A trip to Sanremo in Italy with Nine Below Zero over the weekend has had me reflecting. There's really nothing like playing abroad.
In England, us performers are often treated as afterthoughts or hindrances, even at designated or iconic music venues or events.
But a country like Italy - a place where music was essentially invented as we know it (we may have invented The Beatles, but they invented the PIANO! That's a substantial checkmate) - even a Sidcup boy is made to feel like royalty.
It seemed the entire city congregated in the venue to see us. Free entry, budgets funded by the community, and packed to the rafters - a combination that seldom happens at home.
We were joined on stage by some very special guests - our good friend Carmelo who's the Chuck Berry of Italy, the marvellous Max on guitar, and a young lad called Attilio - who I went from sharing keyboards with to standing back and watching him in awe!
A cable buzzed and Dennis pretended to pick up his phone. To add to the gag I played the Nokia ringtone. This got no laughs, but instead, perplexingly, a gently enormous and polite round of applause as if we'd just played Clair De Lune!
At midnight after the show the best restaurant in town opened their doors just for us, to feed us with pizzas. They don't even do pizzas. They did them just for us. You hear these stories about stars clicking their fingers and their cravings appearing on a tray - to experience something near to that was beyond comprehension. Maybe next time I'll try asking for a Cherry Pepsi Max?
Dennis took a bit of creative license with his post on the Nine Below Zero page. I didn't have that many cappuccinos. Some were espressos. But I'll let him off as it was his birthday.
The weather was beautiful, the sights were breathtaking, and aside from being awoken by the town's alarm clock in the church next door to the hotel at 8am (4am musician time), it was pure joy in between stepping off and back onto the hovercrafts.
And then at my first performance back home, I had to politely tell a stage invader to get off. Bless ya England!
Anyway this weekend is local. Friday (tonight, if you're reading in the morning) I'm at The Iron Horse in Sidcup with The Aim! It's an emotional gig for us being two years since we lost Jamie Tongue, so come down, raise a glass, and bring ID if you look young. Saturday I'm making a secret guest appearance with a certain group at a certain festival in Welling. Ssshhh.
Oh, and in the hotel room, I started recording the last track of the album. Now it's not just nearly finished, it's international! I can't wait for you to hear what I've been brewing. Once Apple Music finally fix my name, I'll unleash at least a little something.
I'll try and get some solo gigs sorted this year too so I can play them for you. With a rider of pizza, cappuccinos, and Cherry Pepsi Max.
Grazie per aver ascoltato x
