Monday, June 18, 2007

Unser Gestern Abend in Deutschland...

May 26th, 2007
Darmstadt (sort of rhymes with varnished cat), Germany

"Rainout, rainout, RAAAAinout!, Rainout, rainout RAAAAinout!" I chanted in the stifling backstage tent. Ike looked at me and grinned, saying, "I know Dude, if there was EVER a night for a rainout, this is IT." He joined in my chant, "Rainout, rainout, RAAAAinout!, Rainout, rainout, RAAAAinout!" Betse looked over disapprovingly. "I don't WANT a rainout. This is our LAST night in Germany."

I stuck my head outside the tent. The sky was a combination of pissed-off purple and bad-omen black- each of the colors swirling and cavorting into a wall of doom. The air shifted with each gust of wind from a humid Mississippi July, to a crisp Vermont October. The rumbles of thunder added to our chant in the near distance. "It's coming, and it's coming hard, " I said. Ike looked out at the sky from behind me. "Right on, I love it!" We both ducked back in, and uncapped a cold beer in celebration...

30 seconds later, the stage manager stuck his head inside the tent and said, "Wilders, we need you onstage...NOW."

A few menacing raindrops speckled my hat as I begrudgingly lugged my cases to the stage. "No way, I said to myself. No way this is going to happen. It's going to POUR."

Luckily the stage was covered-but barely, and I made sure to put my instrument cases well under the tented part of the stage. The inevitable downpour was minutes away, and I didn't want to waste a moment getting my stuff safely stowed. The sound man came up to me and asked for the details of our sound setup. I said, "Look, the show is obviously going to get rained out any minute, so why don't you just set up one mic. That way, you won't have to pull as much off stage when it comes." He agreed, and began the necessary preparations. My instruments were nearly impossible to tune, due to the constantly changing pressure and humidity. Looking out from the stage, the sky had now darkened into a disfigured grayish-black mass with pulsating, darker formations in the near field-all of it sagging with the weight of the water that would soon be dumping all over us. The crowd of revelers didn't seem to be concerned though, and as I tried to tune my mandolin, I noticed a contingency of the curious moving toward the stage.

Frankly, I was pissed that they were making us start at all. I mean, it just seemed so pointless. But to insure that we would get our paycheck, I went through the motions. Although the storm was imminent, it was taking it's sweet time before washing us out. Once we were as close to as in tune as possible, Betse shrugged her shoulders, and then sawed up a blistering introduction to her rocking fiddle tune, "Old Dirty Boot". Having already played from one end of Germany to the other, Switzerland AND The Netherlands in 25 intense and tiring days, I was sort of surprised at our power as we ripped into it. The crowd looked dazed, and I could see the party contingent at the lip of the stage begin to rock and roll. As we gave it everything we had, I thought to myself, "Well, at least they are getting a little taste before the storm washes them away."

Betse tagged the ending, and our audience went crazy. The cold drops of rain were more frequent now, but more people moved toward the stage- packing in all the open spots until it was about 5-6 people deep all the way around. Other, more prudent audience members stayed back, under the cover of a bratwurst vendor, or the kebab seller's tent, or the covered beer garden in the back. So, in addition to the brave 50 or so in front of us, there was a spotty mix of about 75 more people looking out at us from the distance of their safe spots.

Suddenly, the water started coming. The people in the front pressed together to try to get under the stage roof, but there just wasn't enough room. That's when everything changed. That's when a certain rainout, a definite and much-needed night off, became something very different. That's when Ike said, "Hey y'all come on up HERE with us and get out the rain, come on up, come on UP y'all." In response to Ike's invitation, those at the stage lip pulled themselves up, then turned around and helped others climb up behind them. Suddenly the stage was filled with Germans, and I feared that it might collapse under our combined weight. Ike smiled at what he had done, and began singing, "Bring a drink of water, Leroy. Bring a drink of water..." "Nien!" I grumbled into the mic in a bad German accent (this was apparently funny only to myself and Betse). Ike continued, "If I can get to the mercy man, he'll give me some I know." It was pouring now, and several more people ran from their safe spots to join in. Ike continued, "I got a girl in Vicksburg, Bertha is her name." We were now surrounded by a semi-circular sea of soaking-wet Germans sitting indian-style looking up at us with wide soggy eyes. "I wish I was tied to Bertha, instead of this ball and chain". It was like a giant German story hour hosted by The Wilders. "I'm goin' to Memphis!" Ike sang, and our twisted story hour commenced to the sound of their screams as the rest of the band kicked into gear...

