origami republika > archive > surf all
folder: 4.0 LIVE
subfolder: 4.3 STORIES > surf stories

4.3 origami arktika > live stories > next arktika

Poland Tour Report / 2000

Celebrating the Origami Republika Free 10 Year Anniversary

Origami Arktika on tour of Poland - September 2000, with KA and Origami Galaktika/b9 A07 vs. Inderst Elia A93. After months of preparation, we could finally set the course for Poland on Sept. 8th. That is, we drove from Oslo to Trondheim to pick up Boe A22 and play a 7 minute set at the Origami Republika 10 years anniversary show. Unfortunately we had to leave Kai A80 there.

From there we headed straight for Warszawa, just after the show. Check a map for details on the small detour involved. We were graciously received as guests of Polferries, from Nynäshamn to Gdansk. Well on shore and through the smiling customs our undescribably helpful tour manager, Krzysztof A171 was there to take responsibility for the band. At this point this basically meant food. Breakfast at his house. Much needed after a long night at the ferry.

From Gdansk to Warszawa by our rent-a-wreck, artfully driven by driver Andreas A172 who evaded all the suicidal trucks on the two or four lane highway. In Warszawa we teamed up with Origami Galaktika/b9 A07 vs. Inderst Elia A93 who were on the last leg of their tour of Germany and Slovakia. We played at the Centrum Sztuki Wspolczesnej "Zamek Ujazdowski" (Centre for contemporary art). A big, black box of a room. Dangerous backstage with no floor.

KA opened the show, with a short barking piece about trust, dogs and men to the surprise of us and the audience. And possibly themselves. We played the first show of our tour - nervous? I don't remember. Must have been. Thank you to Andrzei and his girlfriend who took us drinking afterwards. Walking the streets of Warszawa, doing odd bits of graffiti and collecting rocks.

In the morning we awoke to find that Krzysztof A171 had found us a beautiful translator! Joanna A176 joined us for the rest of the tour, helping us avoiding police, securing vodka etc. She did a great job at stage decoration, filming, and general friendliness. Little mama. We drove south to the old town of Krakow, where we played at the Klub 38. Strange place. Full of man size fluorescent mushrooms. Huge hall. Good beer. After the show we went downtown to get a drink again, and spent the night with hospitable kind people. Thank you. Krakow is good for walking in night-time.

Our next stop was the Klub Wagon in Wroclaw. Rune A53 and b9 A07 had a shower in the neighbouring whorehouse before the show. Cold water. Hot concert. We played the noise version of our show. We had a great time, and were partly carried into the car where Joanna A176 had arranged some vodka for the long night haul back to Gdansk.

We spent two days making ready for the big concert in Kosciól sw. Jana (St. John's Church). It was a breathtaking experience just to enter the church. It is huge, with dreamlike acoustics and a sacred feel, tinged with some decay as the church is in a state of disrepair. Some 300 persons heard the show. Our sound engineer, Jon Birger A78, excelled on the KA concert. Origami Arktika delivered one of their best concerts ever. Dreamlike and harsh, beautiful and evocative. Boe fullfilled his dream of banging all drums at the same time many times. We played like in trance. And fell into each others arms, behind the 15 meters tall alter that served as centrepiece for the stage, after the show.

The concert was taped, and is now released by Ignis records as "Fantomlust". Origami Galaktika/b9 A07 vs. Inderst Elia A93 did a droning, ethereal concert, and we all went for a drink after recovering. And some dancing. Bjarne A16 delivered his application for a place in origami replika with a forceful attack on Boe A22 in the fountain of the club, resulting in wet clothing, a beautiful black eye and a scar to remember it by. Some of us got lost, eventually refound each other and a liquor sBoe and home base. We went for a swim in one of Poland's many beautiful cold lakes, and I wish I could remember leaving the country.

Thank you Krzysztof A171, thank you Joanna A176. Thank you to everyone we met and who helped us.

- Rune A53

Special thanks:
Krzysztof A171/Undescribable; tour manager
John Birger A78; sound engineer
Andreas A172; driver
Joanna A176; translator/stage decoration