day 25
Woke up @ 8am to go to the 3M headquarters outside of Warsaw to get some sponsorship. On the way back our driver told us how he organized a tour for german punkband Die Toten Hosen in the eighties. Nick had a nap in the afternoon while Julien tried to fix the fucking computers. One of them is totally out of order now. In the evening No Mercy Club on Bema Street. Niski's band Łeb Prosiaka (polish for pighead). Deepest polish grindcore in an almost empty club - but it was hell of a concert. You want to book some hard rockin' freaks? Book them!
3/30/2006
3/29/2006
Pustki and Le Madame
day 24
Wednesday. Had some big tour north of Warsaw. Industrial area. Nick had beer in the GAZ while Julien concentrated on driving and not loosing his glasses every 20 minutes. Met Radek from Pustki with his girlfriend at the cafeteria... we had a quick look at Le Madame, a place that had been closed one week ago and was now occupied by a bunch of left winged freedom fighters. But there was just a friendly discussion about capitalism going on, unfortunately no violent scenes of police against riot kids... Julien walked home to the castle after leaving the GAZ at the garage and Nick met Alicija with a photographer from Madrid at this cafe in Warsaw called "between us" to talk about some fashion project. Julien was already asleep when Nick came home... next morning we had to leave early for some meeting with 3M.
Wednesday. Had some big tour north of Warsaw. Industrial area. Nick had beer in the GAZ while Julien concentrated on driving and not loosing his glasses every 20 minutes. Met Radek from Pustki with his girlfriend at the cafeteria... we had a quick look at Le Madame, a place that had been closed one week ago and was now occupied by a bunch of left winged freedom fighters. But there was just a friendly discussion about capitalism going on, unfortunately no violent scenes of police against riot kids... Julien walked home to the castle after leaving the GAZ at the garage and Nick met Alicija with a photographer from Madrid at this cafe in Warsaw called "between us" to talk about some fashion project. Julien was already asleep when Nick came home... next morning we had to leave early for some meeting with 3M.
3/28/2006
Mudholes and asphalt
days 22/23
Monday & Tuesday of week 4. Did two wicked trips with the GAZ 69. Went to the borders of Warsaw city, drove straight through Texas where we did some off-roading. Deep mudholes and hot asphalt.
Monday & Tuesday of week 4. Did two wicked trips with the GAZ 69. Went to the borders of Warsaw city, drove straight through Texas where we did some off-roading. Deep mudholes and hot asphalt.
3/26/2006
Reenactment in the Old Town
day 21
Sunday. We went for a ride with Michał in the GAZ. Some "Second World War ambush against Nazi Germans" historical role-play showdown in the Old Town, a reenactment. Had a drive around the city then. Finally Michał gave us the keys for the garage and the GAZ, so from now on we can take it whenever we want. Evening: Hybrida Club. Jazzcore/freejazz with Neuma (Warsaw) and Progrram (Wroclaw). Nice evening. Nick bought a Progrram t-shirt. The girly sizes for Julien were already sold out... walking home to the castle.
Sunday. We went for a ride with Michał in the GAZ. Some "Second World War ambush against Nazi Germans" historical role-play showdown in the Old Town, a reenactment. Had a drive around the city then. Finally Michał gave us the keys for the garage and the GAZ, so from now on we can take it whenever we want. Evening: Hybrida Club. Jazzcore/freejazz with Neuma (Warsaw) and Progrram (Wroclaw). Nice evening. Nick bought a Progrram t-shirt. The girly sizes for Julien were already sold out... walking home to the castle.
3/25/2006
Out at the clubs
days 19/20
On Saturday Nick came back from Vienna while Julien was at the silent movies festival. Met later at the café (Nick had already had his 4th beer) to then move on to the city where we would meet Alicija. Drinks to good housy dancy tunes at some nice bar. Then moved on to club Paprotka, good crowd but Alicija was not too much into the sound there. So we moved on to Cinnamon, a huge space with wintergarden in the back: tons of people partly dancing on the bar to loud danceclub music. As we forgot our cameras that night we have to do the whole thing again next week. Yay!
On Saturday Nick came back from Vienna while Julien was at the silent movies festival. Met later at the café (Nick had already had his 4th beer) to then move on to the city where we would meet Alicija. Drinks to good housy dancy tunes at some nice bar. Then moved on to club Paprotka, good crowd but Alicija was not too much into the sound there. So we moved on to Cinnamon, a huge space with wintergarden in the back: tons of people partly dancing on the bar to loud danceclub music. As we forgot our cameras that night we have to do the whole thing again next week. Yay!
3/23/2006
Platzki with Adrian at Radek's
days 17/18
Wednesday Silver Rocket concert in the evening with Jacek, Adrian and Kasia. Very calm, but nice. Didn't manage to order Vodka-Coke correctly. Went to Radek's place afterwards where Adrian was staying. Adrian heated up some platzkis (potatoe cakes!). Will meet Radek again to visit Pustki's rehearsal room.
