Local time: 1:47pm

Day Two:
I arrived at Koen’s place at about 5pm or so. I got stuck in a bit of traffic leaving Gent and getting into Antwerp. Nothing too bad though. Initially I thought he lived (squatted even) in some industry building when I exited the highway. But, he actually leaves near it… phew! We chatted for quite some time about various things, while his wife made us dinner. She’s from Malaysia and speaks amazing English. She can also cook really good Chinese food! After we finished up, we drove out to Trix where Dozer and Brain Police and one other band was playing. Surprisingly, I was on the list and got in without any problems! I think the list had about 4 people on it! I watched Brain Police play and thought I saw Tommi from Dozer in the audience, but wasn’t sure. When they finished and the 2nd band played, I thought I saw him again. I went over to him and asked… sure enough, it was. He was with Fredrik, the singer, and we proceeded to make introductions, where after he invited us backstage to meet Brain Police, and get some beer! We talked with everyone for a bit, and just small talk and what not. Eventually Dozer was to go onstage, so we made our way back outside. Maki and Pieter were also coming to Trix to see Dozer play, and I eventually meet up with them. I had forgotten my earplugs, and not wanting to blow out my ears in the first show, I stayed towards the back most of the show. Meanwhile, Maki wanted to take some photos, and was right up in front! After the show, I said goodbye to the bands, and Maki and Pieter as well. I didn’t want to have Koen stay too long as I felt he was a bit bored. But, that is ok. He took me to get some food in Antwerp center and check out the red light district, and we arrived at home about 2am.

Day Three:
I got up around 10:30 or so, apparently I was a bit more tired than I had thought! Koen’s wife had gotten up and bought some amazing Belgian pastries and we devoured a few in the morning. I slowly got ready and called Remco in Amsterdam to see if he wanted to meet up for a drink or two. I eventually made my way out of Koen’s around 12:30 or so. The drive to Amsterdam wasn’t bad at all. I think it was about 1h45. Very quick and easy. After making 1 wrong turn, I eventually found Remco’s house, but was early! I sat in the car for a bit (called Mom) and planned the next days of my trip checking maps and times. Remco eventually showed up, on time, and we toured his new house. Very cool place. It was an old storage factory in the western part of Amsterdam a short walk from the train station. We roamed the streets of Amsterdam for a bit, had some drinks and the much needed patat oorlog! I left around 5:30 or so and hoped to make it to Groningen by 7:30-8:00 but was a bit late. I went straight to the youth hostel, checked in, and left. I knew the venue (Vera) was close, but, it was difficult to figure which corner of the main square I was initially in. After going though yet another red light district, I found the place. And it was really cool. And I was super early. There were some people, but not very many. I lingered near the stage, and then Fredrik spotted me and offered me to join them in the back. Gulli from Brain Police recognized me and ask, “Are you groupie?” I laughed, and thought to myself, I suppose so, and told him. But, Tommi then told me, to consider myself part of the band, and what they ate and drank, I would eat and drink. I would eventually learn he wasn’t just saying so. I hung out with Tommi, Höddi (bassist for Brain Police) and Johan (bassist for Dozer) mostly and we discussed all sorts of bands and concerts we saw, and bands we thought should stop playing, and the music industry in general. It was really fun. After drinking a few beers, and watching both bands play, I went back stage again… and this is where I knew the next few nights would get interesting. There was a very drunk woman taking photos for the venue and eventually wanted a band photo of Dozer…. Fredrik was taking a shower, and she confused me with him… and it’s on their site. The first to last row, first photo…. yes, it’s me and the members of Dozer posing as all the members of Dozer! After all the fun, I made the trek to the hostel, and crashed for what seemed like 3 hours, and was ready for….

Day Four:
Woke up around 8:00 to the sound of pylons being driving into the ground nearby. It’s ok, I wanted to get an early start to eastern Germany. Packed up my gear, and started the long drive to Magdeburg. It took longer than expected and with stopping for food and gas, I got there around 2:00pm. Eventually found the venue, stuck in the middle of a very eastern European university campus. I found the band, just waking up, eating… where they asked me to join them in the food and drink. Easy enough. I stayed there for awhile, and then left for a hotel search once they began taking stuff off the bus. I found a place, and decided was pretty beat and took a short nap. Woke up, ate a quick snack, and walked over to the venue where they were in the middle of a sound check. I took some photos and just stumbled around not really doing too much. An Icelandic TV station showed up to talk with Brain Police and we all gave them a bit of a hard time. It was only fair because the reporter woman wasn’t being very nice. Then dinner came, and at just the right time because I was starving! This was probably the best crowd… those eastern Germans can really go crazy! Even if the Duck’s son did a poor lighting and sound job! (inside joke) Brain Police definitely had a fun time playing… as well as Dozer and 2 other bands from Germany. I stayed with the band until they basically rode out of the parking space… sat on the bus for awhile, drank a few more beers and relaxed. I went home around 3:00am and hopped into bed. I slept in a little bit, because I wanted to be rested for the final show and…

