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GOING OUT IN VIENNA
The
Viennese cuisine is famous and well-known all over the world. An institution
downtown are the WIENERWALD RESTAURANTS, that offer food at excellent
prices in a homely atmosphere. Vienna has a wide-choice between cosmopolitan
DO&CO at the Haas Haus, which is an example of modern architecture
fitting well with history with an expensive restaurant, the GASTHAUS, the BEISL and others...
Nice places to have dinner are the KAHLENBERG, the RATHAUSKELLER, the
FEUERVOGEL - to mention only very few.
If
you like the exotic, you will be spoilt for choice between the Chinese,
Italian, Tibetan Greek, the Indian, the Eastern European, the American,
Russian -
Zebra54 loves www.salvatore.at
near the Franz-Josefs Bahnhof because it is a fine example how an artist
place should be: modern, multicultural, cosmopolitan, connected to the
net and with the people in there doing their own music and backing Manuel
Ortega at the 2002 Eurovision song contest. That is the place for
all Eurovision fans to watch the event. I actually listened to Manuel Ortega giving a concert on May 1st 2002 in front of the Ferris Wheel, which was nice apart that I was the only one my age watching the concert. But hello to Gabor.
But
this one is the place to be for all fans of Spanish food, those who read
Hemingway and a few others. This one for you v/x!
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el
PULPO situated in the historical centre of Vienna - Schwedenplatz
(= Swedes Square) if you go up those steps you will be wandering
across narrow streets, find some very old restaurants, the Greek-Orthodox
Church and much more.
The place for zebra54 to be is the above mentioned Vienna Yesterday , in the Gumpersdorfer Strasse, opposite the BHS, because obviously it has a beatlesque touch - and Helmut Checinsky is a convivial host and for a delicious Kebap, pay a visit to my Turkish friend at the Leipziger Platz in 1020, especially in the summer when the kids outside demonstrate their football talents, my other favourite Kebap is on the heiligenstadter Strasse/sickenberggasse which is a cornershop run by a friendly man who speaks English. |
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Look
out for free events like readings, or lectures. WIENER VORLESUNGEN is
highly informative, such are the podium discussions hosted by THE STANDARD
newspaper
Important:if
you are in Vienna, do not miss a Wiener Jause, that is a long coffee break
which you can take with a delicious cake, best recommended sugarbakers
are SACHER and DEMEL. Sweet souvenirs can be bought at HEINDL, HOFBAUER
- okey, at the supermarket too (SPAR has set its quarters here next to HOFER, MERKUR, BILLA, LIDL).
If
you like to dance, the VOLKSGARTEN might offer you some welcomed possibility.
Do go there alone - it is much nice with company.
The SOPHIENSÄLE used to be very popular as a dance hall, with
Johann Strauss who played the music and some illustrious names after him
as the dancers whirled about, but sadly, they burnt down and who knows
what shall become of that historical ruin. Everyone knows ultra trendy U4
, the CAMERA wrote a bit of notorious musical
history in the seventies, the new scene likes the clubs at the arcades
called CHELSEA, B72, the SHELTER at the Wallensteinplatz, and that one at the canal by the Schwedenplatz called FLEX, on the canal you can find the "Johann Strauss" which is a boat run by entrepreneurial Polish-Viennese people
Going
to the cinema is an activity one would not miss. I recommend the Burgkino
which shows english-speaking films in original version - every week you
can see the THIRD MAN, then there is actor's studio too - and the Kuenstlerhaus,
near the Karlsplatz, which also has an art gallery. The oldest cinema
is called the Erika, the KUENSTLERHAUS shows arthouse movies, and I went to see Austin Powers lately at the HAYDN CINEMA on the Mariahilfer Strasse which shows the films in the original version, admit it, neither Austin Powers nor The Third Man work in the dubbed version.
SHOPPING IN VIENNA
Vienna
is rather well-known as the city where you can get more for your money
- if you know the right places where to buy what. In the MARIAHILFERSTRASSE
you wil find the big department stores like GERNGROSS and EUROPA CENTRE
with all the high street brands... LUGNER CITY for those who like a certain
personal hands on atmosphere... The MILLENNIUM TOWER, TWIN TOWERS and the GASOMETER
TOWN were both opened after the millenium and offer everything from a
toothbrush to a movie blockbuster
if
you want to buy articles of exquisite and unique character at prices without
any upper ceiling, then go to the KAERNTERSTRASSE and enjoy shopping in
fancy stores. There you will also find the STEFFL department store, which
I must mention because of its disabled friendly facilities and because
it hosted in April 2001 an exhibition retracing the history of furniture
from the Renaissance to the seventies, absolutely for free, but I get my hairspray from Claire's Accessories which everyone everywhere knows, or the equivalent of the pound shop called the 73Cent (one near the Franz Josef Bahnhof).
I
can only recommend once again to drop into art galleries, or visit libraries
or institutes to enrich your mind when you can't afford high prices.
Record
shops are important for Radio Europa fans. Saturn at Gerngross and Millennium
Tower has a wide range of records, extraplatte in the ninth district will
have a choice of volxmusik, rave up is for our indie fans, vinyl people
love Ton Um Ton in the Lindengasse which has become a specialist for Austrian
bands till the mid eighties, and psychadellic, Bohemia in the same street
further up must be mentionned here because records in Czech language only
come too rarely on the waves.
The
library of lost books recommends the second hand book shops, especially
Antiquariat Schaden, near the Schoenlaterngasse - you will find quite
a marvel there.
The
Naschmarkt on a Saturday, which is Vienna's biggest market place has stalls
of books, bric a brac, records, cds, clothes, on your way back to the
Karlsplatz, you can stroll through the fruit and vegetables, the fish
and cheeses, the specialities of all kinds and from all places. Hughes
the Prince, a pal of mine who is an aristocrat, at least an exiled one,
had immense pleasure to discover this kingdom of riches.
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The
naschmarkt area, not far away from the Secession, Arte Nova (Jugendstil)
houses = Majolika House on the right. Sept 1999 |
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WHERE
TO STAY IN VIENNA?
Well,
the best is to stay with friends - that is the cheapest way to enjoy and
to get to know Vienna. However there are several hotels offering comfortable
accommodation at reasonable prices, e.g.:
Hotel
Mozart - Julius Tandler Platz (opposite Franz-Josefs-Station)
Hotel Stephanie - Taborstrasse
Hotel Post - Postgasse (near Peter's Church)
Hotel Capricorno - Franz Josefs Kai
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This
is neither a hotel, nor a hostel, just some normal flats taken by
chance in 1999 somewhere near the town centre.
No: I don't live there.
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Youth
hostels are well-known to travellers, my favourite one is The Don Bosco
Tower, Lechnerstrasse, 1030 Vienna because of the friendly welcome. Another
place, I know is the Pension Mozart. NB: Pension is usually cheaper than
a hotel.
For those who travel in style: Hilton, Imperial, Bristol, Sacher... |
This
is only a very short and incomplete outlook on what Vienna has to offer.
If you want more detailed information concerning Vienna, contact the Austrian
National Tourist Office (New York, 545 Fith Avenue, Second Floor), London:
Ruthland Gate or consult the Vienna official homepage. In Austria, any
travel agency will be pleased to give you any information you might require.
The Viennese are said to possess "a golden heart". Make
use of it! Enjoy your stay in Vienna!
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And
when you are there, then think of me and transmit the very best regard
to my beloved hometown: to my Vienna!
Monika
Ptak now Monika Sommereder, who lived in NYC in the seventies as she was
working there, now back to Vienna - she made this essay available to Zebra54
and we only had to update it, with a few illustrations to suit todays
requirements. Thank you, Monika!
