Lustwaffel

I did so much nothing today that I almost felt guilty. Almost. I got in from Paris last night so I used jet-lag as an excuse. The MSG Dispatch shows went really well. It was a really cool thing to be a part of. A great crew pulling off a logistical nightmare to raise a bunch of money for people who are really suffering. Having the African Children's Choir really made the thing hit home for me. Here's these kids (22 of them) probably 6-10 years old, from places like Rwanda and Zimbabwe. Places where all these fucked up statistics actually gravely impact the lives of kids just like these, and they were just the sweetest kids you can imagine.


It really put things in perspective in terms of complaining about the downsides of my life. I felt like Spinal Tap at Graceland. Too much fucking perspective. Anyway, you can go here and learn more about it and donate some money. Seriously.

The day after the last show I flew to Vienna via Frankfurt to meet up with Team Albert. It was 100 degrees in Vienna when I landed and the address of the club was only the name of a bridge and the name of a canal. So there I was, sleep-deprived standing on the sidewalk in Vienna with no phone and all my luggage in oppressive heat. Thank god I speak exactly 3 words of German. Actually, thank god everyone in Europe speaks English and I was pointed towards the filthy rock-hole of a gig where I would waste my first time in Vienna hiding in the air-conditioned dressing room. Munich wasn't much better, especially as the bus, in typical UK bus fashion, has no AC when it's not moving and smells like a toilet. The gigs were good though and we were off to Angouleme, France, where life was much more civilized (we even killed 10 hours in Dijon en route). We played a nice festival on a grassy hill. The weather was much more enjoyable and there was a sweet old French town on the hill in the distance.

We played to about 10,000 people and ate delicious food & wine all day. More evidence that it's Paris, not France in general, that is too full of assholes to be enjoyable.

Matt pauses for some rose in the French woods...


Next was Benicassim in Spain. We did this one last year with the Strokes. This year we opened the main stage and we're in the midst of slaying somewhere near 20,000 folks when all the power went out mid-song. It was frustrating as hell for me but in the end it was pretty rock. Their measly power supplies could not withstand our particular brand of rock.

Just before it went dark & quiet...

From there we went back to France. Nimes to be precise. This was one of the most amazing gigs I've ever done. It was a Roman Coliseum built in 27BC. Gladiators used to fight to the death in the exact spot where I mixed from. After we played I walked around the very top of the arena watching Arctic Monkeys and Arcade Fire play. Good times. And of course, catering was some of the best food ever. We boarded the bus for an overnight to Paris and my all-time least favorite airport (Charles de Gaulle). Now I'm back in NYC until Thursday when I fly to SF to deal with my god-damned car. My trip may include re-enacting the end of Harold & Maude by driving it off a cliff. If I do, I promise I'll video it.

Just another day at the office...

Bri gives the peace sign...

Arcade Fire gets all grandiose...