Monte Montgomery's Blog

European Adventure

Monte — Mon, 10 May 2010 15:22:42 +0000

“Jay, I’m going to walk over to that vending machine real quick,” Monte said shortly after I was to start dictating for the Italy blog.
“No dude! Don’t write everything I say.”
Apparently the trip to the vending machine wasn’t intended as part of the verbatim notes. But alas, as Jay is simply doing his job, the short jaunt will remain logged. Much as the past 11 days in Switzerland and Italy will remain in fond memory. Forever.
I return, donning espresso and euro-potato chips.
And so it begins…

Reflection
Looking back over the last two weeks of this sleep depravating Euro-tour, I have come to realize that I like travelling in Europe. Hmm, why is this? Well, let’s break it down.
Switzerland: Alps. Casino (Grand Casino Basel). Nice room. Nice venue. No sleep (jet lag). Low flying aircraft. Thanks for coming.
Soave, Italy: Immediate lunch and wine, as typical of the area. Old friends, familiar faces. Little sleep. Much music. Many notes were played on the guitar. More wine. Typical of the region. Pasta. Cheese. This goes on for four days. Family arrives. Their exuberance shown through a heavy film of narcolepsy. Closed down the Soave Guitar Festival playing my song, Six-String Wooden Friend with Tommy Emmanuel. Awesome.
Rome, Italy: The gig in Rome seemed in jeopardy as our Italian-only speaking driver couldn’t quite come to grips with his Italian-speaking navigation system. After countless u-turns and much nervousness we managed to pile into the high-speed bullet train. Well, not really a bullet train, more like a bb gun train from Padova down to Rome.
State of the art facility, built by world famous architect whose name escapes me. A very impressive structure to say the least. Mainly meant for symphonies and music of the classical variety. The odd thing was that there was a musician union strike on this day and I was the only act performing. I was envisioning massive picketing at the front door and hecklers urging me to cancel my performance in support of the dropped-wages strike. Turns out to protest, the talented members of the symphony performed on the sidewalks just outside of the massive auditorium. Certainly a unique atmosphere as we navigated our way back into the venue just before the show…apparently we were the only ones making any money that night. Sorry my fellow Roman music counterparts.
It does take a little getting used to, dealing with European audiences. Their enthusiasm comes in the form of complete silence during each song, followed by abrupt applause at the end of every song. In other words, respectful. Which is good for me, but probably bad for someone like MGMT. Anyway, the show was great despite that I walked on stage half asleep.
The next day, I lost another rhythm section as my drummer and bass player flew back to America.
We roamed all over Rome. They say Rome wasn’t built in a day, but it was seen in a day. About 10 hours. Countless corridors of the Vatican, with thousands of people crammed all around us. Then we visited the ruins, where you could see the dawn of underground sewage. Oh yeah, there were some cool crumbling buildings as well. And then we passed by some really old, run down stadium. Where I guess they used to play football or something, but with lions.
Next stop: Vasto, Italy
The Teatro Rossetti was built in 1812 and I was thrilled to help celebrate it’s 198th year with music that finally fit what the original intent of the theater must have been. That is, not to have the building house classical music, as is it’s main agenda. But instead, to rock in such a way as to shake the very foundation that the building stands upon. Oh yeah, and did I mention that I was tired? The kind of tired that can only be described as a kind of a “too-much-walking-around-Rome-the-day-before” hangover.
The next day, on our way back to Soave, we stopped for lunch in Porto Recanati, at the recommendation of Pierpoalo Adda. The Adriatic Sea changed colors about 12 times while we sat and looked out the window, as a brief rainstorm came through the area. By the way, it should be assumed that at all times food related there is wine. Good and plenty.
Fontaniva, Italy: The last gig of the tour. Beautiful theater, with a state-of-the-art sound system. Which basically described every theater we went to. That’s one thing I love about Italy is the sound system is always high-end.
Prior to gig, Gelato was had. And in accordance with ancient local laws, highly concentrated, somewhat-coffee-flavored caffeine is compressed and liquefied into a tiny cup (aka cappuccino) was also consumed.
The show was great, I wasn’t tired for the first time of this entire tour. I was finally comfortable on stage. Now that I hit my stride and I can share the best of me with all of Europe, I am leaving. Immediately. But not before….
A weeks worth of walking in 5 hours in Venice.
Side Note: Entreprenureal Idea. Start a taxi service in Venice. As there are literally no cars allowed.
We dragged our tired bodies to one last great Italian feast at our dear friend Manfredo’s house. Much wine, much food, and many laughs were had by all. We toasted to our journeys end and our quick return to our increasingly growing stable of close friends in Italy.
So now, if Iceland will put a cap on that effing volcano we can get home at a reasonable hour…
“That’s about it.”

