Austria is still recovering from record breaking storms that flooded everywhere. So much so that the train I took here from Schweinfurt to Linz to Passau to Vienna - one leg, the final leg from Passau to Vienna was not running. I was grouped in on a different train that was packed and no seats left. Yes, I sprung for the assigned seat but on a train that was not running. I ended up sitting in the footwell by the doors for a couple of hours.
I tried to sit and write there but it was just too uncomfortable to try to hold the iPad on my knees.
Roman is already waiting for me at the station and he gets me a week pass for the trams and trains and we scoot across town to where he lives during the rush hour.
Barbara has made delicious pasta for dinner and my stay with my vegan friends is a shift in my diet but it is still delicious. I’m not just saying that because I know they will read this - it is legitimately delicious. We have a great catch up and drink some wine and the weekend is off to a good start. I think it is only Wednesday though.
Barbara has started playing double bass (read: upright bass) and they have formed a duo together. I don’t think Roman and Barbara have a group name yet but I can already picture a highly stylized R & B with the ampersand in the shape of a cat. Maybe it should be B & R so no one gets it confused with R&B music because that is not what they play. The first song I hear them play is Hank Willams and I love their sound.
Short Guitar Geek Warning:
Roman got an Iris guitar last year and it is such a fabulous instrument. Devotee’s to my GGW understand that I fancy myself a “guitar whisperer”* and I love when I can suggest what guitars certain people should get but I love even more when people find the guitars on their own without me and that’s what this is. I’ve played some Iris guitars before and Roman’s is probably my favorite one I’ve heard.**
/end GGW
Hanging out in their apartment, they run through a few songs for the show on Friday night. We’re performing a house concert together. Roman and Barbara on first, then Sundown Ramblers and then me. I get the wild hair to have Roman and Barbara join me on a couple of songs.
Oh yeah, forgot to mention - Barbara has only been playing upright bass for a short time and this is going to be her first gig ever.
So I throw a couple songs at them, Too Many Miles, Cold War, Glad and Sorry, Queen of the Party and You ain’t going nowhere. Yeah, you know - no pressure! It’s sounding so good in the apartment that it makes me start thinking of ideas for my next solo album. Stripped down with just upright and dobro or mandolin - oh man! It sounds sooooo good!
Anyway.
Roman makes some eggplant dish over rice noodles and I’m starting to get used to this diet.
The show tonight is a house concert outside of Vienna in a town called Klosterneuburg at the house of Sundown Ramblers guitar player Richie. It’s a beautiful house and they have a great living room that’s been set up for a house concert.
Ok, I just fell asleep typing. This has to be continued tomorrow. BTW it’s 2:44 am. I must sleep. I apologize for making it a two parter.
xo,
Goodnight.
*quotations mine.
**If I was ever to get an Iris guitar I would have to spring for the P90 and Sarah Ryan (sarahryanstudio.com) paint job. So unbelievably amazing. Oh and Iris guitars are made in Burlington, VT