In the words of John Lennon, shouting at the end of Helter Skelter, “I’ve got blisters on my fingers!” That’s what you get from walking through Lübeck with an electric guitar in a hard case in one hand, a suitcase in the other and an acoustic guitar strapped across your shoulders.. That’s right, I’m up one guitar from my usual tour outfit. Before my parents read this and get cross with me though, this was the only long stretch I walked with the three instruments (ukulele is in my suitcase and, let’s face it, it’s not very heavy). I promise I will give my shoulders a break over Christmas. Lübeck was too pretty not to walk through it… that’s my excuse!
Last night was the second show of my Germany Winter Tour. It was my first ever show in Lübeck at a really lovely little venue called Tonfink. There’s something magical about going into a show with no expectations and being positively surprised by the lovely people who’ve come to listen to you. I was impressed by how attentive the Lübeck lot were… and by how well they shouted along to Red & White Blood Cells. Thanks very much for having me and I hope to see you all again soon.
There is a different kind of magic when those people, who once took a gamble coming to see an artist play with whom they were not familiar with, become your good friends. It was great to see some of those special people in Kiel again for the first show at Prinz Willy. Knowing that I can count on you to be at the show with a smile and a hug really does make all the difference… thank you for your continued support!
It always takes me a couple of days to adjust to Germany.. my German stage talk has been questionable over the last two shows and I need to remind myself that it’s socially totally acceptable to complain loudly about, well, anything to one another on public transport. There are some things that are as inherently German as being offered a cup of tea by an English person.. for instance having Salzstangen as bar snacks (not a complaint), or being offered coffee and cake on arrival (definitely not a complaint) or seeing grown-ups wearing backpacks with little cuddly toy key-chains dangling from them (what’s up with that?).
Tonight I’m in Hamburg, which really does feel like home by now and I really can’t wait to be back at The Hasenschaukel, one of my favorite small venues, for the third show of the tour! Here we go!