Wheels and Dollbaby 2011

His Majesty's Theatre Flicks 2

Wheels and Dollbaby Band

Mark Mc Entee (Divinyls), Katy Steele (little birdy), Paul Mulreany (primal scream), Brad Cambell (gyroscope), Kevin Nitrovane

His Majesty's Theatre 27 sept 2011

Mark Mc Entee/ Katy Steele/Kevin Nitrovane

Katy Steele and myself playing at His Majesty's Theatre on tues night at the Perth fashion Show for Wheels and Dollbaby. Mark Mc Entee is hiding behind the petite Katy, which is very hard to do.

Performing a list of Divinyls hit songs, tuesday night we gave the A listers a smacking, clearing their ears a little. Mark McEntee is terrifying to be on stage with. He is the King of underplay.

Katy is probably the only person I know who could play front girl in boots that are almost impossible to fill....

Ive had worse gigs.

Kevin Nitrovane

Mark McEntee's 59 gibson

Bring on Tues evening. I'll be taking to the stage at His Majesty's Theatre, with Divinyls' Mark McEntee and Little Birdy's Katy Steele as we perform Divinyls' hits while Melanie Greensmith's creations are diplayed by some of Australia's best models.

Mark Mc Entee will be playing his '59 gibson junior in the Wheels and Dollbaby fashon show. Combined with my '68 Goldtop on rhythm, it should be a good mix. Mark with an AC30 Vox and myself with a raw JCM 800, seems to working well. Katy is absolutely on fire in rehearsals.

Kevin Nitrovane

witches

Ha, as I always suspected and most of you guys already know, they can't hide it forever.

I don't know who this particular variety represents exactly, but I do know that they can be caught occasionally in traditional dress. This is semi-battle mode, the nose and warts have not appeared yet. Transport is now purchased on mass through Ikea. Cleaning section ( dusters and brooms). John and Murray B both bought their wives new brooms for Xmas. But they were the wrong colour and they absolutely refused to ride them. 

And as you can see in the photo, it seems that this is where they are most comfortable. However, don't be fooled: the smile is used to mask the next scheme or spell.

They all may pretend to Talk like witches, Dress like witches and Behave like witches, but don't let them fool you, they really are witches.

So all you gals out there, dress as you feel you should, don't wait for halloween.

All you guys out there take note, the cost for this post will be enormous. Don't pretend you don't know what I'm talking about... Indeed

Kevin Nitrovane...

Records, they are all mine

My record collection has increased somewhat thanks to Manheim second hand record store in Germany.

Teaser and the firecat 1972

The World of Cat Stevens . Compilation 1970

Morning Has Broken  19??

I wonder where all those children are now?

Kevin Nitrovane

Django

Django Reinhardt was an amazing Gypsy Jazz guitar player from the middle of the last century. He has inspired millions of musicians round the world with his technique and delivery of very fast and melodious Jazz playing. This is even more impressive as he only had the use of two fingers for the most successful part of his career, as his hand was burnt in a fire in his caravan.

He relearnt to play to accommodate his deformed hand and wonderful music was the result of an altered technique. He really was truly remarkable. He tragically died in his early 40s from what is believed to be an aneurysm in 1953.

I discovered ( and promptly bought ) these original recordings last week, unfortunately Hank has blackmailed me into believing they are now his. We shall see, as the afternoon is still young.

Anyone doubtfull to Django's prowess on the fretboard should have a listen to some of his work. Here is a link for a start...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mpO5xIltlyU

Now tape your pinky and adjacent finger to your hand and try to play with just two fingers. Believe it or not there are clubs of people who in fact do this for real to replicate Django's style. I have a good mind to join their club and beat them over the head with it.

