Hermann Lammers Meyer
Kiwi Country Tour 2010,
New Zealand , Kia Ora
Hermann’s Kiwi Country Tour Diary (January 2010)
WEDNESDAY 6th January 2010—START DAY
With my trusty guitar, 2 very full suitcases including the most essential RED “Nashville Show Suit” from 1963, plus a hat box with 2 well-worn cowboy hats inside AND my laptop to keep in touch with the world, I hopped the train to Duesseldorf. With all this and my thoughts about what would be, I started my trip to far away New Zealand, to fly out of the cold and snow--first stop for Emirate Airline naturally home city Dubai. From start to end would be 26 hours flying --- puhhhhhh—can I stand this? The trips to Nashville only took 12 hours-- and that was long enough. But there was no other way, I had to get through it….”Hey—I am tough --- I can make it!!”
THURSDAY 7th January --- STILL IN THE AIR!
High over the clouds, with plenty of time to spare, the first worried thoughts were going through my head ---- would the people like my music and my show and me —so far away from home---. Twenty one days on the road is a long time. And so far away on an island in the middle of the Pacific—it’s hard to run away if it doesn’t work out. But my tour organizers and hosts have been playing my CD’s on their TLC Radio (a chain of country radio stations in New Zealand), to prepare their listeners for “Herman the German” and his brand of country music. With this thought I start to feel better—it’s gonna be all right—I know it.
Still in the air with only 3 hours to go to Auckland (survived 23 hours already-unbelievable!) and I see Melbourne spread out down below. Flying is a strain, especially so long a flight, but the lovely cabin service ladies with their cute little red caps and small veils-- oh just the vision lightened the burden of flying and the weight of the time. And also the super service as well—it was wonderful. Do I get more “Miles & More” because I say so many positive things about the airline??? Maybe they will sponsor my next trip!! I can dream.
FRIDAY 8th January --- FINALLY LANDED IN AUCKLAND!
At 2 pm Auckland time we finally land. All during the flight I kept thinking—it must be over soon—and then looked on the flight map and saw how many hours were still to go—Oh jeh--- At the end I am suffering a lot from the long sitting and sooo tired. It wouldn't have been possible to put on my cowboy boots at the end of the flight.
But here I am finally, and the sun is shining and the sky is blue and as I walk out of the plane the air is warm! It was worth it—it is wonderful here! All thoughts of ice and snow back home disappear. And there is Robert Dew waiting for me – after I finally get through the pass control and collect my bags. He greets me with “Kia Ora” the Maori welcome. Robert has organized my tour and is going to accompany me around North Island for the next 3 weeks. He is the owner of the Country Music Radio Chain TLC with 7 stations distributed over the whole of New Zealand. And he also runs a runs a tourist guide business in Auckland. So if you country music lovers want to go to New Zealand, and really see and learn something in a nice relaxed way, he is the man for you (www.freewheelingnz.com) -- a great guy who knows what he is talking about!
SATURDAY 9th January --- ALREADY ON THE GO WITH A SHOW!
After only one night sleeping off the trip, Robert drove me to Tauranga, for my first show of the tour at the Country Music Festival in the Baptist Church Center. The weather was perfect—blue sky, no clouds, 26°C. The drive took a few hours so I got to see something of the surroundings for the first time. For example the wonderful Waihi Beach on the Pacific Ocean—but Robert only allowed me 7 minutes to wonder at the magnificent scenery and to take my first “very short” sun bath. At least that was something—but time was tight—we had to get there in time for the show.
When we got there we saw that about 250 guests were assembled —a great turn out—especially for my first show. Most of the people, I found out, were members of country music clubs and lovers of old style country music—right up my alley! They were so welcoming that I felt right at home. One of the guests told me that he had migrated to New Zealand 45 years ago from Hamburg. And his wish was to hear a Freddy song—So, I was pleased to sing for him “Junge, komm’ bald wieder” (son, some back home soon). He was really happy to hear this song after so many years.
Surprisingly, the rest of the audience also liked this diversion in the program even though they had never heard anything like it before. This was naturally a wonderful start for me also. After I finished my part, there were also 4 local country bands and other artists performing. I watched this part with a lot of interest to see what kind of country music the New Zealanders were performing and liking.
SUNDAY 10th January --- A Visit To A Sheep Farm And The Film Set For Lord Of The Rings
On Sunday I visited the Alexander family sheep farm. Here there is a restaurant and a sheep station. Three times a day there are “shows” where they demonstrate sheep shearing. I also had the enjoyment and responsibility to feed a lamb with the bottle--. In addition the Alexander family farm consists of an enormous area of land in a remote mountainous/ hilly region, where part of the “Lord of the Rings” was filmed— the Hobbiton Movie Set. This I also got to visit and it was fascinating.
