Gig Story - My weekend in Germany....should've been uneventful...

[dj150888]

So, what should've been a very easy trip went wrong from the start....

Awake at 9am with a blistering hangover from a night of overindulgence on pints and shot-ladders in the Eglantine, I get everything packed to leave for Dublin. Feeling a little worse for wear, I make it to the depot, hop on a simple bus to Dublin airport. On the bus journey, the hangover lifts a little, the mood starts to get better.....until I get off at Dublin Airport, realise I've forgotten my passport (pulled a Corey to those in the know) and have to book another flight for the next morning....at 6.45am.

I returned not-so-victoriously to Belfast, deep in my shame, regretting that I'd be missing out on the craic the others would inevitably be having at this stage (more on this later) had time to eat, get my passport and watch TV for an hour or two, still feeling pretty stupid before returning to Dublin on the (More expensive) nightcoach at 2am. Arrived in the airport around 4am, checked in and killed time in the airport until the flight, all pretty uneventfully.

Got an hours kip on the plane, feeling very dishevelled and tired at this stage. Got off the plane, collected my baggage and headed to the subway to get a simple train to meet the rest of the crew. Again, disaster struck, instead of getting off at Frankfurt Main HBF, I got off at Frankfurt Main Stadion. I was stuck there for a little while.

So there I was, experiencing my first taste of Germany. The place I was stuck was absolutely desolate, there wasn't anything that didn't look run down within sight. Hours of travel and sitting alone had left me feeling a bit low and quite lonely. I usually don't mind being on my own, but in a place I didn't know with a language I couldn't speak and without anyone I knew there, I couldn't help but feel isolated.

Finally managed to get a train BACK to the airport and get on the right train. Got to Wurzburg after a brief, unpleasant encounter. I grabbed some food at Wurzburg station, had my first of many beers (1.20euro a bottle....I'd be mad not to) and met up with the rest of the clan. I was informed that I'd been (aptly) nicknamed Captain Disaster, though apparently I wasn't the only one.

It turned out that the others hadn't had totally plain sailing themselves, despite the slagging I got.....their first experience in Germany hadn't went exactly to plan either. They arrived at the airport, got the train, managed to get off in an industrial village outside Wurzburg, called Wurzburg Zell. They had finally managed to get a taxi, but there wasn't enough space for everyone, so John and Ade very stoically offered to let the girls get the first one (Yes....the girls includes Krum). So as they waited for their taxi to return, time passed and eventually they realised the aul bitch wasn't coming back to them. They were stranded and the only noticeable thing they could see was a rough looking titty bar (remember this.....I'll come back to it again). After many attempts to flag down a taxi (I wouldn't stop for those cunts either), they finally got one, met up with the girls (including Krum) and went to check in to the motel for the night......but it turned out they'd missed the check in time and their rooms had been given away. Fortunately, the proprieter of the fine establishment (who was called Bartholemew) gave them a lift to another motel and helped them get sorted out. (NB.....it was also young Bart who came up with my nickname).

So this brings the two parties up to date with the first nights happenings. From here on, we were all together.

Outside the venue, we caught up with eachother on the previous night's events and proceeded on inside to check out the space. It turned out to be a pretty sweet looking venue. It looked almost like a converted church or some such building. A few introductions and we went in search for food. On our way, we noticed that there was a festival underway......think of the German equivalent of mummers hanging around the streets with cannons and such. We got some pizza from a little italian joint and had a beer.

Back to the venue and little else happened. The bands on offer were (mostly) not quite my cup of tea, though Assedium, Conquest of Steel and Etrus Grave all proved to be very enjoyable. My personal highlight was still Stone Vengeance. Our set went.....not so spectacularly. The crowd was obviously a "If its not solid double kicks and distorted, speed picked guitars for the entire set, we're not interested" and our clean sections seemed to fall flat on their arses. We came off stage, not in the best of moods, particularly Ade, who seemed very bummed out. After a while, we quickly realised that we'd played an intense set and that we were right to compromise nothing. The people who got it, REALLY got it (including some really kind feedback from the guys from Stone Vengeance among others) and those who didn't actually were in the minority.

The night continued on with much beer consumed and we noticed that the frontman from a certain band quite high up the bill was little more than an egotistical, feminine diva....and he was promptly ignored and laughed at. We spent the evening drinking with some very nice Italian and English guys, before deciding to flog some merch. Myself, Lisa (in particular, selling 10CDs to one lady) and Krum were all quite successful, flogging around £140 worth of merch.....Ade and John....weren't so good, managing £10 between them. Apparently their sales pitch of, "Here you, **** up and buy one of these" isn't so useful.

The beer continued but eventually we decided to return to the motel. We were all pretty tired and had to hit the road early in the morning. In the taxi to the motel, we were informed that the "titty bar" was in fact a rather low-class brothel and that the Wurzburg Zell area was (not surprisingly) an absolute shithole. Food and another beer and then bed.

