Driving in Germany - Tour Blog 4

I’m in a van somewhere between Fulda and Frankfurt, Germany. Jim, our driver, just let us know that he has to return to Belgium for an emergency. He is leaving the Sprinter van with us. I’m not worried about this because of my crack team of drivers and problem solvers. This is the Rodeo. Benny will drive. Sugar will give him rests. And Johnny will make us all feel like it’s OK. But what’s scary is that we have been pulling over once a day to pour water in the radiator. And there is a squeaky noise under the hood that we affectionately refer to as “the crickets”. It will be OK. I know this because I have traveled the world with these guys. In Bridgeport, CT we had the windows smashed out of our van the day of our showcase at CMJ. We figured it out. Since the band formed we have traveled on planes, trains and automobiles. We have stayed up all night, seen the sunrise, driven without sleep, repaired vehicles, rewired amplifiers, performed with broken gear, and we have always made the gig. Things work out with this band. This will be the same.

It’s now the point of the tour where one day becomes the next and the day before might actually be three days ago. I can’t really tell where we are on the schedule unless I read it on a piece of paper. It’s seems like we have been in Germany much longer than we have. I’m starting to speak in broken English all the time. How you say? Nein sprechenze Deutch. Sprechenze English??

Last night I turned in early at 4:30 AM. The club was still open and music was pumping through the floor of our band apartment. I recall a mattress on the floor, I rolled over, and Benny was yelling at me telling me it was time to load up – 10 AM! Shit, that’s a pretty good nights sleep. The club owner served us breakfast and that’s when we realized that Johnny was not with us. Where the fuck is Johnny?!? Sugar said that Johnny knew the time we would be leaving. He would be back. Johnny is a survivor, so I wasn’t worried about him. But we like having him around and there was a chance we would have to leave him in Fulda. We were prepared to do this if necessary. He’d just have to meet us on down the road. But before breakfast was done, Johnny walked in smiling and making jokes. Suddenly lightness returned to the room. I’m glad we didn’t have to leave the little squirrel behind.

Right now I’m watching Jim explain things to Benny. There is a new thumping noise under the hood that we have not heard previously. Jim says this is no problem, and that it’s just a screw that fell into the water pump. Apparently this is normal and it goes away after 30 minutes of driving. As long as it’s just a noise, we don’t care. Jim is looking after us. We have his phone number and documents for the van. We have the German equivalent of AAA. And we have Benny. Everything will be OK as long as we have Benny.

The wind is blowing in my face. I’m exhausted, but my head is not pounding. I am with my friends and everyone is healthy. And I’m on tour in Germany. Now that I think about it, things couldn’t be better.

Here are some pictures from the last couple of days. Danke for reading.

Mr. Amaker


























ps - We have been eating well while in Germany!