tahaksin nende ridade vahendusel tänada kogu Eesti-poolset meeskonda äärmiselt professionaalse ja meeldiva koostöö eest! Külalised jäid igal juhul Tartu nädalaga ülimalt rahule. Frippi viimased sõnad enne Tallinnas lennuki peale minekut olid: “Me lahkume tsivilisatsioonist. Ees ootab Inglismaa!” Tegemist on parima komplimendiga, mida võib kuulda.
CHRIS WONG:
Monday, May 04, 2009
The Humans, Estonia 2009, a report
Greetings one and all.
I’m happy to report that The Humans trip to Estonia went exceedingly well.
After meeting Toyah and Robert, and our sound technician Trev at Gatwick, the flight to Tallinn went without incident. We were met at Tallinn by Karl and after picking up Bill from a snooze at a nearby hotel we were driven, along with our equipment, to Tartu, to Hotel Antonius. The hotel was fabulous!
Day one consisted of setting up the gear in the rehearsal space and checking all systems. Tea and cake followed and not too soon after, dinner at the hotel.
The next three days were spent rehearsing and eating cake.
Thursday was capped off with dinner with the President, the first lady, the Minister of Justice, the Estonian Ambassador to UK, and our friend Markus Reuter from the band ‘Tuner’ who toured with us in 2007. Flanked of course by men in dark glasses talking into their wrists!
Friday, gig day. Set up in the venue, sound check, cakes. I met up with the Ambassador and Markus, who had brought with him his prototype ‘Touch Guitar’ U8. Superb instrument, superb design, superb build quality. A lesson ensued, followed by cake !
A private dinner.
The concert!
In attendance the President, First Lady, Ambassador, Minister of Justice, Mayor, Chancellor of the University (one of the oldest in Europe, the University that is, not the Chancellor!), and many invited Estonian Musicians who were performing at the festival.
Robert opened with some soundscapes and then the Humans joined him on stage for our set. This consisted of the Album (www.rememberthe80s.com) with the addition of Roberts input. This was an absolute thrill, to have Robert join us for the entire set. We came back for a surprise encore. Standing ovation! A feeling of surprise and satisfaction.
Bill flew out early on saturday morning while Toyah and I had a meeting with some Estonian musicians and Markus Reuter with whom we will be collaborating with later this year, which will hopefully lead to an album being recorded. This meeting was set up by the Ambassador Dr.Margus Laidre, a true patron of the arts and a facilitator for the Humans and Robert.
Cake followed.
The evening was spent at a concert suggested to us by Jaana, the manageress of the Hotel. Some excellent Estonian bands and musicians. I particularly enjoyed Toomas Vanem’s band ‘Limited Edition’.
Sunday…. the journey home interlaced with cake at Tallinn airport.
Many happy memories , not only of the concert and the audience reaction, but of happy times eating cake and reinventing aspects of the English language (and teaching it to the hotel staff), of wonderful company, beautiful sunny weather and a beautiful town, wonderfully respectful citizens, highly professional hotel staff and festival organisers. I shall not forget this trip.
Peace
x