Two hours later I put my sweat and rain-soaked instruments back into their cases. For everyone's safety, the single microphone had long since been put away. Only a few audience members remained. And two fierce-looking security guards still stood their ground at the lip of the stage- their arms folded, their faces scowling. I snapped the final latch on my banjo case and looked out into the wet darkness. There was no sign of the young German girl in the pretty red dress, who had sat in a mix of spilled beer and rain water for the entire show screaming like it was a new kind of Beatlemania. She sat and screamed for both sets, with dancers splashing puddles of beer and rainwater all over her. She never stopped loving it for one minute. It was inspiring.

And there was no sign of the drunken scotsman who had stood at the edge of the stage heckling us until we finally did "Man of Constant Sorrow" to shut him up. This was the scotsman who later, begged to Ike, "Now, I want to sing, " Ike's response was. "Go ahead!" Sheepishly, the scot whined, "But I need a microphone." Ike, knowing full well the mic was long gone, had had enough, "Dude, are you BRITISH?" he accused. "Hell, no, I'M A SCOT!" the drunk roared. "Oh," Ike said, "I thought you must be British if you need a mic to sing. If you're Scottish, then you don't NEED a microphone do you?" Ike stood toe-to-toe with him, mentally drawing a southern-Missouri-redneck line across the stage for him to cross. I actually thought we might get our first Wilder/audience fist fight in 10 years. Finally, the drunken scotsman caved, and wheeled around to the crowd-breaking into a slurred lyric that none of us understood. He DID put his heart into it though, and the crowd ate it up in spite of his poor elocution and annoying insobriety.

And there was no sign of the young Turkish man in the muscle tank who had danced with boundless energy to our music for at least an hour. He had danced in every possible position and style, on every possible part of the stage, with every possible person. Once, he had even danced backwards laying OVER my back in a hilarious limbo position as I crouched down to take a low dobro solo. Toward the end of our set, I changed from dobro player to pinball flipper- turning my back to the Turk and bouncing him away whenever he danced too exuberantly toward Betse (who takes a dim view to young Turk impacts to her antique fiddles). The stage was filled with dancers and this melee finally brought the security force into action. As they roughly began pushing people back off the stage, I knew the night would soon be over.

The storm was intense while it lasted, but just like the crowd, it too had moved on. A feeling of equilibrium had settled where, earlier, there had been so much instability. The air had a sweet smell- the kind of smell that suggests that the storm's needs had been satisfied. I certainly felt that way. It wasn't a rainout- no, far from it. It was a rain IN . It was our last night in Germany, and it was absolute mayhem. It was the kind mayhem that is equal parts frightening, weird, amusing and invigorating. We survived them, and they survived us. And we were all richer for the experience.

95 comments:

  1. What fun! Felt like I was there! Thanks, Phil!!!

    Sounds like you Wilders elicit the same sort of response no matter what the nationality of the crowds!

    --Peggy

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  2. WOW!!! That sounded like a great show!
    Now I am anxious to hear the Wilder's play "Man of Constant Sorrow."

    "Thanks" BroPhil we needed that!!

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  3. Betty, you'll have to ask nicely, with a drunken Scottish brogue...

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  4. A well-written and colorful commentary. I could almost smell the whole episode. Thanks.

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  5. D.A., is that you? The SDC D.A.???

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  6. I saw them in Germany and it was a great show. Thank you guys!

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  7. Are you German or American? Tell us more, please!

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  8. I'm German and I saw the Wilders three times in Germany :)

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  9. Hi Phil,

    this is Markus, i saw you in Bühl, in Mainz (!) and in Darmstadt and it was great to meet you. Hope to see you again and a special greeting to Betsy from Walter Fuchs...

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  10. Hey Markus,

    hab die Wilders auch in Darmstadt gesehn, war echt lustig :)

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  11. A Safe and Fun 4TH to all!!

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  12. what's that??

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  13. Looks like "OLD GLORY" to me!!

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  14. ops, sorry. it has taken a long time until I got it *lol*

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  15. Jeez... and I thought I was being so artistic????

