Oh boy, I feel like finally collected my bags and made it home for real. When flying high peering out the window hurtling through space in a metal tube, it is not till the ground approaches that the true realization of breathtaking speeds traveled comes to bear. When land does arrive under foot, the body stops but the mind keeps going, spirals and jet lag concoct a delirious mixture fading side effects so ingrained that full awareness only occurs in hindsight from a perspective untainted by the jet laggery. Ahhhh, yes acclimation. Reality really does move slower at home or is it faster as I can not comprehend how I fit nearly a blog a day into my life full of rock shows on tour where I struggle to fit a one in every two weeks at home. Oh well!

So, in no particular order let's head to Florida where

So off we dash to gig #2. A 1 am show time in Denmark. Bleary delirium haze as the sun is too shiny for the slow motion muscles. Auto pilot pulled by the momentum of being done and going home tomorrow, hurray!

Oh, I remember this place. Lets head out to front of house and I specifically carried boots this trip for this particular show. Ah yes, the familiarity slips back in.

Another day, another PA and some familiar songs as I find myself once again surrounded by thousands of happy humans.

So, I turned it up of course, as me the soundie so naturally would and should. Uh oh, what do I do now?

I know exactly what do! Sally forth, onward ho and away we go with some more of the same!

11 am flight tomorrow. It's 3am now so night night and see ya from the other side of the Atlantic pond soon.

Dave Rat

Night or day which comes first? I dunno but here are a few shots from last night before we wake up for Hamburg.

And off the bus we head and wait a minute, I remember this hotel, how can one forget the circle of critters when looking down from the lobby.

And look, they even included a life like roadie!

So they call this town Hamburg, so silly when people think there is some association between a cities name and what it sounds like. Or perhaps this this truly is the birthplace of the hamburger, Wait, look, there are some prehistoric hamburgers in their early stages of life! Yumm!

This place is cool! All good and a great for a wander and food and beer and friends, roadies like Hamburg.

Dave Rat

Typically roadie busses involve a few hang out areas, a bunk section and toilet. Occasionally a shower shows up invariably wit a little sign that says "do not use the shower." Well, imagine our glee when the bus company brought over their newest latest and greatest! A bus with a queen bed suite in the back and a bath tub. Oh, just think of the possibilities as we all line up for the sloshy tub after a hard days work, truly a handy concept. Here we can observe roadie Bill partaking in testing the tubbing delights.

**** Highlight of the Day ****

Yes, it is back, the long lost but not forgotten section! Look what we found! You just have to watch the You Tube video before scrolling down any further, I promise, it is worth it.

No!!!

Not yet!!

Watch the You Tube Video first!!

Then scroll!!

OK, now look. Hellooooooooo!

Meet roadie Manny the Rigger. Legendary would be fitting. Notice the half eaten habanero pepper in his hand combined with the calm cool collected "about to explode" look on his face. Roadies like hot peppers, even habanero's I ate one, Scotty ate one, Chris Warren ate one, Daniel? Well, not so much, he ate a few tiny bits of one. Some roadies like hot peppers more than others. Habanero peppers are hot, but not when compared to molten lava.

Oh look! A cute little baby PA system, how adorable!

End of Munich part #1,

Dave Rat

The first of the shows on this three week run. The picture below pretty much sums up the way I feel. A big clustery mess of everything traveling in different direction, no where to relax and other than clinging to my passport, I really am not overly concerned about where myself or anything else ends up.

Oh great, here comes the bus to pick us up as I ponder the translation.

I realize that some gigs are better than others and if this whole "doing sound" sound thing does not pan for me, I guess there is always the green pant option of driving a micro-dozer to dream about.

And speaking of green, come take a look at my cubicle office where I will spend the day toiling away.

Uh oh, looks like once again those noisy neighbors are going to have another party. Oh well, since I can't beat 'em, I guess I will join 'em!

And darn it, I forgot to bring my camera for show time but hey, there is always tomorrow and the next day and the next and then a bunch of next's after that and then I will be home again. Sad to see this tour end like I was sad to say bye bye to my two little pals that I dropped off at sleep away camp, four forever days ago.

Off to make some noise, for a change,

Dave Rat

So we say bye bye to Japan and hey look! Japan is saying bye bye to us with this specially constructed waving robot!

