Helsinki, Finland - Aug 10th 2010
-
- vegetarian deliciousness thankgoodness
Posts by Charley & Hattie.
Stockholm, Sweden - August 8th 2010
The Globe
-
- the Globe
-
- That's Chris our technician. He looks after Roscoe's basses and also our harps and guitar.
-
- it's red!
-
- sound checking
-
- Clive Raphael's drum technician and Mickey, Leonard's guitar technician - Mickey also looks after all of Javier's bandurias and other instruments.
-
- Raphael at his kit
-
- I can't seem to centre this photo better. These guys keep the show rocking from the side of the stage. Russ (at the board on the left) mixes everything that we hear on stage. Without his ears and instincts we could be lost. Dan (at the front) is the technician in charge of all of Dino's instruments (including the electronic sounds that he plays) and he also looks after Neil's Hammond Organ and keyboards. Leif at the back is the technician for Bob's Guitars and amplifiers and that is a huge job as Bob has some fantastic vintage equipment that needs special attention. Brian 'pants' Kirk is only just in the right side of the photo (I'll take another one of him sometime I promise) and Pants rigs the stage so that all of our microphones and monitors are connected each night. He also mans the mix that Javier hears as he plays.
-
- Leonard's monitor and clock so that we keep to time
-
- hats at sound check
-
- Roscoe's bass rig
-
- Karl the Swedish cameraman filming what you then see on the screens
-
- Dan in action
-
- Joey taking some more fabulous photos
-
- 2 minutes till show time
-
- Javier Mas, the King
-
- half time - chance for a drink and whatever needs to be done but the break goes fast and then we have to be ready for Tower of Song
-
- Stockholm flower ball
Oslo, Norway - August 6th 2010
-
- patchwork below
-
- Ed takes in the view
-
- Norway
-
- plane comforts
-
- flight attendant Maria by the cock pit
-
- driving into Oslo
-
- Dinelli
-
- bus chat
-
- view of Oslo from the window
-
- we were on the way to find dinner and got caught in the torrential rain. This is Dan, the chef who (along with the gals from the eat to the beat team) feeds us all each night at the gig.
-
- the nobel peace centre of Oslo
-
- Slaughter/Laughter
-
- Laughter/Slaughter
-
- spreading out in our dressing room
-
- delicious Norwegian chocolates from Mickey, 1 bag for each of us girls.
-
- We three stayed on a 'women's floor' in the hotel - a novel idea, each room designed with inspiration for a woman leading their field in some way way. Charley's room was golf themed (equipped with mini putting green), Hattie's room was a froofy theatre idea. The women's floor even had party toilet paper!
-
- too many throw pillows maybe?
-
- 1 big pile of relaxation - just missing some dogs to cuddle with
-
- leaving Oslo :( Neil makes his way
-
- hey Javi
-
- Stockholm here we come
-
- Hats sewing on the plane
Sligo, Ireland - 31st July, 1st August 2010
We were all really looking forward to being back in Ireland and after the last two visits, we were geared up for the sing alongs and the surging dancing audience. The crowds did not disappoint.
Lissadell House was a stunning and grand place with beautiful vistas over grassy gardens and an expansive, misty beach.
The production team and backline crew did everything they could to keep us warm on stage with the evening breeze a blowin. A few raindrops too. We had heaters and marveled at the stoicism of thousands in front huddled in the rain.
We were all sorry to leave these shores.
(click on some of the pictures to see them better if they’re squashed - we couldn’t get them all to line up)
-
- Our cat working hard back at home
-
- Dino takes in the scenery
-
- lots of grassy humps! extraordinary
-
- Those misty Irish skies
-
- On the bus on route to the gig - everyone wants a window seat to enjoy the sights
-
- nearing Lissadell
-
- hedgerows fly by
-
- kite action on the beach before the gig
-
- the drive way to Lissadell
-
- The house from the approach
-
- Concert crew gather
-
- driving into the backstage Mews (Westlife were here last night)
-
- pulling up in the Mews courtyard
-
- That's Lyssa welcoming us as always
-
- preparations........some of the UHTC crew
-
- the walk to the dressing rooms
-
- Javi checks out the catering banquet
-
- yum
-
- The stands -calm before the storm
-
- soundcheck at Lissadell (note the overcoats)
-
- side of stage shenanegins with Nicolas a Los Angeleno and a visiting 'Director of Photography'
-
- bundle up
-
- the girls clothes before the show
-
- the dressing room (see the antique original sketches in the background?)
-
- a few of the sketches close up
Journey to Sligo, Ireland - July 29th 2010
It’s a plane and a bus ride away to Sligo.