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  16. It's artistic at all events...after I understood what it is ;)

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  17. Is our German blogger back with us? Please tell us a bit more about your encounters with The Wilders!

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  18. Yes, I'm here. Well, I don't know what you want to know...but okay...
    I drove about 60 miles to see them in Darmstadt and like Phil wrote...It was pelting down with rain. But I have no regrets that I drove that long way, because I have never seen such a great band like them. The most bands in Germany are bored during playing some music...and that's also boring for the audiences. And you can really sense how the Wilders love teir music...it's fascinating! And by the way...it was really funny to be onstage! I hope that the Wilders are not too shocked much of their last night in Germany and I can't wait to see them again!

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  19. Ps. 60 miles are propositional a lot in Germany!

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  20. You're right, I think The Wilders' enjoyment of their music is what makes them so endearing to fans--plus, they are just wonderful musicians and all-around nice folks.

    Thanks for the review. I have German friends in Berlin and Hamburg, and they said it was too far for them to drive to see The Wilders. Their loss.

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  21. .ɥɐǝʎ sɹǝp1ıʍ


    v

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  22. Thank you for sharing with us, so glad you enjoyed them. It's really nice to hear from others.

    It will be awhile before I get a chance to see them so I'm glad to hear about the shows.

    Take care and be safe all.
    v

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  23. Yes, they are really nice folks... but I got not round to talk with them, because I couldn't stop to gaze...I was so intrigued!
    Well, I think that was a terrible English...sorry! *lol*
    Greetings from Germany ;)

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  24. Too bad you didn't get to chat with them after their performance--they would have really enjoyed that! Thank you for your nice comments, we love to welcome new Wilders fans!

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  25. Hey everybody!
    I understand the last german comment very well, because my english is also not the best. But The Wilders is a big motivation plus for me, to lern better english (not easy but good). The Wilders´ homepage is so great, that it makes fun to look in the dictionary for the words, which I don´t know.
    I saw the Wilders in Landau and Darmstadt. On this two times, it was possible to speak a little bit with Ike. It was so great!!!!
    When Betse, Phil, Nate and Ike play and sing: It´s honest, with a lot of soul and true emotions!!! I love it!!!
    Gernerally I can´t life without music and moving to this. - A special big, big thanks to Ike and naturally to Betse, Nate and Phil and to all the fans from The Wilders - you are a special folk - now I wouldn´t miss you in my life. I have your music - it gives me solace and power for my life. I´m very glad that we see us in the next year!!!
    best regards from germany to you all!!!
    J.

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  26. J, you did a great job of describing The Wilders charisma! Welcome to the ever-growing fan club!

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  27. Hey anonymous x!
    Thanks a lot for your big praise and your welcome-greeting!
    J.

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  28. Welcome to all the German fans! Don't worry, your English is coming through great.

    Ike was so excited and impressed with your country and the fans, he is going to learn German before they come back, he is working on it now! Good luck Ike, I know you can do it.

    Take care and be safe.

    v

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  29. Hey J,
    since I have seen the Wilders I'm also looking in the dictionary for every English word that I don't know :)
    Have you been onstage in Darmstadt? Maybe we know ourselves?!
    Lots of greetings from Germany to the American bloggers :)

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  30. Was one of you the dancing Turk or the drunken Scotsman???

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  31. Hello v!
    Thank you, that you wrote, that we don´t be worry about our English.
    And thank you also, that you give us the information, that Ike is learning German. - Wow! - It means a lot.
    Please tell Ike, everybody know, that German is not easy, but I´m also sure, that he can do it - step by step. AND for me one more motivation to go on my hard way to learn better English (with the music not always hard - smile).
    Thanks a lot for your good wishes.
    Yes, you have right, take care and be safe for you, Ike and all the other endearing people.
    J.
    (now it´s 7.15 p.m. in Germany)

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  32. Hey anonymous!

    Nice to know, that the Wilders is a plus motivation for you too.

    My favorite dictionary is in internet to find under the adress

    http://dict.leo.org

    It cost nothing and it´s really great. - Perhaps also a good adress for Ike?!?

    In Darmstadt I was onstage too. Maybe we have seen us there - funny. I´m not the dancing Turk and not the drunken Scotsman.

    Many greetings to you all
    J.