Day Five:
I think I left Magdeburg for Osnabrück around 11:30… not quite sure, maybe earlier. I did beat the band to the venue, but, didn’t see it and thought I had it wrong, and ended up driving around Osnabrück for an hour trying to find it… I got paranoid I had typed in the address of a hostel instead. But, I should have been more alert. The first place I went to was the right place! Only, the second time I knew this because, well, I saw this big brown and yellow bus I had seen the last 3 nights! I found the gang inside, tried, ready for the last show, and hungry. Myself included, we all were a bit tired and just wanted to do something. There wasn’t much in this tiny town, and it was boring. Very beautiful though. I hunted for a place to stay, and realized, the town was full. Apparently in Hannover there was a big (we eventually found out one of the biggest) convention going on, and even Osnabrück was full. So, I had no place to sleep…. and mentally prepared myself for a long drive, after the show. I went back to the venue, and realized, this convention wasn’t only causing problems for me. Brain Police had booked a car rental so they could drive themselves and their gear to Frankfurt and fly back home. The car rental place closed at noon, and their reservation was for 4:00. Small problem. They canceled the reservation and never bothered to tell them. After many phone calls and ranting, I drove Gulli, Höddi and Martin (Dozer manager/merch extradornaire) to the Osnabrück airport to get 2 rental cars. However, there was another problem… all three of them forgot their passports at the venue… so, I had to use my passport, and Gulli and Höddi used their driving licenses to get the cars… I told Gulli, this means I’m not a groupie anymore! He agreed and thanked me. We headed back to Westwerk and had some amazing food from this amazing German girl who cooked, washed cars and played foosball really well. We told her she made great wife material, and she took it as a compliment! There was more of the same… joking around, drinking some beer, and being bored. Eventually everyone played their last songs for the tour, and was happy to be done touring 17 days in a row, each night playing and driving to a new city. But, for it was all done, Dozer dedicated their newest song, Exoskeleton II to me and thanked me for coming all the way from New York to watch them play. Very cool of them. After the show, I helped load the rental cars and the bus, said good byes, invited people to Brooklyn, thank yous, and plenty of handshakes and hugs. Fredrik invited me to join them again, but suggested I come on shows early instead… and he said he’d email me once they know he next shows. He said I was a cool guy for coming, and said he had a good time with me, and thanked me. Very gracious of him, made me crack a smile. After the Icelandic boys piled into the cars, and the Dozer guys boarded the bus, I walked off into the night, to begin the long drive back to Gent… at 2:00am.

Day Six:
Around 4:00am, I couldn’t bare to not sleep and still drive anymore and turned off into a rest area… I left the car on, with a little bit of air, and slept. I didn’t set an alarm or anything…. I just wanted a restful nap. I woke up around 7:00am and started the for the rest of the drive. I arrived in Gent a little bit before 9:00am and instead of waking Pieter and Maki and Iris (who was coming to meet with me from Vienna) in the morning, I slept in the car after sending Maki a text message saying I was there (she never got the text message). However, Pieter went out of the house around 9:30am to get some food, and thought he saw my car with me in it… but was unsure. He went back to the house, grabbed Maki and Iris, and a cup of coffee and they knocked on the window of the car around 10:00am. I was very confused, and tired, and amused! It was very surreal for a moment or two…. we grabbed my luggage and went back to the house. We had previously made plans to rent a boat, and drive around the canals of Gent. We joked and caught up before we did so. At 1:30 we left the house for the docks, and took an awesome 4 hour cruise through the canals of Gent to the outer country side of the city.

Really fun. The rest of the day was spent joking and laughing while roaming the canals and streets of Gent, and then going to a few small bars and drinking all sorts of Belgian beers. We all crashed around 1:30am and I slept for about 10 hours… leaving with me

Day Seven:
Well, I’ve spent the first 2 hours of being awake writing about the last few days… and have no plans other than enjoy not driving anymore. I’ve already driven about 1700 kilometers and need the break. Maybe I’ll go get some Belgian chocolate… and some other goodies for the people who weren’t able to join me. Love you all and see you soon….