Tommy sat in with Monte on a few songs at the Church clinic/concert

Lookin tough...

Soave Castle in the background!

West Coast Tour Wrap-Up

Monte — Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:19:56 +0000

WEST COAST TOUR WRAP UP
HEADING HOME
“WELL, THAT WAS FUN” I SAID AS I LEFT THE PORTLAND AIRPORT, HAVING CONTRIBUTED AN INSANE AMOUNT OF MONEY TO AMERICAN AIRLINES FOR DOING WHAT USED TO BE FREE UNTIL THE SUDDEN DECISION TO START CHARGING PASSENGERS FOR BAGS. I PAID MORE TO HAVE MY BAGS FLOWN THAN I PAID TO FLY ME! MAYBE I’LL CHECK MYSELF AS BAGGAGE NEXT TIME AND SAVE SOME CASH. AND WHY STOP THERE? MAYBE I SHOULD SELL TICKETS TO MY SHOWS, THEN CHARGE PEOPLE TO SEE ME ACTUALLY PICK UP MY GUITAR!
I CONSIDER THIS TOUR TO BE A SUCCESS. SONGS WERE PLAYED, PEOPLE WERE MOVED, AND I MADE SOME NEW FANS ALONG THE WAY. THAT’S THE BOTTOM LINE FOR ME. WELL, THAT AND COVERING MY EXPENSES (MOSTLY LUGGAGE FEES). FLYING HOME TO AUSTIN HAS AFFORDED ME THE TIME THAT I NEED TO CONTORT MY BODY IN IMPOSSIBLE DIRECTIONS, THE KIND OF COMFORT THAT ONE CAN COME TO EXPECT FROM CRAMMING YOUR BODY INTO A SEAT THAT SHARES SIMILAR QUALITIES WITH A CHILD’S TRICYCYLE SEAT. HAVING SAID ALL OF THIS, I AM NOW EXPERIENCING DISCONCERTING NUMBNESS IN MY POSTERIOR (ALSO KNOWN AS “DEAD CHEEKS”).
BUT SERIOSLY FOLKS
I AM LOOKING FORWARD TO TOURING THIS YEAR AS MY BAND AND I WILL BE PERFORMING IN GERMANY IN MARCH, SWITZERLAND IN APRIL, ITALY IN MAY AS WELL AS A EUROPEAN TOUR IN THE FALL (SCHEDULE TO BE ANNOUNCED LATER THIS YEAR). I AM ALSO CONTINUING TO TOUR SOME AS A SOLO ARTIST, THIS OFFERS A MORE INTIMATE APPROACH TO SOME OF THE SONGS THAT I DO WITH THE BAND AS WELL AS SOME SONGS THAT YOU WILL ONLY HEAR AT A SOLO SHOW. THOUGHTS OF RECORDING ARE IN MY MIND AND I AM BEGINNING TO FORMULATE AN IDEA OF WHAT MY NEXT CD WILL SOUND LIKE. BUT MOSTLY, I AM FOCUSED ON TOURING THIS YEAR AND GETTING IN FRONT OF AS MANT SETS OF EARS AND EYES AS I POSSIBLY CAN
APPRECIATION
THIS LAST SEGMENT IS FOR MY RECOGNITION OF MY FANS SUPPORT. I CANT BEGIN TO EXPLAIN TO YOU ALL JUST HOW IMPORTANT IT IS TO ME TO HAVE FANS LIKE YOU. I CONSIDER MYSELF LUCKY TO HAVE SUCH A LOYAL FOLLOWING. THERE IS NO BETTER REWARD FOR THE AMOUNT OF TIME SPENT ON THE ROAD THAN TO GET UP ON STAGE AND RECEIVE THE TYPE OF RESPECT FOR MYSELF AND MY MUSIC. I HAVE HAD A MAJOR DOOR SWING OPEN FOR ME THIS SUMMER. AS YOU MAY BE AWARE, I HAVE BEEN INVITED TO PERFORM AT BONNAROO MUSIC FESTIVAL IN JUNE. THIS IS A PRESTIGOUS HONOR., AND WHO KNOWS? MAYBE IT WILL BECOME KNOWN IN THE FUTURE AS MY BIG BREAK, YOU NEVER KNOW. ANYWAY, PLEASE CONTINUE TO SPREAD THE WORD AND I HOPE TO SEE YOU ALL DOWN THE ROAD. ….MM

West Coast Tour/Valentines Day

Monte — Mon, 15 Feb 2010 00:20:59 +0000

And so, having succumbed to the forces of Mother Nature by act of blizzard in Dallas, where my girlfriend, Cindy, resides and flights are not available in or out during peak blizzard hours, I am in Lake Tahoe where heavy snows are met with little concern and breakfast has been taken to a whole new level, ala buckwheat pancakes as big as your head!

