In Laredo, Spain

I am in Leredo, Spain. It's on the beach. Last night I went out to eat with Eric Slick and we drank Duff Beer together. My Spanish Sucks but i think i have a good memory for it. A full bottle of Duff beer brought my shyness about the 5 spanish words I know. I probably sound like borat to these people but worse. A laughing idiot who cant talk. They humor me here though. Mom taught Spanish, but I opted to switch out of Spanish to Italian class because my mom was too interested in finding out if I did my Spanish homework... so much that interrupted my bass and guitar playing.

Speaking of BASS playing. I am having a blast playing RENTED basses every night. I have a new realization: The world trusts standard things: Fenders and Gibsons. Everyone knows how to play one of those guitars. Why the HELL would I want to bring my guitars on planes across the world when I can get a working, pro, already set-up and intonated, new

stringed bass for free included in the backline? Here are the two basses I've played with so far. On the Backline Rider it says -- I need either a Fender Jazz or a Precision Fender.

This bass is a Fender Jazz Bass. I adjusted the action to my liking but realized that I am used to a wider neck, so I prefer a Pre

cision Bass. My Spector NS-2 is wider like the P-Bass. This Jazz Bass had a good sound but it had a problem with hum when I tried to mix pickup volumes seperately. It became easy to play but I had to warm into it. String spacing was too close for my liking. About this Amp Setup, I realize I love the Ampeg 8x10 but I couldn't get sound out of this amp with this head. I know it's an beloved SVT but I think I like an 8x10 C

ab run by a GK Head. My first head was a GallienKreuger 800RB and I still use it today because it still works! It's from 1989. I bought it New!

Here's the Bass for the Eindoven, NL show. This had a great sound. It came with Heavy Strings which shredded my fingers up, but

Prague on Aug 7th

I left JFK airport at 3:55 and got to Frankfurt, Germany pretty quick. Lufthansa is the best airline - first class service in economy class. Around 11:30 pm NYC time, we arrived in Frankfurt. I sat next to a great couple from Brooklyn. They were really "nice". I quote because the guy loved to say "nice". But I really liked them. I hope they have a great vacay in Greece. I didn't get their names but I gave them a card. We talked about wildlife, fishing, traveling, brooklyn, eating, and music.

Speaking of Cards... I have two people to thank for my new business card that I'm carting around Europe right now. One is my lovely girlfriend, Elizabeth, who said "You should use that". And one is my recently departed daddy, Joe, or Dadhag which he used to like to go by at my concerts. Dadhag paid a guy in Florida make me this design with my name incorporated into a bass, when i was about 12-13 years old. Mygirlfriend saying, "I think you should use that design for a business card" was very very endearing to me. I went to Staples and here it is: From the original to the business card:

It looks real snazzy in real life with a border....

Getting the guitar as a carry-on on board was a cinch but I am never going to get comfortable doing it. I got a good ride from a guy named Petr in a cool VW boxy van. I worked on trying to get my money back for a T-Mobile Hotspot mistake that I made at the Frankfurt Airport traveling to the Czech Republic. I filmed a few videos of my hotel room and view and I went out for a walk in this town. I enjoyed the experience. I don't like handling new money. It's confusing. I have 3 different types of currency right now. US Dollar, Euros, and Czech Crowns. Ugggh. Tomorrow is the gig. Tonight we're supposed to eat and drink some food. I am super tired. I am lapping the 24 hour period and going to get some sleep soon. We lost a gig on the Grande Mothers tour. Right now it's shortened up but still they are trying to book some gigs before we go back.

Just heard that Eric Slick's parents are listening to the gig we played together with Eric's sister. Thanks to a certain taper of the show who came to the club and taped it. We're trying to get mp3s so we can hand it out here in Europe. We really think we're awesome.

Europe Tour

Going on tour in Europe in a few days playing in two separate bands:

Playing Bass for Project Object featuring Ike Willis, Robert Martin (festival only), Denny Walley (festival only) and Don Preston, Eric Svalgard, Eric Slick.

Playing Guitar for the Grandmothers filling in for Miroslav Tadic, featuring Roy Estrada, Napoleon Murphy Brock, and Don Preston, Chris Garcia.