Lest We Baguette.

Writing this blog whilst the police are checking out our passports and vehicle documents on the German border. So, we drove 7 hours to get from Schwabisch Gmund to Lyon and arrived at the Ninkasi Kao to play our first gig with Uncommonmenfrommars and Misconduct. The venue was huge and everyone was ridiculously friendly to us; everyone made us feel really welcome and we were looking forward to the next 2 gigs with them. The venue packed out by the time we played and it was easily the best gig of the tour so far. Misconduct went on and played a really good set, followed by Uncommonmenfrommars, a pop-punk band from France and they totally tore the venue up - an amazing live band. We headed backstage for more free beer and sandwiches and then split up and stayed in strangers houses. Thanks to Noodle photography for the two gig photos!

The following day, we had another lengthy drive to Paris, paying 50 euro's for a toll road, and taking us an hour and a half to park the van. Paris was very crowded and very expensive but the venue filled out and was, again, one of our favourite gigs of the tour. We were followed again by Misconduct and Uncommonmenfrommars who were both amazing and we left Paris as good friends with all the guys from the bands. We have to thank Uncommonmenfrommars for setting us up with accomodation for both nights and a special thanks to the Didelet family who let us 7 strange, English, commoners sleep in their wonderful house, feeding us and letting us wash.

Another 5 hour drive followed and we arrived in Selestat for our last French gig of the tour. The venue was drastically different from the two previous nights, a small bar in a small town to a small crowd but the gig was one our best. We were supported by a local South-Dakota influenced country and blues band called Mitch and the Buccanons and, despite not having a bass player, they had a really good, full sound. After we played, we had some more beverages, lasagne and then headed in two different directions, half the band staying with the lead singer of The Moorings and the other half with the bass player. After a good sleep and a mean breakfast, we met up and started to drive to Wiesbaden for our first of 7 gigs with the mighty Talco.

Gig in Selestat, photography by Celim Gnik

Long Blog of Nothing.

We've had a few technical blunders over the last week and a half, a broken camera, lack of internet, lack of motivation, so we have a lot of shit to say, but nothing of remote interest. We left the O'Ceallaigh household on the 7th and we had no place to go till the 10th, so we decided to go on a tour of small towns and petrol stations. We slept in the van on the 7th in some service station in Belgium, it was a night of fighting frostbite and almost no sleep. Too awful to describe.

Our next destination was Regensburg to play an acoustic show in our favourite cocktail bar, Filmbuhne, but we had two days to get there. We visited Dusseldorf, Ascheffenburg and then finally settled on Frankfurt where we slept over in a hostel. Travelled again towards Regensburg where Greeny cut Simon's hair (very nicely), and Tour Challenge 1 was completed - crawl through a really small hole. After another night of roughing it in the van, we arrived in Regensburg much to the delight of ourselves to see some familiar and hospitable faces, Phil and Arlyn. The acoustic gig was a last minute thing set up by Phil, so we had to destroy the beautiful town of regensburg by putting up hundreds of gig posters.

 The acoustic gig was okay, but what followed was otherworldly. We were given free cocktails, shots of Jager, whiskey and in Greeny's case, the three mixed together in strawpedo form. This resulted in finding him passed out outside the flat, throwing up over Arlyn's cosmetics and refusing to wear any pants. And Ryan split his head and arse open trying to drag Greeny's lifeless body through the door. Greeny was grey for 3 days.

After everyone fully recovered, we were allowed to stay in Regensburg a further day, then headed to the Esperanza Club in Schwabish Gmund to play a last minute show with Leo and the Lineup. Our tour nearly ended prematurely when we were travelling to the gig and the back van doors flew open and lots of our gear spilled out over the road in Germany. We have to thank the German drivers for not testing how good the hardcases are by running them over. The venue was really good, we played a really good gig and Leo and the Lineup tore another one with their brand of reggae infused soul. Leo and the Lineup were very nice people and we now have a reason to visit Copenhagen.

We stayed over in The Esperanza Club for the next two days thanks to Fritz and Felix who provided us with as much food, beer and heat as we could consume We visited the town, fucked around on a playground like kids and Ryan completed Tour Challenge 2 - drink a really large beverage and don't piss your pants. After a decent night of sleep we headed to Lyon for our first gig with Uncommonmenfrommars and Misconduct. We're trying our best to get Nic's camera fixed but we've had no such luck as of yet!

All photos by Simon and Jade and their Fujifilm.

Two Days in Groningen.

We arrived in Groningen in the early morning and were very grateful to have a place to sleep, wash and eat, thanks to the lovely Peter Kelly and Evy who have been amazing every time we come here. We slept most of the day and then headed down O'Ceallaigh's, the best and most authentic Irish bar in the Netherlands owned by Peter and Evy.

