Anna's CafÈ Of Noise Pollution And Smoke, Budapest.
When I did the block yesterday afternoon, it took a little time to find an appropriate cafÈ to sit & compute & diarise. The main difficulty in making a choice was Noise Pollution Systems going full tilt in most of them. I settled on one, and sat outside as far from its blast as possible. Today I have returned to the same place and the NPS is set to techo-rock-a-pop. I am outside, hiding from the blast as best as I may. Anna's CofNP&S is on a corner site directly opposite an Aeroflot office - fly the friendly skies of Aeroflot? This is a first, to have coffee opposite an Aeroflot building. A man on the adjoining table has been joined by a friend. The friend is blowing smoke over me. This is not a first.
CafÈ Down The Street From Anna's CafÈ Of Noise Pollution And Smoke.
The man on the next table at Anna's was a severe addict. His ongoing sharing with me of his exhaled smoke was an act of generosity I felt unable to accept. The NPS rattled on. I was driven away. Automatic behaviours, unwitting, without intent, do damage.
On my new table there is more traffic noise, but this is not disturbing to the same degree. A first: I have put on headphones to exclude my sonic environment & am currently listening to Bax while computing. This performance is intentional; it succeeds.
14.38 Room Most Acceptable, Hotel Most Acceptable, Budapest.
Have been listening to Andrew Keeling's Soundscape arrangements from Amsterdam. There are two that go beyond their origins, and are now their own originals.
More words beginning with d this time - dread, despondency, despair, dispirited, disheartened. But not depressed. I am not a depressive person, although I became depressed while touring Europe with the Double Trio in 1996. There was then a sense of this is how a tour is. Not this is madness: what shall we do? On the tourbus the back lounge was for practicing drummers, the front lounge for others, and my bunk the only place to be private.
Now, practising.
00.04 Our Budapest promoter was one of the two or three keenest promoters on this tour. He worked very hard to make this visit & show work for the band, even though he probably won't make money from it.
The performance: flashes in ProzaKc, the second piece. Ade made an announcement afterwards, right before TCOL, and I saw no more flashes. But I was off-balance & discovered some remarkable new clunkers in Facts & Elektrik, recovering by CirKcle. That was when The Bright Idea For The Last Show Of The Tour appeared: two belly dancers. I saw the first come onstage, knew this was TBIFTLSOTT, and kept my focus close. Then, the second. I continued to keep my focus close. A good wheeze, presented & accepted in good humour.
For the final acknowledgements, Ade & Pat beckoned me forward into the spotlight to take a bow. But trust was gone. Hope & experience had met, negotiated the space, and both held their own. I stayed at the back.
The (playing part) of this King Crimson Eurotour of 2003 finished around 22.50.
Now, packing.
"We may do whatever we like, providing we can pay the bill."
