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Day 1

We file the missing luggage report. We also change some money. And we head for the doors. Jochem walks in. He is just as tall, but sporting curls instead of dread locks. Jochem was our driver and soundman the first time we toured Europe with Les Savy Fav and Mars Volta. He is hysterically funny and we are thrilled to be in his company again.

The first show is in a town called Utrecht, only an hour away from the airport. We stop at a gas station and when Paul and I use the bathroom without tipping, the attendant declares us "fucking foreigners" in English.

We arrive at the club around noon and they let us load in. The folks at the club want to know if we want coffees, cappuccinos, espressos, or hot tea. Oh I'm so happy to be back in Europe. I want them all! They draw out the map to our HOTEL. We don't have to return till six pm for our healthy hot vegetarian meals. In the hotel lobby, I see the bowl of apples provided for the guests. Kill me now. Life could get no better. If there is a cup of sleeping pills next to my bed, I'll know I've reached Mecca.

Paul drags my suitcase-bigger-than-me up the 3 flights of tiny narrow stairs and I promise everyone that I will switch my clothes to the little duffle bag.

Erick and I share a room. I stand under the high pressured shower and try to burn some itch relief into my ass. Erick puts in ear plugs to drown out my scratching. I put in ear plugs to drown out his coughing and lung clearing (he is really ill).

I think I do sleep a little. Jochem knocks on our door at 5 something. We shower again and head for the club. The other guys didn't sleep. They got ice cream.

Tonight's show is with Weird War. We have a warm reunion with our compadres from home. They soundcheck and we count our fresh towels, marzipan, licorice candies, and fresh fruit. Then we all gather for our meal of hot soup and macaroni noodles with egg whites and mayonnaise. I eat some soup (I can see oil in it). I also eat some egg whites and give my noodles to Jochem.

At 8 pm, the manager tells us we can wait a little while to start. Maybe someone will come to the show, she says.

At 8.30 pm, we march out from the dressing room in our beautiful new costumes. The 20 or 25 people in attendance really get a great show.

Afterward, the folks that I meet tell us they saw us on our first tour and have been waiting patiently for our return. Jeff comes over and tells me I better sell some serious quantities of merch on this tour or we are going home in a hot pool of debt.

Back at the hotel, I can't sleep. Erick is coughing. I go hang out with Jeff and Jochem. Paul has gone off with Ian and Seb from Weird War. Jochem and I watch Dutch infomercials and TV ads for local prostitutes. At 5 am, I go raid the lobby apple bin and scratch.

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