DIScourse - Antwerp

Just a short entry before I head to Amsterdam for the weekend. Earlier in the week I found out about some special live performances and installations by Ryoji Ikeda that are happening in Amsterdam being today and ending on June 21 (DreamAmsterdam). There isn't a lot of opportunity to see Ikeda in concert in the states and the idea of a city shutting off it's lights for an art installation by a somewhat obscure Japanese musician/artist is something I couldn't miss out on, so I rescheduled my hair appointment that was for Saturday and bought concert and train tickets and booked a hotel room near Paradiso (the venue where the concert is being held).

Speaking of concerts, on Tuesday I caught a train to Brussels and went back to AB Club to see Cat Power and Dirty Delta Blues Band. I got there a little early so I walked around the city a bit, but I didn't bring my camera, so no photos. When the doors opened I got my pass which turned out to be an all access pass, which was great. I got a drink and then headed back stage to see if I could find my friend, Jim, who's drumming in the band. It turned out that he was back at the hotel, so I went back out front and bought a t-shirt and another drink and waited for the show to start. I hadn't heard of the opening band, Appalooza, they turned out to be a two piece: vocals and electronics/guitar. It wasn't bad but I think it would work better as a recording. It was very dance oriented. Cat Power and band came on at 9:00 (I love these early shows). The band was great and Chan Marshall was much more involved with the crowd than I'd seen her before, however she wasn't playing guitar so she could move around stage more easily. Her voice has improved a lot since the first time I saw her and but she seemed to be having throat problems and left the stage for a few minutes about half way through the show. She played until 10:30 when the curfew starts. Overall the show was really good and I was happy to see it. After the show I went back stage again and hung out with Jim and most of the band (Jim introduced me to everyone). I seemed to be the only person back there that wasn't in the band or crew, which was nice but surprising, since the show was sold out. It was nice catching up with Jim but I had to leave early to catch the last train. On my way to the train station as I was getting into a cab (I got turned around and was afraid of missing the train) Chan passed me in a van and through a flower to me, which was nice. Not sure what kind of flower it is (do you?) but I kept it:






















Wednesday night I went with a co-worker to a Pré-Soirée party that was being held on a barge. The first Wednesday of each month, from 7-12, there is a party held in Antwerp basically for the 25-45 year old people (aka Yuppies). This was the last party of the season which is why my coworker decided to go. So, it was all drinks, techno dance music and button shirts for the men while the women mostly wore skirts and heels. Pretty similar to 30 year old professional crowds I've seen in Portland, Seattle, New York... As soon as we got there we both agreed that it was not our idea of a good party. However it had the benefit of being on a barge, on the Schelde river, in Antwerp, so I spent most of my time on the deck outside with a drink in my hand talking to my coworker. I did dance a little towards the end, just because I'm missing dancing in Portland a bit.

That's about all for now. I'm getting my hair cut soon and then I'm on a train to Amsterdam (about 2 hours north of here). I'm bringing my camera so, pictures to come...

-Dustin