Through all the time I spent in Amsterdam I had two anchors, Cato in the East and Bart in the West. They have helped me and looked after me so much, and always been there when I have needed it most. This time was no different - Bart lent me a bike and we had a great night catching up with the Deeb. Johnny Deeb is a very positive, energetic traveling candy man, and we spent some good days and crazy nights in Amsterdam together when Niz first went back to Argentina. That was when I needed my mates more than ever and in Dominic, Deeb, Cato and Bart I had the best.
We made it to Cato's pulling all our luggage and instruments. By now we were very heavy loaded. We had a suitcase each, busking amp, 2 mic stands, guitar, violin, uke, 3 laptops, lots of books and other bits and bobs that made it a slow and heavy walk. Cato has been with a great guy for the last year, Hans. They both welcomed us in so warmly and we enjoyed a beer, smoke and nice food while talking of our Berlin adventure.
We had lived so well in Berlin, making great money, good friends and really feeling a part of the wonderful and celebrated street music scene. We had saved 600 euroes, bought the uke and the laptop and ate the best falafel in the world. The music scene was buzzing there, and we knew Amsterdam didn't quite match it but we would do our best and enjoy our time here. After busking in Berlin with the amp and feeling so welcome and wanted, it was back to the streets to play acoustically.
After a few days with Cato we set out to the Garden House to write some songs, learn some new ones and practise some vocalisations. It was well needed, we never really had our own space in Berlin. We would go to the park to learn some new songs, but it wasn't the same as being very isolated and spending hours smoking and learning and singing. The gardenhouse is the perfect place for it and we immediately felt this wave of creativity hit us. We have a portable studio that can run for 5 hours on battery, so we would lay some strings and vocals down, go to the city and recharge them.
That was the best thing about the garden house, no electricity and no distractions! Whenever we would come home the first thing I would do is pick up the guitar and start playing, practicing finger picking and singing. The first thing I do (sadly) when I am staying at a house is pick up the laptop and go online. We wrote and recorded a very nice song and put the Uke to work for the first time for the Caravan. It was an amazing time and we really appreciated being there. A heatwave hit us for the ten days we were there and we didn't even attempt to leave the gardenhouse until 6pm.
We had tried busking on the streets and it was OK, a little slow going after Berlin but we found a way to relly enjoy playing music for Amsterdam. The Champagne Boat is a luxury boat tour that serves Moet Chandon and is run by a group of friends. We would play on this and then put the hat round afterwards. We were making at least 50 for a tour, which was a nice 50 to make. Sailing around the beautiful canals and playing Blue Moon and Moon River and people really enjoying and listening. Amsterdam was still eating at our savings a little bit though, but we were doing OK.
One day the sun was shining bright and with Cato and Hans we decided to go to the beach, it was a lovely day so we packed some Nepalese hash, some Dutch Bread and Cheese and a few Brand Beers into a beach bag and made the hour drive North to the beach, as soon as we got there people were leaving in droves, shivering. We stepped out of the VW van and seen why. The wind was howling and cold and the sky was grey. But the European spirit is to see it through and make the most of it. After half an hour of trying roll in the wind Hans remembers he has a wind shelter and we set it up. Ahhhh, bliss. We have our wind shelter and picnic and are very cosy, then the moment you step up the wind blasts you and you get back in saying 'Lets never go out there!' I did though, I took a big run and just jumped into the cold sea
We were starting to prepare ourselves for Ireland. We didn't really know what to expect as we were still in a European mindset, but it was the next step and we had to get ready to say farewell to Amsterdam
Download the fanastic album 'Where The Days Have No Name' and pay whatever you wish..
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