Brussels Blues & Damp Socks: A Drummer's Dispatch
okay, so brussels. i didn’t plan on being here, not really. touring with 'Static Bloom' is…well, it’s a thing. last minute fill-in for their drummer, a guy who apparently mistook a cymbal for a plate of nachos. my loss, i guess. anyway, i’m here. and it’s…grey. really, really grey.
i just checked and it's drizzling a persistent, melancholic sort of rain. the kind that soaks through your shoes and makes you question all your life choices. feels like 5.54°c, which is basically arctic for someone used to california sunshine. i’m huddled in a cafe, nursing a ridiculously overpriced coffee (more on that later - i’m a coffee snob, sue me), trying to avoid looking like a drowned rat.
this place, 'Le Chat Noir,' is decent. the wifi’s spotty, but the pastries look promising. i overheard someone - probably drunk, judging by the slurring - saying they make a mean tarte au sucre. i’ll investigate later. right now, i’m trying to process the sheer…Belgian-ness of it all.
gear-wise, i managed to cram everything into my ridiculously oversized backpack. it’s a miracle i haven’t thrown my back out.
*drummer essentials:
My trusty sticks (obviously)
Earplugs - seriously, save your hearing.
A portable metronome - gotta stay sharp.
A small towel - for wiping down the kit (or, you know, drying damp socks).
Noise-canceling headphones - for when you just need to escape the world.
if you get bored, lille and ghent are just a short train ride away. i’m thinking of checking out lille tomorrow, see if the vibe is different.
“Don’t eat the mussels from that place near the Bourse. Trust me.”
that’s what a guy with a handlebar mustache told me at the bar last night. he seemed pretty adamant about it. i’m always skeptical of unsolicited advice, but…it’s worth noting. i’ll stick to the tarte au sucre for now.
TripAdvisor says there are a ton of good restaurants around here, but honestly, i’m too tired to do any serious research. i just want something warm and comforting.
Yelp suggests a few decent coffee shops, but i’m already committed to this one, despite the price. it’s got character, at least.
The official Brussels tourism site has some interesting info about the city’s history. apparently, it’s been a major player for centuries. who knew?
Visit Brussels has a lot of information about things to do.
seriously though, the humidity is insane. my drumsticks feel like they’re gonna sprout moss. i’m pretty sure i saw a snail wearing a tiny raincoat.
“The Manneken Pis is smaller than you think. Don’t get your hopes up.”
that was overheard from a group of teenagers. accurate, i guess.
okay, gotta run. soundcheck in an hour. wish me luck - and send dry socks.
ps: the pressure is 1019, humidity is 83%, and the ground level pressure is 1016. apparently, that means something to someone. i’m just trying to keep my head above water (literally).
pps: i’m starting to think that handlebar mustache guy was right about those mussels…
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