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  33. I was just wondering the same thing! Hope we all will make the new German bloggers feel welcome! --Peggy

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  34. Me too Peggy, I hope you folks stay with us, would you tell us a little about yourselves and what you like to do? I'm sure we all would enjoy that.

    We are pretty much just a fun loving bunch of folks.
    We get a little goofy at times and try to entertain ourselves while waiting for brophil to post a new update. So you all have been quite a nice and happy surprise for us. We do appreciate it.

    take care and be safe one and all.
    v

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  35. What does the word brophil mean? I didn´t find it in the dictionary.
    J.

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  36. Hey Peggy!I feel welcome!
    Hey V! I would like to stay with you all. It will be not always possible by writing, but always in my minds.
    J.

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  37. V, I have it: brophil = brotherphilwilder
    J.

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  38. Hi everyone,
    I'm not the dancin Turk and also not the drunken Scotsman, but he has spilled his beer over me all the time *lol*
    J, you are surely the girl in the pretty red dress?! :)
    If you want to know more about me, you can find me on myspace: http://www.myspace.com/boogiewoogiecountry_girl.
    I really feel welcome and it means also a lot to me that Ike learns German! I think that http://dict.leo.org is a good address for him.
    Have a nice sunday!
    C.

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  39. there was a error in my last comment, I meant
    http://www.myspace.com/
    boogiewoogiecountry_girl

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  40. Hey C.,
    why do you think that I could be the girl in the pretty red dress?
    J. = Jutta

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  41. Hi Jutta,
    Well... it was just a suggestion, sorry! Have a nice sunday evening.

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  42. Christina, no Problem! I´m not the girl in the pretty red dress. I were jeans.
    Have a nice evening too.
    Jutta

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  43. Christina--I love your website! It was easy to see why you identify with The Wilders, and I enjoyed seeing that they are in your circle of "friends."

    --Peggy

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  44. Hey Peggy,
    I'm so pleased that you love my website...thanks a lot!
    To V: I would like to stay with you here!
    C.

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  45. You do that C, we enjoy you all so much also J and Markus and any other anonymous I'm missing.

    Maybe brophil could give us more info on the girl in the pretty red dress and one of you could figure out who it was. I am rather partial to the dancing Turk.:^}

    Where are the rest of you regular groopers. Did you blow your fingers off or put an eye out with the July 4th fireworks?? Remember I told you all to be careful. :-}

    Take care and be safe everyone of you.
    v

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  46. V, I am right here. The correspondence is fun to read. Just got back from tickfest. Very interesting. Timmer, how you be?

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  47. How about a report on Tickfest? Tickmeister, are you there?

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  48. Tickfest was good. I'll put a bit of a summary on the farm blog in a few days.

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  49. We're waiting with bated breath(s)...

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  50. Tick is being modest, he throws one hell of a shindig. I was wondering if any of the German fans know any of my relatives, my great great grandfather immigrated to the U.S. in 1832. Let me know.

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  51. LVJ, you didn't give the German fans much to go on... like your name, etc. Probably none of them are old enough to have known your ancestors, though...

    Are you still there, German fans? Do you have any more tidbits to offer about The Wilders' performances in Germany?

    --Peggy

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  52. Hey LVJ!
    You are really funny! How it should possible to know any of your relatives? So Peggy is right, in a few words she brought it on the point with your comment: We don´t know your name, etc. --- But I have laughed about your comment and the answer from Peggy - it´s nice.
    Perhaps, when we know more about you, we can have a look in http://wikipedia.org
    Best regards from Jutta
    (10:53 AM in Germany)

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  53. Hey Peggy!
    I could write a lot about my unforgettable impressions of the Wilders - it´s too much! So I can only repeat my first comment in this list.
    Have a good one! Jutta

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  54. You're right, Jutta, there's just so much you can say. But we'd like to know what it was like when Ike had everyone come up on stage--how many people were there? What songs did you like? Could you understand the English words? Thanks for telling us these things. We just can't get enough of those Wilders!

    --Peggy

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  55. Hey Peggy,
    It's also the same with me, I can't get enough of the Wilders! There were about 30 people onstage and anymore outside under the roofs of the stands. They really pelted to the stage when Ike said that they can come up (including me). It was a great party...even tough the drunken Scotsman was peeving *lol*
    I can understand the English words they are singing. Maybe not every word but I can understand it in connection with the sentence. I have bought all three CDs from the Wilders and I love every single song!
    Christina

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  56. All right! Action on the blog!

