The P. Hux Chronicles Issue Number SIX
Monday, June 19, 2006

IN THIS ISSUE:

* Denmark we love you
* Better than OK in the UK
* Product

Dear McChronicles:

A happy birthday to Paul McCartney yesterday. Yeah, yeah, yeah, he's turning 64 and the song is suddenly ironic as hell, isn't it? The UK press are having a field day, rewriting the lyrics, etc. "Will you be greedy, will you still bleed me, when I'm 64?" NO ONE likes Heather over here. Anyway, last night at our show in Birmingham I did my own little shout out, switching a lyric in Rockaria: "She's sweet on Wagner...I think she'd die for McCartney...". Least I could do.

Here we go, picking up from the last issue. Again, I'll try to be succinct.

Denmark We Love You

When The Orchestra landed in Denmark from Moscow, we were greeted by English speaking tour hosts, walked crisply to a giant clean bus and whisked to our delightful hotel. We were presented with our tour schedule: Breakfast 8-10 Crew Load in 11am Band Lunch 1pm Sound check 4pm Dinner 5:30 etc.

We all exhaled deeply and, figuratively, kissed Danish soil. The contrast in organization from our charming Russian friends was remarkable. The Danes were SO together it was almost laughable. After running around Russia like a beheaded chicken, our front of house sound man John Shipp was sipping coffee three hours before soundcheck with Nothing To Do. Incredible.

Of course, the Russian trip will be more memorable to me in my rock and roll dotage...but, man...the Danes are good. We were seconds from going onstage at a festival and Lou noticed the light on his in-ears monitor pack was red, indicating a low battery. One of the Danish crew ran six steps to a road case, grabbed a pack of batteries, ripped out a nine volt, opened up Lou's monitor pack, slapped a new battery in, adjusted the volume and said to Lou, "Okay?" This took about six seconds. We were slackjawed. "Holy shit that was fast!" In Russia, our translator would still be explaining that 'someone had sent for batteries yesterday and they would arrive within the hour' etc.

Better Than OK in the UK

On May 12 I left DC for the first leg of our 25 date UK tour. This is our first proper tour of England since 1999, and we're all excited to be back. Normally we fly long distances, play a handful of shows and fly home, but here we're on a bus for days and days. We get to see the countryside and the cities. We establish a rapport with our driver and crew. We do three shows in a row, day off, two more shows, day off; and repeat. The greatest benefit of this schedule is as it relates to the quality of the show. Our band, once we have a couple of gigs under our belt, is a fierce, nasty little beast. Every song gets nailed down, hammered into battle ready condition. The harmonies get tighter, the grooves get fatter, the parts more expressive. It's the BEST part of being in a band--playing as one--kicking ass.

By the time we arrived at Shepard's Bush Empire in London, we'd done eight or nine shows and we were primed. The three tiered theater was sold out, standing room only on the bottom level, and the crowd was packed in tight and ready to go. We opened with Evil Woman and the punters nearly sang louder than we did! (Excuse my anglicisms, but 'punter' is such a great, useful term!) The show went off gangbusters, one of the most memorable in years. I think it's safe to say that most bands get a little more juiced up in major capitol cities, a bit more nervous. It doesn't actually change what you do on stage, but you're cognizant that Cream just played down the road at Albert Hall. Or that Londoners have heard and seen Everything. Or that The Hottest Band of The Moment just played this same venue last week. Etc. So it was particularly gratifying that we Destroyed in London. The noise and the excitement were so great. A very satisfying feeling.

Not that we didn't enjoy Manchester, also a fabulous gig. And even humble Grimsby, saddled with the easily mocked name...Grimsby was tremendous. Hats off to you Grimsbyianites!

In Liverpool, Gordon and I made a pilrimage to the Cavern...walked down the steps into the club...and voila. It's so...EXACTLY as it should be. Claustrophobic...brick walls covered in graffitti...lovely. We stood on the stage and photographed each other. Beatle wankers. Certified.

We also went to Starbucks...the same one the Beatles went to in 1963. Honest!

PRODUCT!

We have merchandise for sale on the UK tour and it's flying off the table. It's exciting. Who knew people would actually buy things if you made them available? What a concept. The items include a DVD of The Orchestra performing in Reno. This was discussed in a previous chronicle. We also have a new edition of No Rewind. Same album, new art. Plus, an album we call the Pre Show Sampler, which plays before our shows. It's a collection of solo work from Lou, Kelly and Mik, Eric, Gordon (with his band Twintwelve) and myself. Something like fifteen songs. It's pretty cool! Finally, we have an excellent new tour program, with loads of photos and info.

I hope to make all the above available at www.p-hux.com in the P. Hux Store after the tour. Stay posted, please.

Until next time...

PH