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

DIScourse - Antwerp

It's Monday evening and shortly after I got returned home from work the sky started to get really dark and a storm started to move in. It's alomost 8:00 pm as I type this and the storm has past my apartment but it can still be heard in the distance. I love thunder storms and this one was really good! I didn't see a lot of lightning but I did see a lot of flashing in the sky. I'm going to try and post some footage I shot with my camera if I can.

The weekend was pretty uneventful. I didn't end up going to the "Vampire Party" on Friday because I saw the set list from the previous party and there were only three songs that I liked in the 8 hour set, and nothing that I love. Since when to vampires listen to "cyber punk" music? After work I did take a long walk and ended up finding a really good jewelry store, Atelier 11 (they do all the jewelry for Raf Simons along with having done jewelry for many other Belgian designers). I didn't buy anything but I think I might have to get something before I leave.

Saturday I watched some television in the morning and then got up to go to the open air market and then the grocery store. I still find it strange that grocery stores are closed on Sunday. Who knows what they are going to want to eat on Sunday on Saturday? After doing my shopping I ended up walking to work to pick up my bike and then I rode around for awhile. I found a couple more offices of designers that I like (Dries Van Noten and Veronique Branquinho) then I got Westmalle Triple at the Cappucinno Club. On my way back home I ended up riding past the placed I stayed at two years ago (Seamens Huis). Who knew it was in the Red Light District? I also found the house that a couple of local architects built that's a little over 2 meters wide and is all glass on the exterior. I am still trying to figure out what to do in the evenings on the weekend. The people I know from my previous trip to Antwerp haven't been available and I'm not up to going to pubs (the only thing open in the evening on weekends) in the evening by myself.

After I got up on Sunday I decided it was time to do laundry. Unfortunately, my apartment doesn't have laundry facilities which means I needed to brave the laundry mat. Luckily I don't have that many clothes with me and the apartment owner comes in once a week to clean and do the towels and bedding. To my horror each load of laundry cost 3.60 euro to wash (about $5.50) and another 1.50 euro to dry (luckily i don't dry many things. The washers are nicer than in the US but not that much nicer. I got through the laundry and went back home where I began to make a pasta dinner. I have to say that I am cooking more again since being in Antwerp, which is nice. I would be nicer if I had an oven but I'm getting by. I'm glad I brought my knives from home though. I opened a really nice bottle of 2006 Côtes de Rhône to go along with dinner and then proceeded to watch too much television.

Television is strange here, interesting but strange. I have about 50 channels but there are triplets of many channels so I actually think there are about 20 channels. Like I said before, it's great switching between all the different languages and seeing what US programs get shown abroad (Different Strokes, Sex in the City, South Park, Sponge Bob Square Pants, Simpsons...). Last night there was some French show on about sexuality and they had three guys testing different "male enhancement" methods (all devices). It was really strange and I could only deducts from the doctor on the show that none of the methods work after the doctor said something and then all the guys took off their pumps, stretchers and weights with looks of defeat. It was hilarious!

Tomorrow is Tuesday and I'm going back to Brussels to watch a Cat Power show. My friend is drumming for her and he's my favorite drummer. I'm looking forward to the show and being back in Brussels. Hopefully, I will be able to spend a little more time there and be a little more relaxed.

Cheers!

Dustin