Robert, my tour manager, is the owner of the company, which arranges such exclusive sightseeing tours, 3 to 4 times a day, from Auckland to Matamata where the Hobbiton Movie Set is located. The director of the “Lord of the Rings” film and New Line cinema had discovered this unbelievable region from the air, as the preparation for filming the “Lord of the Rings” was already underway and rented it from the Alexander family as the setting for the filming.
And there we were—on the film set from “Lord of the Rings”. Fans from around the world come to be shown the set by Robert’s tour guides. Some even come in Hobbit costumes! Robert and I bumped into one of these tour groups, and could let ourselves be abducted into the world of the Hobbits, Crazy. In the coming year there will be 2 new films shot here that have to do with the ancient times of the Hobbits . So fans, be happy!
Then , suddenly I heard something strange “Hey, what was that?” I looked around me, searching for a child with a “Gameboy” or something similar. Aha! All around us there were impressive and at the same time shocking, unknown noises from the trees. A question to the Tour guide clarified what this was. It was a bird, known as “Magpie” (belongs to the Raven family), that sometimes makes noises like a videogame. I have included a photo and a sound bite below so you can experience this too.
http://www.hobbitontours.com/
http://www.australien-ozeanien.de/audio/magpie_australia.mp3 with a soundbite
MONDAY 11th January —FINALLY A QUIET DAY
Today in the Kiwi Hotel on Queen Street, Aucklands tourist mile, I had my first chance for a quiet day, to sleep late and to gather my thoughts for the coming days. Later I took an old but still fully functional Diesel train from Britomart Travel Center to Westfield to visit Robert and his family. This train was brought used, from Australia, to be used in the Auckland region. Is this recycling the New Zealand way? On this afternoon I spent the, in New Zealand, beloved family “Happy Hour” with Robert’s father, mother and family. It was time for a “sweet” and enjoyable Guinness and a relaxing time.
TUESDAY 12th January --- THE FIRST SHOW IN AUCKLAND
On the next day, my solo show in Britomart Travel Center was scheduled from 11am to 4pm. This is a big combined transport center where trains, buses, ships, and donkeys all put down and load up passengers. There I was, alone, singing and playing on an open stage in the center hall where tourists from all around the world and New Zealanders stopped to listen or sat in the cafes. The passersby came either on the train from somewhere else in New Zealand or some from ships, for example a pair from Leipzig who had come in a big Cruise Ship moored at a nearby wharf. That ship was by the way (how can it be otherwise)—built on the Meyer Werft ship yard in Papenberg. Well—the world is small!
After this show, again I could relax again in Kiwi Hotel—I needed it after this long day. There was nothing interesting on TV, I was told because it was summertime. So, since I had only 1 bottle of wine (would have needed more to watch the bad TV), I watched a classic Burt Reynolds thriller on my laptop.
WEDNESDAY 13th January --- A VISIT TO ROTORUA
On Wednesday I didn’t have a show, instead there was a culture trip planned. First was sightseeing in Rotorua, the Tepuia Nature Park www.tepuia.com . One of the special attractions of this park are the volcanic formations, like for example the geyser and the hot water and mud pools. When the geyser blows you have to watch out that you don’t stand too close—what a thing. The smell of sulphur from this all permeates throughout the city, also in our first class hotel—it was an experience.
There were also old settlements from the Maoris to inspect, through this also to admire the lifestyle of the Maori, and how well they had lived with the nature. Also there was a Kiwi Birdhouse to astound.
Legend for Kiwi Picture
The national symbol of New Zealand is a flightless night bird with nostrils at the end of the long beak. This bird is endangered and it is difficult to see them in the wild. They are, however, a number of Kiwi houses in zoos and wild animal parks where they can be seen. Even though they look cute, Kiwi`s can be wild and territorial in their behavior.
In the evening there was more Maori culture to experience. There was a show in the forest with a river trip, Maori dances, and fights. The traditional stories were told, how the Maoris had discovered this region in 12 century. They came in “travel” canoes-- from other earlier settled Polynesian regions and ruled over New Zealand until 17 century when English and other sea explorers, for example the famous Captain Cook and those that came after, took over this new land and its people with bloody violence.
Ann Pascoe / www.annpascoe.com
THURSDAY 14th January --- The Trip To New Plymouth And First Appearance In Festival Of Lights
New Plymouth here we come; To get there it took a long trip through a grand mountain landscape, from Auckland towards the south along the coast. One particularly fantastic scene is worth mentioning. On the way to New Plymouth was a distant view of the legendary Mt. Taranaki, after which this part of New Zealand is named.
