Thursday, July 12, 2012

More London, NYC, and home again

Sunday morning I finally made it back home to Los Angeles. It had been quite a trip to get back and I was so happy to get off of the plane and head home. I was glad to be done with the traveling, but wish the trip could have been a bit longer - I didn't want to face reality - going back to work and getting back into the daily swing of things here in LA. But it was time.
London continued to be a fun town to kick around in. After coming up from Brighton I made my way down to the Royal Docks for a free music festival that my friend Jane had told me about. I was hoping to see Musical Youth who were celebrating 30 years of being together - but I got there about 30 minutes too late.
I saw a few other bands - one was a Cuban ska band who were really fun - they had the whole big top tent crowd area, where the main stage was, dancing along to the music. I also hung out in the reggae tent where a DJ was playing some deep reggae and different guys were toasting/rapping over the top. They were really cool.
Besides music there was a lot of visual art around - lots of interesting designs made of wood - chairs, sculptures, a little house made of window panes. The back drop was this large area of old abandoned buildings. They sat right across the water from where the music was and were very eye catching - very unique.
The next morning I decided to head down to the London Bridge and the Tower Of London area - after I had to buy another UK power adaptor - my 3rd one (and thankfully my last) of the trip. It was overcast - like it was most days - and it would rain off and on throughout the day. It was never a really heavy rain so it was still not too bad getting around. I walked from the London Bridge (not too exciting) along the Thames to the Tower Of London area and those grounds were pretty spectacular - you could just feel the history that surrounds the place. There were lots of tourist - just like me - checking things out. I wanted to go in but the price was a little too steep for me - 18 pounds which is about $25. So I just took in the sights from the outside. From there you can see the Tower Bridge really well. It looked pretty cool with the Olympic Rings hanging from the bridge.
While resting and trying to decide what to do for the evening, my friend Michelle told me that her friend and my friend Jackie's friend, Kara Grainger from Australia/LA, was playing in town that night. I looked it up and the venue was right down the street from where I was. So I cruised up there and met up with her.
Kara was doing a tour with a guy from New Orleans named Andrew Duhon. They had been traveling around doing shows in Spain and the UK. Her bass player also was LA and as we started talking about who we knew it hit me. I had seen her play with my friend Henry just the month before - and she had played a bit with Jackie too. It was a good night and there was a good crowd there - I sat there enjoying it all and glad that I had heard about it. Afterwards I made my way out through the tube and the buses to Bush Hill Park and Enfield where I was staying. It was a bit of ways out there but it was kind of nice to get out of the crowds of people in the main part of the city.
Tuesday night, the 3rd, I had my own show to do - at the 12 Bar Club in Soho. The other shows had gone well so far and I was looking forward to playing again. I had put out notices and was hoping that some of my new friends would be making it out - there are lots of times that you just never know who's going to show up - so I was hopeful about people coming.
I found the bar fairly easily and it was a cool place - right on Denmark Street where there are several guitar shops and music stores along the strip. The 12 Bar had a couple rooms for hanging out - there was a pool table in one. The stage was in it's own room - there was a balcony too - it all wasn't too big - maybe the same size space as The Cinema Bar where I play in LA. Up by the stage was a hearth made of stone and had a plaque on it that said 1635 - I was told later that it use to be a blacksmith shop.
Thankfully people showed up - Dan, who helped me get the gig, Jane, who also helped me get the gig, Mary Beth, the bass player from the night before, Kara Grainger, who came with Mary Beth. A friend of Dan's named Silvia also showed up - so there were people there which I was very happy about. Other people that were in the bar also made their way in when I started playing. I thought it was a pretty good night. Silvia thankfully took photos with my phone and afterwards we hung around and listened to some of the other acts - The Flynn Brothers and Bob Rifkin, and then headed out to the tube and I made my way back to sleep.
The next day was the 4th of July and I was a little sad that I wouldn't be seeing a fireworks show of some sort. Still I wasn't too sad since I was on vacation in a very cool town. That night I had plans to meet up with Silvia who had told me about an interesting show that evening - a Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley tribute show - in honor of the 4th down in the Canary Wharf area.
That area is southeast of the city and it took a bit of traveling on the different trains both above and underground to get me there. Before we went to the show area Silvia took me up to the office where she works - about 40 floors up - it had an amazing view of the surrounding areas - I could see the boats floating by on the Thames and the Tower Bridge in the distance - it was pretty damn awesome.
