07.04.10 | Day 13 MuZ, Nürnberg
Germany
Before taking a break for a couple of days, the Karma guys set navigation to Nürnberg. The MuZ is another familiar venue which we were looking forward to play. A nice and cozy atmosphere (even the backstage facilities look like your grandma's living room) and good food prepared us for the show. The amp was working again after changing the fuse. Keep it simple! A stirring 45 minutes set later, we had to admit that all vinyls are sold out. Fortunetly we got some time to keep supplies coming and even the "Tri" vinyl should be available within the next days. Looking forward to sleep in our own beds, we left the venue the same night.
06.04.10 | Day 12 Rote Fabrik, Zürich
Switzerland
On the way to Zürich, we stopped at an italian highway restaurant which was another pure madness experience. People were yelling, flourishing and devouring. As fast as possible we left this unholy place. Some beautiful landscapes accompanied the Karma guys to the Rote Fabrik. This venue is one of our favourites. Located at the bank of lake Zürich, you will find friendly people, a chilled atmosphere and great great food. Alex, you are the man!
Stage time 9.45pm, the guitar amp blew off in the middle of the first song. After a bass, drums and soundboard session, Beeno (roadie for Brant Bjork) helped us out with one of Brant's Orange amps. Thanks again brother! The crowd much appreciated the set and with a big smile we left the stage. After Brant's gig and a couple of vodkas later, we left the venue for getting to the hotel. Although located in the red light district of Zürich, we were not able to pay much attention to it anymore...
05.04.10 | Day 11 Maximum Festival, Zero Blanco
Italia
Heading for the first festival of the current tour, we left croatia direction to italy. Sure thing to buy some cheap cigarettes before crossing the border. Some bands already started playing when the Karma guys arrived at the venue. Getting some beers, coffee and food was the hardest part as none of us was able to speak italian language. Thanx to Giam Paolo, drummer for Brant Bjork, we finally won the fight without usage of the great hammer of war or the mighty battle axe. Somehow we felt lost in the backstage area, a non-furnitured german democratic republic camping tent. We decided to get our stuff on stage and started the show right after dinner. Not many people showed up, but the Karma guys very much enjoyed the set. Crazy italians and tasty red wine sweetend our departure. We left pretty early and drove another 300km of pure navigation madness for spending the night in Milano. Zürich get ready...
04.04.10 | Day 10 Mochvara, Zagreb
Croatia
About 400km ahead of us, we left Salzburg in the early afternoon. Towards the slovenian border we got stuck in easter traffic, but the landscape with all those white topped mountains paid off. A bit later than planned we arrived Zagreb which is right after the croatian border. The guys from local stonerrockers Stonebride picked us up and led us to the venue. Some typical national food was served and pretty full we started the soundcheck.
At 9.45pm we hit a croatian stage for the very first time. Not many people knew about the Karma, but gave us a great time. With full force we ended the set and left two band members wounded. Steffen's hand was injured and Matte experienced the great finger divide at the last chord of Hymn72. We would have loved to do some more serious aftershow partying with mindblowing local beer Tomislav, a dark ale at 7.3%. But all of a sudden, our plans ended up in smoke. We are the roadcrew and went to bed...
03.04.10 | Day 9 Rockhouse, Salzburg
Austria
If you ever had the chance to check out that island game from Facebook, we got to tell you that it was one of the topics on this european tour. We often had the impression that Banane was way more into gardening than sound engineering. Luckily, he spent us a great sound due to all the flowers we bought for his island. Small presents save friendship!
The Rockhouse was another awesome location and tonight, there were two more bands on the running order. Me & John, a young but very talented band, opened before BeenObscene played another gig with Brant Bjork and ourselves. The austrian crowd was insane again and almost burned down the venue. Salzburg sure knows how to party which was even more prooven at the afterwhow session with lots of stonerrock classics from the stereo and a couple of beers and cuba libres.
02.04.10 | Day 8 Arena, Vienna
Austria
500 austrian stonerheads went nuts that evening in the arena, a huge complex with several showrooms and stages. Easily one of the best locations we've ever been to. Sound engineer Banane complained about the digital mixing desk once again, but had to admit that he's only turning the knobs forth and back without a clue. Worked out well so far ;-) Our labelmates BeenObscene opened that night and played an intense set before the Karma guys hit the stage. For the first time, our austrian friends put their ears on new songs from „Tri“. The reactions were incredible and after the very last tone of „Hymn72“, people waved us goodbye with happy faces.
Then it was time for Brant Bjork and especially Brandon, 2nd guitarist, who was celebrating his 29th birthday right on stage. Cheers bro! Knowing that we'll have another chance to hook up with the austrian audience the next day in Salzburg, we ended up at the aftershowparty somewhere in the arena complex.
01.04.10 | Day 7 Scheune, Dresden
Germany
We arrived in Dresden 5am and went to bed immediatly. Some seven hours later, the Karma guys did some shopping after a good and wealthy breakfast. We were really looking forward to the show, as some good friends promised to show up tonight. Eccentric Man, Denny and everyone else who came to see us– you know who you are! The Dresden weirdos gave us a great time and we enjoyed every minute of the gig. Later on, you could have seen us seriously questioning our good karma, 'cause all of a sudden the dinner buffet was plunderred by several mad cows. Luckily, the döner alley next to the Scheune saved us from starving. We closed the Dresden chapter with a couple of beers and went to sleep at the band appartement.
http://www.livemoment.de/category/blog/
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31.03.10 | Day 6 Firlej, Wrocław
Poland
We left Denny's place in the early afternoon. Never been to Poland, all of us were excited to rock Worclaw tonight. Fear and worries came up when the Karmamobile crossed the border and slipped right into a bumpy highway nightmare without any warning. Off road and top speed 70 km/h to Firlej! Somehow we managed to survive and reached the venue around 5pm. After a warm welcome, soundcheck and dinner, we hit the stage and opened for Brant in front of 300 polish stonerheads. Most people haven't heard about My Sleeping Karma, but things were looking good that we made up some new fans there. Leaving Worclaw late at night, our lack of sleep was already more like a huge black hole. Dresden, we're coming...!