Thursday not much happened. It's past ten. The computer guy still tries to get the Macintosh fixed. He upgraded to OS 10.4 to realize that the Matrox video card was not compatible with the new system. How boring...
Wednesday Silver Rocket concert in the evening with Jacek, Adrian and Kasia. Very calm, but nice. Didn't manage to order Vodka-Coke correctly. Went to Radek's place afterwards where Adrian was staying. Adrian heated up some platzkis (potatoe cakes!). Will meet Radek again to visit Pustki's rehearsal room.
Thursday not much happened. It's past ten. The computer guy still tries to get the Macintosh fixed. He upgraded to OS 10.4 to realize that the Matrox video card was not compatible with the new system. How boring...
3/21/2006
Alone in Warsaw
day 14
This was the first "real" Sunday in a while - easy.., being lazy. Relaxing. Nick left Warsaw at about noon. Probably had some beers and one of these awesome sausages in the dining car on his way down to Austria. Julien went to Market Europa with Josée - crazy market place in an old closed-down stadium in Praga where you find ripped DVDs, CDs, and illegally produced alcoholic drinks. People say it can make you blind to drink this stuff!...??? Bought some pierogies on the way back in a supermarket that is by far better than SUPERSAM.
day 15
Julien did not leave the castle today. Instead a whole lot of file transfers, burned quite some DVDs, took almost the whole day. Damned computers! I saw in my dashboard that it is sunny outside, temperature above 0°C! A short break in the afternoon for a meeting with curator Marianna in the café. Still didn't make a step outside. Marianna is trying to get sponsoring for adhesive tape and large quantities of paper. Potatoe cakes for dinner - how very polish.
day 16
Julien woke up early to go to the Austrian Cultural Forum. Got the long awaited $$$. Some potential sponsoring partners for our project seem to show interest. Meetings scheduled for the week. Lunch: borschtsch as usual, potatoe cakes again. Still love it and will have it over and over again. Some more archiving work done - and a walk outside: it is warmer, amazing day. Went to the movies, Me and You and Everyone We Know. The main actress (she also directed) was kind of a pain-in-the-ass character, made me somehow aggressive. But in the end the movie was ok. No plans for tonight. Some work for the upcoming show in Salzburg. The night porter is having a nap on the couch in the hallway. Easy... cheers
This was the first "real" Sunday in a while - easy.., being lazy. Relaxing. Nick left Warsaw at about noon. Probably had some beers and one of these awesome sausages in the dining car on his way down to Austria. Julien went to Market Europa with Josée - crazy market place in an old closed-down stadium in Praga where you find ripped DVDs, CDs, and illegally produced alcoholic drinks. People say it can make you blind to drink this stuff!...??? Bought some pierogies on the way back in a supermarket that is by far better than SUPERSAM.
day 15
Julien did not leave the castle today. Instead a whole lot of file transfers, burned quite some DVDs, took almost the whole day. Damned computers! I saw in my dashboard that it is sunny outside, temperature above 0°C! A short break in the afternoon for a meeting with curator Marianna in the café. Still didn't make a step outside. Marianna is trying to get sponsoring for adhesive tape and large quantities of paper. Potatoe cakes for dinner - how very polish.
day 16
Julien woke up early to go to the Austrian Cultural Forum. Got the long awaited $$$. Some potential sponsoring partners for our project seem to show interest. Meetings scheduled for the week. Lunch: borschtsch as usual, potatoe cakes again. Still love it and will have it over and over again. Some more archiving work done - and a walk outside: it is warmer, amazing day. Went to the movies, Me and You and Everyone We Know. The main actress (she also directed) was kind of a pain-in-the-ass character, made me somehow aggressive. But in the end the movie was ok. No plans for tonight. Some work for the upcoming show in Salzburg. The night porter is having a nap on the couch in the hallway. Easy... cheers
3/18/2006
First drive with the GAZ
day 13
No sleep for Nick, 4 hours for Julien: had to wake up early so to meet Michał for the first drive with the GAZ Jeep. Michał 's 2 sons (9 and 13 years old) and Marianna came with us. Julien helped the concierge to shovel away the ice in front of the garage in order to open it. Vitek, a close friend of Michał followed us with his Land Rover. He will introduce us to his friends who also own Land Rovers and might meet Nick in Vienna for a beer next week. Julien managed to drive the GAZ quite well.
A little nap in the afternoon. Nick then left the studio for a "meeting" while Julien converted DVD data. Met later at Indeks Club, an overcrowded student basement bar where Tomek's band was playing - not really our style of music. Left soon, very tired, but somehow ended up in another club: Regeneration or something like that. Cool funky dance pop, one drink and ready for bed.
