well, we blew the daily budget last night but totally worth it. that may have cost us another day on the road but we don't care. gogol bordello at "live arena" on the outskirts of vienna, in the rain after three other bands, still made us dance and smile. what a great show. several times, with people all around us jumping up and down in the mud, draped in free ponchos handed out by the venue, rain pouring down, and a revolution fomenting on stage we looked at each other in wonder and said "oh my god, we're in vienna."
this is the other end of the spectrum from the stately museums, the grand boulevards and the dudes in the altstadt dressed as mozart trying to sell you tickets to some schmaltzy viennese classical concert. these were people intent on having a great time, regardless of weather. it's a former slaughterhouse taken over by activists years ago and now presents some of the coolest music around. great vibe. happy place to blow a budget.
it felt like joyful musical dementia, on stage and off!
ReplyDeletethe band before them was really fun too -- a rock/ska band from uruguay called la vela puerca (http://www.velapuerca.com/).
That rocks! We went to a cool jazz club in Vienna - down in the basement, like the village vanguard. We couldn't understand what the guys said between tunes, but totally got the vibe anyway. I think the next day we were in the stadt park listening to Strauss waltzes. I'm so glad you are posting this so we get to armchair travel with you!!
ReplyDeletehi nan!
ReplyDeleteman, we wish you guys were here with us. beautiful weather today, too. off for a picnic at schonnbrun palace now. :)
I am super happy you went to this venue. This is where we saw Narada and Jeff Beck in June. Just the coolest venue and the greatest people. Feels great to know that we share this experience.
ReplyDeleteHave fun and fear not. You are on a fantastic adventure.
Hugs, Mariana
Yeah! Love seeing that someone else is blowing their budget. Great to meet fellow San Franciscans.
ReplyDeletemariana, yeah great tip from you. fantastic venue and a refreshing crowd to be around. thanks again.
ReplyDeletelisa!
ReplyDeleteyep. if we were to have any budget advice for travelers it would be "get out of europe." the problem is, europe is just so damned cool. budapest on saturday just in time for a national holiday and some needed soaking in the baths.
La Vela Puerca? My Spanish is not very good, but I believe that means 'pork candle'? Oh dear. Sounds like a great night.
ReplyDeletejayne, i have no idea where their name comes from but their logo is the snout of a pig smoking a joint . .
ReplyDelete