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Sorry for the delay. Internet access was a bit spotty at the bases in Japan
and our schedule was very tight so there was little time for writing. so I thought
I'd do a recap of the 3 shows in Japan all in this post.
Day 1 in Japan
September 10, 2009
Our Japan Air flight left Incheon International Airport in Korea and we landed at Narita International Airport just outside Tokyo. We had just really become comfortable in Korea and had made a great friend in our driver, Mr Yi so our departure was a bit sad, but we knew there were more people to play for - and
duty calls.
Mr. Yi was a true Godsend. He went out of his way on many occasions to help us during the tour. He found music stores when we needed parts. He haggled with the shop owners so we didn't get taken advantage of. He drove us around on his own time to get laundry done and helped us find the best deals on shopping and places to eat. He taught us Korean phrases and told us where we could go to sight see
and where NOT to go. When one of the speakers blew a high end driver during a show he took it upon himself to take it to be repaired the next morning.
He wasn't obligated to do any of this. His job was to drive us from point A to point B but he chose to be a friend and we are most definitely friends in return. So much so that on our last day we felt we just had to do something for him so I gave him a Bluzapalooza cap and a tip and Laurie gave him her Bluzapalooza jacket right off her back. He had really liked them when we arrived and asked how he could get one.
Mr. Yi and Laurie
I wanted to give him mine but he's a small guy and Laurie had the only jacket in his size. I felt bad that she should give up hers and told her not to. I would try and get one and send it to him but she was adamant. She likes Mr. Yi a lot too and didn't hesitate to give him the coat off her back...That's my girl :-)
We left Korea and arrived in Japan to meet our POC "Spike" Uchino. Spike is a Japanese national who works for AFE. He does a good job of organizing and our first nice surprise was when we saw a full size tour bus show up, YEA BUDDY! There's nothing better for long haul drives than a big old bus with large plush seats and all the extras.
We arrived at Yakota Air Force Base and got our credentials for base access, after which we were taken to
the Kantos Lodge on base. The lodge is a VERY nice military hotel and the accommodations were suites with full kitchens and living area. It was a very nice place to stay. We had the day free so everyone kind of scattered and did various things. Laurie and I stayed close to the rooms because we had an early interview the next morning at the Armed Forces Radio Network.
Day Two in Japan
September 11, 2009
We headed out at 8:30am for the interview on the morning drive time show. Spike picked us up in the tour bus and we headed out to the station. Armed Forces Radio in Japan boasts a listenership of 800,000 to 1 million listeners! WOW. At the station we were introduced to our AFN Liaison Felix and morning show host Jeff St. Sauveur. Jeff is a friendly guy and we relaxed and enjoyed the 30-minute interview. He played songs from the new CD and talked about our tour and the Bluzapalooza organization. We gave him CDs for giveaways and did a video shout out for his show after the interview.
From there it was time to go get the guys and setup and sound check for the show at the Yakota Officers Club – or the O Club, as they call it. It is a nice place, rather like a country club, with restaurant, banquet facilities and a bar area. We performed on a nice size stage in a ballroom-size room that had been set up for the show. We went on at 7p.m. - right after dinner and did two 50-minute sets, playing for a nice crowd of enlisted men, officers and their wives. (The show was open to all ranks). They loved it and danced and cheered all through the show. Afterwards we ran around meeting everyone, signing photos and handing out more CDs and cards to our website. It was a fine evening and it really made us feel good about what we were doing.
Day 3 in Japan
September 12, 2009
We left the comfort of Kantos Lodge and headed for Yokuska. We arrived and met our POC, Jason and went directly to the O Club there. It was very similar to the club at Yakota so setup and sound check was easy.
