Thoughts on Ukraine 23.12.
Woah. Big thanks to all Ukraine fans for two of the most amazing gigs ever. A pointer to the west – eastern europe has VERY tight online communities that actually pay attention (and trade LOTS of files)… & just because you don’t sell records there doesn’t mean you’re unknown. the russian language forums had been trading my tunes around like crazy and i had no idea, and a BIG following had been building up over the past two years. Kiev @ Cinema Club – hundreds of people outside the club before doors had even opened, madness…… absolute connection & enthusiasm from the people. Dnipropetrovsk – Jungle party of dreams. Oh my. a sea of people rocking out – everyone singing along – pretty dready girls – lots of dudes screaming for Drumcorps … signed autographs for what seemed like hours. who brought that 10 pound solid metal urn samovar to sign??? wtf?? They had told me Dnipropetrovsk would be more underground and they were right – it was down a few flights in a bomb shelter / bunker, straight up raw. no disco balls or fog machine nonsense – under yellow halos of the sodium lights – but all loving it…. the stage here was in the middle of the floor – a writhing sea of people on three sides – i was really low to the ground and basically in the people, no borders.i like playing these raw spaces better than normal clubs even though they’re always a huge pain the the ass logistic-wise – it’s a horrible stressful mess setting up over piles of everyone else’s gear & beehives of important-looking electrical cables everywhere – certainly not the nice clean comfy stage you get at a proper festival or club. but being all up in everyone’s face gives me a sense of urgency & energy that you can’t get any other way – and it comes out in the music. thanks ukraine, both gigs were truly special. will be back soon.