 
The Magic Flute at the Wieden, a tribute to Mozart and Schikaneder
Scene From "Walpurgisnacht" by Gustav Meyrink, Czech Theatre Brett
"Von den vielen Illusionen
Die in unseren Herzen wohnen
Bleiben nur ein Paar
Und die werden mitunter eines Tages wahr
Einmal um die ganze Welt
Und die Taschen voller Geld
Dass kein Glück und keine Liebe versäumt
Viele fremde Länder sehn
Auf dem Mond spatzierengehn
Davon hab ich schon als kleiner Bub
geträumt...
Of the many illusions that live in our hearts, only a few remain and one day they might even become true. Once around the world, and the pockets full of money, let's not miss any chance of happiness and love. To see many foreign countries and to go for a walk on the moon - of all this I dreamt, when I was a young child.
Karel Gott (born in Moravia (CZ) Eurovision song contestant for Austria in the
1960s
Don't let any hyennas spoil your day if you take this waltz. Even Leonard Cohen visited this town, you know, and Orson Welles, and Peter Sellers, and other delightful people amongst them Hot Chocolate, Daniel Johnston and Suede, and Ma from Give Me Head Peace and a few Fabsters so what do you want more to be happy?.
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The
Schwarzenberg Fountain near the Belvedere Palace is a place for Bohemians
to see because the Schwarzenberg Family lives in Prague and in Vienna,
and paintings by Gustav Klimt are exhibited in the Palais. The fountain
dates from 1873 and commemorates the day when Vienna got running water
thanks to Engineer Suess (read that story in Peter Orthofer's book) -
Vienna 1999
I met Monika during a hospital stay at the Sisters of Mercy in the
Stumpergasse by the Central Station. I suppose we both share a common love
for the music of Leonard Cohen which seemed the ideal soundtrack in
such circumstances. In fact, this writer got struck down by illness
and bad luck - and fair to say I thought that my last hour was coming
soon. I was too decrepit to undertake many expeditions in town and my
visit to the countryside was limited to a short trip to Styria. Perhaps
the experience has given me the courage to confront the worst fears
and try to adapt. I would like to thank the OMCCV, or Austrian
Crohn's Colitis Association for moral support - researching on the
illness also helped me to cope with it. Their website is
there
at the ICA - Hospital Bed (London 2004)
A picture by German painter Karl Spitzweg, front cover of OGB magazine
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Summer 2002, I was getting frustrated looking like this, and I thought
that I should catch on with new and live music. I am glad I did,
otherwise, music would only be a collection of vintage songs on records, which
is okey, but not what I primarily seek in music. And this was the
first radioevropa report!
Talking about Dancing by the Danube... Read on..
“Hey, Mr Rathousekeeper, let’s get sexy!©”
>
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The Summer of 2002 was a bit of a mixed affair for me and other people. We remember sicknesses and floods, for me a climate that causes dizzy spells. Summer, often tacky music or thumping rhythms from a passing car which makes you scream... Festivals which features a blend of summer hits, and musical junk food.
In the middle of all that, Hot Chocolate, whose music has always stood for the bitter-sweet life. Whose songs are fondly remembered. I can imagine that fan who travelled though Australia only with one Hot Chocolate tape with her, and every so often I put on a record by them and it puts a smile on my face.
I met Irish-Steirish by chance and they showed me that a party record is not necessarily junk - true they know how to polka.
No doubt about it, everyone is a winner. From all our friends, this was the very first radioeuropa article.
Thank you to Patrick Olive and to Sigi - enjoy! |
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back to index page
back to homepage
review |
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Hot Chocolate, Irish-Steirisch and others in Vienna at the Danube Island Festival (Donauinselfest) June 21st 2002
Wien Energy Festinsel Stage
Every Summer the City of Vienna organizes a free 3-day event on the Donauinsel, an artificial island that was built to contain floods caused by the mighty river. This area is a popular summer vacation place, which all the charms of a budget riverside, seaside, lakeside resort. (It is a tell-tale sign that the Ferris Wheel in the Prater Park nearby was built by Engineer Booth who also designed the Blackpool tower. And so the shows in the Prater (May 1st and the Danube Island) are a mixture of showbiz, variety shows and musical entertainment from the stars of the charts and local contenders, plus a good dose of rawk as in Harley Davidson and Eagles. Back in May, the kids were entertained in front of the Ferris Wheel with Eurovision song contestant Manuel Ortega, and later with Austrian soft rocker Peter Cornelius with his “Streicheleinheiten” to put the audiences in the mood for lurve. I couldn’t check the last because I had to get home after Manuel Ortega and the Danone Cup junior football club. And so off to the next big event on the Danube Island organized by the City of Vienna, with various sponsors of all sorts which sell insurances, soft drinks, broadcast on the waves etc etc and if you want a drink or an ice cream, the Copa Kagrana , the riviera for the district of Kagran is not far away.
Austria’s chart topper in England DJ Otzi, who reminds me a club holiday motivator – was due to perform there. I would like to say that a number one in the charts is not necessarily equivalent to a quality certificate in music. Otherwise Black Lace who performed Agadoo , a favourite in club holidays back in the seventies would deserve critical acclaim. Let’s see it this way, a lot of people like junk food, and they know that it is junk food. Nothing against junk pop, mind. But we all know, too much junk food harms your health, so you better look out for healthy stuff. There was also a showcase for alternative bands, which for a few exception all sound like German rap. Again nothing against German rap, or rap in any other language, but the song has to be good. Otherwise it is just junk rap and junk garage and junk indie, or formulaic. Never mind. Echophonic and Zeronic make regular appearances on the FM4 Planet Music stage, and they made a favourable impression on me, even if they lack a bit of personality.
As there were about 21 stages, I had to choose where to go. When I heard the news that Hot Chocolate where going to play the Wien Energy Festinsel Stage, I went there. I secured my backstage pass with the organizers, and I thank Mr Harry Schranz for that.
On my way to hospitality, I saw the band Irish-Steirisch rehearsing their brand of good fun roots rock n’roll with much charm and all sorts of instruments, which on paper do not belong together and yet… There was a Styrian citar (Hackbrett ), a brightly painted accordeon, acoustic guitars, an electric guitar, and Irish-sounding recorder, a kilt, some dancers in leather trousers… Touching was their version of the Irish traditional song Carry on , there were also a few vodka tinted Russian songs, and Austrian pieces, such as Steirer Reel (Sidl-ai-dai) that made polka the dots.
I thought that I could have done with a bit of Atlantic coolness, as we had a sultry 35 degrees Celsius. When I was at the Galway Festival in 1998 with my two acolytes, we were drenched and frozen and there was Cornershop with their exotic instruments, an Indian sitar for instance, putting the sun in our heart. Cornershop also released a brilliant version of the Beatles “Norwegian Woods”. Believe me or not, here was another band with a citar, Austrian this time, who also performed Norwegian Woods. Their English was very good, as I could check with Sigi, the frontman and Kathrin the accordeon player. I hope that everyone in Styria, nicknamed the green region is as welcoming as these people, and I am sure, they love them too in Ireland, the Emerald isle . Irish-Steirisch Website
After the reels, and the rock n’roll, there was more dancey music for a happy public to wave their arms for. Gerhard Fleischhacker, the breakfast radio star presenter from Radio Wien (ORF Radio Vienna) (no, not Chris Evans, on BBC Radio One), anyway, he was excited when he introduced the legendary Hot Chocolate . Unlike co-presenter Peter "Muttley" Rapp whose specialities are game shows and hidden camera, the lanky Fleischhacker who loves sunglasses and Hawaian shirts, knew how to pronounce all the hits. No wonder he could: three years ago, Radio Wien launched a craze about the music of the seventies with their Wickie Slime and Paiper parties in Abba costumes at the historic Sophiensäale (Johann Straus performed his music there). Sadly the Sophiensäale burnt down recently and only a sad carcass remains.Too many hits of the eighties for my liking are broadcasted now. Maybe I am showing my age, when I say that I can remember Hot Chocolate in their early years.
