Here we are in Cambridge for the show this evening, after performing in Stoke, and then Liverpool this week. I must say that the band is ‘alive’ on stage, even more so than last tour, and it feels like we are approaching a new zenith with regards to ‘letting go’ of any pre-conceived ideas of how to approach the new and old material. There are many gentle moments in the set where we break down to near silence, and then moments later it feels as if the stage is going explode from the voracity of the band. I remember questioning whether playing with a full band was going to be as dynamic as doing live shows solo acoustic, for I had gotten use to bringing up and bringing down the volume as much or as less as the moment demanded. This is now a worry not warranted for playing with this collective has proven to be even more in tune with what I am thinking than I am, often taking the performance deeper, darker, more hope filled and powerful than I had previously imagined… and of course I am not speaking only of the band, but of the audience’s attention and energy during and in between the songs. How we present the music live is, for the most part, a reflection of the audience’s desire to be affected… and therefore it is a true collaboration, or at least sure feels that way so far. Thank you to Rob Daiker, Robert Ikiz, Brooke Lizotte, and Bengan Jonasson for being on this journey on stage in the UK and thank you to all who are attending these shows. So far it has been yet another positive step in being back in the midst of the ‘music business’, with a minor emphasis on the word business and a much welcomed focus on the ‘music’. Looking forward to London tomorrow, then Dudley, Glasgow, Newcastle over the weekend and Manchester on Monday. 

The first show we had a quite a challenge in that we blew up the power supply to Brooke’s keyboard and thought we were going to have to perform without our older brother, but Paul Anthony from Rock Radio saved the day and contacted a friend of his name Neil, who happened to own a music store he was willing to open up on a Sunday and sorted us out. Thank you both for being guardian angels this week! 

Monday morning my good friend Darren and his mate Nathan drove me up North to do a live 2 hour radio talk show, where I performed a few songs, but also got to be involved with the ongoing discussion about religion, politics, and other potentially silly things! Thoroughly enjoyed the day with friend and strangers. Got an email to write an opinion piece for the Jewish Telegraph about Elvis Costello’s decision to boycott Israel by canceling his scheduled concert in Tel Aviv… so attempted to tackle that on the bus yesterday.

Upon arrival to the hotel Bengan and I rehearsed a new song which will be a preview of the new album coming out next year, and today we will run it at soundcheck with the band. Rob Daiker was to join us in the hotel room, but the jet lag of flying from Portland to England over the course of 18 hours got the best of him. To see everyone on their laptops at morning breakfast reminds me of how much ‘rock and roll’ has changed, at least in our world… and I am very grateful for that. There are no hangovers to be healed, but rather loved ones to be written and messages to be returned from those who are sending good wishes for the tour. Yesterday I was asked to write an opinion piece on Elvis Costello’s decision to cancel his concert in Israel out of protest to the Israeli governments policies. I’d much rather be doing that in the morning then nursing a hang over any day. Rob Daiker and his girlfriend will be having a baby in December and this friend of mine for over fifteen years has a certain new born calm about him and an intense focus, both in his presence and in his playing on stage. Ikiz… well, the ‘Turkish Warrior’ has been blessing us with even more adventurous drum arrangements off the cuff while Bengan has been cutting loose both on vocals and his bass stylings. Brooke has been putting the icing on all the songs with wonderful piano melodies, string/synth ambiences, great stories on life… and the occassional ‘Oh, Yeah Baby’ spoken during the songs, done in his increasingly famous baritone voice of silk. Barry White look the hell out!!  

Thank you Luke Curner for making sure we are on time, in line, well rested and safe on the road. Thank you Martin Kielty and Rock Radio for putting up these journal writings…. and thank you to everyone that has helped make this return to music such a great adventure. 

My deepest gratitude to Toni Medcalf, Steve Zapp, Dee Bahl, Valerie Potter, and Dan Holt at Grape. More to come! Dan