Waking up at camp Fuji the next day to rain was a surprise... It spoiled our chances for a photo op of Mt. Fuji, but what can you do... I basically rested in my room and prepared for te evening show... As the evening approached and we got underway, we found ourselves singing to a light crowd... It turns out, most of the camp was out in the field and in the rain at night in training! Bummer for them, but still cool for the few that got to see the show... We met a guy from Fresno and Anaheim and East L.A. All Latino brothers in arms! Our Fresno Marine was yelling for some Santana and I assured him that we'd get to that soon enough since our entire 2nd set is a tribute to Santana - It's safe to say he was one satisfied Marine. After the show, we all chatted and took pictures with some of the troops... all was well at Camp Fuji and we all fell asleep thast night to the sound of yet more rain...
Day 28 - Camp Zama
Zama was very cool! Got some great video of the show too! Unlike our past shows, Zama had many Japanese friends on base from the local area and we had a packed dance floor... Before our show even began, I was asked to treach some of them how to dance Salsa... I got some of that on video too!!! "Latin Lady" was a hit and our crowd stayed loyal to the end!!! I had a chance to was clothes too, since I'm a late bird and got that all done and even had time to take in a movie... Have you ever seen "Brokedown Palace"? Its pretty good! the billeting here is very nice - like most of the places we've stayed, but they had free dvd and video rentals!!! Anyhow, gotta run! its 11:19 a.m. and we checkout at noon for U.S. Navy Base Atsugi! I'm hoping to have my friend Shin Miyata and friends signed onto the base tonight to catch the show... He's from Tokyo and runs the Lowrider Zine/Japan and is President and A&R of his own label BC Records! If he makes it out - I might go back I into Tokyo with him to meet my friend Kanako too for Salsa dancing and then meet up with guys at Haneda Airport the next day for our flight to Okinawa for our last two shows... I'm not sure If I'll have internet access at out last to stops - so this might be my last entry for now... If so - Peace and Love - gregory esparza 10/14/04
Day 29 - Navy Base - Atsugi
Friends we made from our show at camp Zama also made it out for our show at Atsugi - So I guess its safe to say that they really enjoyed our show! Validation like that feels good you know! We had a bit of a sound problem going into our second set, but when its a live show - the show must go on as they say! We survived our glitch and made it through unharmed... though this show didn't top our other best efforts, we still managed to get many thanks and comliments from the crowd... we even signed a few autographs after the show and took some time out for some photo ops... The one true bummer for the evening was the fact that I couldn't get my friends from Tokyo onto the base to catch the show... it wasn't a disaster - I mean they didn't drive out and then not have access to the base... Its just that we didn't get to sit down and chat and say hi in person and being maybe just 30 miles outside of Tokyo... This all just means one thing! I'm gonna have to come back! Hopefully it will be for touring with my own music project! Dream big!!!
Day 30 - Tokyo Int'l Airport to Okinawa
Well we landed safe and sound in Okinawa's Haneda Airport and already had dinner... Our accommodations are very nice and we're staying at Camp Foster Marine Base. I was surprised that Okinawa was so far away from the mainland of Japan! Our flight was 2 hours long, but it was smooth sailing with the exception of one spot that gave us a bit of turbulence... The weather here year round is subtropical and averages 72 degrees... We're expected to do 2 more shows out here before we head back home... It should be a lot of fun and a breeze too! All month long our show has consisted of two 45 minute sets with our 2nd set being a tribute to Santana. In concert mode we're only going to perform our original songs naturally - So it will feel like half a nights work now!!! One of the best surprises along the tour for me personally was to see how my voice would hold up with the demanding schedule we've kept and I'm happy to report back to you that my voice has gotten stronger!!! Thank you God! Well, I'm just about out of here to organize and rest up for tomorrow... G'nite all - gregorio
Days 31 & 32 Okinawa shows and then homebound Day 33
Our first show last night was great! Though in my opinion it didn't top our best efforts from the tour it still panned out a great response from the crowd... The stage was outdoor and with a light show and sound crew running things in truelly professional precision... I had the chance to video tape it too - so it will cool to see, however when the bright lights are on us we disappear!!! My recorder was set up centered, but at the sound booth. As for Day 32 and our 2nd show - It might be cancelled! A typhoon is expected later in the week to come through and the winds have picked up considerably! The promoter informed us that the wind is knocking things down all over the stage so we're either going to be cancelled or the show will move to and indoor venue... that would be a nightmare for the sound crew since aside from us there are 3 other bands on the bill as we are also slated to close the night with our show! Well, I gotta get out of my room now and go adventure into the city or Camp Foster!!! Take care - gregorio p.s. i might stay in Japan for a few extra days to visit Tokyo!!! Shhhhhhhh!!! (NOTE: Once I do get home - I will post pix from the million I've taken to match all the comments I've posted.)*************************************************************LAST SHOW CANCELLED DUE TO HIGH WIND SPEED********************** pretty anticlimatic, but what can you do... The rest of the guys and myself are going to enjoy our night off and go into town or the base tonight! See you all soon!!!! gregorio HOLD THE PRESSES!!! Okay - the ever changing wheel of information... looks like the music gods that be have arranged for us to go onstage tonight at The Globe, a club in Camp Foster where we'll share the stage with SR- and Plunge... Should be cool... hoping to also get up and do a couple of my original songs from my "Reinventing Myself" project with Javier... We'll see! Goodbye and Goodnight! greg e. esparza - signing off.
|
|
