Rattlebrained

We, Swamp Train, had a fantastic time last night at the Festival Outdoorelch near Balmberg BE, and want to thank the everyone there! A small festival on a hilltop among the many that cover the landscape south of Bern, an area where enough artists have lost their way in the 11 years it has taken place that the organizer just shrugged and laughed when our guitarist, Cutfinger, showed up at pretty much the time we were programed to play. Fortunately Dalia, the band that played before us, had started later than indicated on the program which was, we were told, just an suggestion and not to be worried about the half hour during which they were to clear the stage and we were to set up, line check and begin our set.

I had joined up with Blaze to drive there and we would never have found it either without the directions I had taken off the web. However after the last 45min of the trip following the wandering roads through small villages and countrysides, and finally ending up on what seemed a farmers driveway – which in fact it was – where we burst out of the valleys and trees to a breathtaking 300° view of the whole area with the alps in the background!

A large tent with tables, a choice of food stands, one serving raclette which for those who do not know, is a traditional swiss dish of melted cheese on potatoes with pickles, small picked onions and white wine. Yum! But perhaps not the best thing to eat before performing. In any case we were served an “assiette valaisanne” (dried meat, cheese, pickles & pickled onions, bread)entrée which was perfect; all the more since Niky and CF hadn’t arrived yet. With the scenery a beer and the view just the thing to sit around and enjoy.

Each band played for 1h30 which is nice, IMO the 45min many festivals offer you is way to short, I think we began playing at around 9h30 pm.
I believe that this band is happening, at one point last night it was like we all went off on our own, a big screw up in fact but one that led to a moment of grace that I can only describe as on the edge free blues (as in free jazz) that ended in a long circular breathed harp wail climax. We should have hit the dust (mud actually) but we sailed…

On a more personal note: yesterday’s gig was an important one for me. For the second time I used a drumstick along with my washboard (in stead of a multi-dowel stick) to be louder in these bigger outdoor – or nearly – settings and I had hype myself up all week to really go out there and bang them. Plus I’ve been working on my presence onstage, less looking at my feet, that sort of thing. And I can feel it all coming together, and that’s cool. There is still a lot to work on of course, my stick technique is pretty embarrassing for instance, but nevertheless it’s a good feeling to actually be getting it all together.

All too soon it seem under the star filled sky, after wildly dancing to Rocket Wheels rockabilly while looking over the festival’s campground it was time to drive home…

PS: in the picture check out Blaze’s new olive oil can guitar and Nik’s new Cigar Box Bass!
:-)

PPS: Check out egoshooter’s flikr set of this concert