The Loons 12.07.24 Waldmeister Solingen - Till the end of the day (Kinks) +5 more + short interview

PA Sound Fritz Kappner
Camera (Interview): Carlos Coca Gomez
Mike Stax (the Loons):
The Loons in Europe. Day 16: Solingen.
It was a three or four hour drive today from Heidelberg to Solingen in the North Rhine-Westphalia region. Unlike Heidelberg, there is no picturesque, fairytale old town here. It was destroyed by an RAF bombing raid in 1944. So this is a more modern city with some attractive mid-century homes and architecture. We’re staying in apartments that are part of a cultural complex called Cobra. Seven of us in two bedrooms with basic furniture and amenities, including bunk beds for some. But it’s clean and tidy, and only a short drive from the venue, a club called Waldmeister. It’s another collective, run by musicians, music lovers, artists, teachers and community organizers. People who care about other people over profits. Something the world could use more of, especially in the States where certain people frown upon this as “socialism.” The promoter is called Jens (not the same Jens as in Stuttgart). He’s friendly and enthusiastic. He’s laid on a nice spread of food in the dressing room just for soundcheck, and later cooks us a meal of vegetarian ‘lasagna’ and fish. The food comes from a community project he organized with local children. (More evil socialism.) The stoic yet genial soundman, Fritz, looks a little like TS McPhee. The slogan on the back of his t-shirt reads “worst sound ever.” It is not. Fritz knows his shitz; he custombuilt and installed the sound system here and mans the soundboard from a platform in the rafters like a cross between George Martin and the Wizard of Oz.
At soundcheck Jens tells us he’s only expecting a smallish crowd, but when we return to the club later it’s absolutely jammed and he’s beaming with delight. Again, many have traveled from other cities, including our old friends Michael Wink and his wife Annie, and Andy Realkid. Syd Kreft, a friend and musical kindred spirit I’ve corresponded with for over thirty years but have never met before has come all the way from Hamburg. We also meet Joachim, the editor of Ox Magazine and a member of the collective; there’s a nice article on the Loons in the latest issue, which no doubt has helped bring in some people.
The opening band, the Braincocks, get the crowd moving with a rousing set of top shelf garage and beat, including numbers by the Small Faces, Bo Diddley, Them and the Pretty Things. Clearly we’re in the right place.
After more than two weeks on the road playing almost every night we have the set down to more or less the last detail. So much so that Marc breaks then changes a string in the same spot every night. With Fritz giving our sound some extra sparkle, we reach cruising altitude quickly and give it our all. The audience are a little more reserved than in Stuttgart or Heidelberg, waiting until the last note of each song fades before bursting into loud applause. When I announce that we’re about to play the final song of the encore there’s a collective groan of “Aaaaaaw!” That cracked me up. Record and t-shirt sales afterwards are strong; we sign a lot of albums and pose for a lot of photos. Another memorable night. I really appreciated the community spirit at the Waldmeister.
Back at the Cobra, I have a difficult time falling asleep; my thoughts are racing with the places we’ve been and the faces we’ve seen. There’s one more show still to play, and it’s a big one, in Anja’s hometown. Eventually I drift off and enjoy dreamless sleep until morning.