The two performers were actually pretty good - it was just a unique way to spend the 4th of July. I missed fireworks though. The rain fell off and on - luckily ponchos were being given out and Silvia had brought a mat to sit on so we didn't have to sit on the wet grass. Overall it was fun and glad that I had made it down there.
After a decent night of sleep I headed out on the town again. First, coffee back down at Canary Wharf with Silvia and then later to an open mic my friend Jane had told me that her two friends ran. Thankfully no rain as I made my way around on the trains and the streets - and eventually made my way to the Betsey Trotwood in Clerkenwell which is a central area of town. The open mic night was called The Lantern Society and it was in the upstairs room of a pub. There was a small stage, a small bar, and chairs and a few tables - a cozy place. Downstairs the pub was happening - people hanging out talking with their pints and food. I ordered a hamburger which was a good one.
The night was fun - I listened and heard some good performers - and then it was my turn and I played 3 songs - during the third song I started stomping my foot on the stage and knocked the guitar that had been resting behind me on stage just about over. Thankfully a performer close by ran up and caught it so nothing was damaged. Afterwards I ended up meeting with my friend Michelle in Soho - and it was a good ending to a long day.
Friday I knew was going to be my last full day in England. I had wanted to go down to Brighton and see Birte and her family once more - but I had checked the train prices and they had been raised for the weekend - so instead of about $50 total it was closer to $100. So I told her I would see her later and went out for my last day in London.
It was nice out - warm in the sun - lots of people with smiles on their face as they sat around enjoying the warmth. I drifted through a couple coffee shops - doing some writing here and there and using the wireless connections to keep in contact with people since I didn't a UK phone number. As the evening came on I found a pub and went in and watched some of the Wimbledon match. It was crowded and people were coming in and out watching what was going on - Murray, a UK player, was up against a French player - obviously everybody was wanting Murray to win so he could be in the finals and to try to become the first UK champion since the 30's (he won - but ended up losing to Federer in the finals).
Later that evening I had been invited to a party - Jane had a friend I met during the trip and she said to come on over. I got there and the backyard was full of people having a good time. It was fun - I had a bit of food - some drinks - talked to quite a few people. At some point I saw that it was getting late and got my stuff to go - but I was told that wasn't happening - they told me to stay and just leave in the morning - so I did. I played DJ for a while and then crashed out and slept until the sun came up.
Definitely feeling tired and weary I made my way back to Enfield and slept some more. I was very thankful that my flight wasn't until 7pm that night. After some rest I started to gather my things and get ready to leave. I knew it was going to take a while to get to Heathrow on the Underground and I made sure I left with enough time. I was sad that I was going - I had had loads of fun - I kept looking over my photos on my phone as I made my way to the airport. I also knew I had a lot of traveling and waiting ahead of me before I actually made it home.
Once at Heathrow I checked in my suitcase and made it through customs. Everything was on time and I got ready to fly to NYC - where I was to have a layover - an 8 hour layover - from 10pm to 6:30am. I had bought my ticket late at night and didn't look closely enough at that return flight - so I knew I was going to be stuck in the airport during that stretch of time. Soon enough we were on our way - back to the west.
Once in NYC I made it through my last customs/passport check - gathered my things and got ready to spend the night in the airport. I had thought about going in to the city, but I didn't want to carry my stuff around, and I didn't want to do it alone - so I just found a chair and tried to sleep - which I did sort of. By 3am I was mostly up and I wondered around and then went through the security check. With a cup of coffee I watched the sun come up and in the distance you could see the Manhattan skyline. Just after 6am I got on my plane and we flew back to LAX, where I started.
My dad picked me up and I was feeling exhausted - and wanted to get cleaned up - and then take a nap - and that's what I did - it felt good to be back in my own bed - and was really hoping that the jet lag wouldn't be too bad. It wouldn't really hit me till the next day - but I took advantage of the energy burst and headed up to LA - first to the Grand Ol' Echo for a short stop, and then to meet up with a visiting friend just up the street. By the end of the night as I made my way to my house sitting gig, I was beat. Sleep sounded so good - and I was out.
Monday afternoon I was back at work.
So that was it in a nutshell - it was an incredible vacation - and I can't wait to go back - hopefully next year in either April or May - or even June. There's a lot I want to do before then to be more prepared - new CD, more shows, some American touring before then. So I'll get working on it.
yours truly,
Jeremiah