Heaven is in the back seat of my cadillac
No doubt about it
Errol Brown is no longer singing but Patrick Olive and his mates Harvey Hinsley, Tony Connor and Greg Bannis (singer) brought the music alive. Silver suit, showmanship and the anecdote about a woman who travelled 6.000 miles through Australia with a Hot Chocolate tape. I could never get bored hearing their music. It’s like people who say that they love Elvis. I just like that sound. It’s a mixture of carribean, reggae, northern soul, rock n’roll and disco, Errol Brown also added a gospel dimension when he wrote and performed “A child’s prayer” . Soul music was known in Britain from the sixties as Northern Soul, and enjoyed a few successes such as Jimmy Ruffin’s “What becomes of the broken hearted?” Hot Chocolate were the most successful multicultural band in the UK, of course later there were the Selecters, Fun Boy Three, Tasmin Archer and her band, Errol Brown solo, Faithless and Morcheeba, to name a few. They enjoyed huge chart successes in the seventies, as I said, sales are not a warrant for quality, but in that case, there was something in the air.
Girl crazy
It started with a kiss
You sexy thing
Hot Chocolate enjoyed some airplay success in 1997 when “You sexy thing” featured in the soundtrack to “The Full Monty” with talented Robert Carlisle, then known as Hamish MacBeth, one of best TV-cop sorry constable, and of course,nasty Begbie from Trainspotting Rightly so. Those congas by by Patrick Olive were as welcome as a Caribbean Holiday at the Copacabana. Their songs fit very well into the brassed-off glamour of kitchensink life. They provide as much comfort as a mug of… hot chocolate on a rainy day. I know this has been said before. But good quotes like good songs, just have to come back now and then.
Every 1’s a winner
We know many of these sentimental bands from the radio, most of them are commercial just like junk food. Hot Chocolate is no junk, the songs are an indispensable soundtrack. Errol Brown wrote also some sharp social comments about gossip (Rumours ), broken dreams (Emma ). When somebody writes about indie music in Britain, they also have to mention the influence of Northern Soul and such music. A grand album by the Verve (= Richard Ashcroft) was called A Northern Soul, the two great albums by McAlmont and Butler, of course Edwyn Collins, and Pulp (Jarvis Cocker recommending “Emma” & their “Disco2000” rides a similar bittersweet wave as “It started with a kiss ” which ends with “You don’t remember me do you?”)
Errol Brown Website:
Pat Olive and the band
Greg Bannis swayed his microphone around, the cable unplugged – he stood there as the band went on playing. He managed to fix it before a roadie brought a new microphone. I think this was not planned. Indeed the body language and the cheeky sense of humour were endearing to most of the audience. A woman next to me wanted me to translate the comments to her. One of them is my quote of the year and rightly heads this review, I am sure that Mr Mayor, who represents the City of Vienna, agrees. Hey, Mr Rathousekeeper, let’s get sexy! Now I know where the rats in Vienna live… and when I went to the Cellar of the Rathouse (Rathauskeller) recently I heard an Irish harp playing there – it is a posh restaurant, you know.
The Danube Island with its cheap restaurants at the Copa Kagrana was flooded. The owners were lucky enough to get time to put their belongings into safety. Radio Wien had a busy time broadcasting the news that troubled the summer. The residents of Vienna did come to no harm thanks to the Danube Island in its old efficent role as a diverter/buffer against the floods. As I'm writing, the mud and the rubbish have been cleared out courtesy MA48, the Danube has resumed its tranquil life. The visitors are invited to bathe and to have a good time at the Copa, even though the mood is slightly downcast. The latter has also something to do with the end of the summer time. As some of us pack their Barry Manilow records, their Hawaian shirts, chirpy Gerhard Fleischhacker tells us allabout Radio Wien’s Back to School advices on early breakfast radio.
Yet, many of us will listen to Hot Chocolate even when the days are foggy and cold because the music is as welcome as a dream postcard when you are stuck at hhome (if you collect postcards, you know what I mean) waging what you can afford and what you can't. Patrick Olive said later: If you believe in dreams, then they might come true because I told him I would have never dreamt to see Hot Chocolate on stage. There you go. I had a fantastic time and my rickety camera was caught on a good day. A big hug from Patrick and me to all of you reading this.
Dominique Hoffman, Vienna End of August 2002
After that and the flood, many of us got wistful and some went to
the following concert, a good concert is when you meet new friends
or meet the usual crowd.
Daniel Johnston
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Postmodern - No thanks!
On October 12th, I had the rare honour to be a guest of Daniel Johnston, who has made a name in alternative American art. Apparently everyone under the sun quotes Daniel as a cult artist from that celeb to the other and what's the reality? Another tale of a talented one who has to work hard to earn a life. So true!
I learnt a thing or two about the hardship of life and came to the conclusion that those ones who peep into private life are nothing but a bunch of noseyparkers - I realised it is a wise move for a fan to buy a record by their favourite artists rather than singing their praises thus reminding the expression of "singing for their supper". Hence no gossip and no downloads, from us, let's turn away from the filth and echo the song "true love will see you though".
As for hardship of life, none has the intention of getting down, cos star struck people look up! |
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| thank you Daniel for the welcome, Jad for support, Manfred Winter and Vanessa Siegl who told me not to miss this concert at all costs! How right she was! |
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new album by Daniel Johnston with Sparklehorse "Fear yourself" |
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Daniel Johnston at the Vienna Flex
Bird by Jad Fair
Thank you to Manfred Winter and friends, this review would not have been possible without you. Thank you for calling me a "charming guest", I like what I heard.
I was looking forward to this concert. Yeah right, some might say. How would I come to get there in the first place? I could say this time that it was a chance encounter – no it wasn’t. This story was planned in such a way that even chess players would be cheering with admiration. This story is the result of incongruous bits coming together – therefore it is good.
You may know by now that I have such a fondness for Scotland that I have a whole collection of music by bands from there (apart from a few errors, that also come from there and who I don’t fancy too much). During a brief stay in Glasgow, years ago (talking 1995), I had nothing better to do then ask a local record owner which local band he would recommend. He said: Teenage Fanclub .
Sunshine by Jad Fair
So me looking for Teenage Fanclub and getting a compilation called “Peace Now” because I could afford it, and because those Fanclubs were on it. In those pre-net days, bands were usually no more than names, unless you read the specialist press and many of them had nothing better to do than being witty. Sadly there is no Scottish melody maker, and I am saying this on purpose, because I have the feeling that the music press in London has a geographical bias. Anyway, Teenage Fanclub, remember the name.
Last year, friend Vanessa Siegl from Clodia.net came for a visit to Vienna and I must say that this young lady has a golden touch of finding interesting indie bands ( check out Clodia.net . By the way, I am getting slightly worried, at all these talented people that feature on my site – I think in old days, I would have been depressed at my own clumsiness, now I know that I only need to improve on previous clumsiness. Vanessa thinks I’m not too bad so I go on. So back then she gets a few records by folks called Smog , Michael J. Sheehy and Daniel Johnston . Me going: Who??!?! Listening to those records convinced me that I better keep those names in mind if anybody asks me for good music.
