Dave Rat - Roadies in the Midst

Yumm, the self indulgence of wanting something and having it come to you is a wonderful sensation. Such is the case with many things and one of those things is room service. Oh the anticipation, what delicious delectable's will appear on the push cart covered in metal caps.

With expectations nearly as high as the prices, surely a feast fit for a king will soon arrive as of course I am the king of this rent-a-room for at least another 4 hours. The unveiling occurs, stunned my heart skips a beat, behold upon thine eyes the magnificence.

Where to start and how to proceed races through my mind as I find myself devouring the radish chip. How could they have known that I love fancy cut radishes on slightly soggy chips and poached egg balls on micro toasts?

Today we play Amsterdam, or more accurately Nijmegen (pronounced nigh-megen) and I was slated for an hour plus van ride into the gig but there has been a change of plans and the vans won't be coming. With the 'main show' crew already onsite and myself doing a bit of straying from the roadie herd into the band camp, it looks like we will be taking an alternate form of transport over the traffic jam.

I love adventures and have been in these things several times but they never cease to feel like they are about to fall out of the air. Noisy and a bit of motion sickness but view was wonderful. Next stop, rock.

And there she blows, full double hung V-Dosc rig plus side hangs totaling 90 of the big boxes pushing sound from the main stage. Plus loads of subs!

And a few our friends that came to listen

Some people get a better view of the show than others and if you look in the lower left of the picture above the picture above, it looks like our pal in the hat is going to get the short end of the stick. But not for long as mini super hero Scott the Lampi points out the predicament and rally's the FOH'ers to grab a few road cases and some plywood for a fix.

Then, a few days after the gig, our friend in the hat sends Scotty an email, I guess he does some video work and is known as the Rolling Dutchman.

If you have looked at a lot of show photos, you may notice something a bit different in the shot below.

For some of the shows on this tour we have added full motion video screen in front of the sound system. These "soft," flexible and fairly transparent video screens do effect the sound a bit but the cool look factor is huge.

Night night, good morning! Wake up time and fly to Belgrade, Serbia. I admit I expected some surprises entering a land I have never been to

But it did catch me a bit off guard to find out that they do not allow dogs to smoke cigarettes when cats are nearby.

Next episode, lets take a look around.

Dave Rat

I find it absolutely incredible how various people and cultures define what is right and what is wrong and the fervor in which they enforce those opinions once they figure them out. For example; the Japanese were giving out bicycle parking tickets and a pair of street cops would wrap a tag on bikes parked in bad spots, too close to the street or appearing non functional. I could not read the tags but I also saw a giant truck cruising around with a big huge bike pile. Best I could tell that was the follow up crew. Can you say "bye bye poorly parked bike?" The Dutch, on the other hand, have what seems to be a similar strategy and mind set with a few small changes in the details.

 

Primarily, it appears the Dutch have streamlined the process by eliminating the part about tagging the bikes, got rid of the whole roaming truck thing and instead implemented the "park it anywhere you wish for as long as you want" method of bicycle pollution control. So in the following pics, though you most likely you wont even notice, but in the event you do, I apologize for the occasional stray cycle that has wandered in the shot. So please just pretend they are not there and don't miss the true focus and in depth meaning of each photo.

I call this next picture "Pink Flowers"

"Graffiti" displays the creativity of local street artists

"Ivy Vine"

"Reflections"

"The Green Door"

"Canal with Spikey Fence Thing Off to the Side"

"Abandoned"

"The Blue Bike"

"Mommy Can I have a Bike? Shhhhh! No, not yet, you are way too short!"

"My Other Car is a Bike"

And speaking of peddling and riding, there are a few other interesting aspects of Amsterdam that test the limitations of other culture's vision of right and wrong. I of course am referring the peddling of drugs and taking the local women for hire for a quick ride, of course. What other large international traveling hub of a city offers pot, hash and magic mushrooms as an over the counter option at your local coffee shop.

"May I see a menu please?, Hmmm let's see, wow so many choices, is the Amnesia any good, Oh really! well may I have 3 grams of that please, and an ounce of mushrooms as well, do you mind if I smoke it here? And by the way, do you know where I can buy a girlfriend for an hour?"