I alone will use my honeymoon type hotel suite to the best of my abilities while I am here on this Valentine’s Day. Thank you, Mother Nature for this unique opportunity to spend some additional quality time with myself.

Montzart

Monte — Sat, 18 Jul 2009 23:45:49 +0000

Last night, we played in Greifenburg to a crowd of enthusiastic fans, which included some interpretive dancing from 1 elderly woman who was well seasoned in the art of excessiveness. In other words, she was hammered. After the show, I sampled some of the local food from a restaurant that offered these menu items as options; wiener schnitzel and for the more astute clientele, wiener schnitzel. I opted for the latter. After post gig offerings of fried, I made my way to my hotel room up a narrow, dark and foreboding alley which eventually emptied into the half lit structure which was to be my place of rest until the morning.
Morning did come but, before that long awaited event occurred, there was another event which took place in the night. Sleeping ever so peacefully, as rockers do at the end of gig days such as these, where earlier I found myself, along with Jens, walking up an intense asphalt road which mocked us with its ability to stretch on and upwards under a hot sky as we dragged our luggage for over a mile into town from the train station, and lethargically to our room.
And so, there I was, sleeping like a baby, when I was awakened by what I will forever refer to as The Storm of the Century. Howling winds, rain, hail, thunder and enough lightning to light up my room every 5 seconds for an hour, which was convenient since the storm knocked out all of the electricity to the entire town. Laying in the bed of this old hotel where German soldiers once occupied, with each flash of lightning, I expected to see a WW2 German soldier at the foot of my bed aiming a rifle at my spooked, scratch that, terrified head. 4 hours later, eggs.
After breakfast, Jens and I embarked on our last train ride together on this tour. 1 more show, Graz. An outdoor festival threatened by rain, we shall see.
Austria to Austin, the tour is complete, Mozart to Montzart where there is much HEAT

Salt Rock ‘n Strudel Roll

Monte — Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:13:06 +0000

In a time that pre dates strudel, there existed apples and a desire to make them bad for you. Years later, bam!…powdered sugar. Honestly, I have no feudel with strudel, I quite like it. And so, in an effort to avoid being misconstrued or giving the impression that I am somehow disenchanted by the casual reader, I leave Innsbruck, Austria, by train, with a powdery smile on my face.
I have 2 shows left before I travel 7 hours into the past, America. I will remain diligent in my promise to withhold technological secrets of the future that could possibly have an adverse effect on the America of the past, the one that will be here in 7 hours. It is a heavy burden, not too dissimiliar from the weight of my backback. But, I digress, after all, rock and roll is hard.
Thanks to everyone who tuned in to last night’s ustream broadcast, all 110 of you! Apparently, this medium will be helpful to fans who wish to convey their thoughts and concerns with me. Concerns such as the length of my hair or seemingly just as important, the lack thereof.
Moreover, I will continue to soldier on with no worries my brother, as the train rolls, physically and metaphorically, so must I rock. MM

The Sound of Musings

Monte — Wed, 15 Jul 2009 16:07:16 +0000

Well, it’s been -5 cheeseburgers since my last post and I have learned through the guidance of my ever-capable Viking tour guide (Jens), that trains are made for traveling. And so, as I ride in the comfort of air conditioning through scenic countryside and towns that I can’t pronounce, I am overcome with a sense of peace that comes with an increasing amount of appreciation for the lack of blues music that I usually am forced to endure when riding with Klaus aka Satan (German version) in the van. During this time, my band mates, while in the van, will experience the challenge of convincing Klaus the importance of necessities such as eating and paying for the opportunity to relieve yourself at a gas station while trying to pee enough to get your money’s worth. After one last night in Germany, I am headed to Innsbruck, Austria. I feel a special kinship with the people there because I am from Austin, which shares several letters with Austria, therefore, we are forever linked.
At this time I have one final thing to say to all of you whom are reading this, so long, farewell, auf wiedersehen, goodbye………MM

Germania

Monte — Sat, 11 Jul 2009 17:43:03 +0000

As the morning mist descends upon the land of sausages, the Brats are once again at war with the Bocks. This battle for superiority between the sausages has been waged since the dawn of mustard. I am awake now, awake but not well rested. This type of affirmation comes from deep within my psyche. This feeling can only be attained from several nights of insomnia that can be brought about by an unforgiving combination of home sickness, German television and air that is so still that you forget that is there, watching you, daring you to ignore your thoughts of far away places, where air conditioning exists.

