The Scandinavian leg of the tour rounds off in Oslo and Copenhagen. Theo Travis gives us the inside view..
"I have played in Oslo many times and always in the same square in the centre of town where there are two venues next to each other (I think run by the same management) called Sentrum Scene and Rockerfeller. Today was at the former where I last played in 2007 with David Sylvian. That Sylvian gig was particularly memorable as the wonderful trumpeter Arve Henriksen sat in on the gig, and came out for a drink afterwards too. Great player with a wonderful sound and very fresh approach to playing the trumpet.There was some free time before the gig so I had contacted my friend the singer Anja Garbarek to see if she was free to meet up for a drink. I met Anja in 2001 when Steven Wilson was producing her album 'Smiling and Waving'. Despite her dad being Jan (Garbarek)..., she wanted someone else to play flute and sax on the album and Steve brought me in. I was then in her live band and we toured around Europe for a while. It was a really wonderful band and a great experience. Steve Jansen on drums, Dudley Philips on bass, Sue Balingall on additional vocals and guitar amongst others. Everyone got on particularly well and it was very special music. I digress. So Anja was free and we met up for a drink which was great, as she is lovely and I rarely see her. I fear the glass or two of champagne may have adverse affected my performance though as I missed a couple of simple things which I should not have done.
The sartorially elegant Nick Beggs changed his stage outfit again for the show - from his original dandy highwayman Count von prog, to yer regular rock bass man to the one and only 'Fu Chinn' . Good to see him back say I. Nick's outfits are great. Gig was good and some very appreciative fans. A noticeably younger audience than usual and also a definite higher percentage of males than females for this one. Although progressive rock is well known to be generally more followed by blokes than women, Steven's gigs always have lots of women there. Maybe because his music is not 'traditional' progressive rock, has some short songs, has more thoughtful lyrics than many, or maybe because women think he (and maybe others in the band??) is cute. Dunno. Maybe some women can say why they like SW but not King Crimson, Yes or Gentle Giant... Or maybe I have got it all wrong!
It was a late concert and afterwards we got on the bus to drive through the night to Copenhagen. Woke up feeling a bit rough. Not sure why, but definitely not so good. I had arranged to meet another music friend who I had not seen for years, the Danish trumpeter Palle Mikkelborg, who has made lots of ECM albums and famously composed and arranged an award winning album with Miles Davis called Aura. Palle came to London in 2001 to record on my CD 'Heart of the Sun'. It was all a wonderful experience and his contributions are stunning. We have been in touch since but only usually when I have visited Copenhagen on tour. We had time to catch up and grab a coffee and he heard the band too. Really fantastic to see him - a kind, gentle and thoughtful man. We both agreed it would be great if one day we can do something together again.
The gig was at a grand theatre called VEGA and it was full and enjoyable. Jonas Reingold from the Tangent was my guest and he seemed to like it which was cool. I have not seen him for a few years now but was recording my parts for the new Tangent album listening to his bass parts very recently. Gavin Harrison is on drums on the album and Jonas and Gavin make a formidable rhythm section.
After the gig more Sherlock on the tour bus and off in the snow to Berlin for a day off and a hotel. Nice. "
Theo Travis
'The Raven That Refused to Sing (and other stories)' is available from StevenWilsonHQ
