Scandinavian Pause
I sit in a hotel room at the airport in Stockholm. Looking out of the window, it started getting dark at about 2pm. Added to that fact, it's arse-bitingly cold out. It's nice to be back in Sweden, haha. Last time I was here, I got stranded in the city with The Gaslight Anthem boys for four days, and after much exploring decided I really like this place. The show last night was a blast, and I have an expensive hangover to enjoy today.
This European run of shows is going well. It's the first headline tour I've done on the continent, and it's the first full band tour as well. Amsterdam and Brussels were cool, Germany was insanely cool (sold out shows on my first headline tour..! What?). The rest of the run looks great as well - Hamburg and Paris are sold out, most of the others are close to going, and that's a predictably good feeling. Tomorrow we fly to Helsinki for a show (ferry schedules didn't work out, long story), and on Wednesday I'm flying to Manchester for the XFM Christmas bash, which is a tiny bit insane, but what the hell.
We had a band meeting yesterday to discuss the next year or so of our lives. I won't bore you with the details (yes, we are coming to a town near you soon, basically), but it was a thought-provoking evening. First of all, it really hammered home to me how far things have come along in the last few years. I regularly have discussions about international full-band touring, to the extent that after the next album is released (early 2011 hopefully) we're basically looking at a bona fide world tour. That's crazy. It also made me think about the band and crew - the family - I have around me. It's a little daunting, sometimes, asking these people to come with me on my jaunts around the world. It's fine when it's just me booking insane tour schedules, but when there's 7 other people involved, I feel a bit more... responsible, I suppose. But it also made me realize what a great bunch they are, and how lucky I am to tour with them. I try to give them a shout out onstage every night, and I know some people think it's overly long, but fuck that. They're hugely important to what I do. A toast, then, to Matt, Ben, Nigel, Tarrant, Barbs, Graham and Sarah.
I finished a new song yesterday, an overtly political number that is sure to piss a whole bunch of people off. But to hell with it; it's good to stand up for something you believe in every now and again. Watch this space.
This European run of shows is going well. It's the first headline tour I've done on the continent, and it's the first full band tour as well. Amsterdam and Brussels were cool, Germany was insanely cool (sold out shows on my first headline tour..! What?). The rest of the run looks great as well - Hamburg and Paris are sold out, most of the others are close to going, and that's a predictably good feeling. Tomorrow we fly to Helsinki for a show (ferry schedules didn't work out, long story), and on Wednesday I'm flying to Manchester for the XFM Christmas bash, which is a tiny bit insane, but what the hell.
We had a band meeting yesterday to discuss the next year or so of our lives. I won't bore you with the details (yes, we are coming to a town near you soon, basically), but it was a thought-provoking evening. First of all, it really hammered home to me how far things have come along in the last few years. I regularly have discussions about international full-band touring, to the extent that after the next album is released (early 2011 hopefully) we're basically looking at a bona fide world tour. That's crazy. It also made me think about the band and crew - the family - I have around me. It's a little daunting, sometimes, asking these people to come with me on my jaunts around the world. It's fine when it's just me booking insane tour schedules, but when there's 7 other people involved, I feel a bit more... responsible, I suppose. But it also made me realize what a great bunch they are, and how lucky I am to tour with them. I try to give them a shout out onstage every night, and I know some people think it's overly long, but fuck that. They're hugely important to what I do. A toast, then, to Matt, Ben, Nigel, Tarrant, Barbs, Graham and Sarah.
I finished a new song yesterday, an overtly political number that is sure to piss a whole bunch of people off. But to hell with it; it's good to stand up for something you believe in every now and again. Watch this space.
posted by frank at 2:45 PM
7 Comments:
I love the political ones! Vent some anger out. Sons of Liberty was a big highlight of the last album for me.
Love that your writing all ready!
Hope you get you and your stuff safely to and from the Helsinki airport cause there was some sort of strike going on last week. And apparently there will be a new one starting on Tuesday. They had to cancel about 200 flights during the last one and there's still like 10000 bags waiting to be sent all over the world. So I'm keeping fingers crossed for your baggage cause I would imagine it might cause some problems if you're having a gig in Manchester and your instruments are still in Finland.
Anyhow, hope everything goes well and you'll do an awesome show on Monday. See you guys there.
Just wanted to post a comment saying I'm looking forward to your tour with Flogging Molley in the States next year. I'm planning on going to at least 2 shows (which are 600 miles apart from each other)!
Best of luck, and keep writing lyrics the way you have - for me, that's what has set you apart!
ah what i do love about frank turner aside from his music is the fact that he actually lets people know he is doing and always updates his page. Idlewild havent updated theres is about 3 months and they had an album out. There is something deeply reasuring that as a fan you get knowing that who you like and support via tickets/albums/other merch is actually caring about what they are doing. Seeing frank at shepheards bush really hammered that point through where there is a collective conciousness amoung fans and that everyone i speak 2 anyway is pretty chuffed that you dont sit on your arss all day eating yorkies and actually seem to be playing everywhere, i swear i saw you behind my sofa but it was just luke pritchard....we had words.
The new song You played at the Helsinki show was nice, and the show in general was awesome. I was supposed to take great photos of You and the band, but I broke my camera. I was so pissed off, but great friends, great music and meeting mr Turner saved the evening. Already looking forward for Your return, thanks.
Just a note to tell you that imho the show in Brussels was insanely cool too :-) Cannot compare it to the German shows of course, but definitely one of the best gigs I ever went to.
Keep up the good work Frank, hope you'll visit The Netherlands or Belgium again coming spring!
You HAVE got popular over the last few years; it makes us feel almost defensive - we saw you at a gig with only 5 other people once!
But obviously, you deserve it!!!
Post a Comment
<< Home