+ Cold +
From the Road Part 7: White Sea’s Morgan Kibby on Tour with M83
[Postmarked: March 8, 2012]
God. Getting onto that plane in Singapore was hard. Luckily we all had rows to ourselves, it being a pretty empty flight, and we all slept soundly and arrived in London a lot less cranky than expected. Our first show of the European leg at Shepherd's Bush Empire was full and surprisingly fun. I haven't seen London get excited for anything we've done before, but this night was apparently an exception. From then on however, things went a bit downhill: The last two weeks have admittedly been a bit rough, and like so many of my other tour stumbles, this one also starts in Poland.
Oh sweet, bleak Poland, your trees were barren, your roads were dangerous, you could have smelled the impending…doom, I suppose? We were about two hours outside of Warsaw and the bus got stuck in a ditch. I was in my bunk and could hear the first tell-tale signs of spinning wheels and crunching tail-lights. I promptly did what I thought was best for morale once we were positive we were stuck, and wedged the white wine in the snow to chill and took some portraits of the first ladies of M83 (Anthony's girlfriend Kim and Jordan's girlfriend Allie). Warsaw was cancelled. It was apparent that it was that point of the tour: survival mode. I won't bore you with details, but weeks back to back of slogging through snow, everyone taking turns getting the flu, cold mornings where no one is there to give you a simple hug…it gets old. And that really is the hardest part: you're surrounded by people constantly, but damn…sometimes it feels like I've never been lonelier.
Poznan, Copenhagen, Oslo, Stockholm, Helsinki….
After leaving Poland, we were welcomed into Scandinavia with open arms by our hosts: well fed, warmed, cajoled, but through it all you could smell the tired, the creaky bones, the crankiness, the inevitable isolation. Luckily my friend Erik was in Sweden and dropped in for the show in Copenhagen to give some cheer, but I ended up misty as he left, once again despondent and in a panic for my own bed and a moment to just be by myself.
Two bright respites this week however were the 12-hour ferry rides from Stockholm to Turku and a brilliant little church I found with Loic in Helsinki. The ferry cut through the meadows of ocean ice like sheets of candy, breaking them in a million shards and quietly steaming ahead while some drank wine and listened to music and others dozed and valiantly tried to smoke cigarettes in the freezing wind of the sun-deck. It was peaceful. The church was also an unexpected safe haven from the daily grind: carved out of the rock of a hill, the mid-century design was comforting and so full of love. Raised Jewish and now happily agnostic, I've always found it odd how drawn I am to churches; this one was no exception.
We're off again in Berlin today. A group of us are headed for a mythical bar with a labyrinth…hoping to have some spiritual spark and if not, just some fun. Keeping my eye firmly on Spain where hopefully things will at least be warmer and full of a little more pep.
+ Watching the Ice +
+ Chili Crab in Singapore +
+ Champagne at the Ritz A.K.A. Sometimes Life is Hard +
+ Breakfast Essentials in London +
+ Allie and Kimmy +
+ Polish Survival +
+ Kimmy the Unicorn +
+Todd and the Broken Bus +
+ Beauty in Stockholm +
+ Berlin Meal +
+ Copenhagen Visit with Erik +
+ Boredom Tattoos Part 2 +
+ Getting Ready in Stockholm +
+ Ferry to Finland +
+ Sundeck on the Viking Line +
+ The Ice +
+ Allie in the Polish Snow +
+ Church Candles in Helsinki +
+ Organ Bliss +
+ Teresa and Catherine on the Ferry +
+ Berlin Part 2 +
+ Kimmy's "Thank You" drawing for her stay on the bus +
Most Recent
- FKA twigs, Headie One, and Fred again.. Share Video for New Single “Don’t Judge Me” (News) — FKA twigs, Headie One, Fred again..
- Ohtis Releases New Single, “Schatze” Featuring Stef Chura (News) — Ohtis, Stef Chura
- SXSW Announces First Round of Artists for 2021 Online Music Festival (News) — SXSW
- The Besnard Lakes Are The Last of the Great Thunderstorm Warnings (Review) — The Besnard Lakes
- Premiere: Jack Symes Debuts New Single “Wait” (News) — Jack Symes
Comments
Submit your comment
June 23rd 2012
6:58am
Nice pictures.. keep posting. Thanks for this. I love really like your blog.
July 2nd 2012
4:59am
It was interesting traveling and memorable events. I like to make such kind of tour with my friends.Thanks!
July 5th 2012
12:43am
Seems like traveling is your favorite past time. I also love to travel and if possible, I want to travel a lot. I believe that traveling is one of the best way to gain more experience and learn new lessons.
July 6th 2012
7:14am
Whoah! That was such an extreme adventure! haha, thanks for the sharing Morgan. Being in different places will surely give you a lot of memories. No matter how embarassing it maybe or been in a survival situation, it would definitely leave a mark in your heart. One day you’ll just caught yourself smiling for no reason. Sounds corny and crazy right? But that’s true happiness:)
I’m glad you included some of your pictures. By that I can vividly imagine how you feel during those times. To be in those places is such a love! I envy you so much!:) You know I’ve always dreamt to travel around the world and visit different places. I can’t wait for vacation to come. I feel like packing my bags the soonest time possible! ^.^
July 16th 2012
6:58pm
After seeing you guys live in ireland at body and soul at it being the first time id ever seen a band play ( a band i love :D)
i love reading your blogs , you really know how to make it feel like were there , your adventures sound amazing :D , i hope one day yee wil come back to ireland , i know were only a small country but boy do we have a love for M83 ! thanks for coming and the experience of yee being the first ban i got to see was phenomenal !!..
Much love and thanks ,
Tara :D
July 16th 2012
7:02pm
Reading your blogs is amazing , i love hearing about your adventures . You guys were amazing here in ireland at body and soul it was my first festival and first ever lve band ( one which i love ) , thanks for puttign on an epic show and really owning that stage !:D hopefully one day yee will return to ireland, i know its a small country but boy do we love m83 here :D ...
safe journeys,
tara :D