Pitcher - Düsseldorf

 

Deutschland! Very happy to be back in the Mutterland. It's been, oh god, probably 22 years since I was last here and to say I was frothing for a schnitzel and a stein would be an enormous understatement. It's kind of hard for me to say that I'd been to Germany before since the last time I was here I would have been 12 or 13 at a bloody push. But even at the ripe old age of a bakers dozen I was able to determine that I very much liked a lot of things about Cologne, Frankfurt & Stuttgart, expect I was never able to figure out the Germans weird take on breaky. I'm happy to expand my horizons beyond a fry up, but ze Germans seem to fill up on a smorgasbord of meats, cheese, olives and bread before heading out for the day. Maybe I'm just a bad tourist, or maybe the Poms have just perfected the art of a bloody good breaky better than anyone else? Who am I to decide? 

That said, on a sunny Tuesday afternoon we crossed over the channel and motored into Düsseldorf for what would be the bands first gig in continental Europe in 5 years! Exciting times lay ahead. Despite the world shutting down for a brief moment since our last foray into these parts, the rock n' roll scene in Germany is very much alive and well. Friends and fans alike poured into the venue from all over western Germany, Netherlands and as far south as Belgium. Truly a humbling experience to see so many people spending their hard earned coin, singing along to our songs & travelling so bloody far to do so. Throughout the tour we had several fans come too numerous shows, it really makes you feel very loved when you're miles from home to have these moments because it seemingly makes every struggle and sacrifice we've all collectively made, worth it. 

Over the course of the next few weeks we were set to play some massive rooms and some great festivals, but tonight, for our first night back, I secretly wanted something small, crowded, loud, sweaty, tight and dirty, and it tuned out Pitcher was the perfect backdrop for it! You see, Pitcher is to rock bars what Kleenex is to the tissue industry, or what the J. Edgar is to the vacuum cleaning game, it is the staple, the standard, “le meilleur du metier” as the Frogs would say. The room was dark and tiny with walls littered with stickers & flyers from every other act that's poured through these doors. The stage was the size of a shirt button. The show was sold out and more importantly I made the executive decision I was off the clock, and on the cans, so I threw Ando the keys and got going with my plethora of tasks for the night while gunning back pints with everyone around me. Minus the standard hiccups and occasional adjustments to a monitor mix, the gig went off without a hitch, everyone was in good spirits, we played well, packed up and called it a night after saying our usual “g'days” to everyone that came out. Well, they did, I went out and met up with our tour mates in Junkyard Drive for some "extra curricular activities" at a metal bar around the corner. I would normally be stoked to venture out and continue my "research" into other dives bars, however, we were the only wankers in there, there was no vibe despite them playing countless Winger hits and honestly, we left Pitcher on such a high nothing was going to top it. Well, maybe Frankie's (RIP). 

I gotta say as well that the Germans are sublimely efficient and well organized when it comes to almost everything in life. After all they gave us the submarine, the world first printing press, the Porsche 928, and this attention to detail has not been missed in the music industry. At almost every show we rocked up to a mad spread of snacks, chocolates, sammy's and a fridge full of beers. The coffee machines worked, the tea bags with plentiful and the medicine cabinet was stocked, you name it. Catering arrived at 5pm, our interviews were scheduled for 6pm and not a minute later. It really highlights how poor of a fucking job certain venues (whom shall remain nameless) are operated on this side of the pond. I've done more gigs than I can count in Canada with numerous bands and the amount of times I've been given "a drink ticket" - emphasis on the singular ticket is laughable. If I never played Charlie's Bar in Brantford Ontario again, I'd die a happy man. Although, once we played a halloween gig there with a band called Panty Christ, their singer had just gotten out of prison and it was their first gig back on the road, so it made for an interesting one at least. However, convicts aside, this attention to detail only furthers my point that every single thing is better in Europe. 

All up, Pitcher is an epic little venue/dive bar in the heart of Düsseldorf, ran by total legends that know how to treat their acts and I can't wait to get back to slug some Veltines and see a show. Vielen dank Pitcher.

PS. Listen to Junkyard Drive, they're some of the best dudes I've been lucky enough to tour with. 

6/6.