A few months later, Summer 2002, she comes for a visit to Vienna on her way to go to see Pulp playing in Cziget Hungary and meet her pals from Café Electrique. A visit at the record shop is compulsory, I see this record called “It’s spooky” by Jad Fair and Daniel Johnston, and remembered an article by someone called Robert who said that this Jad Fair recorded with Teenage Fanclub (“Songs of Hope and Despair”). I can’t remember seeing the last mentioned record, but I gave a listen to “It’s spooky” because there was an adaptation of the Burt Bacharach song “What the world needs now is love” – I got hooked. Imagine a song with a line saying “Lord we don’t need any more metal bands, it’s like anyone is bowing down to Satan”. O-ho! That speaks right to the heart of people like me who just doesn’t fancy these nasty people. (if you are a heavy metal band, please do realise that you are reading the wrong site, look at the previous page).
As I got the record and checked out who this Jad Fair and this Daniel Johnston were, I learnt that they are quite versatile. They do also art exhibitions, but not art as in arty but painting as my friend Gerry Gleason understands it. Gerry can’t stand snotty trendies and loves drawing figures, many of them are fantasy. Gerry is also half-American and born in 1946 and belongs to a crowd that includes Terri Hooley the poet, Jack Pakenham a painter, Mark E Smith – writer and lead singer of the Fall , Ian Dury also a painter and singer, and they feel/felt much related to their colleagues in the USA, that is David Byrne from the Talking Heads (he is Scottish), Jonathan Richman – well, Jad Fair and Daniel Johnston belong into that family as well, and the Teenage Fanclub people are also artists.
Anyway, in June I decided that I needed a zebra for this site and just like I asked Gerry Gleason to design the cover of Bohemian Tales the book, I thought it would be a nice thing to have Jad Fair drawing me a zebra. Gerry Gleason says a painter is of no use if he can’t draw. The people I know who actually paint can draw zebras, fish, birds, monsters etc.
Wunjo by Jad Fair
Vanessa told me that Daniel Johnston was going to play at the Flex in Vienna and that I should not miss this at all costs. So I made sure that Murphy (as in Murphy’s Law) was not going to play any tricks on me. No probs, because it was the same people as the ones who made the fantastic B72 concert with Robert and the See Saw possible. So Manfred Winter told me that I could say hello to Daniel and wish him well for his painting career as much as his music. Of course I explained to him that I had to see Daniel because he was relevant to my site.
The Danube Canal near Schottenring
The Flex. This is a place located by the Underground U4 by the Vienna canal. You get off the Schottenring, - the Scottish Circle - (named so because of Irish monks who founded an abbey in Vienna, in Latin they wrote Scottorum to talk about the Irish, hence the confusion when the name is translated into a living language, such as German). The place is covered with graphities, probably by people who can find no art gallery to exhibit their work, but might one day be hyped like Basquiat (who is good, sadly not able to know about it). It is the sort of place, where some disillusioned kids might do things – and in our post-modern days, you also get many trendies who come and call it cool. Remember this: lo-fi is not an interesting arty concept, it is the sheer expression that one lacks of financial means to flourish like they oughta, and the Flex with Manfred look like they would need a bob or two. This is why the success story of Pulp who started as a lo-fi band and ended producing an album with Scott Walker can provide us much light on this story.
Funny place that Flex. It looks like the kind of place many of us get stuck when having no money or after being barred from the fancy places downtown- and others who make intelligent comments in the press twaddle about post-modern. Pardon me, I can’t imagine a few people I know in a post-modern environment after they had to put up with a dilapidated area for most of their life and fancies himself to make music a la Burt Bacharach, or better said follow their visionary nose. Postmodern, hehehe - not funny for those who paint/write/sing/make music for their supper. Having said that,
the Flex is a good place if you are looking for atmosphere underground.
Outside the Flex
Halls and artists . Always a subject to talk about. I leave the stip-clubs to the specialists and watch the "Full Monty instead" (the film with Robert Carlisle) instead, I usually can't get in ultra-trendy places because I don't look like a dolly, but I've been able to do that a few times, and soI warn any shy one to risk entering the meat market or the 69 disco (real name U4) - believe me! You also don't want to be at a cocktail party where the drinks cost you a mortgage and you don't understand a word they say these people - believe me on that one, because I had the misfortune to end up talking to Gilbert and George (or they with me). You also don't want to visit an arty evening where they play serious music, nor spend the whole evening in a church listening to hymns played on the violin by small kids (screetch screetch), Vanessa and I experienced a concert which we dubbed Cats in the Microwave, and this sounds worse than the kids in church playing their first violin concert... Last but not least, avoid at any price clubs where they play line-dancing. Now you know. And you can read all the past two reviews to know more about the subject. Enough of slagging off. I am not reviewing these horrors but tell you a story to make you smart and happy.
The Flex was the place where I met the wonderful Andy Kevin Kump from the band Shy, and that says a lot about the place trying to be a platform for artists. It's not always indie in there, I acknowledge the so-called DJ-Culture, when it's indie, then it might be good. Also within my scope of reach there have been dancing clubs
like the B72, the Limelight, where one might be safe enough to enter (if they were not playing 70% that trendy prog-electronics I would be singing their praises forever, but I am aware of the concept of music democracy. There are also halls like Spark7, Manchester Arena that look like container blocks in the harbour or your community sports centre, where you just know that they mean business.
but heck, it's like going there and watch your fave team play. There are places like the Ulster Hall in Belfast and the Union Chapel in London, Empress Ballroom in Liverpool or the Astoria in London tell us that this is a place for the show-bands (as in 1950-1960's showbands), hence a bit old fashioned. Some people I know have had all "the pleasure" of playing in Cons-Clubs (Constitutional Clubs), Working Men Club and Pubs and experience sheer despair. One must truly be resillent to play music, but it is worth the candle when the artists are good. It is frustrating maybe to be good and none knowing it - but frankly said, those who are not good and everybody knowing about it - they are despised. It is nasty to despise people, but I am no angel. As long as my musical heroes are on the road, I shall follow them. If the proprietors of the venue or concert promoter are nice, then it is half the ticket to happiness. Message to pub owners, in particular, don't let your guests starve, okey?? And message from Helmut at Cafe Yesterday : "Don't give up, remember the Beatles " - and he added, music really changes lives, without it the world would be a sad place, that's the inspiration we should all get from the Beatles.
Daniel Johnston who played a cover version of the Burt Bacharach song “What the word needs now” must content with the Flex. It is strange all this post-modern fad, but my message is, why do these post modern people expect artists to live on the breadline, and get a look inspired by curiosity???
Funny place that Flex. Gerry Gleason told me that the "serious" art galleries he knows would rather exhibit Watercolours of Landscapes or conceptual art void of meaning rather than art that actually expresses something. Or they follow current trends and bring on skandalmongers. The only exception is probably Yoko Ono – but the unfair critics tend to see her rather in a John Lennon connection. I am not so sure about David Bowie, if he says that digital music is replacing the CD, then he talks the same way as those electronic bores who predict the death of song. I don’t mind electronic bores and cyber musicians going all conceptual, but denying other people the right to be – say in photography’s case analogue -, that is criminal. Indeed, I got a taste of that when somebody approached me at the Flex and went all technical on me. He admired my Kiev Jupiter Camera like someone looks with interest at a Gretsch guitar. That sounded like a nice conversation but then he talked about modern tele-objectives that fit on every camera. Now, dear readers, you know my position about photography meaning that I take analogue pictures (with a film) and then scan them - thus comparing the technique to musicians who play instruments and record CDs. The fact that I am not using a tele-objective is explained to the fact that I don’t want to belong to the clique of paparazzi, as I don’t like these voyeuristic gossipmongers. A decent person should ask to take pictures and have the courage to go near to what or who they want to portray. I don’t like the association between photography and peeping, it’s perverse – and well enough documented in a film by Michael Powell called Peeping Tom. It is as perverse as telling false stories about real people or gossiping about people you meet. The last point can be best explained with: “So you are a writer then, what are you doing tonight?/How is your private life like/??” Everything but the thing they should write about. Sometimes I do feel that gossipmongers and so-called intellectuals are on the same level.
