Some of the greatest/strangest/funniest experiences of my life have occurred with bands. This trip was no different.

I was again hired to play guitar for a Louis Armstrong tribute show in Spain based on the success of the performances we did in France last year.

The band consisted of...

Longineu Parsons - trumpet/vocals
Von Barlow - drums
Lawrence Buckner - bass
Willerm Delisfort - piano
Diron Holloway - clarinet/saxophone

...also making the trip was Ira Everett (tour manager)

The easiest way to detail the experiences is to just follow the intinerary and comment...

Thursday (2/9) - Travel to Barcelona

This involved a flight from L.A. to Chicago, Chicago to Madrid and then Madrid to Barcelona.
On a journey of this length, i've learned to force myself to sleep "by any means necessary".

Being that a window seat is mandatory, when I finally received by flight information (Wednesday morning) my first move was to try and acquire said window seat online. Wrong.

Bad Sign #1 was when I couldn't attach the flight number to an airline I recognized (IB prefix).
Turns out it's Iberia, supposedly the largest airline in Spain.
Get to their website only to find out that I can't do a check-in from the U.S.

The other issue on these long flights is what happens to my guitar.
Those of you that read about my trip to France know what occurred there.
Since i've got 4 items, my game plan is to check 2 and carry-on 2 (one of which being my guitar).

Once I got to the airport, I found out that Iberia has been acquired/partnered by/with American Airlines.
Found the approriate ticket window and prepared for the "You have to check that guitar." hassle.
Strangely enough, it didn't happen until I got to the gate where I had to do a "Gate Check".
This meant they would take the guitar right at the plane's entrance and return it to me when I exited in Chicago.
I could live with that.

The subsequent legs (Chicago/Madrid and Madrid/Barcelona) were smooth sailing.
I carried the guitar onto the flight and stashed it in the overhead bin.

Bad Sign #2 happened during the Madrid/Barcelona leg of the journey.
On 2/5 of this year, Barajas Airport opened...Terminal 4...


http://www.expatica.com/s...=27384&RSS

...from this point forward said with reverb and followed by a doom laden orchestra stab.

Iberia flights were reassigned to this terminal. When I got to the gate I was greeted by the dreaded DELAYED indicator.
Within an hour's time I was subjected to no less than 3 different gate changes for the flight to Barcelona.

Needless to say, Iberia's acclimation to...Terminal 4...was not going well. More on this later.


Friday (2/10) - Arrive in Barcelona - FREE TIME

Got off the plane and headed for baggage claim expecting the worst.
However after a short wait my 2 checked bags show up.

Based on the full band's flight schedule I had, my flight was scheduled to arrive at around 10am approx. 30 mins later than the rest of the group.
I was the only one coming from L.A. and everyone else was arriving from Florida.

Bad Sign #3 - I get into the terminal and don't see anyone from the band.
After about 30 minutes of looking around the airport, I pulled out my cel phone to give Longineu a call.
Then I quickly realized that our cel phones would be useless in Europe.
At this point, I figured the thing to do was to take a cab to the hotel and suss things out from there.

We were booked into the Hotel Catalonia Castellnou...



...located in the Tres Torres section of Barcelona.


Once I got to the hotel the receptionist informed me that I was the 1st member of the band to arrive.
Went up to my room, stashed my gear and laid down to rest while wondering where the fellows were.
Being tired from the flight, I fell asleep and woke up a few hours later when the phone rang.
It was a lady from the concert promotion office asking me if i'd heard from anyone.
I told her no and agreed to call her back if I did. By this time is about 3pm and i'm starting to get worried.
Took a shower and decided to take a walk around the neighborhood. Once back at the room there's still no word from anyone.
As a diversion, I flipped on the TV and watched the Winter Olympics opening ceremony.
I'm sitting there thinking the worst when the phone rings. It's Selma from the production company informing me that Longineu just called from the airport in Barcelona and is on his way to the hotel. Big sigh of relief.