Kevin Nitrovane

Paris Bercy Stadium.. Yusuf (cat stevens)

A Camera shot from my guitar teching position side stage in Paris, Bercy Stadium . Seems that this Yusuf guy has a few friends that have come to see him play. Ive started to count them but iv'e run out of numbers. Yusuf certainly hasnt. I think he played about 35 hits that night ( and counting)

Kevin Nitrovane  

Yusuf's (cat stevens guitars)

After much testing and fine tuning, Yusuf's guitars equiped with the new Trance pickup system are nearly ready. Its been a very rewarding experience. I simply cannot put down the guitars during testing. Its the most realistic amplification system on the market. Compliments go to Yoriyos for advice and drive, Gary and Laurel at Trance Audio and Andrew Lacey ( sound engineer) at Kosmic sound for use of their equipment and tech advice. Will be going into the famous Hank Marvin's studio, with Hank and the equally Infamous Les Williams to do a final check later this week..

Meanwhile my cast iron frying pan is waiting for similar care and consideration to its effective use and reason for being. I will assist him (yes, that right Him) in his quest.

Kevin Nitrovane

Yusuf's guitars

Installing the new Amulet Trance pickup systems in Yusuf ( Cat Stevens) guitars after the European tour. And why not ? We tested them at Kosmic sound a few days ago and the results were amazing.

Kevin Nitrovane

Heidleberg bike race!!

Has any one seen my bike? Its the one with the basket .

Yes they like bikes here. There is millions of them and they all look the same. I think they actually take anyone they want and then pretend it's their's. I promply did the same, however it was only an assumption and proved incorrect. However, I did not win the Constantinople 5km sprint without some skill (and class, as its not just about how fast you can ride, its how you rock the bike side to side to obtain maximum forward thrust while turning to face your pursuer, waving goodbye with one hand) .

I thought to myself, "If im not mistaken, thats the finish line ahead!" As it turned out I was much mistaken. As I reached the finishline of my solo pursuit race, I encountered some people, waving banners which I presumed were chequered flags. I was wrong. They were just old ladies waving tea towels to cool down some hot pretzels..... This did not dampen my enthusiasm or stop me from celebrating my victory to much crowd amusement ( or bemusement?) As first prize was now mine, I was presented with one of those caps with the propellor on the top. As Alun had stolen my cap in Morocco, it came in handy.

I celebrated at the Heidelberg Castle with the appropriate drinks and why not? I took all three podium positions .

Those crazy Germans. I sure showed them a thing or three.

Kevin Nitrovane

Vienna 2

This a shot from a cabin on the famous Riesenrad Ferris wheel. It is steeped in history, having been almost destroyed by fire and was also going to be pulled down (but they did not have the funds to do so at the time). It also survived WW2 by the skin of its teeth.

It was also used in a scene from the film "The Third Man" with Orson Welles.

Every second carriage was removed during restorations, with the disused ones being kept in a minature museum at the base of the ferris wheel. Well worth the 8.5 euro ticket.

Kevin Nitrovane

Vienna 1

This is the tallest "merry go round" in the world. It's about 26.5 kms high. Well it seems like it anyway.

Simon Grocott is 3rd nut bar (dot) from the left. He is hanging and screaming. Seen framed by the Reisenrad ferris wheel which is the oldest wheel in the world (1897). More on that shortly.

Kevin Nitrovane

Paris

Those crazy Parisiennes. They find someone they like and texture their name on a padlock and place it on a fence over a bridge on the main waterway through France. There are thousands of them.

As I took the photo I watched numerous people come along, search for a particular lock, quickly cut it off and then walk away. So I guess locks, like friendships, don't endure forever.

I could only count about 55 of my own this time as I think some one has come along with some bolt cutters and cut off all the rest.


Kevin Nitrovane

My first tulip in Amsterdam

This is JJ (John James).

He is the original designer of the Orange distortion guitar amp in 1970. Indeed a legend in his spare time. He was also good friends with Frank Zappa and was at the infamous fire at Montraux in 1971, for which Deep Purple wrote that now unlistenable song "Smoke on the Water".

