Amsterdam, Spain, and Orchestra

With the summer also came our trip to Europe. We had a couple of gigs planned and Bas had to sell his EU gear, because we are not planning to play in Europe anymore. Too much of a hassle.

Amsterdam Our friend Cindy had arranged a concert at a bar in the heart of town, where 1000 years ago the locals had built a dam to divert the river into a number of canals, forming an articial delta. We were playing near the Amstel river, over which a number of friends came from the Elektrohaven, where you can hire electric boats to see the colorful canals of Amsterdam. We had brought our bass amp, and Cindy brought a small PA for Ilene's cello and vocals. Eric (from Eat at Joe's, the former Melkweg restaurant) waited for us at the back of the train station. He had hired a semi electric transport bike, that doubled as terrace chair after he'd arrived at the café. We installed everything, and waited for our drummer Karst who also used a bicycle and cart to transport his drumkit. It took a while so we enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the city, the tourists on their group-bicycles, the ringing bells of the trams, and the student overlooking the scene from her room window, high up. She was lucky enough to witness live music coming from the bar for free, daily! Finally, Karst arrived and immediately installed his kit. A couple of friends came in, among which a few that I hadn't seen in ages. Others had promised to come but forgot or something happened. We began right at eight, the arranged starting time. Eric and Mary (who also had arrived) got some food for us, the sweet hearts. We could stay in their nice appartment in the city centre, where we could stay before as well. Ilene's friends rock! My friends too, for coming to see Bas, shake hands, exchange stories, giving updates on life. All were curious to know how our life in America was going. After playing the first set, filled with Freewheeler originals, we turned it into a Jam Session, and Cindy sat in, with Dan on bass, Cici on washboard, and a unknown singer. This gave Bas the opportunity to mingle a bit. He thinks it's the last time he will fly, ever. After the concert was over, the stuff got packed in, we walked (with bass amp on tiny wheels) to the apartment and decided to walk to the Leidseplein, where our friends were playing in the Bourbon street bar. Rain made us decide to call a cab, which turned out to be a Tesla S model. Not too comfy, we both thought. Driver wasn't very sympathetic either. It saved us a walk, and we hoped to be in time to jam with Lamar. Unfortunately, he didn't invite us right away and waited until it was too late to get us on stage. We smoked and like always I wasn't allowed to bring my beer outside; when I came back inside, the bar staff had stolen my beer (this must've been the 100th time; celebrate) so I will not ever return to that hell-hole. For me, live music goes together with cold beer and a good smoke. If the place cannot offer that (at the same time) it just is not for me. I'll not spend my hard earned bucks there. That's the choice we have. After the gig, the drummer, that I knew from Tilburg as Albert, invited all to come to his afterparty. It was late, we were tired. As it was raining, we had to take a cab back to the Geldersekade. We walked back in, and crashed immediately, to be waked up the next day by sounds of neighbors walking up or down the stairs, which is kind of the soundscape for every Amsterdammer. Spain We had booked a Ryanair flight to Reus, but missed the plane because the parking we had booked was full, and Ilene's bag was too big to fit in the ridiculous bag-spacer. There were no other flights, so we were basically robbed by the Ryanair staff. Never again. Our friends in Spain were a little disappointed we couldn't make it. So were we. That's how life goes, sometimes. Budget traveling sucks, don't do it. Orchestra Once back, Ilene heard she had a concert with the orchestra she is in, Two Rivers College. She had to study Tchaikowski, Schubert and other composers that were not easy parts. The concert went fine, as many of her friends showed up. Currently she is working on Beethoven. Bas is working as a gardener. For him, music is entertainment and as soon as it loses that status, he prefers silence.