Up the next morning without much to do, we decided we'd go to the "House of 150 beers" that we'd heard about the previous night. We got there, sampled a fair few of the fine locally brewed beers and had some really good food.

The rest of the day was rather uneventful travel.....though I did enjoy another beer on the train. I look forward to the day when a trolley full of chocolate, snacks and beer is brought round a train in N.I.

Arrived home (discovering my case had taking a fair beating in transit), and went to bed.



And I'd do it all again. Athens, here we come.

[peter6725]

Good story, thanks for sharing Captain Disaster

:-D

[dj150888]

Hard to believe some of it happened even now! I'm a firm believer that the whole thing led to infinitely more craic, after all, this is the stuff that make the stories to tell the kids and grandkids, eh?

Thanks for reading Peter.

[woffle]

Most muci'es like a beer,looks to me like your more into (pissin it up)instead of playing
a few GOOD gigs.
Glad you made it home ok.
Gruß Woffle

[woffle]

PS.checked your HP last week,before the German gig and was impressed.
Don't let the booze F+++ you up.Remember RORY.
I was a follower and sometimes a friend.Sex and drugs and r'nr is cool.
But too much of a good thing will kill ya.
I'm gonna be watching.
Woffle

[dj150888]

Thanks Woffle, don't worry, me and the booze isn't an issue, I've got my degree, band, girlfriend and a flock of other things that take up way too much time for me to ever let the demon drink take its hold. It was just one of those spontaneous rips happened at the wrong time (had just finished college for the day, few mates asked me to come for a pint, it turned into a rip, leading to the entire debacle).
Its nice to see some people out there are willing to advise us younger ones. I've got my priorities straight though, I've yet to play a gig drunk (though I have proceeded to get drunk after a few). I know my limits and (usually) stick to them, unfortunately, being 20, sometimes its too easy to get caught up in the moment and indulge a little too much.

[woffle]

Originally Posted by dj150888

Thanks Woffle, don't worry, me and the booze isn't an issue, I've got my degree, band, girlfriend and a flock of other things that take up way too much time for me to ever let the demon drink take its hold. It was just one of those spontaneous rips happened at the wrong time (had just finished college for the day, few mates asked me to come for a pint, it turned into a rip, leading to the entire debacle).
Its nice to see some people out there are willing to advise us younger ones. I've got my priorities straight though, I've yet to play a gig drunk (though I have proceeded to get drunk after a few). I know my limits and (usually) stick to them, unfortunately, being 20, sometimes its too easy to get caught up in the moment and indulge a little too much.

Hey its all fun.Respect the fans,most important, respect yourself,your a good outfit and the doors are open. Go out and do it. Like I said,be keepin a lookout.
Woffle

[dj150888]

Thanks Woffle, the advise is genuinely appreciated. Where are you living now anyway?

I'll add the next report up when we get back from Greece on Sunday too! See if you approve

[bluewine]

I like the story, but I was hoping there would be some "hot German chics" involved.

[woffle]

Originally Posted by dj150888

Thanks Woffle, the advise is genuinely appreciated. Where are you living now anyway?

I'll add the next report up when we get back from Greece on Sunday too! See if you approve

Hi dj,been living in Germany the last 30 years,yeah you read it
right 30.
Best of luck with Greece,played it myself but that was 72.
You're gonna be ok.
Woffle

[dj150888]

Originally Posted by bluewine

I like the story, but I was hoping there would be some "hot German chics" involved.

I'm a happily taken man Bluewine, best leave the hot german chicks to the guys who haven't left the game.




Woffle.....I bet you've got some stories worth telling mate. Where in Germany are you? Would be great to grab a beer (or a coffee!) with you if I'm ever in your region.

[woffle]

Originally Posted by dj150888

I'm a happily taken man Bluewine, best leave the hot german chicks to the guys who haven't left the game.




Woffle.....I bet you've got some stories worth telling mate. Where in Germany are you? Would be great to grab a beer (or a coffee!) with you if I'm ever in your region.

Dj,we shall stay in contact,stories,man nobody would believe.
And a beers fine,I believe you'de feel at home with my band
Take care.
Woffle
circle-of-hands.de

[bluewine]

Cool, you are one of the lucky ones.

Me divorced twice,I'm still in the game.

Thing is at 56 you can't hit on chics in public anymore.

Originally Posted by woffle

Dj,we shall stay in contact,stories,man nobody would believe.
And a beers fine,I believe you'de feel at home with my band
Take care.
Woffle
circle-of-hands.de

[dj150888]

I'm very lucky mate, but nothing to stop you hitting on girls at 56, you might have to be a little more subtle about it, but you're only as old as the woman you feel! Get out there and enjoy yourself.

[knumbskull]

heh, good story

Conquest of Steel are old mates of mine as it happens! well 2 of them anyway.