ike Reilly Assassination, Martin Devaney and Molly Maher. 
 
About Rock For Democracy
 
Founded in the spring of 2004 as a way to influence politics on the local and national level, Rock For Democracy is the brainchild of Ryan Dolan, Adam Levy, Brian Halverson and Craig Grossman.  Its mission is to educate voters, encourage involvement in the political process and raise money for progressive candidates and causes by organizing events that create new ways to bring people of all ages and walks of life into politics by educating and encouraging them to become active in their communities. 

More information can be found at www.rockfordemocracy.org .
 
More....
 
My friend and co-music promoter Craig Grossman of vampmusicsource will be on the Straight Talk network this morning (7/16/04) between 10:30-11:00am to talk about Rock For Democracy. Straight Talk is the local radio affiliate hosting most of the Air America radio network.  You can find it around these parts at both 740AM AND 1530AM on your leftist dial.

The Shins vs. The Darkness in Oxegen Deathmatch - It's a tie!

The Darkness were moved into headline position at this year's Oxegen Festival to replace the ill Mr. Bowie. This put them head to head with the Shins who took the stage about 1/2 hour before on the New Band Stage in a tent just over 100 yards away from the Oxegen Main Stage.

Inside the tent, the Shins played a much re-arranged set from what they had been playing at other european festivals this summer (we'd caught them previously during a torential downpour at Roskilde in Denmark the preceding Saturday.) Lead singer James Mercer played some of the bands' most downtempo songs all in a row, saying "We're trying to get the quiet ones out of the way before the Darkness starts."

A few minutes later, the Darkness was heard revving up behind us and many of us made a mad dash towards the middle of the field. (Sean Hoffman was already stationed there, where he remained for the duration of the Darkness' set.)

The hits went off well, the 2 or 3 the Darkness have, but despite owning their debut album, Permission to Land, their other songs couldn't hold me live. And unfortunately, the naked fan who ran across the stage during their set had done so the night before at their performance at T in the Park in Scotland, and no such bonus was in store for us here. Between Darkness numbers I could hear the Shins back in the tent, and more than once I high-tailed it back to catch some of my favorites from Chutes Too Narrow.

The Shins finally quit just after 10 p.m., leaving the festival with the Darkness as the last remaining band playing. Of course, Oxegen closes the beer tents at 10 p.m. as well and the festival started to wear down.

We said farewell to my wonderful friends Pete and Laura and their entourage and headed for the busses, catching the final Darkness hit, "I Believe in a Thing Called Love" on the way.

After a pleasant journey back to Dublin, we called it a night. Thus ended for me, my 3rd consecutive Oxegen/Witnness Festival, and my 4th straight year of rocking in Europe.

Irish Rain

We've been in Dublin since Friday, and today we finish up the final day of the Oxegen Festival, headlined by Muse and The Darkness this evening.

I'm in an internet cafe on the River Liffey as I write and sad piano music is playing, so forgive me if this entry seems a bit more reflective than usual.

This festival has been much like previous ones, too much like them in many ways. Perhaps after the third year in a row at this one I should break habit and head to T in the Park next year, or even take a break from them all together. As much as I like live music, there's an element of "canned fun" that starts to grate on you after a while.

Yesterday, in reverse order, we saw what I considered to be a rather fine Cure concert which clearly featured a lot of songs from the new album since I did not recognize them and own everything they've ever released for the most part. The oldies moved me the most, I'd saw, "The Primary", "A Forest" and such. They closed out with "Boys Don't Cry" and I took the liberty of being anonymous in a foreign country and bounced around like an idiot with the rest of the punters.

I checked out Vegas's the Killers who started at almost the same time as the Cure. They were one of the bands I definitely came to see. I like what I've heard from their debut album, and I have a copy of it waiting for me at home. The sound seemed a bit off where we were standing, however, and once we moved to find a better spot the strains of the Cure on the Main Stage drew me out of the tent and kept me there. I plan on giving the Killers another chance though. I could see, though not hear, the potential they have.

Jumping back to the beginning, the Scissor Sisters were the first Main Stage act we caught yesterday. Their Elton John influenced disco kept us standing happily in the rain for 40 minutes. It struck me that if Faux Jean had somehow managed to get over to Europe a couple of years ago they would be superstars by now. I'm convinced that what the Scissor Sisters are doing will soon be copied and recopied and like the Darkness is another sign that the 70's is coming back again.

We lay down on the pavement near the ticket stage for a bit and were awakened by more rain in our faces just in time to hear a decent set by the Rapture while sitting under umbrellas and getting our asses soaked. While Sean headed back to the tent with my friends for a spell, I caught a bit of PJ Harvey, Snow Patrol and Electric Six.