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the backdrop for the music festival down at the Royal Docks
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One of the images on the festival site
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Some designs made of wood - one is made up of old wood pallets and had a "room" that you could go and hang out in
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A rotating dual chair
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The Cuban ska band on the main stage
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Tower Bridge with the Olympic rings
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Tower Of London
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Kara Grainger and Andrew Duhon at the Steam Wine Bar
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With the full band
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The 12 Bar Club in Soho on Denmark Street
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This display is right above the bar - I knew I was in the right place
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The stage
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A shot from the balcony
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And one from the floor
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Dan Beaulaurier and me - post show
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London - from the east and 40 floors up
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"Frank Sinatra"
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"Elvis"
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Silvia and I on the 4th Of July
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St. Paul's Cathedral
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Michelle Nadia and I - on King's Road
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Taking the tube home
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Bush Hill Park pub - where I would walk past to get to the train station
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An evening pub session during Wimbledon - that's how most of the pubs were around 5 o'clock
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A mighty fine pint of Guinness from Filthy MacNasty's in Islington
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heading up Amwell to the party on the last night in town
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The neighborhood in Enfield where I stayed
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Watching the sun come up at JFK in NYC - the skyline can be seen faintly in the distance
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Home - in Huntington Beach, CA

Sunday, July 1, 2012

Back in England - 1 more week till home

Good morning - I'm back here in Brighton today - I've spent the last two nights down here after getting back from Ireland and playing a show on Friday night at a little place in town called the Tic Toc Cafe. It's been fun still and it's going to be very strange to be back in California next week - back to work. Later today I'm heading back up to London - try to see some music an meet up with some friends.
The trip to Ireland was pretty amazing. My hotel room for the last two nights was in a good spot - close to the City Centre - and it made walking home from the Temple Bar area quick and easy - with was a good thing, especially since on the second night after the bars were closing, the rain started coming down. So I made it safe and fast back to my room.
There was just so much to see while in Dublin and I walked around the city trying to take it all in. That first night in Dublin I went into one of the bars to watch the Euro 12 football match between Spain and Portugal. I've watched a lot of football over here - everyone is so into it - and too bad England didn't do better. So the bar was crowded with people watching - and right after it was over the music started up.
I watched for a while and was about to go out to another bar when I heard music from the 2nd floor. So I headed up and it was another group playing more traditional music. They were good so I stuck around. Then they had some Irish dancers do their thing in the 11 o'clock hour. I heard more music downstairs so I went to check it out and there was a whole crowd down there hanging out.
So I stayed the whole time there - which wasn't what I was planning on but it's what happened. I went to the different floors throughout the rest of the night until 3 - and the rain was coming down. But like I said, my hotel room wasn't too far away - about a 10 minute walk - and there were plenty of people still out - walking around - so I felt fairly safe - and I crashed out and caught up on sleep.
It was 12:30 by the time I got up - which I was surprised by - but I hadn't slept all that well the first night. I got myself together and went out walking - down through Grafton Street and into St. Stephen's Green Park - it was a nice sunny day and lots of people were out enjoying the sun.
That evening I was planning to head up to the seaside town called Skerries to see a band called I See Hawks In LA - who were over doing a tour of Ireland and England. I had seen them a bunch of times in LA and was looking forward to seeing some fellow Angelenos - and enjoy some great music - West Coast country rock.
I caught the train and rolled out of Dublin - I put on Van Morrison's Astral Weeks - watched the Irish landscape flash by - fields of green, houses on hills, roads and cars, lakes, and in the distance to the east, the sea.
Skerries was a nice little town and it was an easy walk from the train station to the town center. There were two windmills in view from the road, and I found the bar Raff's On The Corner quite easily. Since I got there early I took a walk along the coast line and it was quite an amazing view - very beautiful to see as the sun was going down.
By the time I made it back it was almost time for the music to start, although there was a game on - Germany versus Italy - and sort of surprising Italy won (I had heard several people saying that they expected Germany to win the whole thing - and not just from the German people I had encountered).Then I saw the band take their places, I said a hello, and sat down and enjoyed the night of music in that little Irish town.
Since the trains had stopped at a certain hour, I ended up taking the bus, the last bus into town. I sat up on the top and watched as we passed through the quiet little towns on the way back to Dublin. It was quite nice.
When I got back it was about 1:30am and was still in the mood for another pint so I headed back to the Temple Bar - walked past the old Post Office where in the 1916 the Irish declared their independence from Britain - they have a stone inscription with the declaration in the window. It's where they had a stand off with the British army on Easter that year - I guess there are still bullet holes in the pillars.
After a couple rounds I was ready for bed since I knew I had to be up early to catch a plane back to London.
The flight back was easy and then I headed down to Brighton where I was going to be playing a show in a cafe with my friend Birte. I was tired and wanted to take a nap but I never got the opportunity. We walked down to the cafe, passing through the narrow Lanes and got ready to play. The cafe was cozy and some people showed up - and we had a good night playing - good food, good wine, good friends.
I ended up staying another night down in Brighton and am just making my way back out to where I'm staying in Enfield. I've got to take the tube and then a short train ride, drop my stuff off, and then head back to the east side of London for a music festival.
I'm looking forward to playing a proper 45 minute set on Tuesday at The 12 Bar Club in Soho. I'm hoping some of my new friends make it out - I'll be on around 7:30 and then there are 3 more acts to follow - so we'll see.
I've got to head out now
yours truly,
Jeremiah
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Along the river bank in Dublin
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A monument to the lost sailors
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Watching the match between Spain and Portugal
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The 2nd floor of the bar in the Temple Bar
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The 1st floor of the same bar
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Trinity College
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Street kids playing on Grafton Street in Dublin
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Along the river banks - looking east
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Skerries
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Along the coast line
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the Skerries harbor
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Boats in the harbor
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Fishing on the docks
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Looking out to the Islands off the coast
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Looking south from the peninsula
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Along the walk way
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Incredible cloud formations across the sky
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Further south along the walk way
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Looking north to the peninsula
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I See Hawks In LA at Raff's On The Corner in Skerries, Dublin County
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James Joyce statue
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Arthur and the Irrational (Birte on guitar and Rose on accordion) at the Tic Toc Cafe
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The hill that leads to Holland Street - where I was staying
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The Howdle's - Birte, Jack (looking away from the camera), Sam, and Aaron
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Enjoying a sun deck and a pint while overlooking Brighton