Copenhagen

We arrive in Denmark equipment intact and taxi on down to the venue, where we are welcomed with beer and cheese as is the custom. Asbyon, who’s name I can never spell, greets us with the news that ‘Playing on the Pier’ from the new record is at number 9 in the Danish indie charts or something that which is nice. The album seems to be doing well here. We sound-check without any notable hitches and get acquainted with Swim tv ish tv who are supporting tonight and loaning us their backline. Their guitar player bares an uncanny resemblance to Mike Mills from REM and I tell him such. He takes it like a man. We leave the venue and set up camp in a well to do flat a short walk away where we freshen up and watch the Danish X factor which is pretty bad in a pretty good way. Ben is exhausted after a sleepless night with his young son, Craig miffed at the airline security for confiscating his hair gel, Karen wants to see some of the city and Mike, just for a change, is on for a party. We are billeted next door to a cemetery that is the final resting place of Hans Christian Anderson. I’m kind of in tour manager mode and trying to organise stuff. We catch the support for a couple of songs and enjoy, the crowd is not quite as large as last time but still decent enough. Swim tv ish tv make Stereolab type waves. Our gig passes off without any technical hitches, a first in recent times. No broken pedals or exploding amplification. In a crowded dressing room we malinger and consume and play travel scrabble with the Danes [well I do…the others are on the dance floor cutting the funk]. Back at the flat I retire hurt and listen through walls to the party at the top of the stairs. More beer and cheese please Louise and then it’s all over. Next morning Karen and I go walkabout in the rain looking for the grave of the king of fairy tales but never manage to find it. Robbie Savage is on the plane home and Mike gets his autograph for his young son. He looks uncannily like General Custer. VP