After yesterday's epic day, it seemed today should be spent recharging and most of the band did exactly that. A late hotel departure time meant loads of free time during the day. I'm not sure many of us made it out and about, I for one spent the whole day luxuriating in the Augustine, now our fave hotel in Prague. Time for some yoga and the most leisurely of in-room breakfasts, I thought I'd go for Eggs benedict today and it was supreme.



Leaving the hotel at 4:30pm for a 5pm soundcheck, we drove across town to the relatively new O2 arena. Will it be like the one in Berlin I wondered? Worse, as it turned out. Not that I have anything against these venues, it's just that they are so cold, in all respects. Formerly known as the Sazka arena, this one was built after a golden era of Czech ice hockey about ten years ago. There were problems with investors and its construction was troubled. As with the O2 in Berlin, there seemed to be an 'over-exuberance' of staff and security. Which as it turned out is ironic as there was an issue today with a complete stranger managing to get into the catering area whilst the band were eating. Hardly akin to breaking in to the queen's bathroom but still not what you expect as security at these events is paid for by the band. We noticed as we walked into the cavernous, underground backstage area a huge security scanning device, similar to one you would see in an airport baggage handling area. It seemed not to be in operation but according to several of our crew who have played here in the past, it used to be a nightmare getting in as the venue insisted on scanning all crew baggage before being allowed into the building! That's insane. As it was all our boys had to do was wear stupid venue laminates with photo ID attached. Utterly ridiculous I thought until I pondered the history of the Czech republic.

Most of Prague's historical architecture remains intact to this day unlike most major cities across Europe. Not missing an opportunity, four days after the war ended, the Red army marched into Prague and the city fell to Soviet control. There was a democratic uprising in 1968 when reformist Slovak Alexander Dubcek came to power, and continued until 21 August when the Soviet Union and members of its Warsaw Pact allies invaded the country to halt the reforms. In 1993, after the split of Czechoslovakia, Prague became the capital city of the new Czech Republic. It wasn't so long ago when this country was politically very different and I suppose the venue security is a legacy of that era.

I'm guessing this is a windsurfing shop, or possibly a Naish and Gaastra importer.



Today I filmed an interview with Sven Waldheim, our PA technician.



Johnny hotpants tends to the rig



and down again...



Cod and PC



C'mon you Germans?



...anyway, the show was great and it was nice to be indoors again with a fantastic sound. On the plus side, in this arena seems to be easy to achieve a decent sound.  I remember the last time we played in Prague at the T-Mobile arena, it was standing and the crowd were very excitable but this evening was much more sedate and polite with a very 'listening' audience.

A runner back to the hotel and we all met in the bar afterwards and toasted another great run of shows. Day off in Prague tomorrow....tennis! and then the big game.


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For those who have asked, and it's quite a few of you, here is Matt's ginger tea recipe..



On The Road (Makes 4-5 cups)
Ingredients:
1 med-lg chunk of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
1 1/4  fresh lemons, in quarters, seeds removed
30 med. size leaves of fresh mint
Honey

1. Put 5-7 slices of ginger in each cup
2. Squeeze juice of 1/4 lemon into each cup, and drop the remaining rind into the cup with ginger
3. Put approx. 1 - 1 1/2 tbsp of honey into each cup
4. Boil full kettle of water
5. Put 5-7 leaves of mint into each cup
6. Fill each cup with boiling water, stir and wait 5-7 minutes
7. Drink, and sing!

Paloma's Perfect Ginger Health Tea

Home Recipe
Ingredients:
1 Large chunk of fresh ginger, peeled and sliced
1 whole lemon
10-15 large leaves of fresh mint
Honey
1/4 tsp cayenne pepper (powdered) - *1/8 tsp may be used for less heat
(1 Thermos)

1. Put approx. 2 cups of water and ginger in pot
2. Cover and heat until boiling
3. After water boils, keep covered, reduce heat to low and "steep" for an additional 15 - 20 minutes
4. Squeeze juice of entire lemon (remove seeds) into thermos
5. After ginger is steeped, remove from heat, add mint and stir. Let sit 5-7 minutes
6. Strain ginger/mint "tea" into thermos
7. Add honey to taste
8. Add cayenne, put top on and shake vigorously
9. Enjoy!

Peace,
Matty