 We played two 45 minute sets, had plentiful beverages and the headed back to the Kelly household for more drinks and Dutch TV. After another healthy nights sleep, we decided to do something productive with our time and headed into Groningen centre to busk. It was very cold, very, very cold, and we had competition from a man with a harmonica and a dog and two very tall green ladies.

Busking on the streets of Groningen - All photography by Nicola Hutchinson

After an hour, we went back to the house, changed and then headed to O'Ceallaigh's to listen to some traditional Irish session music provided by some of Peter Kelly's  fellow musicians from The Doggy Few. We woke up to the bad news of the Essen gig being cancelled, so we now have five days of van-sleeping and driving to nowhere.

Amiens-ing.

We finally arrived in Amiens after two days driving through Germany and France. Our Paris gig got cancelled so we had a free day to drive, drive, eat and drive. We got there early so decided to spend the full day doing the most rebellious, anarchistic thing we could think of - looking at a Cathedral. It was pretty badass.

The venue was a tiny pub in the centre of Amiens that was still being refurbished, but the place was packed out with fans of the support band, The Sixth Road. They played a tight set of original songs and the atmosphere was tasty. We headed to the 'stage' and played for an hour, nailed another encore, and then headed to the local Irish bar for a few drinks with Ronan, the promoter of the gig. Thanks to Mylene Kokel for the gig photography.

 We then started our 7 hour drive to Groningen towards Peter and Evy's house for our Bonfire Night gig at the wonderful O'Caellaigh's. After a third nights sleep in the van we were all very grateful to have a bed and a place to wash our dirty faces.

In the pub with the Ronan and the sound tech - Photography by Nicola Hutchinson

Regensburg to Berlin.

We spent our last night in Regensburg having our fill of Poutine, Currywurst and Nachos, before heading to a cocktail bar recommended by Phil and Arlyn called Filmbuhne. We spent more money than was necessary and had our last night of comfortable sleep for 3 days.

Our next gig was in an alternative club called Wild at Heart in Berlin. We had more cocktails in the Tiki Lounge next door and then headed to the club to play our final show with The Buccaneers. They put on an awesome show and we were very sorry to see them leave. We met up with friends from England, Froj & Shell and Richard & Sharon.

The Wild at Heart was an amazing venue and we had a blast. We sank some more free beverages, drove another 2 hours towards our next destination, Amiens. We won't arrive for a while so it's very much another few days of rough sleep in a van where nobody likes each other.

Wild at Heart with Phillipp of The Buccaneers - All photos by Nicola Hitchinson

Busking; Busted.

After a full day of driving yesterday, we decided to do something productive with our time and busk. We walked around Regensburg's medievil city, walked over the Danube and then set up in a square outside Phil and Arlyn's flat.

Tasty scenery across the Danube, courtesy of Nicola Hutchinson.

St. Peter's Cathedral in the centre of Regensburg.

We managed to play at least 8 songs before we were moved on by the 'community officers' for not having a license. For only half an hour, we earned nearly 100 Euro's, so it wasn't too much of a failure.

Busking inside the market square - Photo by Nicola Hutchinson

We headed back to the flat and decided to get smashed with Phil, Arlyn and their very nice friends, discovering new drinks such as German vodka, Lady Diana's advocaat and a cocktail called Hugo. Arlyn makes really good cookies. And German breakfasts are the best.

Bottle of Lady Diana's own advocaat

Tomorrow we will be visiting the city, enjoying our last night of Regensburg and then sleeping for our long drive to Berlin.

Driving and Terneuzen.

On Friday 28th of October, The Roughneck Riot headed out to Europe to embark upon our 30 day European tour. We're starting a blog to let everyone know that we're not dead, dying or suffering from any diseases e.g. syphillis, fascism, etc.

We arrived in Terneuezen at around 8 in the morning after a hefty drive through England, France and Belgium only to be greeted by a first-class con-artist on a bicycle. Aside from that, we were greeted with great weather and great hospitality from everyone at De Pit, feeding us with endless supplies of Jupiler and Chocomel. 

Outside De Pit - Photo taken by Nicola Hutchinson

 

 

Our good friends The Buccaneers arrived and have made us feel nothing but welcome, with special thanks to Arlyn and Phillip Hofmeister. They stormed the gig with a tasty 17 song set and we're looking forward to the next 5 days with them. We hit the stage and couldn't have asked for a better first gig. Finished the night with a rousing bunch of Dutch beverages and a great laugh with The Buccaneers. 

Backstage with The Buccaneers - Photo taken by Nicola Hutchinson

The following day we cleaned, waited for breakfast and drove 9 hours to Regensburg to stay with Philip and Arlyn of The Buccaneers. 3 days off from gigs to busk, sleep and eat German pastries.