MDC Euro Tour Part 111 - After sleeping on the floor of the Teletubbie van, hanging out at the train station, getting harrassed by train cops, playing the swimming pool in Kranj . . . staying at a real “Pension” was welcome. First gig with the Baracka (a.k.a. Boratka) boys and their mega-merch superstore. Good to see Dusan from CZD again.
After Kranj we were off to play MOCVARA in Zagreb. A great place to play. Why? They have a backstage area with snacks, they feed you a great dinner, they have a clean bathroom, couches, killer PA, parking, internet . . . What more can you ask for on the road? The graffitti on the back of the building is simply amazing! q
From there it was off to Dan’s parents house where we were greeted by his dad with shots of a Yugoslavian liquor called slivovitz (exactly like butane with a licorice aftertaste) and a taste of that home-style vegan food and desert. Wonderful family and they miss Dan a lot.
q
* To give you an idea of the nobility of these people, to still be able to smile in the aftermath of a devasting war, read on: Ivan struggled to translate his mother’s letter. “She says that X soldiers kidnapped a young boy from our town. He was eight. They took him into the woods. Killed and gutted him. Filled his body with explosives. They left the corpse on a deserted street under a moonless sky. Next morning the townspeople joined with family to help recover the boy and prepare him for burial. As the body was tenderly lifted, 13 people died as a result of explosives cleverly planted in his belly. Woman, children, elderly … dead. Others injured.” Ivan paused to wipe his eyes. “We will never be the same again in Yugoslavia.”
That night we played Backa Topola where an entire tourist bus FULL of Dan’s friends showed up at the show to cheer him on.qTalk about hometown hero!
p Here’s Dave at the sign post on the way to Dan’s house.
Another border crossing - into Hungary. When have you ever been to a border crossing where there are TWO Hummers q going through at the same time and then . . . an old codger on a bicycle?????q
qWhat do you do when you can’t read the signs? Luckily, we had a Tom-Tom and a Garmin 76CSx.
p 100% pirated merch.
At that point Ethan, our driver, had had it with us rock star types and checked in to a hotel. p
On our way to Roznov, home of Vrah - a great place to play. p
Bow down before Radegast, the god of hospitality, fertility and crops, also god of the sun and war. Statue erected in 1930 by the local brewery. p
Dave’s new best friend from Russia at the pizza parlour. Six shots will get you a free Jagermeister hat. A job for Mikey, Selina and the cossack . . . q
Fuck expensive gas too! Another tour expense that really kills you on the road. That’s 1 liter = 1 euro or 1 gallon = $ 5.60 !!!!!! q
Finally at TUWI in Vienna. q Not sure about EKH.
Another day, another dollar, living like there’s no tommorrow, p Passing time at the chess board.
AJZ - Erfurt, Germany p All-in-one: club, bar, room and board, parking, etc.
