I sent some photos from Torino, Luzern and Ulm today to Josh at TGREC. Thanks Josh and Celia at casadecalexico.com for helping transfer the transmissions. Tour is going really well. Torino was a dream and a welcomed change from the chill of Bologna. Thanks to Francesco for being our guide to all that is beautiful about touring in Italia. Happy Birthday to Valentina P as well. Nice comments from the folks after the show and the dinner moments before at the ristorante across the street from the Teatro Colloseo was sublime. Spaghetti vongole, vino rosso, espresso…boom! Run back to the Teatro to play to an enthusiastic and warm audience.

Serious partying on the bus leaving Torino thanks to Oliver and Jelle’s bartending prowress. Slammer = vodka and champagne mixed spells disjointed dancing on the bus and queezy sleep across the border and into Switzerland. We survived and there are photos on Valerie’s camera. Should we post them?

Better stick to the lofi cell phone shots for now.

Luzern’s KKL Theatre is super modern and kickass. In the adjacent hall under the same roof Mischa Maisky is rehearsing a Haydn cello concerto with small ensemble. I am blown away and taken to a deeper level of inspiration. Later that day we rehearse with violinist, Anna-Sophie Mahler who we’ve been playing with in Europe for about ten years. She brings a whole different vibe to songs like “The News About William” and “Minas de Cobre”. John and I recently recorded some original material for a verison of Tennessee Williams’ “The Glass Menagerie” that she is directing in Biel Switzerland (www.theater-biel.ch and www.theater-solothurn.ch). After the show Anna-Sophie and the whole cast present with us a gift of wine, cheese, olives, flowers as a thank you.

We arrive in cold, grey Ulm the next day. Time for laundry at the nearby washerei. Paul goes to the Apotheke for some supplies for Katja back home. Martin is on the street talking with his birthday gal Lena. Jelle rents a bike and rides of in search of crackers for our wine tasting night off. Patrick and I meet our friend Guni for espresso and pretzels. I sent some photos from the walk around town as the sun began to finally break from the clouds. We saw some old gates and buildings from the 1100’s and 1400’s. A man was taking his three greyhounds on a walk. There were decorations being hung for Mardi Gras. Tomorrow I will try to climb the gothic cathedral and get a bird’s eye view of what the legendary Schneider von Ulm might have seen. Apparently, recent scientists figured out that he would have succeeded in flying across the Donau if he had tried flying 200 meters south from his original point of departure.

wishing you all a safe flight
all those winged and webbed
a good night and sweet dream
joey

It´s cold outside. We are playing at Estragon outside of the city of Bologna. It´s even colder inside the industrial style hangar. Spirits are up. I stock up on vitamins and honey-lemon hot liquids. Seems like we are far away from everyone and everything. Where are we? Bologna? Italy? I think about the times when people ask us, what we see when we are on tour. I would love to have gone into town, but energy is low, and we are far from the city center. So we huddle round a spaceheater and do our best to stay warm. Hoping the show tonight brings some good kinetic energy and direction. Missing the old streets and small shops, ristorantes, cafes, etc. Jacob just sneezed himself awake. Jairo is waiting for a call from home to wish his son a Happy Birthday. John looks ready to connect with his Italian roots, Martin was online and is now missing, Volker on the bus? Paul is laying low. Late night show and hours to wait around. Best wishes to all.

Epicerie Moderne

I wake up late cuz I stay up late. Hard to roll to sleep when the bus drives off down the cobble stone. There’s movies in the upstairs lounge and drinks/food/discussion with the occasional DJ momento downstairs in the galley. Ray likes coffee at 3am. The chill settles in hard today in Lyon. Val, Jairo and I cab it into town for a look and walk around. We climb with the funiculaire to the top of the mountain overlooking the valley filled with buildings and the Rhone running through it all. Off in the distance the Alps pierce the low lying clouds with a touch of blue sky and shining mountaintop in the sun. It helps to get outside of the backstage. Seems like hours disappear easily there. It might snow tonight Ray says. I bundle up as best as I can and dig into to some rehearsing with band, “Cruel” and “Stray” are some of the cuts we run thru.

I sent some photos from my phone, sorry if they’re fogged or muddled. Must be my pockets full of dust and such that give the gloomy glow. Anyways I sent a photo of the Cathedrale de St Jean hi atop the hill overlooking the sprawl of Lyon, also sent an interior shot of a votive candle I lit for you all especially Jacob Jr, Maurio, y Juanito. Did I send the photo of the Salon du Thé? It was great. Simple and sweet. Chocolat eclaire and tarte de pomme. Merci beaux coups.

School of Rock Barbey

I know I know it’s a funny name for a rock club. Well, it is a school too. And they have a wicked UK red double decker bus for catering and the food was outta this world. Today feels like Monday after the big celebrations last night in Barcelona and watching/feeling the energy in Washington DC with Obama becoming our new President. People here are very proud of us. Feels good. Nice comments from lots of folks tonight and the air seemed much more relaxed. Now, can we repair relations with Cuba? I really wanna go sometime. Alright back to Bordeaux. The audience was so attentive and quiet that we were wondering if they were breathing or not. They were and gave us a wonderful welcome back. This place is special. Ever since we played here in 1998 at the famous 60’s club Le Jimmy’s we have had a strong connection. Tonight we played “Letter To Bowie Knife” and the folks dug it. The show end was one of my favs too “Red Blooms”. Loving the ambience more and more on these late nights in the Mediterranean. Merci Bordeaux.
ps. Really enjoyed singing “Deep Down” tonight as well.

The Apolo Theatre

Today is an emotional one. Watching the events unfold in Washington DC from sunrise to afternoon from TV and computer. Loved Obama’s speech and the fact the sun was shining on the capitol. Everyone in the group is excited and ready to celebrate. What to play tonight? we start with “Gift X Change” which seems to set a meditative mood before the energy and dynamics build. The audience in Barcelona are very enthusiastic and listening to each phrase and line. Jairo of Depedro has a great set with several of Calexico members jumping in to back him up. Amparo Sanchez who was there in Madrid also adds some serious rockin’ to the set and helps elevate the whole place as she usually does. Many people on this whole tour of Spain have been so sweet to us and very appreciative of the concerts. I hope we can return soon. This is good soul food. Muchos Gracias!

Spent the evening at Amparo’s house with her family and friends. Home made dinner thanks to Francesco y Sergio, musica with Jairo, Jacob, John y Jordi. Beatiful casa Amparo, gracias! Now back at the hotel room and enjoying the media blitz on TVland before tomorrow’s inauguration of President Obama in Washington DC. Many people here in Europe are extremely excited and it is felt here on tour. Last night in Zaragosa someone handed us a sign that read “two days to go”. The shows so far have been amazing. Madrid, Vigo, San Sebastian…all amazing old theatres and crowds with inspiring energy/enthusiasm. Muchos gracias por todo. Tomorrow in Barcelona will certainly be an eventful evening. Apollo are you ready?