Daniel Johnston
The abstract, the lofty, the chatty gibberish of cloth-eared bores, that’s not Daniel Johnston. After talking to him about his views on art, life combined with a message to the audience of number undefined, I came to the conclusion that he is a poet with an acoustic guitar or a Fender Rhodes keyboard. What you see is what you get. This is easier said than done. Personally I don’t make notes when I go to a concert – now starting to prefer the word gig, I thought I could do that at the Hot Chocolate concert, and then I realised that I must be a real dork if I go to a concert and not listen to/enjoy the music. Hence: listen first, comments after. Of course it may help to have pictures or recordings – but the mental pictures must be the first tool of a reporter.
My mental pictures recall Daniel Johnston playing in front of three of his paintings being shown on screen. One of them said “Reject unknown”. The one I have on a postcard shows a monster with a leg trapped that says: ”Caught in a trap baby, I can’t let go – cos I love you so”. He has a nervous way of playing his guitar, and it is gentle at the same time. I didn’t realise how versatile this instrument can be and it has something to do with people who bring their personality into the play. Copying that would be sheer impossible. So you have this music that owes some of its essence to folk, no surprise if I tell you that Daniel comes from Texas. But this is not the comely Texas that we know from John Wayne, and I’m glad for it. So, I picture myself in a place called Waxahachie, and someone sings to the audience including me: “Satan is an actor who wants you to believe in nothing” . This is a spot on remark.
The last song said: ”True love will find you in the end.”. And there was no encore, rightly so. Because there could not be a more fitting track to put on the end of an album. As for me, I met a new friend, who is also a friend of a friend – and I can only confirm the lyrics. So Daniel, I hope had a nice evening in Vienna, some people in the audience were a bit baffled, others did not really listen properly, but some others were moved. Especially members of two local bands who can sing a song on tingle-tangling around with little money.
Tingle Tangling with little money is a bit tiring
One of them is called Gabrielle from Lassiter and the other Hary from J.Lightning and the Bad Influence. I told them radioeuropa is no joke, it really intends to give an airplay to local bands that have something to sing about or something to say:
“Das ist indie pur! I hope you’ll answer! Let’s play the blues!”
So you see Jad and Daniel, and others, some people listen to your songs and your remarks. And last but not least, Daniel Johnston announced that he is recording an album with Sparklehorse. So watch out the radioeuropa news for details.
Me, I’m signing off, our next episode is getting prepared with much attention to detail, I only have two more articles until the end of the year and you won’t regret to read them. Now that I am getting better with my photography, I probably felt so good as the above mentioned Bernard when he first heard the final version of his wonderful “Falling”. I knew that I could do such photos the way he knew that he could make such music. The way Pulp portrays their soundscapes with their comments. Who wants to be post-modern and be miserable for real ???
Daniel Johnston certainly not. So buy his records if you like his music. Because a real friendship is always give and take.
How are you?
That's all. As for love, well, if that's your currency , then it will find you in the end .
stay tuned
Thank you to all my friends, now also including Daniel,
with love,
Dominique (writing as D.A. Hoffman), October 2002
Then a very strange intermezzo happened, which fair to say, had some
repercussions for this site and started an avalanche, appropriate for a story set in
Austria. Because that page seems to be popular, here is a link to
the notorious review 9 I defy anyone not to be amazed.
 
Outside Spark7 Halle on a very wet day
Meanwhile, after a holiday to the British Isles in the Winter, it was
back to Vienna and catching up with our friends from October.
Columbo Fans – you might know at least one Hank Williams song
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Cafe Concerto and Caledonia present:
Fr. 14.02.2003 - A tribute to Hank Williams |
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Bernhard and Gabi Tragut (Rucki Zucki
Palmencombo) |
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middle Cafe Concerto : Heinz Seidl, right: Caledonia music Otmar Loschy |
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diesmal ein Abend gewidmet dem vater der countrymusik, vielleicht dem ersten rock n roller... verstorben am 1. jänner vor genau 50 jahren, seine musik + lebensgeschichte ist legende. Am 14.02 werden wir euch hank williams musikalisch näher bringen.
wir = georg siegl, bernhard tragut, Lassiter, otmar loschy (dj, moderation, plattenauswahl, anekdoten), Heinz Seidl (org) |
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Georg Siegl and Billy Votava |
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Axl, Gabriella Gotthalmseder and Andy from radio orange |
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On Valentine’s Day, I made a stop at Café Concerto, because my informer Gabriella Gotthalmsted, who I had met at the Daniel Johnston concert in october told me that if I was looking for something, that would be the right place. Radioeuropa the music suited to Bohemian tales. This is the story of another Bohemian, as in drifter: Hank Williams, from Alabama.
Alabama, this is a region in the United States of America situated in the so-called Bible Belt, in the deep south, in the middle of the countryside. Hillbillies are said to be white lower-class people with loose mouth and ready for the gun, or fist and to have a drink problem. ‘Bama in US slang is pejorative for “country pumpkin”.
Born in 1923, in a community of wood cutters who housed in one room cottages, Hank Williams learnt at an early age the downside of life and at the same time grew into the world of music. His mother played the organ at the local church hall, but his father had a serious drink problem. The young Hank Williams was fond of cowboy movies with singers like Roy Rogers and Gene Autry which happened in the Far West prairies, a world far away from Alabama. That did not prevent him to dress up as a cowboy. At the age of eleven he started busking in the pubs and met Rufus Payne, a black blues musician who became his friend and taught him the blues rhythms. Both themes: alcohol and blues stories are recurrent in Hank Williams songs. That blues, provided I am not mistaken with my sources originated from the Mississipi Delta, and hence is known as Delta Blues.
Georg Siegl and Billy Votava from Viennese group Stiefelbein Bluhs Bänd perform four numbers at Café Concerto to get us into the mood.
Moving over (guitar and accordeon)
Mind your own business (not suited for Valentine)
Lost Highway (poor old drifter me)
Jambalaya (Cajun/Zydeco song)
Those acquainted to Blues Brothers 2000 might have heard of Cajun music which one can find in the Bayous with its Black music counterpart called Zydeco. The Cajuns were descendants of French immigrants who came from Britanny in the 17 to Canada at the time when navigator Jacques Cartier discovered Newfoundland, and some of them moved to Louisiana which was a French possession at the time bought from the Spanish. Over the years the language evolved, so the Cajuns have absorbed more English language and Black culture whilst the Acadiens from Canada speak a French language tinted with English and native Indian dialect. Acadien influence musicians include: Daniel Lanois and Beausoleil.
Notorious names of Cajuns include Dr John and Mink DeVille. Zydeco is the music of immigrants from the Caribbeans who settled down the Bayou and lived next to the Cajuns, some descendants of Zydeco include the Neville Brothers and Erika Badu. The song Jambalaya is a favourite in the area.
Needless to say that blues, Cajun and Zydeco were far off the Nashville country scene, in those days racial and cultural segregation was on the agenda and in the deep south Nashville the WASP mentality dominated. So Hank Williams was quite courageous to include all these elements in his music. And yet, the 1930s, the days of the recession after Black Friday of 1929 were the days of social Keynesian reforms (after JM Keynes and JK Galbraith) as championed by F.D. Roosevelt and his building projects - Woody Guthrie with his songs about the Grand Coulee Damm was quite popular. But none of this mentality in the Bible Belt, where small communities lived in their own world. At the age of 13 Hank Williams left home to earn a living brushing shoes, selling peanuts and did appear on local radio shows to become known as the Singing Kid – and so his life on the road began.
Rosita Williams sings Cold Cold Heart from a tribute compilation album from 2001.