Also here I found something culturally exciting. On the way there was the chance to taste something which exactly fit my taste. This happened in the Whitecliffs Organic Brewers. The manager had come from Münsterland, and her husband was from Esterwegen—not far from Aschendorf/Ems. On a trip to New Zealand, they had fallen in love with the landscape and decided that this is where they wanted to stay for the rest of their lives, and together to brew beer like the best back in Germany. What a pleasure, what a life!
In the evening I was the guest-star in the Ann Pascoe Show at the Festival of Lights in New Plymouth. Ann Pascoe played with her Band “Old Dogs”. It was a superb performance. I stayed overnight in a hotel in Stratford, where the Christmas decoration still hung in the city; Sort of post-Christmas in high summer. That had something --- and that combined with a wonderful Carillon Tower that fascinated and attracted many tourists, it was fine.
FRIDAY 15th January --- Day At Ann Pascoes Farm And First Evening Of Marton Festival
On this day I had a cozy meeting with Ann Pascoe and Allan Webster and his wife Maureen on Ann’s farm. Allan is from Australia, and was the other guest-star for the Marton Festival. In the afternoon we traveled together to the highlight of the Tour—the Marton Festival. On this evening the festival started with a talent show- but I also did a little performance to warm things up.
SATURDAY-SUNDAY 16th-17th January --- 2nd AND 3rd DAYS OF MARTON FESTIVAL
In total it was planned that I perform 3 times during the festival www.martonfestival.com . As it happened--it turned out to be much more, it was clear. There were also talent shows with artists from different country music clubs and many performances from artists like Joy Adams, Bruce Greaves, Ann Pascoe, Roger Tibbs, Kylie Austin, Allan Webster, Dusty Spittle, Trevor V. Stevens and many more. Also, not to forget were the “Ranch Girls”, a Teenie western music trio that naturally could pull all sympathies to them, and clearly also mine.
An unusual aspect of this festival was that they had 3 bands that provided backup music for the artists. There were no shows with recorded background music. On Saturday I was outstandingly supported by Ann’s “OLD DOGS” group with pedal-steeler Joe Martin. On Sunday the band “SHOTGUN” played with me. Thanks to Derek and his wife for learning part of my repertoire in the months before the festival. You were great! On Saturday this festival made me think of Germany, because of the weather, cloudy and drizzle rain. The audience had to protect themselves under plastic garbage bags so they could hear the varied and enjoyable music program, but they still had fun.
But also in New Zealand not everything goes perfectly all the time. In early evening on Saturday, there was a small incident: After a singer sang the lines of the Charlie Rich song “Behind Closed Doors”—“--- when I turn out the lights----“ as if right on cue—there was a 35 minute tone and light failure. Amazing!
It turned out that the generator which was producing the electricity had run out of Diesel. So somebody had to get some more. In the time that this took, (about 35 minutes) Hermann stepped in and together with other artists presented an unplugged emergency program. The fans just loved this, and the organizers were very relieved. After all we are professionals! Afterwards there were no more problems and the artists could perform again with their backing bands with electricity!
In the evening of Saturday, there was naturally a big after-show party in the Club Hotel in Downtown Marton. The building style in Marton reminds one of a John Wayne western, so as a setting for a country music festival party it was just right. Nearly all the artists were there and we all had a great time. My Takamine Guitar was really rocking. There were Cowboy Songs, “Liebe Mama” sung in German, yodeling from Roger Tibbs, Going back to Liverpool songs from Allan Webster with memories of the Mersey-Beatbands in England in the 60’s. It was a fantastic, “wet” and happy ringing out of a successful 2nd festival day, and since everybody was playing on my guitar and wore out the strings, they collected for a new set of strings for me … ( big grin !!!. )
On Sunday, the last day of the Marton festival, by then around 250 camper vans on site from all over New Zealand . I fronted the Grand Finale of the festival with the other artists, and then it was over! But of course, most important, there was another after-show party to close the festival with musicians and their friends and families. This time it was in the local pub. There the music naturally continued into the night; with me, Kylie Austin, and The Ranch Girls. And just by the way I got to exchange a traditional “Hongi” (Maori nose kiss) with the Maori mother of one of the “Ranch Girls”. But to make this possible, I had to take off my cowboy hat. I give a very big and hearty thanks on the Festival Organizer Anne George. She is the one who runs the TLC radio Station in Marton. She had made this a spectacular festival for the “Pure” country fan. In these days this is a rare thing, and I am much honored that I was invited to take part.
