Amplifier

Currently meandering around the world playing music and seeing some sights, Urbantramper took a moment to reflect and wrote us a little letter home. Awww!

Dear Zealand.

I miss you.

I miss your vaguely clean rivers and the people's desire to swim in them.

I left your shores for the great north in July. I travelled via Tokyo where I played a show organised by the incomparable Kohei Katsura. The concert took place in a futuristic sky high cafe with a glass dome roof. Everything was white or red. At the behest of the former Mighty glassie turned promoter, his cousin and I sang Chris Knox's 'love not given lightly' and a traditional Japanese tune for the finale. Hands were clapped. Glory and surreality fused...

Eli and Ben then joined me in London and we commenced Urbantramper's second 'European' tour. The UK comprised of three festivals, two London shows and incessant NZ accent mockery. We then took our small rental car across the channel to play shows in France, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, and Czech Republic. That mission, the '2010 Rise & ride toward tour', was lovingly serialised here: www.urbantramper.com (label: European summer tour 2010)

Apart from a few decadent nights in hotels, courtesy of our hosts, we couchsurfed our way through the entire two month tour. I would then continue to sleep in people's lounges and kitchens for another two months before finding a room in Nantes, where I currently live and comtemplate what it is to be an artist in France in 2010.

I've played three solo shows since the band departed. Each one bolsters my, at times fragile, sense of self worth. On arrival at a show in France (and most places in Europe) you are greeted with an offer of something to drink and the knowledge that dinner is either ready or the way. Food, drink and salutations of respect and gratitude for one's craft put you in the perfect space to play a good concert. I recently played Soirée de Noel at Le Violin Dingue with a German woman and Ned Collette from Melbourne (http://www.nedcollette.com/sounds.html). The place was packed full of attentive punters keen to soak up the merriment of the evening. Hands were clapped. Glory glowed a warm hue of red.

The rest of the time:

I hang out with our manager Thomas Jaunism who writes stories of little consequence and much sentiment. We post them on the website regularly.

I sing in a sea shanty choir and feel I've found my place in the world (http://www.myspace.com/crochededans). I'm currently fascinated by sea shantys and soul music. There is such a powerful simplicity in songs that can be sung by unaccompanied voices.

I write songs for an album to be released in late 2011.

I play "15" (a classic drinking game) with unruly school children two days a week to earn my keep.

I've become enamoured by the all blacks. I watch their games anxiously and shout at the screen.

I'm just on holiday, i'll be home soon.

Love to you and yours...