He is a world class monitor man and a genius to work with. JJ said that Frank noticed the fire and suggested that they all leave in an orderly fashion. JJ agreed. Frank yelled down the microphone a request , "has anyone got some finely sliced onions?" JJ replied, "how will that help?" Frank replied, "I just like finely sliced onions"

No one died but all of Frank's gear was lost. He was quite philosophical about it, however he never ate finely sliced onions ever again.

Kevin Nitrovane

Paris Pre concert with Sebastian

This is Sebastian, the most helpful, funny, enthusiastic French guy I've ever met! He has a handshake of such force it could crush diamonds. He has a grip on the English language similar to some African tribesmen yet to meet modern man. So we got off to a great start with him finding every thing I said extremely funny, therefore raising my stand up routine audience up to three people (including Karyn and Emma).

When you're hot, you're hot.

We got on swimmingly well, that was untill he dropped a lighting rig on my work bench missing my 40 grand guitar rack by zero mm. He dropped to the ground, pleaded for mercy (they say mercie a lot in France?) and expected to be hauled over to the Bastille, executed, beheaded, set on fire and have a large radish pushed down his throat. He was so nice, I simply couldn't do it. Instead, I got the tour manager to do it for me.

In any case we were out of radishes.

His last words appeared to be quite moving, but not moving quite enough, obviously.

And I guess my stand up routine audience is therefore diminished by one now…..

Kevin Nitrovane

Paris A: Saint Chapelle

Yesterday was my day off and I went to look for Paris, perhaps now my favorite city in the world next to Barcelona.

Perhaps the most exquisite stain glass in the world lies in Saint Chapelle in the heart of Paris. I asked everyone there to leave, as "I vont to be alone, as Greta once said. Am I looking at the best of man or the heart of God through man? It is completely breathtaking. It was built in the 1200s by King Louis IX.

It has been damaged and repaired through time, including the mess of the French revolution where the spire was removed and then replaced afterwards and they sold off some of the glass.

Tonight, Yusuf ( Cat Stevens) plays at Palais de Paris, Bercy. After an amazing time in Morocco, everyone is keen to do their best for the show tonight. Yusuf is adding Sad Lisa to the song list for the first time on this tour and I simply cant wait to hear it played.

Kevin Nitrovane

Rotterdam part 2

Some more flicks of Rotterdam.

People have asked me often how this city got started. Well, in 1263 a lot of logs of wood floated down the river from the area of Nasi Goreng. The early settlers there decided to collect them and build a massive "weir" or "dam" as they said then. As concrete and cranes were in short supply due to a financial crisis, they built this spectactular dam over 120 years. Unfortunately, the wood rotted and the dam broke, hence the name 'Rotterdam".

The breaking of the dam caused massive flooding, all their cloggs floated away and much heartache and the stamping of angry feet ensued as the dam was only in use for 3 weeks. However, it created the canals which we still have to this day. And they are very thankful for….

Kevin Nitrovane

Rotterdam

An amazing city, completely levelled during WW2. It's the 3rd biggest port in the world and just wonderful to visit.

The Germans were very angry with those folks in Holland and let them know about it. They ran out of beer in Berlin and the Dutch would not lend them any. History was set.

They have this interesting way of parking their fire engines though. Top left picture is quite commonly seen in Rotterdam. How they fill the gas tank I have no idea, as it's on the right hand side. Those crazy Dutch people have a way, no doubt.

One of the nicest things to do is catch the Spido ferry which takes you on a 75 minute tour of the canal . You get on from under the tension bridge. It was odd as the captain walked around the deck with the ferry steering wheel attached to his belt. I asked him what the steering wheel was doing attached to his belt. I don't quite remember his reply, but it went something like,  " I don't know but it's driving me crazy",or "driving me nuts" or "driving me to drink". In any case i asked the first mate to drill a hole in the Captains head to let the sap run out . Thanks Hank Marvin for the Dismal use of his even more Dismal but favorite joke… And for Simon Grocott for stopping the Captain from throwing me over. Instead of throwing me in the drink, the Captain and i had a drink, where we discussed not seeing each other ever again which would add years to each others lives...