It was extremely difficult to figure out what time the bands were actually playing yesterday and where. You almost had to steer by sense of smell. Badges with schedules on them sold out before the music even started for the most part. Though they were only ten euro, I couldn't buy one for 15, and someone even wanted 50 to part with theirs. Screw that. Today I came to the internet cafe with the explicit intention of printing the timeline off the oxegen website, but that is unfortunately down.

Off to more confusion. Then home tomorrow.

London Sun, Music (including the fabulous The Early Year) then Rain

On Tuesday the Early Year rocked our socks at the Barfly in North London

We arrived in London Monday after an uneventful EasyJet flight from Copenhagen. Sean was impressed by the amount of space in the seats, almost like first class. EasyJet is normally pretty good on the service, and cheap on the fares if you book far enough ahead.

Our hotel is cosy and we have our own balcony to sit on and drink Stella Artois and watch the people go by below in Bayswater. This is my 7th trip to London, so nothing too exciting for me to see. The weather was brilliant Monday and Tuesday, sunny and 75 or so, and we took advantage of that by taking a bus tour.

Monday night we went to the Carling Academy to meet up with Anna Lee and Andrew Zincke. Andrew's site, the Smoking Beagle is currently out of commission whilst one of his paws heals from a bizarre accident involving a broken wine bottle, but his tips on the music are still top notch. We caught S. Rock Levinson, whom I'd seen on his recommendation last year, and I found them in even better form than a year ago. They have a new single out. S. Rock was the band I enjoyed most out of the 4-5 band bill, though they all had merit.

Tuesday night, we took in a bit of the Tate Modern and then Sean made a few friends at the Anchor Inn who had been to the Glastonbury Festival (same weekend we were at Roskilde.) They gave us a tip on good music at the Barfly so that's where we went Tuesday, despite the fact that my ears felt like they needed a rest. I was glad I went though since I saw the best band I'd seen since Graham Coxon at Roskilde. The top billed band at the Barfly, a cool club with great acoustics in Chalk Farm, North London, was called The Early Year. Their sound was less derivative than many of the other bands we've seen in bars here, many sounding like a mix of the Clash, The Buzzcocks and Joy Division, not that there's anything wrong with that. The Early Year have their own sound, their vocalist distinct in the way that Guy Garvey of Elbow also is. They combined samples, guitar, keyboards and a top notch rhythm section that really got me going. One song with a repeated refrain of "I wanna hold you" made me drift off for a while and miss my sweetie. The lead singer Jim Scully kind of reminded me of Dan Lichty of Shadow Box and I envisioned a dream bill at the Barfly which had Shadow Box open, Friends Like These in the Middle, and the Early Year headlining. We'll have to see what we can do about setting up a "band swap" so we can put together bills like that. Sean and I both bought copies of the Early Year's new 7 inch vinyl and had them signed by the band.

Today has been a shopping and business day. I mailed home some shoes and a bunch of crap and it cost me nearly $100 for a 9 lb box. Christ. But freed up of some stuff I was free to buy more.

Sean is out running around in the rain somewhere and we will rendevous at the hotel shortly to figure out the plan for the evening. In the morning, we're off to Wales to visit a friend of mine before heading to the final festival, the Oxegen festival in Dublin on Friday.

Roskilde is Mudkilde - Iggy Rocks, Morrisey falls a bit flat

I forgot to mention it had rained a bit Thursday and Friday here, and also it has been unseasonably cool. Friday at the Festival was a bit damp, but nothing like Saturday. Veritable downpours on the way to the festival and after we arrived turned parts of the festival grounds into swampland. I'm not one to complain about a bit of mud, but really, it is so bad we have decided to opt out today and let our shoes dry. But here's a recap of yesterday.

We did some laundry in the afternoon, and I got a haircut. It started to rain around 2 p.m. and a search for rubber boots that we thought might come in handy proved fruitless. Apparently Copenhagen is nearly sold out due to the demands placed on it by 75,000 festival mudhoppers.

We caught a bit of Kings of Leon before heading to the Shins show. The Shins told the crowd they were from New Mexico and that that was "a long ass way from here." I was thinking I would be able to say how nice it was to see the Shins in something less than a shoulder to shoulder First Avenue, but it started to rain again about 5 songs into their set and things got ugly. Rain poured off the edge of the tent where we were standing and it was like taking a shower. Then some idiot young people started pushing, literally, trying to shove their friends deeper into the crowd. Real smart thing to do less than 200 yards from where 9 Germans lost their lives from the exact same thing just a few years ago. Before we left though, we were treated to a really nice slow version of "New Slang."

Iggy and the Stooges were on the main (Orange) stage and put on a forbidable show. In Sean Hoffman's words, "They've still got it." Iggy's pants slid down to reveal his 57 year old butt crack at times, but he is still the king of cool. A highlight for me was my favorite Stooges song 1969. They played I Wanna Be Your Dog twice, once during the set, and once during the encore. It poured during the middle of the set and we shared our umbrella, but this did nothing to dampen the show.