An hour later there's a knock on the door. It's Longineu. We make plans to go to the restaurant on the corner for dinner.
Turns out that Diron, Willerm and Lawrence made the flight (which was delayed and rescheduled a number of times) with him but all of them except Lawrence hadn't received their luggage yet.
Head back to the hotel after dinner, take a shower and prepare for some much needed sleep.

Woke up at 3am.
Went out on the terrace, lit a cigarette...



...and took this shot of the the street.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Saturday 2:30pm - Travel to L'Auditori (concert venue)

Got up and went down to the hotel restaurant...



...for their complimentary buffet breakfast.


Back up to the room and did some practicing before sound check.
Got the phone that the van had arrived to take us to L'Auditori.

Went down to the lobby and ran into...



...Willerm and Diron chillin' on the couch.

Found out that Von and Ira didn't arrive until around midnight. The airline had also lost their luggage.

Into the van...



...and away we go.


3:00pm - Sound Check

L'Auditori is a relatively new cultural complex...



...(1999)


With the Symphony Hall optimally designed specifically for...



...large orchestral performances.






4:30pm - End sound check

Remember that the luggage still hadn't arrived yet.
So now Ira informs us that after the sound check...



...the production company is having us fitted for tuxedos.


5:00pm - Return to hotel - Instead we head for a fitting.

We figured we were heading to some plush men's clothing store.
To our surprise, we ended up at a costume shop.
So what do 7 crazy guys to do in a costume shop...




...they try on crazy hats.

My favorite pic is Diron...



...who went full-on Merlin.

Almost forgot, we also needed shoes...



...Fortunately, the woman in front of me took an exceptionally long time paying for hers.


7:00pm - Really return to hotel

Grab a quick meal and shower.


8:30pm - Go to L'Auditori for performance

So what did we end up looking like for the Barcelona gig?...



...


Hanging in the dressing room...




...prior to showtime.


10:30pm - Showtime

Thanks to...



...the expert sound-man.


The show went...




...extremely well.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Sunday 10:30am - Leave for Barcelona Airport and catch flight to Madrid

Von's luggage has been delivered to the hotel.
All the other luggage is still lost in space.

Once at the airport we check with the baggage claim department.
Ira's suit bag is recovered but nothing else.

1:30 - Arrive in Madrid - FREE TIME

We're booked into the...



...Aparthotel Gran Via


Which is on one of the main streets...



...of downtown Madrid.


Nicely appointed rooms...



...complete with kitchenettes

My room didn't have a great view...



...but an interesting one.


Met the gang for a meal at Vips located next door to the hotel.
Being thoroughly stuffed, I headed back upstairs for a long nap.

Met the fellas downstairs for an early evening search for Madrid's seemy underbelly...



..."On the town, we dress for action."


We started of by walking down the street to the performance venue, Teatro Lope de Vega...




...and took a few shots of the poster in the box office window.


After that we ended up at a small park...



...where I took a shot of this statue.


Passing an advertisement on the side of a bus stop...



...Von was, well Von.

I won't call any names, but 2 of our party spent an inordinate amount of time in one of the adult video stores.
Supposedly looking for a Valentine's Day gift.

Going down a few sides streets...



...yielded doorways filled with women that just seemed to be hanging around for some reason.

I think i'll end the evening's exploration here.
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Monday morning - FREE TIME

After a good night's rest, I got up late morning, had breakfast and just decided to wander around the neighborhood...







...don't ask what these things are as I haven't a clue. All were close to the downtown area.


4:00pm - Sound check at Teatro Lope de Vega

Teatro Lope de Vega is an ornate old school venue...




...built in 1929


Sound check went well...




Here I am pimpin' for...



...Mesa Boogie and Jay Turser endorsements.


9:00pm - Showtime

Again, thanks to the competent sound people...



...the show went well.

Still no luggage had arrived...



...so were back in the tuxedos again.