No sleep for Nick, 4 hours for Julien: had to wake up early so to meet Michał for the first drive with the GAZ Jeep. Michał 's 2 sons (9 and 13 years old) and Marianna came with us. Julien helped the concierge to shovel away the ice in front of the garage in order to open it. Vitek, a close friend of Michał followed us with his Land Rover. He will introduce us to his friends who also own Land Rovers and might meet Nick in Vienna for a beer next week. Julien managed to drive the GAZ quite well.
A little nap in the afternoon. Nick then left the studio for a "meeting" while Julien converted DVD data. Met later at Indeks Club, an overcrowded student basement bar where Tomek's band was playing - not really our style of music. Left soon, very tired, but somehow ended up in another club: Regeneration or something like that. Cool funky dance pop, one drink and ready for bed.
3/17/2006
Records, fashion, art & Ivan Smagghe
We had some city walking in the afternoon. Visited one small record store near Nowy Swiat street, more for electronica, wave and house stuff but nice. For the night we planned to visit the opening at the CSW, what we did... some wine and small things to eat. Julien poured wine over the suit of this guy Dario. Jacek arrived to take us out. Concert was planned, instead we went to the opening of *comme*des*garçons* guerilla store. Then moved on for some art talk and wodka to our curators place just next door. Marianna has a nice flat. Then party at Club 1955. French dj Ivan Smagghe sucked the deck. Julien left at 4pm. Nick left at around 5pm... and arrived at 7.30pm in the castle. No comment. Sleep now.
3/16/2006
The GAZ and Canal+
So, we have passed nearly two weeks in Warsaw. Met Michał today, he showed us his GAZ army jeep we might get for driving around Warsaw city. Crazy 60km/h highspeed. Sounds like a rocket. Looks amazing.
Finished the trailer for CANAL+. Hope they will air it although it looks straight out of a 70's amateur video shoot (Sony Portapack style). We like it. Maybe not made for tv but rock and roll still. Went to supermarket. Had some Zubrovka-Coke. Nick had two beers. Not too much to tell about the meal... yes, bortschtsch... think we'll have turned red after our stay...
Finished the trailer for CANAL+. Hope they will air it although it looks straight out of a 70's amateur video shoot (Sony Portapack style). We like it. Maybe not made for tv but rock and roll still. Went to supermarket. Had some Zubrovka-Coke. Nick had two beers. Not too much to tell about the meal... yes, bortschtsch... think we'll have turned red after our stay...
3/15/2006
Tribute to Krysys
The postponed meeting (with Michał) was postponed again - to Thursday. Met Tomek at the tribute to KRYSYS concert, a polish cult punk band from the late 70s. First reunion in 25 years, a historic event! Tomek works at Indeks Club, has a house on the country-side, 2 daughters and plays in a neo-country band that does organized hold-ups after their shows!? Right now we're having really bad pasta with some kind of polish asian sauce that Nick found in the cupboard. This is the worst dinner we had yet. Stomach ache.
3/14/2006
First visit to lokal_30
First day of video editing work. The Macintoshs are collapsing. Julien also. Causing to the computer problems. Nick got his transparencies and was happy to get started with the car drawings. We had lunch with Ula, one of the assistants. Again borschtsch. Julien had...? YES!... pierogis... while Nick took the spinach-crepes. In the evening we accompagnied our curator in chief - Marianna - to an exhibition opening. Nick had a talk with Marianna's brother about polish football. He will watch a league one match, probably Legia Warsaw with us (YESSS!). Marianna was a bit ill, so we had just a quick drink and returned to the castle. Cooking. Vegetables and rice. Nick got a bit pissed and melancholic in the internet chat (girls probably), while Julien started to edit some takes. The week will be horribly stuffed... interviews, meetings, roads, jeeps, rock and roll. Quo vadis Warsaw?
day 9
The meeting with Michał was postponed to Wednesday. Means no car yet. Julien worked on the video, Nick did some drawing. Went to see lokal_30, the appartment where the exhibition shall happen. Nice place, kind of an old run down appartment that wouldn't hold more than 40 people max. A little balcony which gives right on some wicked one-storied building where an after-party could very well happen. 70s interior - not Texas, but Las Vegas for sure.
Nick had his daily beer after that while Julien went to the Yann Tiersen concert with Josée. Support band: Snowman - some weird (polish?) post-80s-fusion-kitsch with a saxophone that almost blew our ears off. A great time.
day 9
The meeting with Michał was postponed to Wednesday. Means no car yet. Julien worked on the video, Nick did some drawing. Went to see lokal_30, the appartment where the exhibition shall happen. Nice place, kind of an old run down appartment that wouldn't hold more than 40 people max. A little balcony which gives right on some wicked one-storied building where an after-party could very well happen. 70s interior - not Texas, but Las Vegas for sure.