When Hank Williams came to fame, the weariness of his life and the world he had lived in shone through his songs. It also seems that women have been part of his problem because of tales of unrequited love like “Wedding Bells” (his love marries someone else) or “I’m so lonesome I could cry”, in the song “My son calls another one daddy” we hear the story of a man in prison lamenting that his nasty bitch of a wife found a loverboy playing daddy to his son. (my own words). As we can see, these song not only reflect that he might have been personally affected with romantic stories, but these songs also fit well into a culture that place family values at its centre and see women as creatures that either fall from grace or cheat. Mind you, even in so-called modern Europe I get funny remarks just because I say I have men friends. So this is a lady of bad reputation writing this (I can hear some laughing at that). A film at the time illustrating this was Jezebel with Bette Davis.
When the USA got involved into the Second World War in 1942, there were heavy shortages. Hank Williams could not tour so he went to work in the shipyard and performed in Alabama’s main town called Montgomery. At concerts he sold copies of his booklet called “Original Songs by Hank Williams”, 35 cents a piece. He still felt very much like a drifter, but now that he was famous he was a contractual artist – although this got him out of financial worries, the contract meant a restriction on artistic freedom and movement. Many artists complain that a contract does not allow them to make musical experiments because usually the record company wants to sell the music to a wide audience and does not think too much about art. But as in everything there are exceptions and fourty shades of blue. Hank Williams decided to use a pen name to publish songs that he liked and could not make it on record:
The Drifting Cowboy: I am not coming home any more
From the compilation Cold Cold Heart: Kieran Kane: Rambling (The Drifter). Performed in a 2/4 rhythm which goes: ( . .. . )
The Rucki Zucki Palmencombo from Upper Austria with Bernhard and Gabi Tragut perform I saw the Light.
Most of us know the version by Johnny Cash when he performed it in a Columbo episode. Incidentally, it was shown last September on Austrian ORF TV, and I happened to fool around with my camera experimenting the best way to take pictures of the screen.
Nashville
In 1946, Williams and his wife, Audrey, moved to Nashville, where they called Fred Rose, Nashville's biggest music writer and publisher. After hearing a few of Willams' songs, Rose immediately signed him to a contract. Under Rose's direction, Williams signed with MGM Records and got his first hit, "Move It on Over," which landed him a job on a radio show in Shreveport called "Louisiana Hayride." Rose also helped Williams polish his songs to attract the pop music market.
The Williams-Rose team worked well. "Cold, Cold Heart," one of Williams's tunes, became a No. 1 country hit, as well as a pop hit for Tony Bennett. Roger Williams said,"It was a perfect union: Williams' native genius, Rose's craftsmanship and sure sense of the market."
Williams songs were a success on the "Louisiana Hayride." "I Heard You Crying in Your Sleep" and "Lovesick Blues" were just two of the songs that earned Williams an opportunity to perform on the Grand Ole Opry. His debut, on June 11, 1949, is still considered a precious moment in country music history. Popular demand brought Williams back to the Opry and made him a regular. Williams needed a band to perform with, so he reorganized the Drifting Cowboys and added other studio musicians who traveled with him to do live performances. They traveled across the United States and Canada, and even to Germany where they entertained American troops.
A year later, the demand for Williams was the highest of any other country star. Songs such as "Why Don't You Love Me?" and "Long Gone Lonesome Blues" became No. 1 hits, increasing Williams' popularity even outside the country music sphere."
details from official Hank Williams website
Producers Acuff/Rose (later producers for Roy Orbison) produced “I saw the light”. MGM got involved and the song reached Number 4 in the charts. It is still popular these days as it is a favourite for buskers and an upbeat number. Roy Acuff himself was quite successful and savvy.
A few words about Nashville. Roughstock.com comes very handy for us because it is concise and informative. They tell us that the most popular Nashville artist in the 1950ies were Jim Reeves and Patsy Cline (two big favourite for many people in Northern Ireland). Then there were Charley Pride, a group called Alabama, Reba McIntyre, Dolly Parton "I will always love you", Tammy Wynette "Stand by your man", George Hamilton III, John Conley and these days some people who sound quite traditionalist: Garth Brooks and Shania Twain "That don't impress me much" are the people we might have heard of, others are called George Strait and Lee Ann Womack. Honky Tonk piano and 3/4 music, this is quite popular in Europe and many people have this or that record in their collection. The German language equivalent is Wolfgang Petry and a band called Truck Stop, full of blokes, bonding, and tough women who like a strong man - just like in "King of the Hill" the cartoon series.
In 1952, Williams briefly returned to the "Louisiana Hayride," divorced his first wife and re-married in a public ceremony. On New Year's Day, 1953, Williams died of a heart attack on his way to Canton, Ohio where he was to perform. Williams was laid to rest in the Oakwood Annex Cemetery located in Montgomery, Alabama.
Williams had a special gift. He could produce and sing beautiful songs in a sincere and honest manner that everyone could relate to. He was, without a doubt, one of the greatest singers in the history of country music.
Thank you, official Hank Williams website for the additional information.
Lassiter were supposed to perform themselves but Christian Wirlitisch, the singer who plays the Fender Jaguar and the Fender Deluxe Reverb Guitar had been overdoing his job as a beisl animator with the result that he lost his voice. However, since he was available for interview, I could ask him technical questions about Hank Williams music. How would he describe it to radioeuropa readers who live in all sorts of cultures and locations?
that's hard working me with Chris. Thank you Gabriella for the picture.
The instrumentation consists of drums, bass, guitar (western, pedal steel) and violin. The music is simple and consists of three chords on a 2/4 or 4/4 rhythm. (3/4 is country waltz or Tennessee Waltz that Austrian immigrants exported to the USA and became part as the Nashville sound and line dancing, ed. . The reduction gives it a bluesy atmosphere and the beat rhythm goes towards rock n’roll. The pronunciation is nasal and there are long stresses on vowels like o and a, which may at times remember of yodelling (another pejorative slang word for country pumpkin is “Yokel”). The singing is intense and whining (blues component). The loose structure of the song gives spontaneity to tell a story which is mostly a sad lament starting with “Woke up this morning” and ending that the character narrating the story dies and figures what happens to him afterwards.
The last remark prompts me to state two thoughts. First this shows the influence of the some fanatical religious groups which often ask the question to the parishioners as what will happen after they die thus causing some impressionable people to get paranoid, afraid of death plus feel guilty and worthless and morbid, - a serious question. Second, the surreal device of a dead character telling his story reminds me of the song “Danny Boy – the Londonderry Air” from Ireland, the presence of banjo and fiddle in Hank Williams songs is an Irish folk-song legacy.
Thank you, Christian. We shall see you later with the review of your EP
My friend Terri Hooley from Belfast owned a vast collection of original Hank Williams records and in 1997 a fire broke out and – Murphy’s Law – they were destroyed. After much lament over the loss of that treasure, Terri thought that at least the house did not burn out. A record is a record, if one collects records just for the sake of possessing them, then the music is dead, buried and gathering dust. It is important that a song becomes part of your life, culture, so if you like a song, just sing along to it, or listen to it, then it becomes alive. So the music of Hank Williams lived on.
