Day Nine: Malaga

World’s longest soundcheck, originally uploaded by Rich in Orderly Manor.

We turn up at 9.30 after a few hours bus sleep. Sitting up top in the lounge its cool to see what looks like southern California turn in to Malaga and the Mediterranean. The hotel is right on the beach and we’re right in to the breakfast (still unsure about watery Spanish eggs) and coffee.

I barely slept on the bus last night but i’m not sleeping – some practice and some design stuff to deal with. Oh and its Malaga outside.

Soundcheck is the longest sound check of all time. The place is new and cavernous and there are lots of issues. But it pays off; the crowd seems ecstatic with the show tonight – that’s all that matters. Meet some nice americans who live here, and a load of very polite, star-struck locals who had trouble with their camera operation skills.

Touring is hard work. For the crew especially. But sometimes though the ‘office’ hours may be short its a hard slog being a touring musician. Perpetually on the move, new place to sleep every night, hauling your luggage from hotel to bus, to van, to aeroplane, hurry up and wait, odd eating times, odd waking times, odd everything times, tempers, personalities, extreme volume, dealing with electronic equipment and fragile instruments that go wrong. Then you have two hours where you have to do your job to the absolute highest level you can, regardless of different circumstances every night, and with thousands of people staring at you for the whole thing. Oh, and throw as much distracting, hot, blinding light as possible in the mix and remember to put on a show at the same time. Then when you’re done you better have a good reason as to why you didn’t play ‘that’ song. Now grab your stuff and get moving.

Tonight, after the show – we had a ten minute cab ride to a beautiful hotel and a day off the next day. Tricia, Rob and I sat and drank beers on the balcony and watched the moon rising above the ocean. I love this job.