Kylie Austin, HLM, Joy Adams, Allan Webster , Roger Tibbs, backstage at the Marton Festival
MONDAY, 18th January--- BACK TO NEW PLYMOUTH TO THE FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
For the Festival of Lights, impressive light effects had been set up in different places around the park and it made a magical atmosphere. In the evening from 8 to 9:30 pm I presented my show in Pukikura Park. Trevor V. Stevens, who has a voice similar to Garth Brooks, appeared before me in the opening show, and Ann Pascoe, New Zealand’s First Lady of Country Music, was a guest in my show. There were around 450 people in the audience enjoying the wonderful program and the warm summer night.
TUESDAY, 19th January--- AN ALMOST FREE DAY
For today, culture and sight-seeing were in the first place on the plan, specifically the Waitomo Cave. This is like a Cathedral under the earth decorated and lighted with Glow worms instead of candles. We traveled through this cave by boat amazed at the wonders of nature that were revealed to us while we floated up the underground river. In the evening there was comfortable get together at Robert’s place with Guinness at hand of course. While I was there I did a little work in the form of a radio interview by telephone from Australia with Rosalee Powers and Eugene.
WEDNESDAY, 20th January—PLAYING FOR THE DOOR IN HARBOURSIDE HOTEL
On this evening I had a gig in Harbourside Hotel and Pub in Raglan, a town over on the west coast. Here, listening to the music was an international mix of guests, 2 ladies from Munich, many English and Australian people but NO New Zealanders.
THURSDAY, 21 January--- BACK ON THE EAST COAST IN HAWKE’S BAY, THE NEXT SHOW WAS IN THE HIBERIAN CLUB IN HASTINGS
From Raglan, we drove through the mountains back over to the south east coast and Hawke’s Bay. This was about a 7 hour long cross country drive. The whole time on the car radio we played “Solid Goldfm.co.nz” a very likeable Oldies radio station. We saw many wineries and the surrounding vineyards on the way to the Hiberian Club in Hastings. This gig was arranged by Dave Jones, the manager of the club and promoted by Bob Dyer (TLC Radio, Napier). There I met friends from Aschendorf, Thea and Helmut Muckli. They both were in New Zealand on tour and didn’t want to miss the show from their “neighbor boy”. For this, they made a 6 hour trip.
It was a great show combination, Hermann again with Ann Pascoe. This evening Ann presented a song from her CD “The Land of the Long White Cloud”. In this song she tells about the arrival of the Maoris in New Zealand. The Maoris had from the distance, long white clouds over the land but which were really snow covered mountains peaks, something that they had never seen before.
FRIDAY, 22 January--- DRIVING BACK TO AUCKLAN
In the hotel in Hastings we first had a meeting over coffee with the organizer of the gigs in Napier/Hastings, Bob Dyer. The return trip to Auckland included an excellent lunch at the famous Lake Taupo. That was really fine.
SATURDAY, 23 January--- THE VICTORIA PARK MARKET RE-UNION SHOW IN AUCKLAND AND NORTH TO SAIL ROCK CAFÉ
On this day there were 2 shows on the plan. The midday show was in Victoria Park Market in Auckland, with a chance Reunion Show where many of the artists who were also in the Marton Festival came to see us, and ended up taking part in my show as special guests: Ann Pascoe, Allen Webster, Kylie A., and Trevor V. Stevens. There was a super atmosphere this day and it was clear that the personal and musical chemistry was 100%.
In the evening, Ann and I had about 2 hours drive towards the North, on the coast. Also traveling with us were Ann Pascoe’s friends Frank and Jocelyn. I had gotten to know them over the many miles that they had accompanied us (oh, that’s not true anymore. For quite a while New Zealand also measures distance in kilometers.) The destination was the “Sail Rock Café” at Mangawhai Heads. Here we had a duo show with me and Ann Pascoe. The guests were captivated by our varied music program and also crazy about dancing.
Later, we got another guitar out and we went to the beach for a jam session and singing under the starry night sky until midnight. And later it was still party time in the motel with fans and friends. A thousand thanks to Margaret, who is the manager of the café, for food, fun, and drinks.
SUNDAY, 24 January--- FURTHER NORTH ON THE WEST COAST TO FUNKY FISH ON BAILEY BEACH
Still with the same group, and as ever Robert driving us, we met the DJ’s and managers of the “Funky Fish”, Sonny and Caroll Franklin from TLC Radio, Dargaville. Also there was Phil Godfrey, a DJ from another popular radiostation in Dargaville. We had a wonderful exiting afternoon music show in the " Fish`s " Music Garden ..with great guest musicians, a fine female bassplayer and a veteran steel play, let me think about their names.... man ...
