"My own experiences on the Festival as organizer as well as performer (as "Tan Le Racoon") are all positive. Everything ran smooth, the audience was awesome, the music was great. Honestly, we were pretty flattered by the excitement on the side of media, guests and musicians. Of course, having to keep everything running all day I did not have the time I wish I did to talk with each and everyone, but overall I did meet great people on the day, as a part of the performers we only knew by email. We did have good coverage, and I guess only two other happenings (another festival and a big gig) kept even more people from coming.
"The audience was just great, most stayed all day, and did not -as expected- come and go for the various artists. They were curious to hear some new artists next to the ones they already knew. Also the mixture of music was enhancing this. Woody Guthrie's ghost might have been with us, as him being our patron influenced so many leftfield songwriters, and also "created" the political folk song. One preview called him the first punk-poet. Who am I to disagree…
"Tymon's gig was awesome. To some a revelation, to some others already gig of the year (so far). It was strange, as noone really knew what to expect. I had an idea, knowing the music he did throughout the years. But of course, his gig was also advertised with his connections with the Clash and being a member of The Mescaleros. We did some radio play (on our own radio show) with all kind of his different songs; this even made it more interesting what he was doing that night.
"When Tymon and his wife Susan arrived for soundcheck, I met two great, very nice people, obviously interested in what's going on and supporting independent ideas. Susan and I immediately thought we knew each other from the past (I used to live in London in the mid to late 80s) but just couldn't figure it out. They were very helpful in making me feel at ease with their easy going in these crucial hours before doors open (yes, we were nervous at this first festival).
"Tymon's show was set for 10pm and as we did not meet any delays at all during the day he went on stage in time. Throughout his set he changed between violin, guitar and also introduced his very own tetraharp. I don't want exaggerate but his set was "flaming", can you call it this? It was ripping; he was wild, funny, full of wit and with his energy blasting people away. The audience was taking this in as if they needed to make up for something they missed out for the last 20 years or so. Somehow everyone in the room knew something special was happening. You can say this is because Tymon was "there" witnessed the rock madness of the 70s, saw the Pistols at their first gig, etc, he done it all, and he does not have to prove anything anymore. But he was beyond any borders of rock n roll. And I guess that's what everyone liked about the set.
"Inbetween his show, I made a remark that I would love to hear Legal Thief, a track that is definitely my fave out his catalogue, and Tymon did not hesitate, remembered the chords (the track being written and recorded on piano) and played a great version of this on guitar. For the very first time, as he confessed later. He never played that song live before, and as it worked and it is also one of his favorites he will also consider to keep it in his live set. After this, he quickly changed back to violin and ripped straight into the "riff" (strange to use this word for violin) of "Lose This Skin", probably his most well known track. This was when everyone in the room had goosebumps. He finished his encores with the great "Time For Moving On", a very touching ending for his set and also for the whole evening. I had some tears in my eyes, sentimental me."
Susan de Muth - July 14th, 2008:
"The two gigs in Germany went well - particularly the 'Woody Bash' in Hamburg where the level of musicianship of everyone on the bill was really high despite (or perhaps because of) it being a small venue. The co-owner of Hasenschaukel, Tan, is quite visionary and pretty well connected and congratulations are due to him for putting such an ambitious project together with such success. The event went on from 5pm until the early hours.
"Tymon went on last after Amy Rude who is from Tuscan Arizona and a very gutsy and interesting singer-songwriter who plays great guitar.
"Also a finely tuned young Swedish band called the Unreachables played and a lovely young singer songwriter who goes out under the name of BooHoo whose stuff is a bit like a German version of Jeffrey Lewis. The audience were truly appreciative of all the music and seemed transfixed by Tymon's performance of around 50 minutes.
The tetraharp was the subject of much fascination, among audience and musicians alike.
"DJ Baby Doll (who looks just like the name suggests) then played some great music until the place reluctantly closed. Hasenschaukel (which means 'rabbit swing') is a really quirky venue and anyone going to Hamburg should check it out. It's in the red light district of San Pauli but couldn't be further removed from its sleazy location, decorated like a sort of DaDa dream in pink, green and gold. Also, fantastic food and hand-crocheted merchandise.
"Sunday we were kicked out of our hotel at a very cruel hour but were lucky enough to find a bar which has its own fake beach strewn with comfortable mattresses called Strond San Pauli overlooking the busy port of Hamburg. Again, highly recommended."
Boo Hoo - July 14th, 2008:
"I think Tymon Dogg should be known by so much more people. I haven't known him before his Hamburg concert but now I'm a fan."
THE SET-LIST:
Beyond This Frontier, Indestructible, Oil, Guantanamo, The Wheel Of Life and Death, Pick Up The Pieces/ Ain’t Got No Home, We Dragged Ourselves, Cold Wind Blows, Legal Thief, Lose This Skin, (Unknown), Zugabe, (Unknown), and Time For Moving On.
JULY 12TH, 2008 - WOODY BASH FESTIVAL - HASENSCHAUKEL, HAMBURG, GERMANY
JULY 11TH, 2008 - WILD AT HEART, BERLIN, GERMANY