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more pics:
http://pik.wroclaw.pl/pressroom/Brant-Bjork-wystpi-w-Firleju-fotorelacja-n927.html
http://www.wsa.org.pl/gallery-brant_bjork___my_sleeping_karma_-535.html
30.03.10 | Day 5 Lido, Berlin
Germany
Early afternoon the Karma guys left Hamburg and reached Berlin in the middle of the rush hour. As we were truckfighting our way through the capital city of germany, nothing of interest happened and we finally reached the Lido. A cool looking club that must have been a cinema in ancient times. After a quick soundcheck, our good friend and master of sound Banane invited us for dinner at the Tiki Bar. Tasty, natural and raw was the law! Fully served we returned to the club.
Stage time 9.15pm. The Lido sold out and 500 people waiting for the show to begin. The venue was way bigger than the ones we played before and it felt more difficult to get in touch with the audience. Two or three songs later, the mood brightened up and we ended the gig in perfect harmony. Backstage plundering time! We spent the night at Denny's place. Our multitalented buddy, webmaster, artwork creator, hostel manager and chef de cuisine (you rule us all!). We had a couple of beers, along with original handmade berlin bullets and ended up at watching the Rockpalast tapes. The sound is amazing, but what was even more astonishing bros...do we look sensational, uhm?
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comment denny: a big hug from my neighbourhood! ;O)
29.03.10 | Day 4 Molotow, Hamburg
Germany
Our first time in Hamburg. Without any traffic delays, we arrived at the Molotow about 5pm. Not knowing what to expect from the audience so far up north, the Karma guys set up a masterplan for tonight. If all else fails, girls and alcohol need to help us out and so we were extremely lucky that the club was located in the heart of the famous Reeperbahn.
Luckily, all worries faded away from the moment we went on stage. Even if most people have not heard about My Sleeping Karma, the reactions were quiet remarkable. Hopefully we will be able to come back to Hamburg and our new friends sometime soon again! After the show, the night ended up at the Cobra Bar with Brant and the guys.
28.03.10 | Day 3 Underground, Cologne
Germany
Bedtime 8am. German tv classics WDR Rockpalast will record Brant Bjork and My Sleeping Karma tonight. How the fuck shall we look like movie stars with that lack of sleep? Apart from all the makeup problems, we are looking forward to the show. Cologne has always been such a good place for us and no doubt it will be tonight. The Rockpalast crew suggested a Karma accoustic session right before the show. Decide for yourself if that was like a brilliant idea. Broadcasting of the full show will be may, 30th on WDR television.
My Sleeping Karma unplugged at Underground Cologne.
http://www.wdr.de/tv/rockpalast/extra/konzerte/2010/0328/my_sleeping_karma.jsp
Stage time 8.15pm, the club totally crowded and a good spirit up in the air. The sound was amazing and the support of the audience breathtaking. which made it pretty easy to forget about the cameras. After sharing a couple of beers with good friends, we somehow managed to take advantage of our natural desires. The Karma guys went to bed much earlier then those nights before...
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27.03.10 | Day 2 Minnemeers, Gent
Belgium
After a short night, a typical belgium breakfast and a trip through africa and asia, we left Antwerp direction to Gent. Sun showed up and we took a bit of the opportunity to do some sightseeing and shopping. The show later on changed location from Minnemers to a club called Vooruit - a beautiful old building which looked like an old fashioned opera house. All those high walls were pretty impressive and made the Malleus expo look like an avantgardistic art event.
10.30pm stage time – Our fifth time in belgium and the expected warm welcome from the audience. We enjoyed every minute of the set and our belgium friends grooved along right from the beginning. Time passed by much too fast and so we had to leave the stage after magical and energetic 40 minutes. We decided not to join the Prodigy cocaine rodeo and left Gent about 4 in the morning for cologne. Somebody gotta stop this time change insanity!
26.03.10 | Day 1 Rotterdam, Baroeg
Netherlands
13h32, somewhere in a rest house on highway A 3 in Germany. First shock of the tour. Sanifair, the toilet company really has to called "Sani Unfair" from now on. 70 cent for a pee! You can call it robbery, especially when you like to drink beer during the ride... 3€50 less later, we arrived in Rotterdam. 7 hours to drive the 450 kilometers, let's be rational: this is normal Friday traffic jam nightmare. Barely out of van, quick greets and hugs with Brant and band, and we hurry to unload all our stuff, set up and line-check. First gig with two new songs from “TRI”... First time in Rotterdam...
Feeling was awesome. The club was packed as one can be: cozy, dark and warm ambiance...our dear stonerheads from Netherlands were rocking, slamming and jammin' with us. 2 am, van packed and exhausted but happy, the Karma travel party hits the roads of Netherlands to reach their hotel in Antwerp -Belgium. One can wonder why the fuck we booked a place to lay our heads, so far from the Club....
Fact is, as cool as one can be, we forgot to plan this little details and it took two hours surfing the net to find a place where to sleep! Barely five minutes after hitting the roads, we broke the one and only rule we set for ourselves on the tour: after the morning robbery at the gas station paying on top of 70cent each to ease-off our beer filled bladders, we also tore open wallets for 5€ sandwiches....So everybody agreed we would not eat in junk/fast-foods, or in gas station snacks, but would rather do some shopping to fill the van with yummy chips and sweets!
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