The following pics were provided by a new found friend and ticket buying patron...





...Jesus.








=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Tuesday Noon - Return to U.S.

As of Tuesday there's still no sign of the luggage.

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Set 1
Back Home In Indiana
Basin Street Blues
Mack the Knife
A Kiss To Build a Dream On
Black and Blue
I Can't Give You Anything But Love
St. James Infirmary
Struttin' With Some Barbecue

Intermission

Set 2
Hello Dolly
St. Louis Blues
You Rascal You
Amazing Grace
What A Wonderful World
African Nights (Tribal Disorder)
Party In Morocco (Tribal Disorder)
When The Saints Go Marchin' In
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
A special thanks to Ira...



...who made sure everything ran smoothly.

The success of the Spain shows have the promoters talking about booking the show in Switzerland and China.
They're also interested in some Tribal Disorder shows.

What a way to see the world.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

I'll follow this thread in every forum.

Thanks for taking the time to take us on the virtual world tour bus Neil.

Slave2daGroove said:

Thanks for the read.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

man, u have the best threads. I feel like I was there with u. I absolutely love Europe. It is the best place to be a performing artist. They appreciate real music and real musicians. Great job Neal.

That's a side from Spain I don't know. You know Spain better then me. Next time you should come to Elche and let it sound here, please!

Thank you very much for that great and special report. I love it!

theAudience said:

You guys are so cute in the funny hats! Great live shots too. I love your photo essay threads!

When are we gonna meet, yo?

Awsome!
Sounds like a really nice trip!
Hope I can see you live someday!
/peace Manki

That woman, Yolanda Berrocal, is very popular in Spain, often to see in the rosa programs at the T.V.
She's loved and hated.
Now to become more popular she made, again, plastic surgery and got new 1,200kg for each breast.

talmuzic said:

Thanks Tal.

I absolutely agree with you about Europe (and Colombia for that matter) and their ability to "get it".

If I wasn't "Married With Children", i'd seriously consider living there.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

sataninas said:

Thanks sataninas.

I'll be doing some research on the city of Elche.
If we don't play there i'd at least like to visit.
It looks like a beautiful city.


I guess some of us low-life musicians have a nose for those parts of any city.

Had no clue that Ms Berroca was such a controversial "Star".
We thought she was just some billboard model.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

VinaBlue said:

Thank you Vina.
They're fun to put together. Makes me remember some things I might have forgotten.

Since you stood me up at "The Invasion" , maybe i'll have to show up at one of your Kirtan gigs.

Do they allow electric guitars?


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

manki said:

Believe me it was.

I'd love to visit Sweden one day.


tA

Tribal Disorder

http://www.soundclick.com...dID=182431

WOW!!

PIMPIN!!!

Man I BET u had fun! I wish I cudda joined u guys!!!

theAudience said:

Man,U guys should play the swedish jazzfestival this summer
/peace Manki

Man, tA ... you are ALWAYS doing the coolest shit.

Just call me and give me a snippet of the music. I've been dying to hear these gigs for years... and since I can't just pack up and go to Spain (LOL!!!), just let a brotha have a taste or a morsel or somethin'

theAudience said:

Yola is a party girl and often to see in Marbellas scene.

And if you want to see something very special and in Elche, then it could be also this maybe?:

http://www.turismedelx.com/en/

And of course...:

The famous but controversial "Lady of Elx" (Dama d'Elx in Catalan, Dama de Elche in Spanish) (the National Archaeological Museum of Madrid calls her "enigmática"), is a polychrome stone bust that was revealed as found by chance in 1897 at L'Alcúdia, an archaeological site that was on a private estate about 2 km, south of Elx (Spanish Elche) (Alicante, Land of Valencia, Spain). The Lady of Elx is generally believed to be Iberian art of the 4th century B.C., or of the Hellenistic or the Roman periods.http://en.wikipedia.org/w...ady_of_Elx

You're welcome.

[Edited 2/27/06 5:04am]