05/01/16 day 29: Bonn, DE

Up at 8:30am to pack, shower, and have a cup of coffee with Strupp the matriarch of Lutterbeker. Lynn was up peeling and boiling potatoes in the restaurant kitchen when we came down for coffee in the winter garden around 930, an all glass enclosed patio with loads of big plants and little two top tables. The sun was out though and it was actually warm enough to sit outside outside, so we moved our cups to the roofless patio and wiped down the patio furniture that for the last couple days has been getting soaked. Had a nice little chat with Strupp. She's just a cool, down to earth lady who knows her business and has a passion for live music. I mean, she's been doing it for 40 years and she's damn good at it.

Waved goodbye to Strupp standing in the doorway at 10:15. Headed south past Kiel, Hamburg, Bremen and then caught the A1 south to Bonn. Thankfully there was no traffic so we made the drive in 6 hours with a couple short stops for gas and highway food. Drive was chill. Peter drove the first 4 hours and I finished the rest. Nice having a driving partner. Jeff and Alex sawed logs in the back.

Bonn, located on the Rhein River south of Köln, was the seat of the west German government (Bundestag) from after World War II to reunification. I spent a couple months here in the Spring of '99 researching my thesis and interning with an elected official of the FDP, a small liberal political party. It was a fun time. It was nice to live close to Aachen, which is where I spent a year from '94-'95, and visit my friends and host family. I was hopeful I'd see some friends tonight.

Pulled right up to the hotel to dump our luggage and who emerges from the door but our good friend Max from Dresden who took a 7 hour train to hang for the night! Cheerful reunion! I got cleaned up and we all piled in the car to the venue 7 minutes away which is in the basement of an old parliament building on the other side of the Rhein. Cool little stage in an unassuming old office building. It's a vibey little cavern style venue. You wouldn't know it by looking at the building though.

Apparently this particular collection of old parliament buildings (I think they are former CDU Party buildings) which houses tonight's venue, will be torn down at the end of May and replaced with new office buildings.

Ohne Filter sound check. Sounding good gents!

Got the PA up and running with a quick sound check. Sounding juicey and warm! We checked first and then Ohne Filter who played with us in Trittau checked after. Ralf and Frank are great. Good dudes and great players.

The green room catering didn't satisfy everyone's desires, and in comparison to other nights it was a little light, so the guys sent out for pizza (everybody loves pizza) and then warmed up the voices quickly.

The set felt great! I thought it was a solid performance all around, the banter felt good, nice full room with good energy and loads of friends turned up including Lena my youngest host sister as well as MHC alumna and friends Kathrin and Julia! I really wanted to debut the new tune Peter and I wrote the day before but I think it's in everyone's interest to maybe run it once with Jeff first! Encore was Easy, Free Falling, and Bid you. I think the MVP was Printemps again. It's a good mix of humor and harmonies people seem to get into singing "oh la la" with us. A great night. Chatted with Ohne Filter about setting up some shows in the area in the future! So grateful for another great night.