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2 january 2012
Happy New Year!!
Check out this paper article from Ruhrnachrichten Germany on november the 18th 2011:
(courtesy of Hans Schreiber)
23 december 2011
Levittown, NY: Happy Christmas Everyone!! Wishing you all Peace in the New Year and ALL GOOD THINGS!! Thank you President Obama for finally pulling our soldiers out of the illegal, pointless invasion of Iraq. No weapons of mass distruction, no yellow cake, nobody there that had anything to do with 9/11. Just over a million killed Iraqi people (mostly women and children) as well as a few thousand US troops. And TRILLIONS of dollars spent for ............WHAT exactly?
Exactly.
So anyway thank god we're out of there and the cowboy is gone. Still the damage will be felt for decades to come... through the damaged bodies and psyches of hundreds of thousands of US soldiers and their families, the millions of Iraqi people who were bombed back into the middle ages and must now live in an irradiated country, subject to huge increases in birth defects and cancer with little to no infrastructure, schools, hospitals, clean water facilities...etc.
All I can say is thank god for Barack Obama and God Help Him help us focus our attention on our own backyard and our own problems instead of our Oil soaked Arab friends.
7 december 2011
Boston, MA: I'm BACK! Back in the New England Groove! Just got in last night. Spent 24 hours en route. Due to the nature of the flights, etc, had to sleep in Frankfurt Airport. Was a long brutal trail back but it's done.
Good visit with my brother in Leeds, England. We played a few times together for his friends and family. Got to see a alot of the kids and both wives, past and present. All great people. They have an amazing cat too. Named Buzz.
Feeling after this tour is nobody is going to do a better job for us than us so we're going to book the next one in house, just Nils and I. We will start working on it now as it has to be done by January 2012 if we want to come back next Fall 2012 to Germany. Despite the holes and downtime, long drives and short money, it was a great tour. Why? Because we played great and the audiences were very happy. They bought alot of cds! That tells me all I need to know.
A big thanks to all the booking agents and club owners, friends and fans who helped us along the way on this last one. Big thanks to Nils Bloch for being able to put us up at his place when we had nowhere to go or play. Thanks to Jurek and Bonzo for hooking us up in Poland. Thanks to Hans Schreiber for the radio interview and kind words. Thanks to Tom The Tornado and Willy Woigk for hooking us up with great shows in Germany. And thanks to Thomas Bauer for making it all happen despite the premature ending that last weekend.
Looking forward to playing at The Beloved Chickenbone tonight with The Boners! And so it starts all over again!
29 november 2011
Leeds, England: Visiting my brother in England. We're going to the music store soon. MARSHALL, VOX, ORANGE!!! Looking for something smaller for playing little clubs. Nothing beats a vintage Marshall Half Stack HOWEVER it's alot to carry around when you can never play it above 3.
24 november 2011
Happy Thanksgiving to the USA! We did our last show last night in Sommerda at The Piano. Three sets of scorching, honest rock music from the heart, according to a local kid. Apparently we play with great power! After just 15 shows we are like a rock SLEDGEHAMMER on Auto pilot plowing through these people and they are loving it. Also think they've been bored to death by too many blues bands.
Legendary East German Rocker Willy got up and sang I Saw Her Standing There with us. In 1962, at the age of 23, Willy was playing in a very Beatlesque band around here. He's almost 70 now and still has it. Gotta say there are ALOT of older folks who LOVE loud, fast rock n roll in Germany. Even the guy with the crutch was dancing. Good to be here.
23 november 2011
Sommerda, Germany: Last show of the tour. Booking agent didn't do such a good job and blew the last weekend so tonight is our last night. Huge drag as we've been killing it for the last two weeks. Last few shows were like a Rock N Roll War Zone. Really great!! Bill Close on Bass and Nils on Drums. Monstrous.
We played last night at a place called Gabrinus. People were just sitting there watching us like it was a play in a theatre for the first two sets. Then the last one they finally started moving. They were watching us real intently. It was pretty cool. They REALLY pay attention. And afterwards everyone was buying cds. Everyone! Record breaking merch night.
Tonight we are in a place called The Piano, run by a real sweet Hungarian man. We were here four years ago with Todd Spahr on bass and now we are very well known according to the owner. He expects a good crowd. What else can I say? I'm glad we have played well and wish we had more shows. Sad that it is over. Seems like it's too soon. Bill just booked an early flight home at great cost. Hanging around another five days is just stupid. I don't know what I'm gonna do yet.
We met a few rock legends this trip. Last night it was Willy, a bassist who used to get arrested by the Police for playing blues in Communist East Germany. Seems they would play in defiance of the gov't and get busted at every gig. He was in some pretty big bands around here in the 60s. Great guy. He still plays some but now mostly books bands.
Getting cold now. Tonight is the coldest night of the tour. Maybe it really is time to go. I think I'll go with the bright red bowling shirt.