We managed to stay late enough to catch a bit of Morrissey. He started at midnight, but I knew we'd kick ourselves if we missed him. Problem was it was again very crowded at the Arena stage, though not so bad as at NERD the day before. Morrissey's show featured a cool 15 foor tall light show bearing his name, but his set proved self-indulgent and featured so many slow ballads I felt like I was in England. The crowd started to trickle out a bit to head to Fatboy Slim on the Orange Stage. Morrissey played a few Smiths songs including "There is a Light...". We could not wait to get to my new favorite, "America is Not The World" and we headed out around 1 a.m. taking the bus back to Copenhagen.

Roskilde Nude Race today - Martin Dosh and N*E*R*D (with backing band Spymob) play Roskilde

The Roskilde Festival's traditional nude race is today. Unfortunately, though I thought Sean would be a formidable contestest, we are not going to make it out in time for the event. Read about it here. I saw footage of last year's on tv, complete with full frontal and quite casual nudity. Last year's nude race, however, was all male and not too exciting.

We had our first day out at the festival yesterday. It was a real dissapointment and a bit of a problem that Bowie had been dropped from the roster. We caught nearly the entirely of a full set by former Blur member Graham Coxen at the Odeon Stage. I will definitely be buying his album. Best show I've seen so far on this trip.

Slipknot, Bowie's "replacement" put on a decent show to a crowd of probably 40,000 on the main stage. I admire their intelligence and stage presence, but the music does not do a lot for me. It was, however, one of the loudest things I've heard in a while. Apparently Slipknot (so strange to think they are from in and around Des Moines Iowa)had to play two shows yesterday, one in Denmark and one in Germany, but their energy was outstanding. They seemed as thrilled to be here as the fans did to receive them.

Around 6 o'clock we headed over to the Arena Stage where I'd seen Massive Attack last year to see N*E*R*D. As you may know, N*E*R*D's backing band is none other than local Minneapolis musicians Spymob. Unfortunately we were unable to locate Brent or any of the guys before or after the show to say hey. Part of the reason was that N*E*R*D is phenomenally popular here and nearly 5,000 people had crowded into and around the tent which probably safely accomodates around 2,000. We were near the edge of the tent before they started, and by 5 minutes into the show the crowd had swelled around and behind us to scarely safe levels. (Crowd Safety people had even come on before the show to remind people not to push.) When N*E*R*D's lead singer said, "Okay, everyone, on the count of 5 it's time to JUMP," we knew that meant it was really time to get out of that crowd. It took almost 10 minutes to get to the back of it and boy was I glad to get out.

Our evening treat was seeing the Pixies again. A much larger crowd than at the Hurricane Festival, and the Pixies rose to the occasion. Best show of the 3 times I've seen them this year. Except for once when Kim Deal said "Danke Viel" the show was without commentary from the band. The beauty of this show was that it was sunset at about 10:30 at night, and that's my favorite time in Denmark. The sun starts to set and it just sets and sets and sets in a kind of near permanent twilight.

When we got back to our hotel we freshened up a bit then hit the town again. By the time we left the bars at 3:30 the sun was already coming up. I am glad I brought a sleep mask along with me to keep the sun out of my eyes as two hours of darkness is not quite enough for a good night's rest.

Today, right now, Martin Dosh (Fog, Dosh) from Minneapolis whom I have previously seen at the 7th Street Entry is playing at Roskilde on a small stage. I wished we could have gotten out there to see him as he is our other connection other than N*E*R*D. We could have worked it in if we'd known he was here, but we didn't until we saw him on the schedule yesterday. I need to get myself on that guy's newsletter so that doesn't happen again. Would have been an awesome review for howwastheshow.

Time to head back out shortly to catch Mr. Morrisey, whom I am very much looking forward to seeing. Saw him in Milwaukee in 1987, but that seems like a very long time ago.

More Coincidences - We arrive in Copenhagen

Sean asked me to remember something I said the other day, and to the best of my knowledge it was something to the effect of "The thing about coincidences is, if they don't happen, you don't remember them!" I am gifted with the ability to spout forth profundities of that sort when drinking.

Which brings me to another story. After 3 days in Berlin, we apparently felt confident enough getting around that we were mistaken for a local by a gentlemen emerging from a u-bahn stop. He asked in German where a certain street was, I answered in German and we tried to help him since he was clearly lost. He apologized for his poor German, saying he was French. We said we were Americans, which lead to him saying he was living in America actually. And where? St. Paul, Minnesota of all places, where he teaches French at the U.

Anyway, after a pleasant train and ferry ride we are now in Copenhagen. Sean's napping at the Hotel, resting up perhaps because we're not in Germany anymore and he has to learn a new language again. Actually, everyone speaks English well in Denmark anyway, so all we have to do is remember how to speak that language and we will be fine.

It's rainy tonight so we will head out to the festival tomorrow morning.