Waiting for the ferry, i managed to eat more fruit than I did on the entire first tour to France, by eating one apple. Ferry crossing was glorious - huge boat, good fun strolling around outside. Short drive down to Boulogne. We went out and found that Monday is early closing there, so the town was mostly shut. After a wander, we found an Australian bar that sold pizza - perfecto!
Tuesday
In the morning Paul & I drove back to Calais TGV to collect Francois who organized the tour. He's a dude. We found a Ford dealer - the van needed new wiper blades, which much to Paul's amusement I fitted. Long drive to Rennes. Beautiful city. The venue was an interesting old bar, Le Sambre. Lovely food laid on, with some nice bread & local cheese and some Corbieres. We played to a packed room who were loving it. Over an hour - great fun, sweaty and enthusiastic dancing. We sold quite a few albums & CDs , and chatted to several fans including Patrick who had been wanting to see the band since he heard Eternal Hotfire in 1984. My first gig in France for 26 years, also the band's first in 23 years, was a roaring success. The promoter , Seb, runs Beast Records & he kindly put us up after the show. We had a great time listening to T. Tex Edwards and Chain & The Gang, chatting and enjoying being in France. Seb & Francois are keen to organize the next tour.
Rennes set -
Eternal Hotfire
Prairie Chain
American Road Trip
Stream of Life
I Don't Feel Free
Someone to Love
D T Blues
Venus Discovered
Bones Are Buried
Primeval Call
Heya
Elixir Of Life
St Jack
Hit The Peaks
I Happen to Love You
I sang some backing vocals on Heya.
Wednesday
Van to Paris was fine - first heavy traffic in France was on this leg near Paris. Nightmare traffic & circling round before we got parked up. In the van on the way to the gig, Martyn & I learned a Cramps song that the Primevals had recorded a few years ago, The Band That Time Forgot. A run through at the soundcheck and it was in the set as a tribute to the Cramps.
The gig was hot and sweaty, with a good turnout who were very vocal. We played for over an hour, including an impromptu version of Spiritual. A longer Hit The Peaks was funky and free in the middle where it merged into Alcohol before rocking back out. We had some tuning issues onstage - on a stage where we could touch the ceiling, it was scorchio. After the gig we headed off in 3 groups to the various accommodations that our friends in Paris had arranged for us. Paul & I stayed with our friend Jes - in 2000 he had set up a website about the band. I had met up with him when I was in Paris about 10 years ago, but Paul had never met him before. We had a very pleasant relaxing chat over a couple of beers listening to Syl Johnson and Doris Duke. We've had a great reception in Paris
Paris set
Eternal Hotfire
Prairie Chain
American Road Trip
Stream of Life
I Don't Feel Free
Someone to Love
D T Blues
Venus Discovered
Bones Are Buried
Primeval Call
Heya
Elixir Of Life
Spiritual
St Jack
Sister
Hit The Peaks
The Band That Time Forgot
I Happen to Love You
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