I find it fascinating that humans select certain things to viciously attack on the grounds of all that is evil while they themselves do exactly the same thing under a differing guise. How ludicrous is the concept that drugs are really really bad and evil unless they come in a little bottle that was prescribed by some quack doctor and a huge portion of the $ ends up in the greedy corrupt hands of an international drug company while the pill popping hypocrites who sell and buy into this scam somehow sleep at night even though they are poisoning the public for profit.

**** End Angry Venting ****

When a good plan works, packaging it and applying to other similar situations is often a recipe for successful repetitions. So as you can imagine, I was not surprised to see that the Amsterdamians have applied the ingenious "park it anywhere you wish for as long as you want" strategy to the issue of boat pollution as well.

How excited was I to spot this flower, hey wait, does that look a bit like

spokes on a bike wheel? Whoa dude! As a closing thought, open doors so often spark curiosity

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

Speaking of good ideas, as much as I liked the cool blue insulation, adding a bit of drywall is probably not such a bad idea, and this is what I will leave behind, I wonder what it will look like when I get home.

At least things are getting put back together as I promise myself to stop tearing things out, must pack, must leave soon. "Do not think about the crowbar in the garage, or the hammer, or the saws-all with the diamond blade that cuts through anything super easy and takes out house sections in fairly neat clumps." And especially do not start wondering what is inside that ugly boxy thing over the entry to the kitchen.

Ooops! Oh well, shit happens!

Clean up time and the process of leaving ferments over time. What a year ago was anticipation and apprehension now has distilled into a sharp and abrupt disorientation. Swallowing the reluctance behind a smile, I pack away enough of my life to cover the essentials. As the plane flights lumber on, the feeling of displacement is consumed by jet lag as the endless engine whine shoves the metal human filled metal tube I ride through the sky, again. Glazed eyed security grumps remind me of sleeping with sand in my bed, annoying, can't be wished away and if I stop everything and deal with it properly, I can continue on with my day or night as the case may be. Van rides, hotel keys and familiarity sets in, in some far away land I have been before, but right now, hey, how about some beers, hanging with friends and we'll go do some rock shows. In the mean time some images and a recommendation to find Bilbao in your worldly travels.

Fourteen months ago I slept here. In this hotel, in this city, on this tour. I don't even need to take new pictures as our trip here 42 days P.B. (Pre Blog) look exactly the same as they would if new. Welcome to Bilbao, Spain, home of a Guggenheim Museum and a whole bunch of cool artsy stuff and across the street is a tiny little coffee shop/bar that makes amazing espresso's holds about 6 people and has sandwiches under the bar.

**** Ponderings ****

Bad ideas' implemented come plentiful when insecurities manifest themselves as over-achievers who subject those exposed to the ramifications.

Conversely, harmony is the absence of excuses. Clear vision absolute. Finding it seems illusive while the outcome so natural. Smiles in knowing. Decision, warmth in progress.

When people intentionally or otherwise place clumps of dog poo on the sidewalk of life I am walking, I try and avoid stepping in it, even if I have to alter my path a bit, as poo stepping is generally a bad idea, I guess, unless I have poo stepping boots on or if I worked on a farm where I would probably trudge right through it to get the job done, but right now, neither is the case so around the poo I step.

**** End Ponderings ****

Dave Rat

Oh boy, I get to remember a new age I am. Next year I need to remember to use my birthday as an excuse to have BBQ or party but this year I am more concerned with catching up on bills, making some decisions and doing the tour break scramble. I am up at 6 am and hit the sack around 1 am last night as I will do for the next few day. Jet lag, delirium, kids, lunches and carpools and right now just making it through each day with a smile good enough. Thank you to everyone for all the Happy BD wishes and such and here is by far the most unique.

www.photagious.com/slideshow?7fb74b7015b99a2e25eece1181394702\

The underlying story line is that a group of my bloggery friends from the Red Hot Chili Peppers fan club bought a pair of Rat Sound hot pants and have been shipping them all over the world, taking a picute with them, signing them and shipping them on. These things have been to at least three continents and may hold the world record for the most adventurous undies ever. Rumor has it that I will reunite with the traveling undergarment some time soon. I must admit it is really funny and fun.

Home. After exiting the plane, grabbing my bags, heading home and nearly two hours straight of deleting and quick responding to a few hundred emails, I was relieved to have just over 200 left.