Everyone is pretty quiet on the plane. It’s egg and tuna sandwiches and a few chicken salads for lunch.
Roll on the seaside, we arrive in the afternoon, the crew arrive late evening.
-
- L Making seat sacrifices for the sake of a movie
-
- watching the Irish countryside
Graz, Austria - 28th July 2010
3rd Show and this was the second of two in a row which is tonnes of work for all the crew who travel by bus overnight to the new venue and set up the entire stage without much sleep.
We filmed some pieces for a movie that Lorca Cohen is making so we were all dressed and ready for the gig quite early.
Another amazing audience and everyone was in great spirits. Leaving for Sligo, Ireland tomorrow morning
-
- Half time
-
- What's really going on - feet need a rest
-
- Javi the master
-
- time for a snack in the green room
-
- Neil just before Tower of Song
-
- Neil and Bob discuss.....
-
- Rafa
Salzburg, Austria - 27th July 2010
2nd Gig of this tour. We are all dumb struck by the beauty and history of this City.
We have a drinks gathering tonight and a chance a chat all together. The crew and band travel separately so it’s a chance to talk together and not only about the concert. We have people from all around the world working on this gig and some of the crew have been doing this job for a long time, supporting other bands and their shows. Everyone has families that they are leaving behind to do this.
Some relatives are visiting, it’s great to see the familial similarities!
We went out to experience the sights, sites, sounds, smells and tastes of Salzburg. Here are a few if the pics. A highlight was going into Salzburg Cathedral, through the door of love.
Born in Chains……………….
-
- Statue in the Central Garden, moody weather
-
- 'The Sound of Music' was filmed here
-
- That's Mozarts house on the right, he lived in the upstairs with his family for the second half of his life.
-
- The City is built around the Salzach River
-
- View of the Castle & Cathedral
-
- In the Mozart Museum
-
- Mozart's parents house, where he lived for his early years. He was one of two children that survived to adult out of 7 babies.
-
- The food speciality of Salzburg, Apple Strudel - our Dad's favourite!
-
- gone........... no custard for the vocal chords!
-
- Mozart's first piano - made for him by Anton Watter (About 1780) Pretty astounding to see and take in the weight of music that came through these keys. Hard to imagine that these tremendous works of music are only a couple of hundred years old.
-
- Ready for the show
Zagreb, Croatia - Sunday July 25th 2010
The tour begins again. Another journey together. We have been looking forward to singing Leonard’s beautiful songs and enjoying the music along with all of you.
Here are a few photos from our experience in Zagreb, and the first concert of this new tour.
-
- The Square, in the middle of Zagreb, these cafes fed us all for 3 days while we got over the jet lag .
-
- Zagreb Cathedral (Catholic)
-
- On Kaptol
-
- next to the Cathedral on Kaptol
-
- walking in the intense summer heat
-
- Summer in Zagreb, most locals leave for the coastline
-
- between old Kaptol and Zagreb upper settlement
-
- cafes everywhere
-
- view of the cathedral from the cafe where we stopped for a much needed refreshment
-
- backstage at the arena
-
- 5 minutes till show time
-
- half time
-
- aftermath of show preparations
Nantes, France Monday 6th July
Zenith Arena
Dinner tonight was coconut and sweet potato soup, then ratatoui or seafood tagine and a ridiculous mars bar cheesecake to finish. The backstage was very light and airy and most things went smoothly so everyone seemed happy. The smoothie machine (in the green room) didn’t want to behave though which I experienced after Leonard’s daily protein shake when I made a chocolate energy boost with some Cacao powder and most of it painted the table. Luckily Roscoe’s son Charlie was on hand so he, Lisa and I did some investigating and thought we had fixed it……
Until…….
The next gig when Leonard went to make his smoothie again and the whole things blew up! Happily L’s suit did not get a direct hit.
The day after the Nantes gig we left in the middle of a torrential rain storm and we had all made a run for it to the bus but the rain just became too strong. Several of us took shelter under the awning of a local cafe and some hid in a bus shelter till it was over - we thought it only rained like that in California!
-
- Tonight's set list
-
- Upstairs in Band world - Dressing rooms all along the corridor,+wardrobe, and the Green room.
-
- Our home for the night
-
- Side of stage for sound check
-
- hair up tonight - only just stayed that way after the cartwheel!
-
- Drinks!
-
- Rafael in the green room
-
- interval backstage
-
- Walking on for Tower of Song, the second half begins.
-
- Leonard leaves the building
-
- That's Roscoe and his son Charlie who was visiting from Austin - like twins!
-
- Hat and Sharon post show
