Today started very slowly with a reluctant visit to a gym which seemed to me to be situated in a room which was too small for the available equipment. You couldn't walk between the machines. Nevertheless, I managed a run as did a few other band members. Mark and Glenn went for a nice walk along the Rhine as Mark continues cautiously to aid and improve the condition of his back. I was hoping for a hotel swimming pool but no such luck in Dusseldorf. A mere 35km's from the venue in Koln, Dusseldorf is our hub for the next few days and tomorrow's day off, so the drive to sound-check was quick and trouble-free.  I couldn't resist photographing this passing 993s, a beautiful example of what we consider one of the best cars ever made. Myself, Dan and Mark are all proud owners.





A few of us, well me Danny and Matt, took the opportunity to visit the visiting masseuse at the venue. She was pretty amazing but the intensity left me reeling a little. Combined with the run and some yoga this morning, it was all I could do to focus in parts of the show, an elementary mistake I'll try not to repeat. The last show in a run of 5 and a day off approaching is always a little tougher but I'm confident none of the TEN thousand, sold-out crowd would have noticed, such is the level of proficiency on the stage, plus the inexorable adrenaline boost you get from stepping out in front of a crowd like that, always gets you through. I did make sure I drank a ton of water as is advisable after a massage (especially shiatsu) but the effect of that was that I was absolutely bursting for a pee about 20 minutes before the end of the show. When Pete brought our drinks on stage at the end, I told of my 'situation' in his ear and when the band left the stage before the final encore, as the toilets were not all that close by, Pete pointed to a large bin for me. Parity restored.

Dave Dixon pointed out these Shoeps mics used to record the out front sound in surround mode. Graham Meek from British Grove Studios sent me some info...
Schoeps call the setup 'Double M/S although you only need to record 3 mics - the signals can be separated out later for surround. This way DD can record the hall and audience ambience of every concert in stereo and surround from just 3 mics (we do like Schoeps) I've always called it 'Sum and Difference'. Schoeps have gone further and the results in surround are really great. Withthe plugin you are able to move around within the surround listening field and get it just as you want.

It has to be said that individually the mics sound great and can be used in variety of ways. ~Hammond - piano - acoustics guitars and amps    all really good!

The mics are:    2x SCHCCM4VL   cardioid
            1x SCHCCM8L    Figure-eight




Another look at Danny's beautiful and solid Sonor kit



The Lanxess Arena, I'm sure was under a different name last time we were here in '08 but it is another fabulous German hall with seating reaching right to the roof, reminiscent of the Albert Hall. The view from up there must be sensational if not a little vertigo-inducing. Cologne is always a great crowd and tonight was no exception, and yes, I've said it before but it was another great gig and we came off stage buzzing, into the cars and back to Dusseldorf for the day off.