19 november 2011
Some pics from Wehrdohl last night:
18 november 2011
Dorsten, Germany: Last day camped out at Nils house. Played tiny bar in downtown Recklinghausen to die hard rock and rollers. Was one of our best shows. The people were overwhelming us with appreciation. Sold a bunch of merch, played for the door and then, they passed the hat!!
Met a local legend, Tom Toronado (The Tornado), who has been involved in booking shows in Germany since the 1960s. He is a huge music fan and was responsible for setting up this last minute thing for us. Many thanks to Tom and everyone else showing up on a school night for the li'l old Peasants. Playing really tight, killing everything we touch. Some stuff at a million miles an hour but what the hell.
Might have the whole show on video. A patron filmed it. I gave him my address. See what happens. End of night the clubowner was dancing around the place with the stereo cranked. I mean CRANKED. He was very, VERY Happy. Can't say enough about this place. Called Zur Börse.
Today we head out to Werdohl where we played in Spring of 2007. A rock bar. Last time we were there they were headbanging. Looking forward to it.
17 november 2011
Dorsten, Germany: Weather has been amazing here in Germany. Show last night was in a brand new Community Run club called Blue Notez in Dortmund. Super nice people, beautiful stage, ton of media people. Was interviewed by local DJ Hans Schreiber of FM 91.2. He was asking me about the Occupy Wall Street Movement which I said I support 1,000 Percent! He said the Germans don't protest like other countries. I told him the history of German People following the rules is not a good precedent. He was cool. Seemed to agree with me.
Met a guy who does festivals but is more a Techno guy. He was kind but blunt. Said we're not doing anything new but it's really good and maybe we could work together in the future. In fact, everyone at this show seemed to be saying normally I don't like rock and roll but I really like you guys. And everyone seemed to be from a Newspaper, Radio Station or an Entertainment Company. Was kind've funny as we've never been much exposed to the media.
All in all a good night. The Germans seem to be competing with each other to be nice to us and I like it. I'll take it. I'll take anything they give me at the age of 49 and still touring! Tonight we are in Recklinghausen and really looking forward to it!!!!
16 november 2011
Some pics and a review from last nights gig in Police!
After an energetic and lively introduction The Peasants, described as an American street punk legend, hit the stage in Police during the European tour.
The Peasants, are a punk band, who began there musical activities on the streets of Boston, in 1980. And as it turnes out still play very vigorously, captivating every audience. The band played rock songs full of strong melodies and emotions. Fast, loud rhythms, poignant solos and clearly worded, evocative songs with content clearly referred to the socio - political issues worldwide.
The Peasants and the concert were unusual to the Abbatio club. Rock finally returns to us after a turbulent past and the weekend gave many opportunities for those who wanted to celebrate this feast of communing with the culture.
Dorsten, Germany: Back at Nils house after playing Kulturrampe in Krefeld. Great little music club. Tiny crowd that bought a shitload of cds and t-shirts and stayed the whole show on a school night. Really great club. People were very happy about the show. I think they get alot of blues bands and are kind've sick of it.
Am glad to be back in Germany. Merch is going pretty fast. Ran out of first CD, Out On The Street. Hope to run out of everything.
14 november 2011
Dorsten, Germany: OK I have to right a few wrong impressions. Not all the hotels suck in Poland and someone definately has money. Last show we did was in a large Theatre with a huge stage and fat PA System. Along with a good guarantee we were put up in a beautiful hotel with pool and a whole bunch of other stuff we didn't get to use and a great bfx. Place was packed, girls were gorgeous, people knew some of our songs somehow and we sold a bunch of discs. So that last gig was quite luxurious. The night before was in an Irish Bar. It was packed, the vodka was flowing and the people really loved it. Met a few Scottish Bagpipers there as well. Good time.
The Poles have thousands of different kinds of Vodka that they really want you to try and the food is amazing too. Didn't know that. Roads are small. Seems to be a huge Highway construction push on everywhere you go. Seemed like they were building the roads while we were trying to get somewhere on them.
Must say some kind words about Jurek Hippman, the Polish booking agent. Finally met him last night. Was wondering what he would be like. Stellar guy. Really took care of us. Made sure we had everything. Paid us promptly. Props to Jurek and Bonzo, his associate, who took care of us at ALIVE in Wroclaw.
We are now back at Nils house in Dorsten with this one day off. Drove all day today to get here. Tomorrow we start Five Shows in A Row in West Germany beginning with this place www.kulturrampe.de.
Now looking for a show in Leipzig Thurs., Nov 24th and anything anywhere else nearby Nov 25 & 26.
12 november 2011 (part 2)
OK, our first night in Poland we were in a big, rundown city called Lutz. It is pronounced nothing like it's spelt and I'm not gonna get into it. We played three sets in a rock club called Lumumbowo. Club was good. Patrons consisted of gorgeous polish girls and some very, very shitfaced overactive Polish guys who jumped on the small stage as soon as we started playing. Must've thought it was open mike night cuz they were up there singing and dancing all around me. We had to stop playing so the clubowner could eject them. Turns out they were hooligans and they were looking for some action. We finished the night, gave them a good show and ended up at a hotel we had to pay for ourselves.
