Milan:
We were supposed to play a venue a bit outside the centre, but due to the local Governments strict fire regulations the venue was closed down and our gig was moved to more local Alcatraz. It was a very nice, but huge venue where really big stars like Josh Stone was to play later, so we enjoyed using the same showers and toilets as the big stars 
Being on tour makes you more aware of your daily and primary needs, like how is the shower in the venue (and are there any!), is there toilet paper in the loo, what food will we get today, is there internet in the venue..so quite limited. All these things were perfect, and we also met some really nice fans outside the venue before the show making us feel really special. Gig went really well, we had a great time on stage! I also got to meet some of The Gathering fans that have sent me really nice messages on myspace earlier. Beautiful people, thanks for coming 
After the show we had a great party in the bus, starting as always with Black Sabbath’s Volume 4 kicking off the night. We discovered it was our tour managers (Sjoerd) birthday was due after midnight, so whiskey and champagne, beer and wine; you name it we drank it! I was amongst the last ones standing going to bed at 7:30 in the morning. Next day was travel day so we were allowed We had a lot of fun, Marjolein was ruling the party! Think she was happy we had next day off
Day off:
Woke up in a beautiful little village in south France, went for a stroll in the sun with some nice people from Autumn, caught up with the René, Gema, Marjolein in a café for breakfast. It was the first day we could really feel the sun warming our pale northern European winter skin! Our sound engineer got his hair shaved off in a hair dressing saloon but by our merch boss, Gema, he looked soo beaoootifoool! We got Sjoerd some nice prezzies and went for a drink in a local bar with extraordinary drawings on the wall and extraordinary people behind the bar. It was all a bit surreal as the bar maid seemed rather drunk (or crazy) and the drawings contained female private parts. This was discovered after we made our orders which turned out very very nice. A quick drink, lots of fun and some nice tapas and we went off all together for a meal singing happy birthday songs for Sjoerd and eating lovely food!
Next day we were in Barcelona, where the rain embraced us as we arrive the venue. Autumn kicked off the night again, doing a great show, and the audience was a really nice crowd making us feel very welcome!
I have to say I never in my wildest dreams thought we would have such a great time on the road. The guys in TG are just the sweetest and funniest (which I of course knew from before, but got even more of on the road). When Frank gets some whiskey down there is no end to his dry jokes, I am laughing so much! Dj René is the ultimate boss kicking off the after party with his excellent DJ’ing using Hans’ superb Ipod collection! Marjolein is, as said before, the queen of the night totally awesome with funny comments and dance moves! Hans tunes in to being the master of jokes, stories from touring and silly comments, so there are big smiles around all the time! The Autumn guys and girl are beyond our dreams of being great band to tour with! Such a great bunch of people! We are having an incredibly time with them!
At least but not last our crew, Wouter, Sjoerd, Linda and Gema, and excellent driver Stefan (haaaaaaaaase) are totally topping the ice cake with their fantastic work and great humour!
Alicante:
I was in Alicante in September last year, and was really looking forward to going back. We woke in a boiling bus a bit outside the city, and the sun hit our..really nice! Did a little stroll in to the city, got some laundry done and had nice lunch. The venue was nice, except for the massive hole in the roof of the showers and backstage where our support band had a lot of fun looking through! Bastards!
Granada: Some of us got up early to get into the city and have a look at this beautiful place, and some of us just went for a little walk in a big group having coffee and tea sitting outside. This is very special for us to do early February, so we were all smiling One even picked an orange from a tree..not sweet enough, but still..just doing it is exotic enough for us up north. Gotta mention the crew of the venue who cared so well for us and had a really cool attitude. Thanks!! The crowd for the night were really awesome giving us and Autumn so much energy. Thanks a million!
Beautiful Madrid. Some times we have time to see a little of the city, but very often we have to park outside and don’t get any chance to see much, as the case here. Just managed a little walk and sit down for a nice cup of coffee. Back in the venue I chatted with some friends of mine from Bergen based band called Audrey Horne, just finishing recording a video in Berlin. Looking forward to the final result as it sounded pretty crazy and full of funky stuff!
Autumn had a good show that night. Fans turned up singing along with their songs and long hair was thrown around everywhere. We also had a good time with the crowd well warmed up by Autumn giving us a great time on stage! Got to meet a few after the show, and all very nice people!
Before I went on tour I bought new socks that I wanted to make sure nobody else had. When washing clothes on tour it can all get mixed up and 15 people all with black socks…..
So I got some silly Hello Kitty socks which of course got some attention. Actually one of the pink ones have been (clean to notice!) moved around in the bus, waking up everyday on a new spot (I think even it has been tweeted slapping René).
Yesterday Marjolein, Frank and me did an in store acoustic show in a massive shop in Lyon. It was my very first one with the guys, but it went really well! We really enjoyed it! And thanks to Claude from the shop who organized everything well for us. Back in the venue we had a marvellous chef cooking brilliant food for us! Two very happy bands and crew Funny what food can do to you! This night we also had French Osm’oz on the bill, a band that has supported TG before. Very nice guys that unfortunately have been through some pretty rough times lately loosing their singer. One thing I noticed with the French audience is that they are really listeners and not talking so much in between the songs. It is a very nice gesture to the band!
We loved it!
Today we are in snowy Switzerland finally back to play the show that was moved last year. Right now we are watching Sesame Street mash up playing Slayer and gangsta rap! Great!
…to be continued…
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