Day Six: Lisbon

Leaving…, originally uploaded by Rich in Orderly Manor.

Bit of local exploring this morning. Winding steep streets and a particularly fancy hotel grounds. There’s a kitten who wants to follow us home; i consider cat smuggling.

A little design work before we head to the venue and meet our new equipment and new crew. The Lisbonians (?) are very serious people. The venue is large, circular and has this amazing Jules Verne planetoid lighting rig in the center of the ceiling. I like it all except the barriers between audience and an already enormous stage. There must be 25 feet between my monitors and the people!

A wander after soundcheck reveals that Starbucks is, unfortunately, everywhere, the shoe shop is closed, and the beautiful people come out at night. Some good street musicians. We run in to Dave Furneaux at a cafe outside where Mars and I are getting some air. Nice to meet him after all the emailing in the last year.

Despite the barrier tonight’s show is a real pleasure for me – somehow everything clicks in just right; sound, stage and fans! Love opening with Dumb Waiters! RB really belts it and the band sounds huge. Met a few nice locals who give us a history/language lesson before we’re back to the hotel sanctuary, ears ringing. Can’t sleep. Oh, that’s not new.