Porto, Alicante, Madrid, whatever

Ok, two days have gone without much writing again. Right now we're in Porto on an early Sunday morning. The drivers are trying to find a way to the venue. They know exactly where it is, but they just can't fit a 4-metre bus through a 3-metre hole.

Friday's show was in Alicante I think. It was a big warehouse kind of building in the industrial area. The venue was basically ok. The dressing rooms, both with showers and even warm water, a big stage and everything. The attendance could have been better though. Presale was only about 60 so we were no expecting much. I'd say the final number was around 250 or 300 perhaps.

During Battlelore the roof of one of the dressing rooms collapsed. We had piled up some guitars and their cases on top of the dressing room not realizing that it really is not suitable for that. Leeni of KmD was sitting on a sofa when a guitar suddenly fell next to her. And immediately after that parts of the ceiling and more guitars. Thankfully no one got hurt. Possibly one laptop and definitely one pizza got some damage.

The problems continued during our show. About half of the show gone and Jonne tries to change his guitar but there's nothing coming out from the new one. And not from the old one either. Nothing. I tell the band to play Pellonpekko, an instrumental that we can do without Jonne. After that the guitar problem is still not sorted out but Jonne just rushes back to the stage and tells us that it's Midsummer Night, Beer Beer and we're out. That was the show. Quite short.

On Saturday I woke up in the bus and went out just to see that we're parked in some ugly underground garage. However, the garage was located right under the King's palace, so going up and walking around the area was a good idea. I went for a coffee with some KmD members and was later joined by some others as well for a city walk. Oh yeah, my girlfriend arrived too. She flew in to Madrid to see the show and hopefully me as well.

The venue was a small club that could hold maybe 400 people and since the presale was already 350 we knew that the Saturday night in Madrid would be hot. It truly was. The whole show went really smoothly and many said that this was the best of the tour so far. I guess it was then. I was feeling a bit tired though.

Now we're at the venue in the centre of Porto. Time for a breakfast at the café and then at 11 the scheduled everyday meeting of wine club at the downstairs lounge.

Venue, Batalho, at 17. Wine club did not meet in the bus. The most active members, Miikka of Falchion and myself, decided to move it outside and took Valohomo with us. We went to the river, got some local red and sat down on the beach bench. Sun was shining, people smiling and we got a bit drunk. Nice. I am a big fan of being slightly drunk. Then we decided to head back to the venue since the get-in time was at 14. We walked to the main square and saw a nice looking cathedral. And a pub. To the pub? To the cathedral? Both. First the pub. We never went to the cathedral. Now, back at the venue. Drum check going on. Boink. Boink. Boink. Boink. Boink. Boink. Boink. Boink. Boink. Boink. Boink. Boink. Boink. Boink. Boink. Boink. Boink. Boink. Boink. Boink. Boring.

In the bus, at 11 something, 60km to Bilbao. Last night was a good show. Something like 350 people turned up and were having a good party so it was really nice to be on stage. One of the backstage rooms was higher than the stage and there was a big window with a view to the stage. To the drum riser and part of the stage anyway. While Battlelore was on stage Hittis and myself gave them a small show. The show didn't include clothes. We saw the same kind of show when we were on stage. Nice. Not.

Porto is so far my favourite city on the tour. Sorry Prague, but Porto seems to be just a bit more decadent in the way that I like. I am a big fan of moving water as well. Both cities have rivers but somehow the riverbanks and hills of Porto are just more interesting. One minus to the city though: vegetable soup should not made with meat gravy. Meat is not a vegetable. well, some of us are.

Damn, it's snowing outside. Or at least there's some sort of mixture of water and ice falling down. And my throat hurts like hell. It's been like that for the past three days. Maybe the t-shirt and flipflops with no socks is not the best way to dress in the end of November.

In the bus near Montpellier at around 9. Throat hurts like hell and I couldn't sleep much since I can't breathe that well. Yesterday was and will remain as the worst show of the tour. It was set up in the very last minute before the tour since one other show wasn't going to happen. So, place was really small including the stage and only about 50 people turned up. Then again they were indeed "our people" which meant that playing in front of them was still nice. Except that I didn't really enjoy that so much but it definitely wasn't because of them.

The venue itself was located in an industrial area several kilometres from the city centre and it was also raining more or less the whole day, so I couldn't even go out really. Yesterday was not a good day. We even had a flat tire on the bus! At least the sun is shining right now so already the morning looks better. Today we play in Marseille and I've no idea of the presale but I trust that it will be better than yesterday. Tomorrow is Strassbourg and there the presale is already at 350. Things look a bit brighter now when we are heading back to our strong areas. The Spain/Portugal trip was still worth doing. Our first club shows down there must be done at some point. Next shows will be better advertized and sold.