Amsterdam and Brussels

We - well I - drove into Amsterdam and found our accommodation. Such a cute town. So many bikes and pedestrians. They have all the rights of way. Driving the narrow cobblestone streets is tough but its not as anarchic as Paris. Orderly in it's way. More bicycles than I've ever seen, anywhere. Old, cute bicycles that a comic country pastor would ride in a movie. All locked to posts when not needed with huge chains.

The first show was at a blues bar. Not my natural habitat but we made show. The club owner was anxious to keep the noise at a low level due to a new and vexatious upstairs apartment owner (well - slowly owning all the other apartments) who was offended by the music club he was sleeping above. The club has been there for 30 years.
We kept the volume low and entertained a mixed collection of night life people.
The next day was quite stunning, sun and blue skies over the canals and the boats and bikes.
We played in the afternoon in a barbecue ribs and country music spot. Not our natural habitat but we made show for three sets. Some old friends from Melbourne came along. Also some people from the night before.

We then drove through Holland and Belgium to Brussels. A bit alarming to see army trucks and soldiers stationed outside the EU buildings as we drove through the centre.
We met up with Georgio "The Dove" Valentino and went along to the venue where we ate and did a short 45 minute set to a very appreciative crowd of music lovers at Cafe CHAFF.  All these shows were played on borrowed equipment and I had the best amp of the tour on this date. A Fender Deluxe Reverb.
We stayed late at the club watching the other band who were kind of indie prog. Nice but a few too many loop pedal tricks for me, I'd rather hear mistakes than perfect loops.

The next day Georgio took us on a  great, sweeping walk through Brussels. Great to have someone who knows history and culture showing you a place like that. We had taken the hire car back and eventually headed to the train station to go to London.

We had work visas and presented our passports. We were an hour early. The British love uniforms and bureaucracy and we ended up getting the train with one minute to spare. Touring is like that, Clare Moore opined. Lots of dead time then a  sudden hair pin bend with heaps of drama and then you fall asleep.

We reached St Pancras station at 5pm and walked to our accommodation.

Playing two nights May 5th and 6th at the Betsey Trotwood in Farringdon rd London.