A Broad, Abroad (installment the fifth)

In Dublin airport. Last night's show was at Dublin Castle, pictures possibly forthcoming.

The stage was a little high, the barrier a little too far from the stage, and Jillie was a little too schlaflos to enjoy this show as much as, say, the Brussels gig. But tonight is the Glasgow concert, and I've seen him twice in this venue before, and both concerts were impeccable.

The picture of Nick reading Harlot was taken in the Brussels airport, where he and I had a nice-sized chat. I was on the same plane as the band, and I had a nice long chat with most of the guys (see the Barrelhouse Blog for the ever so ridiculous Patrick Swayze-related fruits of that labor, as well as a picture of Nick making a shocked face (as per my request) while reading a steamy passage of the book).

Actually, he hadn't read any of it at this point, nor did I expect him to have, if at all. However, he left me the gate for awhile and when he returned, he came over to me and said "The poems are good. No, they're really good." I asked him if I could quote him and he said I could. So, I quote him.

So if any of y'all been holding out on Harlot, because you don't know who the hell I think I am... then take it from Mr. Cave. (Sorry for the used-car salesman-like pitch, but if I can't tell y'all, then who can I?)

Now alls I need is to run into Simon Armitage in an airport or something.

The best thing about chatting with the guys at the airport was that they are exactly as cool and as affable as they present themselves to be. And that's how I like my rock stars, you know. Easy to talk to.

I hadn't realized how tall the drummer Jim Sclavunos was. Nor how mannified and, frankly, juicy.

At this moment, however, I'm feeling exactly my age plus about 15 years. After Glasgow I go back to Switzerland to give a reading in Basel, but go then to London for two shows. Then I will have about two weeks and then my last show is in Berlin. That will make 8 shows for me on this tour, and 19 shows ever. I kind of wish I had thought it out better to make it an even 20, but what can you do?

Comments

[JAE]

UPDATE: Roadies were on plane. One has taken to calling me "Texas." Another one thinks I need a haircut. This is true.