    Mein letzter Name is wird. Keine Amderungen in der Ubersetzung, der ich von weiB. (?) Mein Vorname der groBen groBen GroBvater was Magnus. Ich kann mehr informationen von den Verwandten ungefahr erhalten, wo er von genau war, wenn Sie wunschen.

    Wow, that made my head hurt. Please respond in English. And watch out for the rest of them, they have really weird senses of humor.

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  57. I represent that!

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  58. Me too..............:-}

    v

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  59. Good Morning altogether! It´s 6:55 PA in Germany but not so in America: So thereabouts, I hope you all have a good sleep!
    LVJ, it´s great, I understand everything what you have wrote!!! German is not easy! The words "großen großen Großvater" - I understand - is in German "Ur-Ur-großvater" - but I understand you very well!!! It´s a present for me, that you have wrote in english!
    Peggy, I will answer your questions today evening (I will have more time). Have a good one! Jutta

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  60. Sorry:
    Ur-Ur-Großvater
    present = gift
    -- Jutta with a smile

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  61. Good morning everybody.
    LVJ, your German is great! But there are not enough informations about your relatives.
    Well, I will be back online tonight...I have to work now.
    Have a nice day!
    Christina

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  62. Brr! I would said: ...present for me,...wrote in German (not English).
    In my head English and German jump jumbled.
    Jutta

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  63. Hey Peggy! When Ike had everyone come up onstage I was wondering, because by no one of our musican, which I have seen before, was so some possible. It was a very good feeling and I enjoyed it. It was interesting how near the wilders attitude to their fans = greatly!
    Respective the songs in Darmstadt - it was so much - now to much to tell you. Ike played so fast and well, that he had sometimes problems with his arm. He, Betse, Nate and Phil gave all.
    I give you examples to the cd "Throw Down" - I like it very much, because that´s from the real life: For every mood, there is an adapted song. At first a good mix between fast songs and blues. "Honky tonk habit" - I understand approximately (appr.) 33 % - about the life from a honky tonk man;it´s great song for my favourite line dance. "Won´t you sometimes think of me" - I love it! I understand in sum appr. 20 words not, so I can sing with (it takes so good for the soul)-and I love the refrain and the solo mandolin and the fiddle part... of course allways the bass!
    And "Together Apart" - a couple together within apart = a story from the real life. Oh Blues. Maybe I understand 40 % (I´m not sure, but more I hear it, more I will understand - I will see). "Drivin´ nails in my coffin" - it´s ghoulish, but right and I like it, the sound it´s funny. "When I get to Heaven"-I understand not every word, but enough that I feel the pain - yes, I like it - and it´s good that after this "When the Levee´s gone" - so the rhytm get me back from the blues. And "January Waltz" - wow - I love it!!!
    It´s only a compendium about the songs - I think you know it!
    But to the end of this big letter: The song from Johnny Cash - "Keep on the sunny side" - which Ike sing too: I understand all the words (only 3 or 5 words not), so I can´t stop sing! I love this song, because it´s right, when you always try to look for the sunny side, you can also live better when bad sides come - where the shadow is, the sun isn´t far away.
    And I must say: Ike sing very clearly so it´s very beautiful to listen to him and easier to understand than to some other singer (so it´s good for my English).
    Uff - many words to you. So I make a stop here.
    Take care of yourself!
    Jutta

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  64. Jutta is right,
    I have never seen a band who made it possible to get so close to them!
    Christina

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  65. Jutta--that was wonderful! Just what I wanted to hear!

    Thanks a lot.

    --Peggy

    (I will be out of town and without access to a computer for about a week, so I'll check back in later...)

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  66. hey, I don't speak or write german, I get it translated and then enter it. German is pretty cool sounding. Way too complicated to get through the head cheese inside my head. Jutta, I think we feel what you feel. The Wilders are taking off on another trip. Hope it's a good one!

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  67. P.S. One of these days I will dig out the information you need and pass it on to you.

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  68. Christina and Jutta, you two are certainly giving new life to this blog ..... I am enjoying you both and your take on the Wilders.

    Seems the Wilders always draw really nice, kind, fun loving happy fans. (maybe a little silly too) as you can see, especially LV. He is a dear though, and we love him!

