manunderstress.com

Hung out yesterday in Leuven to see the sights. Walked around the markets, had a waffle, pondered the abstact statues, and drank koffie. Hit the road about 3 for Repmond Rock, outdoor tent festival in the quaint village of Repmond. There are castle tower remains on site. We are backstage in the lofty attic of a barnish mill type place that is actually some sort of museum for grain grinding devices. Have dinner in the tent with the other Belgian bands, lots of casseroles and nice cakes including tiramisu for desert. Maes beer and assorted chocolates backstage. We go on to a really good crowd of 2,000 or so people. They are recording the performance and there is a videographer on the left side of the drum riser making me very nervous. He is there the entire show more or less. I think about metal drummers and all the hilarious faces and stick twirls. I slightly regret that I never learned any of that, or have the personality to pull it off. After a while I forget the cameras and even escape to that magical thoughtless zone a couple of times. That’s what it’s all about for me. After the show the 3 little fresh faced, shaggy headed kids of one of the guys working the show want us to autograph their festival shirts. Its perhaps the most endearing thing I’ve ever experienced….and I don’t think of myself as very susceptible to that crap. They smile shyly and wave whenever I walk by. I want to stay for Les Truttes, as I am told it’s quite a party, but the band votes to drive back to the hotel which is some miles away.