Light at the end of the tunnel and hey, it's better than being neglected! Home sweet home, that comforting feeling of escaping to the blissful world of...

a construction site. But look! The insulation is blue, so very pretty and not by accident. I have been waiting and wanting for over a year now to use this stuff in a project and when my contractor, Woody (ha ha, a very fitting name) mentioned fiberglass, I requested he use this stuff instead. It meets or exceeds all the specs for fiberglass, it is fire, bug and mildew resistant, does not make you itch like fiberglass, does not shed glass fibers that make your lungs bleed, has better sound proofing qualities, is not a hazardous material like fiberglass and is a 100% recycled "green" product that looks like ground up blue jeans. Oh wait, it is ground up blue jeans!

http://www.bondedlogic.com/ultratouch.htm

Many cities have approved it as a building material and the only down side is that it is about 30% more cost wise but in the big picture of house building expenses it is still cheap, especially considering it's superior specs. What relevance does this have and why have I brought all this house remodel stuff into the blog? Finally, the moment I have been awaiting. This blue stuff is the cheap, readily available and non hazardous with excellent acoustic properties. Hmmmm, I wonder where it would work really well? Oh oh oh, I know! How about using it inside speaker cabinets for damping material? Perfect!

So to celebrate, how about we destroy something. Say bye bye fireplace. "Bye bye fireplace."

I love birthdays!

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

Train that is. I believe that the brand and model # of the train is a Shinkansen Series 700. I know this because of my keen sense of the obvious and it was labeled correctly upon the side region.

Technology in Japan advances at a truly incredible rate which is why I was not surprised to come across this breakthrough cutting edge technological advancement in music playback, introducing "The Micro-CD!" It is so small and big around as a pencil eraser and most likely can hold a entire album's worth of tunes.

Think of how many CD's you could carry in your pocket! The CD player is about the size of American nickel, most likely, one would have to assume, I am pretty sure, I can imagine. Though as hard as I tried, my eyesight proved ineffective at reading the band or album title that must be printed somewhere upon it. As exuberant as I was with my discovery, both roadie Leif and Lampi Scott were not convinced and proceed to down play this revolutionary find as being merely a sequin. Then the presented the silly argument that just because I found it on the dressing room floor last night, it was doubtful to be a the latest top secret Japanese innovation. Oh, wow! I think to myself, sidestepping further exposure to the clearly confused non believers, just imagine how many CD's Elvis could wear on his sequin suit! The perfect combination of flashy fashion and rocking tunes. The ability to merely thumb through 10's of thousands of sequins before finding the band you want to hear and just popping it in to the player with the special sleek i-Tweezers. CD-equin necklaces would be all the i-Rage.

Once in Osaka, I was out doing a little shopping for chili coated whole baby crabs, some bags of shiny little fish and hmmm, so many choices of dried squids, how do you possibly know which one to buy?

Hey look! There's Lampi Scott and it looks like he has been doing a bit of shopping as well, "Hey Roadie, what are you doing?" I shout.

With Sushi being so healthful and delicious, one can not help but cross-project a lofty culinary expectation on to the Japanese eating preferences as a whole. But alas, like all cultures, Japan is not immune from creating the edible equivalent of a White Castle burger. Who amongst us has not, in a late night bleary state, stumbled into a 24 hour market, weighing choices between the mystery meat disc burger, pink tube shaped items created by putting a pig in a blender rolling on metal rods next to the hot dog buns, micro waving the frozen brown gush with bits of rubbery stuff wrapped in a tortilla that has a picture of a mexican lady on it or the triangular grease pile sitting below the the sign that says Pizza? All the while, most likely, your mind drifts back to the mouth watering delicacies of a foreign land. "Mmmmm, if I could only wrap my lips around some gelatinous thing I fished out of that uncovered soupy brown pond water back in Japan."

So perhaps dinner should take a different direction? I meet up with Roadie Larry, our newest roadie addition. He is taking over for Roadie Liam, who headed off to hang with his long time comrades, the band Rush. I have known Larry near 20 years from gigs up and down the Cali coast and it rules that we finally are on the same tour. So, we did what roadies do quite well, we ate and drank and ate some more before drinking of course for an absolutely amazing meal. Oh, we decided to have Sushi, for a change, in case you were wondering.

Tomorrow, rock show in Osaka and I will work on grabbing a few band shots and maybe even, if I remember, I will snap JF's pedal board as well.

Dave Rat