    Thanks for that great post Jutta..

    be safe everyone of you.

    v

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  69. Hey Peggy! Thanks a lot to you too, because of your feed back. It was very clear, so I can feel that you felt happy through my message. That makes me happy too.
    Hey LVJ! It´s nice, that you concede, not to speak or write german, but at the end, you have wrote it. And you are brave, that you had said and done it. It´s also nice and funny for me, that you think German is pretty cool sounding. Yes, the language - it´s a thing of itself: I like the sound from foreign people so much and also when they speak german. And I´m happy too, that you can follow my feeling. Yes, the Wilders are going forward to the next trip. We think to them, so it will be good (sure better as without thinking).
    Hey V! It makes me also happy, that we bring new life to this blog and that you can enjoy it. And thanks for your compliment!
    About "little silly" I think: A certain amount (=little silly) is good in this tough world - we can laugh - it´s good for the health and the soul.
    Thanks a lot to you all - you showed luck will be more, when we share it.
    Have a good time - to everybody!
    Jutta

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  70. Jutta, I will tell you a little something about Vieta, "v" as she is affectionally known. She's a blonde. She got stopped for speeding by a blonde cop. V didn't know what a driver's license looked like, so the blonde cop told her it was about an inch and a half by three inches and has her picture on it. She rooted around in her purse and opened her compac and saw herself in the little mirror and said to the blonde cop "here it is". The blonde cop looked at it and said " If I'd a known that you were a police woman, I wouldn't have stopped you."
    (I'm not blonde. Love you V.)

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  71. LVJ, your story about Vieta is a funny joke - smile, smile!
    LVJ, your native tongue is american, am I right? I asked, because I didn´t found the word "affectionally" in the dictionary - maybe it´s slang? But maybe however not, because by my fast short look for the name Magnus I didn´t remember to an American. I´m tensely what Christina will find, after your next information.

    Christina, I hope you can take time by yourself for find the solution. I don´t know, if I will have enough time to look for. But I wish you a lot a patience and luck! I believe, that you will find out!

    V, may i say by now Vieta to you or do you prefer, when we say V? I ask you, because LVJ said Vieta, that isn´t an automatic permission to me to say also Vieta.
    I wouldn´t be complicate, but I don´t know your culture really, so I would be carefully, to go not over your limit. But one is sure, I think you all are nice kind, funny folks. Thanks therefore. Jutta

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  72. Hi, Wilders,

    I was at that show, the girl from Newton, Kansas, and I was so thrilled that you guys actually played, despite the scary-ass weather that could've meant a toasty brush with death for us all. I had been looking forward to some homegrown bluegrass all that week, and I was so pissed off that the German weather had taken a turn for the worse.

    Anyway, you guys totally made my night and managed to make me homesick, even after almost 8 years here in Krautland. Maybe we'll see you guys at Winfield!

    Bussis aus Deutschland,
    Brandi & Bjern Schuster

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  73. Hi everyone,
    My internet had a problem, but now I'm back again.
    Could anybody tell me what the sentence "sort of rhymes with varnished cat" at the headline means?? I'm wondering all the time and I don't find the meaning...
    Greetings from Krautland *smile* and a nice weekend to everybody!
    Christina

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  74. I think he meant that it sounds like varnished cat. Not that I wouldn't have varnished a cat in my younger years. Nowadays, I can find better things to do. Jutta and Christina, you two are sweeter that a box of Captain Crunch. Affectionally is probably some kind of hillbilly slang, or possibly midwestern slang or possibly LVJ misspeak. I don't know if it is a real word or not. It sounded good so I wrote it out. Seen ya Soon, LVJ, (that stands for Lyndon Vain Johnson)

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  75. Affectionately. It's all in the pronunciation. You know, like a hunnert dolla bill.

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  76. Christina, good that you asked. I hadn´t understood it too. Now, I don´t understand the connection with Darmstadt. I think, it´s an American adage.

    LVJ, you comment about "varnished cat" in your younger years is nice and that nowadays you can find better things to do. I must laugh.

    Christina, it´s really nice from LVJ that he think, that we both are sweeter as a box of Captain Crunch. I must laugh again. I love it to discover the thinking from people in foreign countries with sense for likeable humour, speak with heart and out of the belly (so we say it in Germany, hope you understand it in the right form).

