What Ezio has to say when he is on tour

The Festivals Tour 2003, Germany

... written by John Rech from T42, Tour Manager and Support Band

Bonn (D), Sept. 13th

Good gig. And this in front of a fine audience and good camera team. Looking forward to see the pictures. They’ll be broadcast sometime in late October. Despite some minor technical problems in the beginning (Booga’s pedal board caused some trouble), the gig rapidly became hot... really hot... in every sense. Lots of friends came to witness this one. Lots of work for me. When I got home the next day, I crashed on my couch and felt asleep instantly. Something that rarely happens. On the trip leading us back to the airport Ezio listened to the new T42 live album (recorded in Mannheim) and thought it was great.

Friedrichshafen (D), August 2nd

What a beautiful place and what a great festival!

Despite the heat we enjoyed every single minute of it. Wish we could stay for some more days… Just on holidays…

Last gig with the band. The autumn dates will all be duo gigs.

As we played in a circus tent, I’d use the words “clowns & fun” to headline tonight’s performance. Once again, an Ezio show turned into something very particular. The fact that they played “30 & confused” says it all, doesn’t it?

Anyway, I gotta drive home now, so I’ll switch off my laptop and I’ll see you later. Bye…

Mainz (D), August 1st

Joe Jackson Volume V: Last opening act job… for a long time I guess. The boys just prefer full gigs… but what a last blast. Loads of Ezio fans in the house. Screaming and yelling for encores… that weren’t allowed… What a shame! But we’ll come back to Mainz asap…

Nice little drink with the Joe Jackson crew and band after the show… Think we’ve made lots of new fans during this mini-tour…

Lüneburg (D), July 31st

Well, for a first timer, this was a hit. We didn’t know we had so many friends in Lüneburg. The gig started slowly but developed slowly into a great performance.

Did you know you could stay until 6 a.m. at a bar in Lüneburg? Made lots of new friends and spent a great time.

Visited Dirk Darmstaedter’s favourite record store and bought loads of new records by people I didn’t know.

Hamburg (D), July 30th

It’s Booga’s birthday. We had a small party and a couple of presents.

To make the Hamburg day perfect, we had an instore gig. Personally, I think instores with my favourite band must be a punishment for some sin I’ve committed in an earlier life… Meanwhile, I start hating them even more than they do… Not because of what the gigs represent (Nothing!), but because it’s a real pain in the ass with these guys…

The Hamburg days were very relaxing. Antonia, my future wife visited me and it was almost like a small holiday. My future daughter (still 3 months before she shows up) kicked my ass while I was watching tv and Antonia laid behind me… Very promising…

Joe Jackson Volume IV: Today, 45 minutes weren’t too short…

Do you know Susie’s Bar? Apparently, you should…

We also did a nice interview for NDR.

Herford (D), July 27th

Joe Jackson Volume III. As we get to know his band and crew better, we start to feel well. Everyone’s really nice to us. And I think they like us, too. I even spotted Mr JJ himself talking to Ezio and Booga today. Musically too, the people in his band are great. Especially the bass player. Wow.

Considering Herford is in the Golden Triangle (Kassel, Bielefeld, Hannover), we did pretty well. The hotel that Ezio promised to be a winner proved to be a runner. Don’t stay at the Golf Hotel in Bad Sülzbach or so, if you don’t have to.

Bonn (D), July 26th

Now, that’s one for the books. Announced to be the highlight of this summer tour, this turned out to be a very, hmmm, strange one. Let’s do a brief summary:

a) p.a. = shit & too small
b) outside stage = wide open (which is not the best idea when it’s raining cats & dogs)
c) local crew = not too motivated
d) security = none present
e) rain = very present
f) working conditions = shit
g) hospitality after the gig = mega shit (as some very unpleasant and stupid township concierge thought to run for and elect himself as the mayor in 5 seconds), thank God we know the Bonn hospitality better than him… very unprofessional and not quite polite after watching us set down the gear in the rain with no help (On the other hand: thank you to the nice lady who tried her best to make us feel welcome, but get rid of this idiot for the next band)
h) crowd = great
j) show = great (especially the bodybuilding part at the end…)

And now a message to any band playing Bonn in the near future… Please, don’t even think of taking any friends, even close ones, backstage. You might be shot or, with some luck, just imprisoned to life.

Our version of the Bonn hospitality turned into a huge sushi party at the hotel bar…

Nürnberg (D), July 25th

Nürnberg seems to slowly turn into an Ezio city. There are more and more people coming to our shows. And the shows are always special. The guys played very well today. So did the Joe Jackson Band. I (we) loved their performance tonight. Maybe they felt motivated by the duo’s great performance.

We’ll be back soon…

Trier (D), July 19th

Well, that was just great. In any way. Great setting. Great day. Great gig. Great audience. And great response!!! Thank you so much. This is what why we’re doing this. To experience and savour moments like these… If we get another invitation for this location, we’ll shoot a DVD. Sure. Both, T42 & Ezio. What a night! Love you!!!

Can’t write much more, I’m still under the charm…

Stuttgart (D), July 16th

Ezio opening for Joe Jackson? Why not. A demanding and music loving audience will have the opportunity to discover a great band (or duo in this case).

A 45 minutes’ set? Weird. Ezio and Booga just about to really kick ass and forced to leave stage… A look at the watch that doesn’t even say 8 p.m. We feel like orphans… What are we gonna do? The night is not young, it hasn’t even started and the job’s already done. Help!

Weird location as well. People sitting miles away, waiting for… I don’t know… A couple of hardcore fans and friends are around…

Just for the record: Ezio and Booga landed 1 hour before the set, after doors had opened and a 30 minutes’ drive away from the venue. We made it, set up, line-checked and… were finished playing before we’d even noticed it. Did anyone say “weird night”? Wonder what the other dates will be like?

P.S. On a very personal point of view… I didn’t think this Joe Jackson show was great…