I can't remember the whole ordeal anymore but it went something to the effect of, 9:30 am lobby call, 12:30 flight from Osaka to Tokyo, hour long shuttle bus ride from one Tokyo airport to the other one, 2 hours of hanging out and then a 9 hour flight to LAX, 40 minute town car ride to North Hollywood, an hour drive to Oxnard, unload my bags and some stuff I grabbed from my unfinished moving and off to pick up my daughters, the little energy balls they are. While immersed in this meandering trek, I thought to myself "boy, it sure would be nice to have a cold beer." And look, a beer machine!

Having one of those at home would be dangerous.

Oh, and back to the pattern of tear apart the house, make a mess, clean it up and tear apart something else. Oh the joy!

Also, I will be diving in to trying to catch up on answering comments, I may be a bit slow but at least I am forgetful.

Dave Rat

Ok, though most people may find the next two photos boring at best, there are quite a few bloggery friends that should enjoy them enough to make up the difference. After many requests, not perfect shots but close enough if you look close, here is JF's pedal board for all you 6 stringers filled with curiosity.

I must admit though that though I have reluctantly and imperfectly acquiesced to providing a snapshot of JF's pedals, it is important to note that it is not the brand or mixture of tools that a carpenter uses, it is the timing, finesse and inspiration that create what is so desirable. For one who creates beautiful things, the tools are merely a convenience or preference. It is the images in the mind, made real by touch where the magic is born. All else is purely a facsimile.

Artist occur in all aspects of life and I was fortunate enough to cross paths with Yoshi.

Yoshi is a master of repair of the human body. Strange as it may be to some and comfortable as it may be to others, Yoshi is fluent in the not so westernly accepted art of acupuncture and acupressure.

Have you ever seen those questionable hair club for men ads with before and after pictures? Or the highly doubtful loose weight with a shaky rubber band around the waist or eat all you want diet. Or even the much more believable breast implant or lip injection advertisements? Well, not being one to feel left out, I figure I may as well give my own version. Accept this one is neither an illusion nor based in personal beautification. Utilitarian at best. Speaking of beautiful, Robin is beautiful and thank you! OK, this is Dave pre-Yoshi

As you may notice, there is a bit of a sway perhaps? And post Yoshi

And I had been to a chiropractor and I had no desire to take the waste-of-time pain killers that a standard US hack doc would have prescribed, and given my schedule, physical therapy as the true solution, was not an immediate option. In less than an hour, I walk away with an ache rather than limp, awesome! Thank you Yoshi!!!

So speaking of unexpected discoveries, look what I found. Though I did not have a choice to find it as it was the only option. Check out the old school Japanese toilet, it's a squatter!

And while linking thoughts and thinking of old school, here is the real deal wasabi root and shark skin paddle used to make the paste the real way.

Possibly you ponder what is the difference between real wasabi and the faux wasabi we get state-side. What you seek is a sharp flavor, fast that fades quickly. Similar it tastes but more importantly it is fun to partake in the authenticity.

As far as the gig well, the Osakans rule, and the venue is a bit smaller but similar to the Tokyo Dome. All good!

Dave Rat

Continuing...

Back to Tsukiji, the Tokyo fish market and what would a fish market be without ice? Most likely stinky and empty so they have this big old conveyer belt machine where giant ice blocks are sent up to drop down and be pulverized. Bring your own bucket.

Though sparse, other necessities were evident and I am not sure what all that stuff is but I do know an edamame when I see one

What I did not know is what they make those little green guacamole balls out of that are sitting on sushi plates. Shhhh, for those who don't know Sushi that well, here is some advice: You will find a small green guacamole ball on your sushi plate. The really cool thing to do is just pop that whole delicious morsel right in your mouth really fast, first thing, mmmm, yummy! But hurry because that stuff is in high demand and someone else may get yours if you aren't quick.

So turns out that even though that green stuff looks like guacamole, and tastes of so yummy by the spoonful, it is actually called wasabi and looks like this

before being turned to paste. The old school way is to rub it on shark's skin but now a days they have metal grinders. What I also did not know is that nearly all the wasabi outside of Japan is fake because the real deal is too expensive.

Though the market does not smell, it is a bit messy and at the end of the day when it's time to run the numbers and do some calculations, I can see where the abacus would hold up a bit better in this environment that battery powered calculator.

Off to lunch and 9 am as all this fish walking made us hungry. Roadie James, Chef Assist Julius and Raymond our friend and tour guide of the market you can see and Scott, and Wayno you cant. Raymond is the one who hooked us up and has friends and relatives at a few shops in the market which is why the next round of sushi was some of the best Toro tuna I have ever had, so good I forgot take a picture.

And a short Youtube version for those that like visual motion.

**** End Fish Market Adventure ****

OK, now back to being jet lagged.

Dave Rat