    LVJ, it´s really nice, that you thought about "Affectionally" again. Now I think it´s slang, so no misspeak. Deping on my mood, I speak it in between.
    "Lyndon" a name
    "Vain" really a name? In the dictionary was an eplication for it - but I think you are the opposite.
    "Johnson" a name.

    Wherever you all are, I hope you are doing well.
    Jutta

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  77. brrr - not "...deping on my mood..." I mean: dependent
    Jutta

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  78. Hi, fellow Wilders fans!

    I'm writing this from a bank of computers at a veterinary conference in Washington, D.C., just to kill time, waiting for Rick to get out of meetings.

    I really love reading the comments from all you German fans--and you transplanted Kansans, too.

    There are people here in D.C. from all over the world! Yesterday, we met a nice lady visiting here from Northern Ireland. This is quite a nice change from rural Missouri!

    Today I ventured on the Metro over to The Smithsonian Air and Space Museum, and it was really cool--but 'way too much to see in one day. I may try to go back tomorrow.

    Hugs to all!

    --Peggy

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  79. Hi everybody,
    It's already 2 am here in Germany but I can't sleep, because outside in my street is a party and the music is so loud that I can hear it in my flat as if I would be on that party *gape*
    Hey Jutta, it's really very nice from LVJ that he said we are sweeter than a box of Captain Crunch. *smile* thank you LVJ!
    But now I also don't understand the connection from "varnished cat" to Darmstadt...but I had to laugh too *lol*
    Again to Jutta: Ich muss dich das jetzt einfach mal auf deutsch fragen...lässt mir keine Ruhe...varnished cat heißt doch lackierte Katze, oder hab ich da was falsch verstanden?
    Sorry, but I had to ask that in German, because I don't know how to phrase it in English.
    Good night to everybody,
    Christina

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  80. That is a play on Lyndon Baines Johnson, President of the U.S. in the 1960's. Somebody asked me once if LVJ was a play on LBJ. No it is for Leavenworth John. I will speak from the heart and out of the belly like you uns do. Peggy, it sounds like you are having fun. Timmer, come on back and tell us what is a going on!

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  81. I do believe you girls have captured the hearts of the Wilders fans on this blog. LV they are as sweet as Captain Crunch, of course you are always right.....

    Jutta sure you may call me vieta, I'm just to lazy to write it out. :^} thats why I use the v.

    Where are the rest of our groopers? We miss you. Deb, ddmac, Timmer, tick and eyeRy???? Hey eyeRy has a new car...Whoowee, he is probably out cruising.

    Peggy good to hear from you! Brandi if you get to Winfield make sure to plan to meet with the bloggers, OK?

    Well I'm out of words here is a quote.

    "I'm drinking from my saucer 'Cause my cup has overflowed."

    v

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  82. Hello again from D.C.! It's a bit warmer here today, so I may try to stay indoors as much as possible instead of hiking all over the "mall." Watched a movie on TV in the hotel room this morning--what a lazy bum I'm being!

    I think "varnished cat" is supposed to rhyme with "Darmstadt." Sometimes it's hard to come up with a good rhyme, right, Betse? Anyway, given that this is a veterinary conference, I'd rather not think of varnished cats--too cruel...

    Guess I'll go find some food before the lines get too long...

    Winfield is just around the corner! Can't wait!!!

    --Peggy

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  83. Hi from Germany,
    I have to wait about one year to see the Wilders again in Germany, what's driving me crazy! Can't wait to see them again. Maybe I'll come to the USA at fall to celebrate my birthday...but...I saw that on the month of my birthday is no concert of them...
    What's up with Ike's German?
    Christina

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  84. Hey, hey!!

    Peggy it´s nice to hear from you again and from your doing.

    When you write about "This is quite a nice change from rural Missouri!" -- it sounds interessting.

    Christina, yes, your are right: verbatim it means "lackierte Katze". After Peggy's addition comment about "varnished cat", it's still a rhyme. I can't follow it - I don't know why, but it's no problem. Maybe we don't find the right sound that it will be a rhyme for our ears. OR: It´s the sound from a melody, which we don't know. Maybe similar the lilac cow in Germany (from a chocolate company) - so in America it's varnished cat. We couldn't know all the American words and adages etc. --- remember for us German it's not possible to know every German slang or all the adages which it gives. So it's o.k., here I stop to look for the varnished cat. Nice to met you varnished cat (smile).

