The Journey Itself Is Home

Finally, since I’m posting all these photos: Here is my favorite from the gigography section of Björk.com!

Mark and Andy, audio system techs.

Damian just sent me these photos:

Ken and Richard, laser and pyrotechnics:

The quintessential Shaun Martin picture, according to Damian. Shaun claims, after my last blog about him, to be the president of JSAS - The Jónas Sen Appreciation Society!

Aland Pollard, backline technician. As has already been mentioned on Björk.com Apple interviewed Alan about the tour on their website. I understand that Apple translated what Allan and Damian said into “Californian”!

Matt, the lighting tech:

Jez Webb, backline technician:

Fraser, the lighting operator:

Jez and Rosemary Llagostera - the Björk Wardrobe master (mistress?):

Tracy Fraser, production assistant:

Chris Taplin, stage manager:

Anthony The Australian, videographer - responsible for what people see on the plasmas:

I’m home at last! And it is great. I’ll be in Iceland untill August 20 or thereabouts - hopefully I won’t see a suitcase in the meantime!

We gave our last concert on the European leg of the tour on the Paleo Festival in the vicinity of Geneva last Saturday. I think it was a fine concert, at least, I enjoyed every minute of it. As far as I could see, so did the others. Björk was unusually flippant when she sang Declare Your Independence, screaming more than singing when the song was coming to an end - and then bursting into a laugh. I couldn’t help laughing either.

Björk’s electronic harpsichord was repaired in Switzerland, and I played on it, as well as the Yamaha CP300. I really love that instrument - hopefully it will OK this time.

We were the last band to perform that evening on the Paleo, but the band immediately before us was Arcade Fire. I saw some of their show on the TV monitor backstage - I think they were stunning. Björk’s Brass band, the Wonderbrass, joined them on stage during the encore and played with them (hey, Arcade Fire - I want to do that too!).

After the show we had a great party, i.e. Arcade Fire and us. The only problem was that the music was so loud that it was painful. Why music has to be deafening is something I’ll never be able to understand.

Wonderbrass performing with Arcade Fire:

Wonderbrass and yours truly:

We always get a pizza after a show:

The party afterwards:

Here is a new version of Oceania!