If you ever come to Rotterdam, do not stay at the Hilton. It sucks. You have to pay 22 euro per day for internet. I sorted them out though. I have a good idea to ring their doorbell and run (Groucho).

Kevin Nitrovane

English Gardens , Munich

It's seemed a strange thing to do in Munich, but a visit to the English gardens was well worth the trip.

Here be three of the finest folks I've ever had the pleasure to tour with: Simon Grocott (everybody's tech for everything, and a darn good muso), Peter Mills (Elton's tech for everything, and although I have not seen him play yet he says he's just ace) and Alun Davies (Cat steven's guitar player and best friend from the late 1960's).
It started to rain and there became many puddles to walk through. Alun thought it would be a good idea for me to throw my coat down over a particular nasty puddle so his boots did not get muddy. He promptly took my coat and threw it on the ground. Unfortunately i was still wearing it. Ive decided to write a new song. Its called "boots and mud" ( Boots and Sand, get it? …. oh well)
Kevin Nitrovane

Art Deco Amp

An amazing "art deco" Carlsbro amp on display at Lite Structures reheasal studios. Just thought someone out there might like to see it...

Munich

Munich is a stunning city which you can spend a day walking around. Here is a small collection of shots. I'll post more soon.

The top right photo is a picture of Dom, a 15th Century Church which was bombed during the war. It has twin spires, one of them shrouded and undergoing restoration. It is so high, you have to climb 86 steps to reach a platform where you can catch a lift which takes you to the top. You can then get a 360 degree view of all of Munich.

The bottom right photo was taken inside St Marys. The two left photos are pictures from St Peters. The detail in the golden altar is breathtaking. I would love to have heard the pipe organ but, alas, it was not working. They have two monkeys to grind the pipe organ, but one unfortunately was on holidays in Bali, and the one who was there was not very agreeable, and it seemed I didn't have the right kind of peanuts. He threw them on the floor, turned away from me with folded arms with a "humpf" and mentioned something about choc coated ones next time?

I'm staying near the Marienplatz which is a plaza in the centre of Munich. All the interesting sights in Munich are close together and easy to access on foot from here. I thoroughly encourage anyone planning a trip to Germany to include Munich on their itinerary.

Kevin Nitrovane

Bullitt

Walking the streets of Munich.

Something I would love to buy: an original print from the 1968 film Bullitt. No room unfortunately, and 120 euros is another reason not to buy it. Anyway if you haven't seen this film you are missing something. It contains wonderful glimpses of San Francisco in the 1960s, a complex plot, and one of the most iconic car chases ever filmed.

You may want to read this review about the book and the film: 

A review of Bullitt
Bullitt locations in San Francisco

Huber

They are quite a lazy bunch in Oberhausen. I practised my best #Robert Plant vocal techniques to scream at the German support crew at the O2 stadium who were working overhead ( Mark Gale and Mike Haggerty take note), I was not using speech level singing . This was to get them to stop working both above me and above #Yusuf's guitars, as they were carrying hammers, bolts and spanners. Huber, however was very helpful in the sense that he did not do very much either, but he was very funny.

Germans are generally as funny as watching a dead dog trying to climb a ladder (form a mental image of that!!), but not this guy. There is nothing like good ole "German Huber" to get the day off to a good start.

I placed myself on security detail by addressing the miserable security guards ,and demanding to see their papers to make sure they were in order. I got a few laughs, and a few bemused looks. By the time they had worked it out I was off to the next one. Heels a-clicking.

"YOUR PAPERS PLEASE". ....Where is Steve McQueen when you need him? I may have to plan a not-so-Great Escape.

Oh yeah, the concert here was amazing. Indeed. There were a few technical difficulties, but watching a genuine superstar like Yusuf overcome them was staggering. I think most of us would have crumbled in the same position. Well I guess I should just speak for myself…

Now just take one more look at Huber. Like putting on a poncho, ( #NoelFielding) it's simply impossible to be unhappy when you see Huber….

Kevin Nitrovane