Nick had his daily beer after that while Julien went to the Yann Tiersen concert with Josée. Support band: Snowman - some weird (polish?) post-80s-fusion-kitsch with a saxophone that almost blew our ears off. A great time.
3/12/2006
Plum at Aurora Club
day 7
So. Julien & Nick went for their first show today at Aurora Club together with fabulous guy Jacek again who takes care of us and introduces us to the Warsaw scene. On stage: polish noiserockband Plum from Stettin. Sounded bit like combination of Jesus Lizard, NoMeansNo and some weird Chicago postrocking stuff. Nice show, nice audience, small intimate but very friendly location.
Bought a TAPE. The first recording of them. Long time we didn't see tape recordings. Nostalgic. Met Mitch. From Mitch & Mitch. And also Japan Mitch. We might meet them tomorrow at Mitch & Mitch's studio for a session. Nick is having some cheese toast before going to bed and Julien gets more and more pissed with his new Macintosh... good night.
3/11/2006
Bytom, Silesia and Grzegorz from New Jersey
A 3h train ride to Bytom, Silesia in the dining car where we meet Grzegorz who just comes back from New Jersey. He has lived there for 5 years now and tells us that his mother will prepare him a good silesian dish - we are having kjelbasa sausage with cheese.
Bytom is sad. We have pierogies and spinachstuffed crepes in a bar where the same song is playing for two hours on repeat. Not enough alkohol at the Kronika gallery opening, Nick gets some beer at the 24h shop. We don't know where we're going to sleep yet. When the party's over our polish friends suddenly unveil 3-4 vodka bottles. Adrian fills the glasses as if it was water. We are drunk now. The crowd moves on to a bar where Julien accidentally orders 24 (!) pierogies. Everybody is happy about that mistake. Quite wasted we are guided to a flat above the bar where we lie down in beds. Nick has to pee but the toilet is occupied by other vodka victims. He uses the open window and a bottle for his needs.
Bytom is sad. We have pierogies and spinachstuffed crepes in a bar where the same song is playing for two hours on repeat. Not enough alkohol at the Kronika gallery opening, Nick gets some beer at the 24h shop. We don't know where we're going to sleep yet. When the party's over our polish friends suddenly unveil 3-4 vodka bottles. Adrian fills the glasses as if it was water. We are drunk now. The crowd moves on to a bar where Julien accidentally orders 24 (!) pierogies. Everybody is happy about that mistake. Quite wasted we are guided to a flat above the bar where we lie down in beds. Nick has to pee but the toilet is occupied by other vodka victims. He uses the open window and a bottle for his needs.
3/10/2006
First days in Poland
Had sausage, pickles and sour flour soup (?) for lunch in the train restaurant. Moved into the castle, later dinner in a student-kind-of restaurant café. Still hungry after that and went to KFC to have some french fries. Warsaw is not as cheap as it was supposed to be.
In terms of food and drinks: the restaurant at the castle is good, good borschtsch (no idea how to spell that!), good pierogies. The drinks cost more than the meals though. Got some buffalo grass Vodka at SUPERSAM. Later Nick prepared some pasta for diner. Workwise, the editing suite is kind of set up now --> we're ready to go.
Arranged some things at the castle. Went on a trip about 30 km outside of Warsaw with our a-i-r studiomate Josée from Canada and her friend Ola. Later, Nick got some drawing paper ...and we had Borschtsch again - but it does its job quite well. Met with Jacek Skolimowski in the evening - a music journalist from Warsaw. Very nice guy. Hung out at some hidden de-centered club with improvisational dub-jazz band... Nick 2 beers, Julien red wine. Took the Warsaw night bus back to the center, the driver was probably on speed or any other drugs... drove like he was the devil. It's freezing cold. -15°C minimum. Good night.
Thursday was lame. Slept a lot, not much work. Borschtsch again for lunch - and pierogies. This stuff is just awesome. Nick tried to get iMovie to work but got really pissed after two hours of trying. No editing at all. Julien had a whole-day depression. Nick then had a nap from 6 to 9.30pm. We were supposed to go to a concert at club Aurora, some Mogwai-like sound. Missed that - instead watched Wim Wenders' Paris,Texas and got even more depressed. Beautiful film.
Borschtsch for lunch, again. Today was packed. Met Michał, a real cool guy who owns 2 Jeeps, a Cherokee and a really old GAZ one - big machines. We'll go on some off-road trips with him. Kuba is totally familiar with the Warsaw Hip-Hop underground scene. He will arrange some MC freestyling sessions for us at his place with friends. Minit (Australian-Kiwi-Berlin-minimal sound) sucked like hell. Where is the rock'n'roll in Warsaw???
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