|
Karl's Irish Tour blog, part 5 - Dublin After the first early night on the tour I was feeling rested. However I was still on California time and my body clock was beating to a different drum. Andrew and I headed down to breakfast at the Warwick and were joined by JJ Bouchard and X Brothers tour manager PJ. They had gone out to a local pub last night to see an authentic Irish band who were amazing, their name escapes me. JJ was looking forward to playing some golf the day after the Dublin show before flying back to New York. Once breakfast was over it was time to load Lollipop and head East for Dublin. This was going to be the first time we had played Dublin since our successful support slot with Megadeth in 2005 and we were eagerly looking forward to it. After yesterdays fiasco with Lollipop we thought it would be prudent to leave a little earlier and take our time. We travelled again in convoy an met Val and Pete who had stayed at a different hotel on the road to Dublin. Captain Andrew at the helm and Abbz as co-pilot Now we had a three truck convoy (no rubber duck though). We stopped to fill Lollipop with diesel and fill up with munches. The ice cream cones with Chocolate flake looked tempting and were quickly purchased. Dan and Becky were asking their mom if they could travel in Lollipop with the guys to the show... to which a short sharp no was heard. We set off again towards Dublin. The music played, magazines were being read and there were more moans of "what no Genesis " were heard again from the back-row. By the time we arrived it was the start of rush hour traffic with the city. And just like any major metropolis in the world it took us 45 minutes to do the last few miles to the Mansion House.
The venue was an impressive building and had an amazing ceiling which looked like a twinkling night sky. The hotel we were staying was called La Stampa and was directly opposite the venue.. Another swank hotel and Nick did his second interview for Tart TV here. Once Lollipop was unloaded we had to find a docking place for her. This was not going to be close by. We're talking about a very busy city here folks. Doctor Michael took Andrew to find somewhere to park. They found a place almost a mile walk from the hotel and it was on a parking monster (meter),. This had to be fed again at 8.30 the following morning YUK... Thank goodness for crew!!! I was busy discussing the importance of drum technique with Donal and Dan. Once sound-check and check-in were accomplished it was time for a walk around town and something to eat. Obviously we looked for the statue of Phil Lynott and the local shops..
With Dublin being a very cosmopolitan city there were lots of very attractive ladies around to look at. Many in suits, student types and vacationers.. You guys should go, Ladies too if you swing that way. LOL. There was to be a after show party at Formula One racing ace Eddie Irvines club (Cocoon).. and so a shirt was required for this event so the hunt was on to find one. Mission accomplished back to the hotel to chill out with the AC up full. Where I used to live the weather is very arid with hardly any humidity. Needless to say I was sweating something rotten.. Back in the hotel room I have my face in-front the AC vent..Ahh! Luxury.. The hotel was an old style victorian with marble, wrought iron, tile and an old school long wooden bar with beer pulls and a mirror behind it to match. It reminded me of a hotel from the french quarter in New Orleans, the only thing missing was a jazz band in the bar,, Todays show was a special show for Abbz, his wife and son (Karen and Sam) has flown in to see the show..
It was time to head over to venue for the show...And, once again the band goes through it's pre-show rituals before the band hug and hitting the stage. Again the band was on fire and we steamrolled the place. We finished the show with three encores and we all felt throughly drained.. However there was an after show party to attend.
Only Andrew, Eddie, Nick and myself headed to the party. Brian was hanging with Rachel as she, along with Becky and Dan, who were by this time starting to look very tired, were heading back home on an early ferry... Five days straight on the road had taken it's toll on the young bohemians and as they didn't want to miss a thing tiredness was setting in. This was their first tour and they handled it like veterans. It was a real pleasure to have then on the tour. Abbz was hanging with Karen and Sam.. So it was off to Cocoon for us four digger-deviants.
Cocoons was a half mile walk from the hotel and by the time we got there the drinks had been flowing thick and heavy.. The party was organized The Doc and again he had surpassed himself. The guys from Soloway, We're all gonna Die, Owen; driver of carrier Mercedes along with his wife, Jean & Bernadette-The Doc's sisters, PJ and Jimmy from the X Brothers along with friends and families of all involved with organizing the tour. And I must say it has been a wonderful experience for us all. Eddie Irvine had generously given us an open bar.. Well, many Vodka and Cranberries were downed along with Tequilas, Jack D and Cokes and anything else that was going.. The mood was festive, relaxed and merry. Before we knew it the time had reached 3-am and it was time to leave. A splinter group consisting of The Doc, Jean, Andrew, Eddie, the guys from Soloway, We're all gonna die and myself headed to the Kebab-cafe. Nick headed back to the hotel. The mood continued in the cafe and it was 4-am when it was time to head to the hotel. Eddie left for the hotel whilst Andrew an I walked with Doctor Michael, et al to the Westbury, their hotel. The Soloway guys all jumped into a cab and headed home. Andrew and I the headed for LA Stampa, and we bumped into Ed who had managed to get lost so all three of us headed to the hotel.. Once again another amazing night and tour, we'll see all of you guys next year and thanks for memories. I would like to thank on behalf of myself and the band, Doctor Michael Conway for everything. His never ending enthusiasm, his tenacity in the face of adversity and his belief in the band. Many Thanks Okay you Mutinous Swaabs it's Belfast tomorrow so get some sleep as somebody has got to feed the parking Monster where Lollipop is docked before 8.30-am. Peace from DHQ |