After 1953
The music lives on. His son Hank Williams Jr also made music. There was the Class of 1955 with Johnny Cash, Carl Perkins, Roy Orbison and Jerry Lee Lewis. Carl Perkins became later a songwriter for Elvis Presley. Elvis Presley continued the tradition of mixing blues and guitar beat music. In the early sixties we meet Jose Feliciano, Glenn Campbell, Bobby Goldsboro and Lee Hazlewood who mix stories of drifters and get very sentimental at times, especially with Lee Hazlewood the love stories feature high on the agenda as we can see with on his album with Nancy Sinatra called “Nancy and Lee”. The drifters romantic meets technology, in the old songs there were lots of trains, now we see greyhound busses and trucks. A film that springs to my mind that shows the end of the romantic cowboy times and the beginning of modern times is a film with Kirk Douglas called Lonely are the Brave. Willie Nelson is more of a lonely brave person on the road again, Glenn Campbell is “rhinestone cowboy”, Neil Young is searching for a "heart of Gold" and Steve Earle a sentimental trucker who had a bad time with all sorts of evils of society and .... (name escapes me). Those can be best seen in a film called Midnight Cowboy with a soundtrack written by Nilsson. Then we meet John Lurie and Tom Waits in a film called Down by Law, there is kd Lang, of course (who also was influenced by Patsy Cline) and in current days we get a lot of so called alt.country of which the most interesting bands are Michael J Sheehy, Calexico (who add tex mex influences) Sparklehorse and Daniel Johnston certainly fit in there as well even though their style is unique . There are certainly many others, but those ones are the more stricking. A few women I found that fit the bill is Mary Gauthier "The Train", Shawn Colvin "Get out of this house" with their stories of daily grind and bluegrass singer Alison Kraus.
There are a few Hank Williams influences in the UK. Nick Lowe was Johnny Cash son in law and he produced the first album by Elvis Costello. Nick Cave is obviously influenced by Johnny Cash and Tom Waits, and some others. Richard Hawley from Yorkshire sounds like he has heard a few Glenn Campbell records and Edwyn Collins is very much of a rock n roller who mixes lamenting, with rock n roll with disco grooves. The odd thing is that these people far from sounding like they are from the deep south, put some cultural elements of the place where they are. As for Lee Hazlewood, when he moved to Sweden he noticed the cultural contrast and he wrote a song called “Cowboy in Sweden” to illustrate just that.
This is from our radioeuropa playlist, check those out - , one click away!
Richard
Hawley: Coming Home
Nick
Lowe: Jumbo Ark
Garland
Jeffreys: Don't call me buckwheat
The HM Johnson Band from Louisiana pick up their favourite records
Jad
Fair & with Teenage Fanclub: Crush on you
:
Daniel Johnston Love will find you
Sparklehorse:
Erika Badu:
Dr John: Going to New Orleans
Hank Williams: I saw the light, Jambalaya
Cajun and Zydeco directory
Balfa Toujours : Le Canard A bois sec
Beausoleil: Zydeco Gris Gris
Willy deVille (Mink deVille) : Savoir Faire (le Chat Bleu)
Terry Huval and the Jambalayan Cajun Band: Oh ma belle
The Neville Brothers: Tell it like it is
Lambchop
(Deanna Varagona/ Kurt Wagner: I can hardly spell my name
Michelle Branch:
Lassiter: Marusela
Terri Hooley : Laugh at me
Willie Nelson: On the road again
Jim Reeves:
A stranger is just a friend you do not know
for SWS/VX
Jose Feliciano:
Light my fire
Calexico: All the pretty horses
Patsy Cline : Crazy
kd Lang: Constant craving
kd Lang and Roy Orbison: Crying
Alison Kraus: When you say nothing at all
Loretta Lynn : Coal Miner's daughter
Mary Gauthier: The train
Johnny Cash: I guess things happen that way/mercy seat
Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds: Brighter with the day
When the language switches, we get a different atmosphere. Most of the time adapting a song into a different language has resulted into complete disaster. As a linguist I can say that it is virtually impossible to translate poems from one language to the other: when you want to translate the content, you cannot get the form, and when you keep the form, the content is lost. The only possibility is to get a feel for the original language and the songs of the artist one is trying to adapt. The critical acclaim goes to Rod McKuen and Scott Walker who adapted Jacques Brel into English – these songs sound so authentic. A blatant failure of recent years was Wolfgang Ambros sings Tom Waits which was the most excrutiating record I had to listen to in the past years because neither the feel nor the authenticity, it sounds to me ridiculous and pretentious and I have doubts whether Mr Ambros knows his music or geography, for you folks, imagine Phil Collins singing Johnny Cash songs and you get the feeling.
I had a soft spot for Georg Siegl even though the name of his Bluhs Bänd might raise a smile but we don’t want to behave as snobs. The choice of instruments was spot on. He reminds me a bit of Elmore Wood, the one blues brothers who in BluesBrothers2000 goes on the road from his Chicago to the Bayous to defend great music against the loveless music of current days. So I’ll regard him as an Austrian blues brothers, and he was so chuffed to see an English speaker (I know it’s only me) to practise his language skills. And I obliged. So the love of music unites cultures at least during a song, and I may say that is quite in the spirit of Hank Williams who melted all sorts of cultures in his music, because popular songs travel the world thanks to technology, communication and transport, I do not sound like a wide eyed optimist when I say the world is less reactionary than it used to be. My idealistic wish for music is to see that instead of a global village with one sort of music we have small worlds living next to each other with equal rights, but even this is no utopia.
So do we identify with Hank Williams, but certainly. Now that I know his story a bit better, he has become a character of radioeuropa and we certainly have a heart here for buskers, bands and songsters of all sorts, famous or not, and any kind of music really as we drift along our path gracefully avoiding the pits of journalism and the lachrymose phoneys.
Gabriella
Over to you, Christian and the Lassiter band. And after that I tell you how a Hank Williams story would sound on Valentine 2003.
“My son calls another one daddy”.
Two scenario.
“Well if yer man is no good and ends up in the slammer, then your woman with the kid is better off with a decent fella. Or she can raise her kid alone cos many single mothers do that, of course not easy balancing kid and job, and often the job is not well paid but well, life’s always been a struggle and one is happy as long as they are not unhappy as someone said. As for her ex, he can always talk to his probation officer and get better. Maybe he’ll get out on parole and can start a new life.
Second: if yer man is in prison a victim of murphy’s law and demon drink, then he’s better off without that bitch anyway and he can talk to the citizen’s advice bureau for custody of his son, especially if her loverboy is a no-gooder and he can sort out his drink problem by err… well just sort it out, really – and he might even find a woman that does not give him stick. There are some decent people on the streets you know.
And with both happy end love stories for Valentine’s day, radioeuropa @ zebra54 leaves with a message of warning to all my songster and poet friends, if anyone dares to do a Hank Williams lament on me, I know where you live folks. Only joking, I ain’t breaking none’s heart because I love songs so much. Love to everyone.
Balfa Brothers, Cajun - Daniel Johnston
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kd Lang, Terri Hooley, Leslie McKlusky, Tom O Neill, Hank Williams, Richard Hawley,
Mary Gautier, Lassiter, Willie deVille - Buskers! |
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There was reason to be miserable because international events meant that
a war was declared in March 2003. I must say that quite a few people are
confused and uncertain how to think about the issue. We had to give
thoughts to the combination of violence and religion, about diplomacy,
about a cohesive multicultural society, whether we should get back to
the roots or move on toward the modern age - and then we discovered that
maybe the solution lies in accepting that contradictions might not be
logical and compromises might not have good reputation and yet, perhaps
living with contradiction and compromises will prove a viable option.
With these thoughts I left Vienna, not before catching up with my summer
friends who proved that popular music is accessible to all, it might evoke
a region or a country, and yet such tunes and musicians travel the world and
find themselves new places to unfold.
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Sid-la-dai Si-la-dai
Something old, something new
something borrowed, something true!