Day 5, I sleep at night. For the first time in 5 days, I do not see the sunrise. A sense of normalcy takes root and I am alive! Sadly, the show on this night, after a good nights sleep, is my worst of the tour so far. Not that anyone noticed, but my index finger on my right hand is bruised under the nail, due to continual hammering on the guitar for the past three weeks. Also, I am forced to sign autographs with the same finger by my German tour manager Klaus. He may have been Satan in an earlier life or is in training now for some future Satan opening.

Last night was gig number 6 in a row. I took the stage and was annoyed to find that my hands were not in sync with my mind. If this was autopilot, then he too was having trouble acclimating to the serious time change over here. Anyway, I finished the show after 2 encores. I then walked through the crowd of standing, clapping people thereby announcing with my fatigued saunter, that I was done for the evening. I turned the corner and mentally collapsed. The club owner came over to me and asked if I was finished or would I prefer to do one more song. This is what I said, `I’m done`. Which prompted him to ask; “So, you’ll do one more?”. So, I did, like the good little rock puppet that I was.

So, onto the next gig, my 7th show in row. As the van careens down the autobahn at speeds that would frighten me in a vehicle that’s actually designed to remain intact at these speeds, I find myself pondering my own mortality, and I say a prayer. I pray that I make it to the next show, I pray for a nap and I pray for a cheeseburger.

Rock and Roll is hard but not forgotten.

Monte — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 04:59:21 +0000

Day 1 - Dude, where’s my car? Not the movie, but in real life. No rental car at the airport when I arrived.

Day 2 - Played 1st solo gig of the tour at Berklee in Boston. Dude, where’s my money? I cleared that up the following day.

Day 3 - (the following day) After temporarily impersonating a collection agency officer/wayward musician, I got paid for last night’s gig. Then, having learned that my 3 day hotel reservation was really a 2 day hotel reservation, I sought and found shelter in a nearby and much nicer Sheraton thanks to my sister Kathy and her seemingly endless knowledge of how to type words into a search engine on the internet. Words like “find” and “hotel” and “nice”. Then, with the help of my sidekick Jay, I launched my 1st live webcast from my newly upgraded hotel room. I sang songs and said things like “Is this thing on?” until an eventual surrender of understanding technology made itself apparent to anyone who happened to have been exposed to the comedy of errors that will be forever remembered in my mind as ‘the day I thought I could do something other then play guitar.” Monte is to guitar, as technologicly advanced is to squirrel. So join me, won’t you? As I will be broadcasting from various locations from the road whenever I have internet access and the time that it takes to act like I have something interesting to say. Throw in sea food, bowling, Apple Store, espresso and Thai food and you get a general feeling of what day three was like.

To follow my webcasts from ‘Life Out On The Road’, go to www.facebook.com/themontemontgomery I will announce the webcasts from there, get ready to chat to me live from the road.

Day 4…tomorrow

Now then, later…

Monte — Sun, 31 May 2009 23:38:12 +0000

Well, my jet lag from Italy ended today and I’m entertaining the thought of driving there next time to save myself from the trauma of losing my mother in the Atlanta airport. She was last seen not wearing a new pair of Italian shoes as she boarded a flight back to Texas. As for me, I’m hardly working right now but, that is going to change on the 22nd of June as I will be embarking on a month long journey that will have me touring through the Northeast as a solo artist ( my first solo tour), then one show in Canada, my first time there ( note to self, learn Canadian language in an effort to appear worldly), then on to Germany where I will be joined by my bandmates as we suffer through the endless days of touring through some of the most beautiful parts of Germany and Austria. So, that is about it for now, I’ll be in touch when I have something of equal or lesser value to offer.

What I did in Italy

Monte — Wed, 06 May 2009 12:10:03 +0000

Day one
Eat, drink some wine, sleep, eat, drink some more wine, eat , drink a lot more wine, go to sleep when the sun comes up.

Day two
Repeat day one, add jamming

Day three
Repeat day two, not day one.

Day four
Jam in church, eat, drink wine, sleep, jam again at festival with too many people to mention. Of utmost importance, my mother was one of the people that I refused to mention although she did jam with me. Then, i ate and drank until the sun came up, much like I did in days one and three.

Day five
Same as day two but, in a new location (Lonigo).

Day six
An actual break. Venice was seen and floated upon and there was much celebrating in the form of the eating and the drinking of the wine. Love was in the air and also in the water. Then onto Verona where there was food so plentiful and wine to rival all wines from the other days which from there was much wine dranked.

Monte in Venice, Italy, May 2009 (Photo: Cindy Crawford)

Day seven
Repeat day two and rinse.

Monte