Day 3
I go up into the loft of Jochem's van for this ride. I remember sleeping so soundly up here on our first tour. I think carbon monoxide emissions could be my best friend in fighting my insomnia.
When we pull into Amsterdam, I listen to the comments about the bikes and their riders. So much fashion to comment on!
At the Paradiso, we are shown the huge beautiful room with giant stained-glass windows and large green plants. This is where the big bands play, they say. Then they show us the sidebar, where we'll be playing. The dressing room is so full of food, it's ridiculous. I sense a little problem coming my way. The folks at the front desk tell me I have a phone call. It's the man who is our distributor in England. He wants to let me know that a reporter from Glasgow will be calling at half past 6 for an interview. Erick and I battle about who has to do it. We agree to do it together and the fellow doesn't call. By 7, we head for free coffee and sound check. After sound check, we wind our way back through the basement maze to our dressing rooms and sit with Weird War while Alex, their guitarist, reads us take-out menus. Then I am summonsed.
I don't want to do the interview!!! I pout! I whine!! I can't understand Scottish English!!
I do the interview. The questions about the influence of Washington DC's political climate on our music is completely understandable in any dialect.
We play nice and early, before too many people go out for the evening.
After the show, I talk to lots of old friends at the merch table. I dance while I watch Weird War -- dancing is a great way to burn calories.
After the show, we load out, say bye to Weird War, and head to Rotterdam to stay with our friends, Neils and Danielle. Danielle was driver and photographer for Mars Volta when we were over for the first time. At her house, she shows me some very disturbing photos from the first tour. We were so young then! So innocent! So naïve!
We stay up very late watching a Dutch documentary/interview with John Frusciante (guitarist from Red Hot Chili Peppers) after he quit the band. It was the most disturbing and fascinating footage I have ever seen. At bedtime, 4.30 am, I take a melotonin. At 5.30 am, I dig through my vitamin bottles and take what I think is a valium. I feel nothing.
When everyone gets up a few hours later, I look in the bottle. There are still 4 valium. I had popped an extra thyroid hormone. We enjoy a nice breakfast prepared by our hosts and head to Belgium.
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