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Arriving in Amsterdam via Aer Lingus, I am hungry and hit Vlaamse Frites for a smaak of frites n’ mayonaise. Mmmmm, greasy goodness. I take the shuttle to town and meet up with the crew at Canal View hotel, which is in the Rembrandtplein. Rooms are basic but adequate, right off a canal. We eat Indian with Roald and Marit, and call it a night.

Deventer is a bigger place than I had imagined, though I have no business imagining places I have never been to, do I? Hotel in the “old town” is nice, basic good beds. We are off the main cobblestoned and churched plaza. We load in at Het Burgerweeshuis, which used to be an orphan house. It’s an ample sized venue, w/ DJ pulpit and backstage with shower. Maybe slightly bigger than the EARL for you ATL folks. The usual snacks abound, Bros chocolates, gummy candies, cucumber and cheese sandwhiches, coffee. Soundcheck is the first so we take our sweet time with setting up. Dinner is fried trout and pasta, cooked and served by the club. Show goes off fine although it isn’t quite sold out.

Leuven the next night is in a bigger place, 450 capacity at the Het Depot. It’s got great acoustics and the sound on stage during soundcheck is stellar. Makes all the difference in the world. Show goes off without a hitch and is one of the best to date. I think it is nearly sold out. Afterwards we drink
Stella (this is the Stella brewery town) in a club next door and watch a few people dance.