The whole crew stayed overnight at his sheep station. While there I had the chance tofire-up my laptop and called up the news from the rest of the world. Most important was to contact the family and find out how they were. How was it going with snow and cold? Who was shoveling the snow? And how was it going with my new radio-single in international airplay?
There I got good news, “Alley of Shame”, my own song from my CD “1961 A Love Song” was #1 on the European Country Charts and my duet with David Pool “What are you in here for” was #1 in the German Country Charts. To celebrate this we opened a bottle! Early the next morning we got a tour of the hosts sheep and Events Hall. And showed interest in me coming back to appear in a show in the near future. Well Hermann giving a show in a sheep shed—that would be something. I accepted immediately, and a promise is a promise.
Robert Dew ( Background), Kylie Austin,Hermann The German, Ann Pascoe in Auckland
MONDAY, 25 January--- A FREE DAY LOOKING AT THE BIG TREES
Today was a day for nature! We went sightseeing through the National Parks. First was Trounson Kauri Park, a kind of primeval forest with giant trees called Kauri. Some are already around 2000 years old, and even though the trees are so gigantic, we were asked not to touch them because the root diameter is very small.. After this we went to Northland Park, Hokianga Harbour, and other sights worth seeing were raced
over. Then over Kaitaira, onto the highway 1 over Whangarei and then return to Auckland—we the kilometer burners!
TUESDAY, 26 January--- CUTTING SOME SONGS WITH ANN
This whole day was spent doing studio recordings with Ann Pascoe in Manuka Studio in Auckland, with Mike McCarthy at the controls. This is a respected studio, where the famous John Rowles (“If I only Had Time” ) had recorded. Ann and I recorded 3 duet songs on this day. Her new version of the Carter family song “Foggy Mountain Top” has beenreleased worldwide by now by the Canadian label Hillcrest; something to be happy about.
After the recording session, all the people who had been involved in the last part of the tour had a delicious dinner together in a small gourmet restaurant, to say thanks and goodby. A highpoint for me was a full-bodied Pinot Noir from the Marlborough region. Mmmghh. This was a fitting end to a super 3 weeks tour with a group of people who have now become new and good friends.
http://www.nz-wine.de/Pinot-Noir-Marlborough.htm www.vineshop24.de
Just before my departure, I also got this message from Allan Webster, the country singer from Australia, which describes his views about our time together.
It's probably best summed up by a piece Allan Webster wrote on meeting Hermann
Over the years as a country music artist I have had the privilege of meeting many other artists, but I can’t remember meeting anyone quite like Hermann. I found him to be an inspirational entertainer with a very interesting background in the field of music. Hermann was liked by all he met in New Zealand and I am sure he has left them with lasting memories, and especially for me, his "after show performances". A hot chocolate will never taste the same again. (In-house joke!) There is no doubt he will be welcomed back to New Zealand, and I only hope that I can meet up with him again one day. (And so say all of us! Ed.)
Allan Webster. (Australia)
www.allanwebster.wordpress.com Thanks Allan!
At the end of my tour, looking back and taking stock, it seemed to me that the people were the most captivated by my song “The Waltz of the Wind”. But, also spontaneously thrown in versions of “Muss i denn zum Städele hinaus” or other German Folk Songs, and also clever sayings, or the hot chocolate or raspberry jam gags, and quickly turned into “insider” jokes. Also some seemingly never ending medleys of well known country songs were always popular. Also the fans bought quite a few CD’s which they wanted autographed, always a good sign. And many people wanted to have a personal talk with me. I met also a lot of people whose ancestors were from Europe and also from Germany. They would like to visit Europe and to explore and find out about it, the distance held them back. Every point of the earth is far away when seen from the perspective of New Zealand.
WEDNESDAY, 27 January--- TIME TO SAY GOODBYE
With uncountable wonderful impressions and also a suntan acquired in seized moments, but also looking forward to seeing the family,friends and fans at home, it was time to say goodbye to New Zealand. At 6:30 pm I boarded the plane to return to the still ice and snow covered Germany. Again the 26 hours lay before me, but I knew this time I could make it. I am a profi--- I can stand it, or at least I try. Is it possible to be homesick before one goes away??? If it is, that is how I felt leaving New Zealand. Thank you Robert Dew and Ann Pascoe for the great times, not to be forgotten.
by Anne Briese, Penny Nayudu (english version) ... and Hermann Lammers Meyer
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