    LVJ, thanx for your explain!

    Vieta, yes, it looks like that we are catch, so I must be carefully (smile).

    Christina again, keep easy, keep cool. I think: Don't send pressure to Ike about learning German. O.k. he loves music and travel with his friends to bring this great music to many people, but think about it, that maybe sometimes it's exertive - look at the schedule. And it's possible, when you do something with your whole heart and emotions - by this you can also burned out - so it's important that you hold your silence to hold the power or get it back. And when he comes home, there a lot of things to do, which are more important as to learn German (for example: to care his family, make advertising, think about songs, ...). Sure it would be nice, but remember, German is much more difficult than english. We will be very happy if Ike, Betse, Phil and Nate come in the next year - it will be the same great welcome with deep from our heart - with or without German. Christina, I think you agree with me.
    Have a good time to you all.
    Jutta

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  85. Hey Jutta,
    of course I agree, but draw it mild! It was just a nice meant question and I haven't intended to put dressure on Ike, okay? So please don't try to teach me how and what I have to ask. I'm not stupid and I know how much the Wilders are travelling and I know also that there is just a few time to learn and more important things to do!
    Well, I'm out now...
    Have a good night
    Christina

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  86. okay, after I wrote that comment I noticed that it sounds more unkindly than it was meant...
    All that I wanted to say (in a kind way) was: Jutta, please don't ham it up.

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  87. Greetings gang!! All is great up here in the great white north. Really cool to hear from some of the German groopers! LVJ send me an e-mail as Im not sure what yours is, and I think I get one from you every now and then. Ive written several things here but,I have to rejoin every time and just sign off. Went and saw Roger Waters last Sat. night. Pretty good show, but the sound could have been better. For a $197.00 per ticket I expected lots more. Well made it through the 4th with all ten fingers and eleven toes.Doing a little more cooking at the club as they have been short handed. Lotsa fun now that Im not doing it 70 hours a week! I might be moving way up north to stay with my Mom. 40 miles from the UP. Wished I would have payed more attention in German class so I could spell a little. With a last name of Klotz its a sin I dont know very much of my native toung. Well enough blabber for now, take care and will see some of you at Larry Fest! YEAH BABY!!!!!! Timmer

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  88. Third day in D.C... met a high school friend's daughter for lunch and a leisurely stroll through Georgetown--walked along the River Walk, saw the Watergate Hotel and the Kennedy Center... Tonight we will go to an alumni reception, and tomorrow morning, I get to tour the Capitol! In the afternoon we will see the Holocaust Museum. Time's flying!

    Great to hear from you, Timmer!

    Christina and Jutta--time to kiss and make up! We can't have our German bloggers fighting!

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  89. Hey everybody, Hey Christina,
    I feel very bad about it, that on this list is a feeling like a German bloggers fighting because of my account!
    Christina, I would not have had, that you think, that I would teach you - I have wrote it without ulterior motive. But maybe it´s better to say something of this kind in bodily present and not to write - by writing it could be sonner in the wrong neck. I must have to know it. I'm dreadfully sorry. --- Jutta

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  90. PS: Christina, yes, I read my comment again, which I go to near to you. I understand you very well, it´s a reading as I like to teach you - that´s really not good! Please believe me, I have only to be good to you and not to teach. I should be more thinking before writing. But by this, it´s to late.
    I´m sorry to you all. Jutta

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  91. Hey Jutta,
    You don't have to feel sorry, I also don't want a fight. Maybe I made a mistake, too. So let's forget it, okay? I hope this gave no bad impression to you and the other bloggers...
    With a embarrassed smile,
    Christina

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  92. Hey Christina, thank you for your lines.
    For you and all the other people I wish a lot of sunny sides. Jutta

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  93. Hi Wilders - I realy loved that night in Darmstadt.
    Best wishes! Your banjoplayer, Daniel

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  94. hi folks!
    it´s been a long time since bühl...
    anyway that was a fantastic show,and i´m awaiting your "hey little darling" on your next record....
    i realised a real good singing and mandolin break and back up on that tune, just can´t get the melody out of my head...
    i´ll try to sent you some pictures from the evening,
    carry on!!!
    greetings from austria,reini

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