IRISH-STEIRISCH do the Steirer Reel
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Musicians are:
Sigi: Hack Dulcimer/lyrics/music
Karin: Accordian, Cello/music
Lois: Electric Violin/music
Christine: Recorder, vocals
Roland: Drums
Christoph: Bass
Ernst: Electric guitars
album: Einfach Leben (Koch Records)
Website: www.irish-steirisch.com
Location: Styria/Bad Aussee Salzkammergut |
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How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard of you:
Eurofolk - or the unpretentious result of listening to Styrian polkas, Irish reels and rock n roll at the same time in a pub in Bad Aussee which is near Hallstatt.
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Farewell Vienna, unlike Midge Ure, this means a lot to me. Who would
have thought, I had come for a job experience in computers back in
2000, and instead of three months, it became three years. Would
Graham Greene and his mates be proud of me? Yes, I think so - No doubt a
about it
A letter
Meine Sinne, meine Fähigkeit zu genießen, leben in dieser Zeit hoch, höher
den je. Von Traeumen, bis zur Musik, körperlicher Ausgeglichenheit bis zu
intellektuellen Erkenntnissen oder Hochfahrten, mein Leben als auch meine
Täume, mein Tage, Nachmittage und Nächte sind unbeschreiblich schön, weil
ich ganz einfach alles hundertprozentig aufnehme und vorallem positiv.
Obwohl man mir nicht anmasen koennte, ich waere naiv in dieser Zeit. Nenne
man es, typisch Depressivler ala HImmelhochjauchzend bis zu Tode betruebt,
nenne man mich Traemerin oder Irrealistin- egal. Was ist schon Realitaet und
was ist wahr. Wie hoch koennten die Hoehen schon ohne wahre Tiefen sein, wie
groß ist das menschlich- seelische Vermoegen Kleinigkeiten zu schaetzen wenn
man nicht die schlechten Seiten des LEbens kennengelernt hat. ERst vor
kurzem nach so vielen Jahren, eigentlich wieder aber diesmal vielleicht
ausfuehrlicher und intensiver, ist mir klar geworden, warum ich auf Maenner
oder Lesben und gewisse Leute so anziehend wirke. Wobei ich in erster Linie
dies durch den Umgang mit Maennern erfahren habe. Sie sind ganz einfach
nicht in der Lage ihr Leben in vollen Zuegen zu genießen, oder nur minimal,
oder sie haben eine voellig ausgepraegte Faehigkeit, ihr Leben geniessen zu
koennen, aber dafuer fehlt es ihnen an den anderen wichtigen Dingen des
Lebens, was man halt so "Ernst des Lebens nennt." Ich nehme sehr stark an,
dass ganz besonders du mich verstehen wirst. Um auf das Thema zurueck zu
kommen. Diese Menschen, in erster Linie Maenner, wollen etwas von meiner
Lebenslust abhaben, es von mir lernen, es mir aussaugen oder zumindest
etwas, nenne man es wiedereinmal wie man wolle- was dahinter steckt ist
klar. Diese Menschen, sind bzw. waeren auch ohne Computerzeitalter, zu
Robotern geworden. Vielleicht liegt es daran, dass sie sich so sehr darauf
konzentriert haben, soviel wie moeglich Geld zu verdienen um ihr Leben damit
geniessen zu koennen, obwohl ich schon sehr stark zur Annahme neige, die
Oesterreicher und sicher auch die Deutschen leben ganz einfach fuer die
Arbeit. ICh auch irgendwie, aber ich geniesse sie- wieder einmal diese
Wortwiederholung, mir faellt daweil kein Synonym ein- und nicht nur das. Es
ist wirklich ein Geschenk so vielseitig und offen zu sein wie ich es bin.
Und mit dieser Aussage, moechte ich auf gar keinen Fall ueberheblich
klingen- ich speziell bin ein verkrampfter Feind der Prepotenz- sondern nur
meiner Zufriedenheit Ausdruck verleihen. Ich bin ueberaus gluecklich
gebuertige auslaendische Oesterreicherin zu sein, oder wie es der Exfreund
meiner Schwester mal ausgedrueckt hat "Oesterreicherin zweiter Klasse", den
ich weiß - zumindest bilde ich es mir jetzt ein- was fuer ein Geschenk das
Leben ist. Dabei moechte ich auf gar keinen Fall ins theistische Tendieren-
ich bin ziemlich neutral was den Glauben betrifft. So zwischendurch hoffe
ich dich mit meinen ganzen Gedankenstroemen nicht zu langweilen, sondern dir
etwas von meinem Gluecksgefuehl, meinen Gedanken und Eindruecken
weiterzugeben. Vielleicht liegt es ja in der Luft und du bist sogar in
Belfast davon betroffen, oder viellecht kann ich dich ja wenigstens fuer die
Dauer dieses Briefes anstecken. Wie wenig Leute sind dazu gewillt oder
besser noch, wie wenige haben das Beduefnis ihr Glueck zu teilen und
weiterkzugeben. Das ist sicher mit ein Grund. Diese kapitalistische
Gesellschaft, diese staendige Angst etwas zu geben ohne etwas oder
genausoviel zurueckzubekommen, macht diese Leute krank bzw zu Robotern. Ich
finde Bestaetigungen dafuer ueberall. Falls ich mich irre, waere ich erfreut
eines Besseren belehrt zu werden. Aber ich denke dass diese ganze
Pornographie, diese aktionsluestigen Angebote, von lebensgefaehrlichen
Sportarten, bis Hochschaubahnen, wo doch ein normaler Mensch ganz einfach
Angst um sein Leben haben muesste und gerne darauf verzichten, statt auch
noch schwer verdientes, zeitraubend verdientes Geld dafuer zu bezahlen. Ist
das nicht krank? Gerade heute habe ich mit einer sehr intelligenten
ueberhaupt nicht senilen 96 jaehrigen Dame gesprochen, die ich seit meinem
5ten Lebenjahr kenne und sehr schaetze und deren Wohl mir natuerlich am
Herzen liegt. Die Tiere sind viel intelligenter als die Menschen. Vor lauter
Pseudophilosophie, Pseudosozialem oder egal was der Grund dafuer ist, wissen
viele Menschen - ganz besonders in Oesterreich nicht- was ganz einfach, das
natuerlichste auf der Welt ist. Ob der Grund dafuer die Ueberheblichkeit,
also Prepotenz etwas besseres zu sein, intelligenter als die Tiere zu sein,
ist, oder der Lauf des heutigen Lebens- kann nicht sein, ich lebe ja auch in
dieser Gesellschaft- oder die Medien, vielleicht liegt es ja an allem ein
bisschen, aber eine bestimmt Ursache muss es doch dafuer geben. Irgendwo
muss es ja mal begonnen haben. Klar das die meisten, diesen Mangel von
Elternhaus mitgenommen haben, doch wo hat das begonnen. Man kann doch nicht
wirklich glauben dass das an der Rasse liegt und mit der stereotypen Aussage
kommen, Ausnahmen bestaetigen die Regeln. Die Menschlichkeit, das Teilen,
das soziale Umfeld, zu viel Egoismus usw und sofort, sind Gruende die mir
auf Anhieb einfallen wuerden, viellecht hast du ja den Durchblick und kannst
mich inspirieren oder aufklaeren. Vielleicht stimmst du mir auch zu. Auf
jeden Fall wuensch ich dir wenigstens einen Tropfen von dem Meer voller
Zufriedenheit, die ich empfinde und schicke dir viele liebe Gruesse.
bussi
Ingrid
This page is for all those who like anything on this page and to all
the friends and strangers I met in that City of Dreams.
D.A. Hoffman, comments added summer 2004
Homepage
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at the ICA - Hospital Bed (London 2004) 
Farewell Vienna, unlike Midge Ure, this means a lot to me. Who would
have thought, I had come for a job experience in computers back in
2000, and instead of three months, it became three years. Would
Graham Greene and his mates be proud of me? Yes, I think so - No doubt a
about it