Damo

Damo Suzuki is playing in my local pub tonight. Yes, as you'll all know, the very same Damo Suzuki wot played in legendary band Can. Yes, as you'll all know, Can were an underground, excellent, and downright massively influential band from Dusseldorf from the late sixties through to the late seventies.

I don't know if I'm going to go and see him though.

There was a real buzz round this here way a couple of years ago when he first played: not only was it the first time he'd played in the vicinity for around 3 decades, But It Was At Our Local Pub. How unlikely and amazing was that? I was seriously considering getting a taxi there and back (surely a 15 second journey either way) just for the sake of it. It was great as well: the place was packed, full of atmosphere, and musically the goods were very much delivered.

Last year he played again at the local pub (I can imagine the headlines: Legend Plays Twice At Local Bar!). I've failed to mention that part of what he does is rely on the merits of local musicians wherever he plays, as part of an extended network: the ethos is to play music which is raw, unbridled and improvisational. Whatever impression this gives in theory, in practice it is often hypnotic and soaring. So at last year's bash, the bass player had absented himself from his duties for a few minutes, and I was expecting him to come back at any given moment. He didn't reappear for some time though so, aided by more than a couple of pints of Abbots, I found myself onstage weaving a few basslines into the ebb and flow of the music.

I don't get starstruck like I used to in my younger days, but here I was onstage right next to Damo Suzuki, it was quite something. I wasn't there for very long since the bass player finally came back a few minutes later, but it was enough for me, I felt like I'd had my moment.

I doubt that I'd get such an opportunity to do the same tonight, and so maybe after scaling such giddy heights last time round I might just feel a little disappointed, regardless of how good the gig will probably turn out to be.

That's not the reason I'm not going though.

Main reason is, I'm bloody skint.