The show was open to all ranks and visitors and to our surprise there were quite a few Japanese people in the audience including members of the Mot Oteru Band, a Japanese blues act that performs at the base regularly. They were very excited to hear an American act and the local commander introduced me to
all of them before the show. They were extremely polite and were very interested in seeing
us perform. These folks loved blues style music and have built their entire repertoire around
American blues music. They clapped and cheered and smiled all through the show. There was none of the posturing and testosterone you often run into with bands in the states. By the end of the show we made friends and signed autographs and gave more CDs away. It was another fine evening making music and friends.
Right after the show we packed up and climbed aboard the bus again for a two-and-a-half hour drive to Camp Fuji at the base of Mt. Fuji. We were scheduled to play the Camp Fuji Friendship Festival there on the 13th (our last show). Since community turnout is quite large for these festivals on the bases our liaisons worried we might get stuck in traffic if we waited until morning to leave.
Day 4 in Japan
September 13, 2009
We rolled in to Camp Fuji about 1a.m. and checked into the Mountainview Inn which is the
on-base billeting. Camp Fuji is a long-established Marine training site, which has been around since WWII. Being a Marine base it is much more Spartan than the other branches. Marines are all about what you need to get the job done not about frou-frou. Our rooms were clean and comfortable but there was no Wi-Fi so we had to go to the club for the enlisted personnel for that. Everything at Camp Fuji is spread out. Nothing is close by. Luckily, our POC Shaun had allocated two vans and drivers to help get us around. Because the base was open to the public while we were there the PX and mess hall were closed. We did get to eat a breakfast of omelettes, bacon, hash browns and toast and coffee/juice with the troops but after 9am there were no more meals.
We were the closing act at the festival and weren’t scheduled to go on until 7p.m. so we asked our driver take us into town for some provisions. Laurie, Lee and I went to a big supermarket which had fresh seafood as well as everything else you could imagine. We bought some grocery-type stuff since there were
refrigerators and microwaves in the rooms including some big sampler platters of fresh sushi.
We had some on the plane coming over and decided to get more as well as all the other normal munchy-type stuff. OH - and you have not had a real egg roll until you try them here. WOW, are they good!
Dave, Justin, Andy & Pete took the other van into town to eat at a real Sushi restaurant. The kind
where you sit at a table and there's a little trough that runs all the way around the restaurant filled with
flowing water. The various types of sushi come floating by on small decorative plates of various colors.
When you see what you want you pick it up out of the trough and eat. The waitress then tallies up your bill
by the number of plates stacked up and the colors tell her the price of each kind of Sushi.
Showtime came and they drove us to the backstage where we tuned up and prepared for our set.
We went on and kicked off with the instrumental, Hell on My Heels, which lit the marines up right away!
After that we tore through a 60-minute show of our most intense songs and were greeted by
enthusiastic claps and hoots from the people. The Japanese were a little freaked at the intense guitar
but the "Jarheads" ate it up (God bless em'). After the show we were invited to the Roadhouse and the upstairs officer’s club. There we were greeted by the camp commander and many marines who loved the show. We hung out there for almost two hours talking and partying with the guys. I bought beers for many of them and handed out the remaining Bluzapalooza caps as well as photos and cards.
I love playing but we all had as much fun shooting the breeze with these guys as we did doing the show.
Marines are my kind of folks. No BS. Straight up and to the point, with a strong desire to laugh and party -but ready to get the job done - no matter what. Yeah, these guys are definitely cut from a very special cloth.
We left the next day for home, tired but satisfied. This tour was extremely grueling and we were on a
flat run almost all the time but as we all sat in the van on the drive home from the airport we discussed
our experiences and everyone agreed they'd do this again. In fact, a lot of the sentences started out with
"Next time we do this we should..." So I guess we will be "lifers" for the military. Why not? It's the least we can do to express our gratitude to these people who risk their lives so that we might be able to live ours the way we choose.
God speed and good fortune to the noble men and women of the United States Armed Forces. I will gladly play my blues for you until everyone comes home.
This is Rusty Wright signing off for Bluzapalooza IV and Armed Forces Entertainment.
Peace.
