Hamburg, Berlin, Dead Matt, Hard Candy and the Worst Traffic Jam of my Measly Life

I just finished watching "Hard Candy" on my computer (a thoroughly miserable film; not bad, necessarily, just pretty fuckin' dreary) in the back of Ineke's grandmother's car. We're stuck in the worst traffic jam I've ever been in in my life. Two hours of moving at a snail's pace, with no end in sight.

If traffic freed up right this second, we MIGHT make it to Cafe Stiels by 8:30, but the chances of that happening are next to nil. Why does Germany always have these horrific traffic jams? It's really unbelievable. Actually, why don't we have the sensibility to leave earlier? I always procrastinate and leave with only an hour of leeway, and now we're paying for our procrastination.

At least we have their number, in case we just can't make it, or if we make it only much much later. Who knows? This situation is beyond our control. The benefit of trains: no traffic jams. This is agony.

* * *

Hamburg. Lockengeloet. Thursday night. One of the BEST shows we've had in H'burg EVER. The room was packed, with people out on the sidewalk. Carsten (co-owner of Lockengeloet, along with Dennis) said it was the best show he's seen us do. The crowd was UNBELIEVABLE. They loved us. They showered us with love after every song. We sold two (new) t shirts and all our CDs: both new and old. Met a bunch of fans we haven't seen for ages, including the charming John (who we partied with at the Pudel last yaer). Started off with Jacq: a song I like to do, but Carsten hates. Too bad. Ha.

Stayed at Carsten's new flat. It is bigger than the last. I played his Aha record (I crave a record player at some point in my measly life).

We changed our Swedish and Danish bills into Euros, packed the car and left for Berlin, after one of Carsten and Dennis' scrumptious breakfasts out on the sidewalk and taking a picture of us standing in the "John Lennon Doorway" (where Lennon posed for one of his album covers in the 70's).

AND, as a side note, I have three music-making programs on my computer now; finally. Cubase, GarageBand and Logic. I'm eager to learn the ins and outs and start making music. I'm excited to make some new songs, and see if we can, at some point, salvage "The Newer Album", which is in desperate need of surgery. I think a few songs have to be reworked: Gumball for one... perhaps Chachi... and more.

* * *

Berlin. Weirdest show so far, by far. I've been buggin my friend Matt to come to the shows for ages. Halfway into the show (which was quite quiet, with most of the people sitting in a semi-circle in the front) his friend JP started shouting from the back of the room that Matt was killed. The room went dead quiet. I wasn't sure how to react. I disputed the truth of what he said. "Yeah right". "No, it's true" he said. Xania suddenly turned around and covered her face. She was sobbing. Matt was a good friend of ours. I couldn't believe JP would just announce it in such a callous way. "If this is a joke, say it now, because Xania is crying". I said. A girl left the room, spooked out and shaky.

"No. I'm sorry. It's true" JP said again. Seconds later, Matt's voice was heard "Matt is resurrected!" and he came bounding down to the stage. "You mutherfucker" I shouted, ripped off my shirt and gave him a bear hug.

He apologized later for pulling that stunt. The freaked-out girl ended up leaving and not returning, BUT Matt and gang's presence really upped the energy of the show. It was impossible to get people up and they all seemed quite shy, but with Matt's insane, drunken energy and friends, the place started pumpin' and in the end, we had another great, albeit strange Berlin show.

* * *

We hung out in Berlin for a few days. Filmed more for the music video for "Omigod!", did some interviews, I made Ineke cry by telling her she should go out instead of sitting around on the internet. She seemed unwilling to talk and eventually said "I've been to Berlin before" . I was agitated, so I left and made a vlog about it in the park down the street, then filmed myself talking about art, music, lame jobs and "following your bliss".

We also hung around with the über-fun and well-spoken Stephanie, who also took us to a creepy art space full of spooky rooms, an empty pool and strange lights, where we filmed footage for "Omigod" (the music video). We also spent a day busking at Mauerpark (huge flea market) and I lost my precious bag with my sparkly vest and everything. I also lost my DV tapes with original films of mine on it. That was distressing. I think someone ganked it. I was stupid to leave it a few metres away when we had currywurst and coffees. Damn.

Now we're back to Holland for the last leg of our wee tour. And finally out of the 2 hour-long traffic jam.

Later masturbators.