November 11: Discover America

The hotel rooms I know in New York are all really small, but very nicely decorated. Tonight I'm in midtown at some trendy, but not status-oriented (according to its hotel directories) place. I just got back from the mixing studio, it's two hours past mid-night and I am packed like a sardine in this luxury tin can in which I live. I am here to do some final mixes for the new record.

Come to think of it, this is my first time working in a studio that's not situated in Bergen and hosted by a friend or two. (Except for one time I recorded a song with a French duo called Ginger Ale in Paris last year. But that was not my project, although our song did turn out quite ok.) In other words: this is my first time working in a "profesional" studio. A place where the mastermixingman has two assistants working around him all the time. A place where I have to leave the elevator in order for Pink and her possé to use it to get smoothly and quickly upstairs. I am not bitter. Two times today did our paths cross through that slow elevator. Slow...yeah. Come on and dance with me. Yeah. Slow.

But even the surprise of stumbeling upon Pink on 7th avenue bleaches compared to the man I plan to stumble upon tomorrow night. Apparently, Burt Bacharach is doing a show with one of the Isley Bros tomorrow and I managed to have my possé get a hold of some valid tickets to this - very likely to be - eventfull event. I cannot believe my luck or timing. "Faces Down" is based on my early admiration for the harmonies and turns of Bacharach's wonderful songs.

This show is hopefully going to make up for the fun, but nevertheless, slight disappointment of seeing Dionne Warwick and her orchestra of tasteless keyboards make their way through Bacharach's finest in Bergen, last Saturday. At least that's my intention for the evening. And so I guess my fate lies in the hands of the intention of mr Bacharach and mr Isley. I hope for good intentions. But I hear Burt is gonna conduct, which should mean there's a real orchestra involved. Unsurprisingly, keyborads still refuse to be conducted. With the music of Burt Bacharach, all you need is an orchestra.

Even more so than seeing Bacharach, I am thrilled to be playing shows again, starting off in Boston on Friday. I am truly sorry about the cancelation of the Louiville show and I wish to make up for that in the near future. I am, on the other hand, very pleased to be playing in Canada again. I am not bringing a band this time either. I am actually doing my first full live solo shows in North America. I'll try to make up for the band that isn't there with some new stand-up material. No, really.

I'll see you in da club. I'll be the artist on stage playing as if it was your bitrthday. At selected venues you may - as part of the audience - be allowed to sip Bacardi. Just as if it was your birthday.

So come give me a hug.

Sondre Lerche