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Hillbilly heroin, the Patriot Act, smothering the airwaves in vitriol. Industrialization of the little brown babies, hope you got a bonus for the soul you sold... We raise our hands with our American fork, our greedy little hands. |
--American Fork
Stockholm Syndrome |
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They opened the show on May 10 in Frankfurt with the encore from the evening before, "Counter Clock World." As the guitars began to swirl and the music rapped around itself I continued to realize how ridiculous this band could be. After only a week they are already better at this intelligent, emotional, deep rock than bands that have been trying it for years. While they are all critical of what they do (as any great artists must be) it is somewhat astonishing that they are already focused on the details. After a week together most bands are simply struggling to keep it together and get through the material, but the Stockholm Syndrome is worried about various nuances and the intimate areas of the musical conversation. But once again, few bands, if any, start with such extremely accomplished musicians who are a bit older, a bit more mature, and a bit more aware of what is needed to make it on the road. And even fewer bands start with such a solid core of songs and such a strong album to work off... again, this is simply not an ordinary band... and did I mention that Dave Schools is in the band, that's really all you need to know? Trust me when I say that Schools only involves himself with the finest musicians in the most interesting projects.
Kai Fricke (sound man), McFadden & Dziuk
05.10.04 : Post Show in our Frankfurt Hotel Bar |
Just as every consecutive show has been, Frankfurt was the best of the bunch. Each night has grown in all areas, from confidence and familiarity with both the songs and the players to the overall sound that fills the room. Each evening we find a band on the rise and it can be seen on their faces and heard from their amps.
Being able to spend intimate time with all these remarkable men has allowed me to peer into their psyches a bit and get a feel for what makes them tick. Take Jerry for instance. Prior to the Frankfurt show, Jerry (as he often can be) was very volatile and in some ways difficult to deal with. But Jerry is a double-edged sword. His genius is found in the emotional catharsis mined from the depths of his pain, and this release is impossible without his other side, the side that makes him sick with anticipation, that makes it impossible for him to eat, that leads him to lock himself away for the hours leading to show time.
Jerry Joseph & Dave Schools
05.17.04 : Bikini : Barcelona, SPA |
Jerry's material is filled with pain: the pain of the world, the pain of Jihad, the pain of America's ruling mentality and lethal convictions, the pain of his past and the pain he sees in his future. Jerry is full of these thoughts and he sees these visions; in turn it's very difficult to simply ask him to turn it on and off when the lights go up and down. Jerry is an artist, and like many artists he's difficult to wrap up with a few words. To know Jerry the performer is to know his music, to read his words, and dig into his stage presence. But to know Jerry the man is to understand the stresses of having children thousands of miles away and a life that won't let him simply "go on the road." And this extends to each of us--the band, the crew, the management. There is far more that goes into a show than simply plugging in and playing.
Yes it is a wonderful life, one full of new places and faces, experiences and the ever-healing effects of music. But it's a hell of a lot of work. So much so that over dinner and wine one night Dave Schools began to tell me that he feels part of my job here is to explain just how much work goes into this, and just how difficult this all can be. He went on to explain his disgust with young kids who feel they have some type of entitlement to his band's music (mostly in reference to Widespread Panic). He even told a story about JoJo Hermann (keyboardist for Panic) going out to the tour bus and finding some Wookie asleep in his bunk. Shocked and a bit pissed, he roused the kid only to find the bastard had the nerve to be angry about being woken up. And when fans complain about set lists, and make demands about taping (which they obviously allow), I (and Schools) simply don't understand where they get off with such self-absorbed attitudes.
Dave Schools :: Rehearsal :: Berlin, GER |
These guys have been busting their ass for 20 years to get to this point in their career (all of them--Panic, Stockholm Syndrome, Eric with his own bands and P-Funk, Wally who has his own signature drum sticks, etc). Each of these musicians has given up a life that allows for time with their dogs, time with their wives, time with their kids. Each of these men have made great sacrifices and continue to do so on a daily level, and until you've helped with the load in and dialed in the sound, watched them learn songs and teach each other sections; until you've called home to find your life falling apart and there's nothing you can do with your calling card; until you have sat on the bus for 16 hours and survived off coffee in the day and booze at night; until you've lived out of your bag and forgotten what country you're in year after year, you can't say shit, and all you should do is enjoy the music as you enjoy your life, but don't think that this is somehow your music or that you are entitled to some sort of payback because you went on tour for the summer. But once again I'm getting off track... back to Frankfurt and the ever-evolving rock show.
R. Shippy (Crew), McFadden, Joseph, Kayceman
Post Show : Reithalle : Offenberg, GER |
All of these stresses were beginning to wear on band and crew alike, but during the "Light Is Like Water" > "Gloryland" > "Light Is Like Water" first set closer I was quickly reminded of all the things that led me down the path I'm currently walking. Although I hadn't slept and had barely eaten, everything began to slip to the side and none of it mattered. And although Jerry was even worse off mentally, dealing with sleep deprivation and life across the ocean, it all came to a point of marvelous beauty where at least for those sections when the band was clicking and the crowd (regardless of how small) was locked in, nothing else mattered. It became one of those moments of Zen that hordes of kids chase around in cars and vans each year, where nothing else matters but that moment of musical bliss.
Well my friends, phones are ringing and buzzers blinking, time is of the essence and in order to get things in place for this evening's show I must bid you farewell. Finding time to write is nearly impossible, which means I'm skipping my allotted time for sleep. But such is life on the road with a crew of rock stars. There is so much more to tell... Our adventures in Amsterdam, talking about Mikey's last shows, Jerry evoking tears from band and crowd alike, the most insanely wonderful venue I've ever seen, and details that I simply can't divulge at the moment. Be sure to keep an eye out because I'll be back with the dirt on the Syndrome's development. But take it from me, each night they reach new heights, and every time they play we are closer to glory.
Be sure to stay tuned, Part II will land soon.
All Words & Images by: The Kayceman
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