Poland is a poor place. There is no money in the gigs and no help with hotels or food. You're basically on your own. If they put you up somewhere it probably has prostitutes and gangsters in the building and you might not have a good time SO we decided early on to go w/the hotels. They are cheap, safe and always give you a breakfast.
Also, nobody has any money so I decided to give T-shirts away to everyone that works in the clubs. They really appreciate it. I don't think anyone has ever come to this country.
Since Lutz we've been to a castle up North in Golub Dobrzyn that was incredible and a place called ALIVE in Wroclaw last night that was great. Last two shows were our best yet. We are finally tight and killing it consistently. We were not happening in Holland but got it fairly straightened out now. It takes awhile with no practices or anything.
Tonight we are in Poznan. It's a big, beautiful city from what I can see but we don't have much time to check it out. Soundcheck at 5, show at 9. Three sets. Then tomorrow we drive all the way to the German/Polish border to another place I can't pronounce for the last show. Then it's back to Germany. Poland is doing alot of construction. Someone is spending a shitload of money on getting this country up to speed. Once that's done ie. they have highways this place will be a good place for touring bands. Right now.... not so great but the people are incredible!!!
12 november 2011
Saturday, November whatever. Still in Poland. Zero access to computers. Poland is beautiful. People are beautiful. Poor as shit and no roads but the clubs are good and we're playing great shows, making alot of friends, blah, blah, blah. Don't really have time now to get into it. Suffice it to say that oftentimes the women are stunningly beautiful and the men tend to drink alot. Everything is cheap and there is little to no money to be made here now. We think Poland will be a great place in 5-10 years but right now it's a little rough. Still the people make up for it. They are starved for good entertainment. Nobody comes here so they never get any good bands. Talk again soon.
6 november 2011
Amsterdam, Holland: What a zoo. Shitload of people everywhere. Good show at Winston Kingdom. Played w/Arno and Linda's new band last two nights. Great new band. Great to play w/them again. Staying at their place. Arno always hooks us up. Would not be possible w/out him.
Did a few forced marches around the neighborhood w/Nils and Bill. We have to keep ourselves occupied when not rocking. Three shows under our belts and starting to get sick tight. Takes a little while. We had one day to practice these songs, many of which we haven't played in Four Years!
Tomorrow we go visit a friend who's in the hospital w/a new bladder. Then we start driving to Poland. We have FIVE shows there for low pay. It's a pretty poor country but we hear they really like rock and roll so we're looking forward to it. Good thing we're not in it for the money.
What else to say. It's great to be over here. We have a huge German van. The weather is amazing. It's really hot here now. Bill took a video of me dancing in Delft to an especially awful cover band. Perhaps we will post it on Facebook. I look like an idiot. Nothing's changed.
5 november 2011
The Peasants last night at Bazart in Den Haag.
(Pic by Daisy Nieuwmans)
Last night Nils got a gift from Yourstick. Check out his sticks:
Tonight The Peasants will play in Amsterdam in The Winston.
Be there!!!
4 november 2011
Pijnacker, Holland: Arrived in Frankfurt on Tuesday. Picked up Nils in Dorsten and drove to Holland. Practiced a few hours on Wednesday and played first show Thursday, last night, in Den Helder. Was great time. Very HOT club by the sea. Played there back in 2006 and 2002! They still have the poster up from the 2002 Welcome To My Country tour. They LOVE the Saucy Statue of Liberty. Great people. Tonight we play here in The Hague w/our friends Kirk Dik Dik and The Bongos!
21 october 2011
Boston, USA: Ten days away from 2011 European Tour. Still looking for shows in Germany on November 24, 25 & 26. Anyone have any ideas please write to me at petecassani@yahoo.com. Bill and I are real psyched to be coming back across the pond after 4 years away. Look forward to seeing everyone! Arno, Linda, Ed, Jorge, Thomas, Susanne, Jerry, Dani, Hedi, too many people to list... you know who you are. We'll be playing songs from all three records plus a few covers.
One more thing. The Peasants stand united with all the people protesting the Financial Gambling Dens all around the world. I speak of Occupy Wall Street, Occupy Boston, Occupy Occupy Occupy!!! We are not fooled. The Banks and Brokers gambled and lost and now are making us pay for it. Don't buy it for a second that this financial crises has anything to do with anything you or I personally did. These bastards gambled away billions in a game they set up and when it finally fell apart, they decided to take their losses out on everyone who doesn't gamble in the stock market. You and Me!
Don't buy it for a second. Don't buy any of it. Go Occupy Wall Street!!
15 october 2011
Boston: Great show Friday @ The Midway. Packed House! All Three Bands delivered the goods! A flying drunk girl was twice spotted. Sound was HUGE!! Five Stars for ringing ears next day. Midway has come a long way. Fave place to play in Boston.
5 october 2011