Berlin kicks ass!!

Posted on June 16, 2009 by Steph 4 Comments

Once again I crossed the water to mainland Europe to compete in the Troubadour competition in Berlin.  This time it was the final and boy was it a night to remember!  Berlin never ceases to amaze me.  The people here are simply wonderful.  I had to stop and ask directions to get to the Troubadour venue a few times and everyone I met was kind and courteous. The other great thing about Germany (as I mentioned in previous posts) is the transport system.  It’s brilliant!  Having been to Germany 5 times in the last year I know my way around Berlin pretty well now.  This time I don’t have a trusty pocket map for the train but there are maps at every station and they display the stops on the train anyway.

After dragging my poor pregnant wife out of the comfort of our bed yesterday morning at 4am, we got to Edinburgh airport in great time for our journey.  My wife is fantastic at sorting stuff out.  She booked my ticket and made sure my guitar was going in the cargo hold.  There was another band getting on the flight, and their drummer must have planned on taking his snare drum on board as hand luggage.  the case was too big for the hand luggage measure only by an inch or smaller so he had to pay for it.  It turned out that it was £15 per Kg.  The total came to something like £165.  the look on his face was not good at all!!I felt really bad when I walked passed and handed my guitar into the baggage place.

The one bad thing about flying to Berlin from Edinburgh is that the departure gate is one of the last two in the airport.  After being searched to within an inch of your human rights by airport security (although I must admin I do like the feeling of latex) you have to walk 15 minutes to the gate.  This is when you see all the obese suffering Scottish exercise as if their life depended on it.  Think stampede with walruses.  Albeit a tad flustered I was on the plain and on the way to Berlin.

There was a few crowds of 30 something gentlemen on the flight who were away for what must have been a stagg doo or a pissup.  I hate that their sense of common decency and manner escapes them fresh after a few pre-flight pints in the airport. It reminds me of the irish coffees I used to have which would hide the fact I’d been drinking, but I was never as loud mouthed.  I was a secret drunk by day.

I made good use of my ipod and Handel’s Dixit Dominus and eventually fell asleep.  Upon arrival in Germany and the very prompt pickup of my guitar I hit the S Bahn (Trains to you and me).  I arrived in Köpenick and found my way to Kim Nixon and her husband Matthais’s flat but not before stopping at a little kebab stall on the main high street.  This place makes the greatest kebab I have ever had!  If you ever go to Köpenick it’s just across the street from McDonalds.  after a delicious Doner I went to Kim and Matthais’s flat.  Once again they offered to put me up for my stay in Berlin.  They have made e very welcome and I’ve had great fun visiting them.

So I had a wee nap to catch up on my sleep and then I headed out in the early evening to get to the WABE; the venue where the final was being hosted. After getting there a wee bit late I did my soundcheck and met up with the other finalists and Mckinley Black; the host of the Troubadour.  Once again the Troubadour team made me feel right at home with their witty banter and friendly nature.  They were all geat fun and very accommodating.

Upstairs in the back, where the artists were fed and watered, we had food provided by one of the event sponsors.  I was delighted to see an Indian Banquet of vegetable and chicken curry.  It was Heaven!!  Not only that, at the back of the room where the drinks stood were two bowls of mini chupa chup lollie pops.  Indian and chupa chups are my biggest vices after ice-cream so I didn’t think there was anything wrong with eating about 40.

It wasn’t long before the place started to fill up with local music lovers.  Mckinley made it aware that the WABE was a stage  for performers who don’t really get the chance to perform and it was kindly offered for us to use for the final.  You can find out more info here.  The place was packed and most probably in excess of 400, the maximum capacity.

I was on 5th of 6th.  I was happy about this as I could spend most of the time worrying about the performance and not the result.  I had no expectations of winning the final.  I had been runner-up in the semi-final and I was up against some great performers, native musicians, and full bands.  So, I had made up my mind not to play in competition mode and enjoy it for the great privilege it was.

I was to play 2 songs, as everyone was, for the audience to vote on.  The audience voted on their ballot papers who they thought was the best act ordered 1 – 6.  That was only 1 third of the decision as there were also 2 judges from Radio 1, Berlin (NOT THE BBC).  I played alone in the dark to start with as I wanted to show my songwriting ability to not only the judges but aclaimed singer/songwriter Brett Perkins, who was listening in the audience.  For my second track I played Grace as I thought it was more of a song than EMI.  EMI is great for rocking out but I wanted to share the music I spent a long time on.  It went down brilliantly and I was blown away by the responce from the crowd.

After all the acts there was a good break while everyone voted and had a drink.  I met up with some of the audience who were very complimentary, kind, and encouraging.  It was very overwhelming.  If nothing else, regardless of the result, I was so happy that I got to experience my performance.  It was a dream come true.   I even met people who had befriended me on myspace and come to the gig especially to see me.  It was a wonderful feeling.

Mckinley gathered us all up and anounced the winners upstairs.  As before, 3rd place got to play 1 more song on stage, 2nd place got 2, and the winner got to play 3.  It was very exciting.  In thrird place was local lad Dagalexus Dux, in second was another local talent Am OK.  Mckinley then turned and said, “…and in first place is Steph!!”  This took me aback big time.  When everyone started clapping I had to hide my face in my hat.  I couldn’t believe it.  I was so overwhelmed that I had to go in the next room and chill.  I texted my wife and mates with, “I WON!!” and they promtly called me back.  It was fantastic.

With a few other things and performances it was time for me to go on stage and play my 3 songs.  I played Soul Searching, 2112, and Human condition.  After I played I got a standing ovation.  I couldn’t believe what I was seeing!  I had to do everything not to start crying but I couldn’t help it.  I was so overwhelmed.

Mckinley came on and gave me my prizes:

1. 1000 Euro
2. 1 week at a Brett Perkins Songwriting retreat
3. A E900 Sennheiser Mic
4. 1 year subscription to Song Quarters

This really was generous.  Mckinley asked me to play an encore.  So I finished with Goodbye EMI.  It was the perfect end to a perfect gig.  The crowd were grateful as was I for them, and the compliments and thanks I got outside really meant a lot to me.

Even though I was invited to go out celebrating I coudn’t as It had been a long long day.   I got a taxi back to Kim and Mathias’s flat and crashed.

Saturday came and I spent a bit of time in the morning with Matthais moving some furniture for someone, then I had a quiet day to myself shopping, getting my ear peirced twice, eating ice-cream, kebabs, and all things indulgent.

I got back early the next day to my loving wife.  It had been a greatweekend and an experience I will treasure forever.