FEB 20 .. VENUE VANSLAG.. IN BORGER

John Platania & I have been looking forward to this since the tour started … on this tour we have several times talked about that to our cohort Goran,, indicating that this is one of our all-time favorite venues!

We arrived at 6:30.. so good to see the church again as we drove close.. great to see friends, proprietor Henk.. wife Jansje and booker Jaap & wife Berlina .. and great sound man & brilliant musician Bert (sorry Linde was not able attend.. send our love).. last time John & I were here, i wrote a detailed memory of this great place .. here’s that recollection from Nov, 2013:

THE VENUE

The final minutes of our journey found us driving on some small winding roads past some pretty farmland and quaint houses. This is the area where Milan (our friend & road manager) was born and raised until his high shool years. We arrived at the humble town of Borger at about 4:30 and went straight to the venue.

Vanslag (“messed up”) is a converted old church. Part of the church is from the 1400s. An extension was built in the early 1800s. For several years it sat idle. Then a photographer/music lover, Henk, made a deal with the local government to turn it into something worthwhile for the community in the form of an amazing music venue – art house/meeting space.

Henk – a great guy and lover of the arts – has invested a lot time and money turning the church into this original gem of a small theater – one of my favorite venues I’ve played.. ever! Since it has been under Henk’s wing for only the last half year or so, quality artists are just beginning to find their way here. I’m so glad that the powers that be fit this in our schedule .. sort of at the last minute.

“BACK TO THE PRESENT

Since we were here last this venue has sort of exploded! .. it’s reputation is spreading .. and is now considered by many as one of the best venues in all of Holland. Thanks to Jaap’s great efforts, they’re booked non-stop .. just a great thing for music culture in this region.

After an awesome biscuit and vegetables dinner prepared by Jansje (huge thanks Janje!), and a good sound check with our friend Bert, we were on stage at 9:00 PM.

By the way … I love the sound of this room.. it reminds me of the Bluegrass Underground in a cave in Tennessee . this church.. with it’s huge ceiling height .. has it’s own cavernous & beautiful warmth..

OUR SHOW – SET 1

What a great audience to play for! Looking from the stage, we were playing for a full house tonight..it was like playing for family .. all kind folks that wanted to be here with us .. so nice to feel that on stage.. We began with The Real Thing & the Yonkers stories & songs to start the show .. I loved Bastard Brothers and a monday with those bastards, Barry & Jon with mom and dad at a train station in Charcoal Sky so much tonight .. it was like we were all that train station together.. and Goran & John were just so soulful tonight .. and the audience let them know it from start to finish.. .. with their amazing solos, HEY JONNY totally rocked … and Angel Of The Morning was so chilling in this church setting .. never more inspired and beautiful.. we ended the set with it . . and the audience kept applauding as you might for the final song of the night.

SET 2

Oh, was this great! Such a magical interaction with the audience .. loved so many .. DANCE WITH A HOLE IN YOUR SHOE was so chilling .. TRYIN TO LET THE ANGELS KNOW so prayerful and Johnny Cash’s BIG RIVER rocked so good .. but my favorite part tonight was the audience requests .. one, GASOLINE, which we hadn’t played in so many years, had me smiling from start to finish.. our cohort Milan suggested after the show that we had so much fun playing it tonight that we should add it to our set from now on. And John Tucker, another request that we hadn’t played in quite a while brought back so many good memories .. I think we’ll add this to the set as well.

Toward the end of the show, we played WILD THING .. which totally rocked with the audience singing along… then came my song for the prisoners, FUCK ALL THE PERFECT PEOPLE again with the audience singing with us.. actually ending the song in a beautiful choir sing of the song’s title.. we again encored with I WASN’T BORN IN TENNESSEE which had many in the audience clapping in time and cheering at the end.

what a special night!!

SAID HI TO MANY

Big hello to friends Matthew & Jennifer & mom & sister I think! .. so great to see you in the audience & after the show!! .. Hi Fred .. & Heike .. & Kerstin & Gerard & Minnie .. &Kees .. HI FRANS.. DJ from radio Emmen … GREAT TO SEE YOU AGAIN!! .. HI MARIANNE!!! what a nice surprise!! .. it’s been so long!!.. you haven’t changed a bit!!!.. still the most welcoming smile.. so good to see it again!! .. hi Siska & John .. good to see you .. hi Alice & KEES .. & Tina & Peter .. hope you enjoy Fuck All The Perfect People.. Hi Onno .. thanks for the moonshine .. I have your note .. I’ll read it on the plane in a few days..

BIG HELLO TO MY FRIENDS VINCENT & NIENKE .. & their friends Trudy, Amanda & Wim.. great talking to you after the show… Wim .. hope you & Amanda have a great US vacation!! .. see you at Parnells one of these days!

Again.. Henk, Jansje, Jaap & Berlina.. thanks for all your kindness.. As of course you know, we’ll look forward to next time!!..

PS.. Henk .. thanks for the good whiskey & the AWESOME beer!! . we all appreciate it! & Janje .. thanks for our good late night snack.. so nice of you to think about that.