MIKEBECK.US - Tour Diary

Bluesiana Radio
Radio Purmerend
Purmerend, Nederland
Friday, March 7, 2003

Rob Orlemans of Half Past Midnight invited me to join him for an on-air performance on the Bluesiana Radio program, broadcast on independent Dutch radio station Radio Purmerend, just outside Amsterdam. Rob gave a couple of rare performances on his dobro, then Bluesiana host Frank van Engelen invited me to play a couple songs on my acoustic... The Ghost of Mrs. Adler and Driving Forward, Looking Back from my Chicago Mike CD. Rob and I then played a couple numbers together.

After our appearance on Bluesiana Radio, Rob and I went to the P60 in Utrecht to catch Julian Sas. Unfortunately, the show was over by the time we got off the air, but we were able to enjoy Julian's hospitality backstage afterwards. Though friends, Rob and Julian have been longstanding rivals at the top of the Dutch bluesrock scene. Backstage at P60, I also met Tenny Tahamata for the first time. Tenny is currently the bassplayer for Julian Sas, though he played with Rob in Half Past Midnight for many years.

Rob Orlemans of Half Past Midnight through the glass at Radio Purmerend. Rob and Bluesiana Radio host Frank van Engelen during a break. Treated to a rare dobro performance live on-the-air. Engineer Marnix Loer (with headphones in foreground) listens in while Rob and Frank plan the next segment.

"Live on Radio Purmerend... I'm Frank van Engelen with Bluesiana Radio!" (Of course, Frank says this in Dutch!) The in-studio audience at Bluesiana Radio.

A first for us... Rob and I played a couple acoustic numbers together. This had never happened before, on or off-air, though I've sung with Half Past Midnight on several occasions, including on their Live In Chicago CD. The man on the left is a huge Blues fan from Toronto, in town to catch Julian Sas, the Dutch Bluesrock guitar giant you see on the right. This is backstage at P60, a sweet venue located in Utrecht, about 20 minutes south of Amsterdam. Greetings to Toronto from Chicago Mike!


Rob Orlemans of Half Past Midnight through the glass at Radio Purmerend.	Rob and Bluesiana Radio host Frank van Engelen during a break.		Treated to a rare dobro performance live on-the-air.	Engineer Marnix Loer (with headphones in foreground) listens in while Rob and Frank plan the next segment.

	"Live on Radio Purmerend... I'm Frank van Engelen with Bluesiana Radio!" (Of course, Frank says this in Dutch!)			The in-studio audience at Bluesiana Radio.

A first for us... Rob and I played a couple acoustic numbers together. This had never happened before, on or off-air, though I've sung with Half Past Midnight on several occasions, including on their Live In Chicago CD.		The man on the left is a huge Blues fan from Toronto, in town to catch Julian Sas, the Dutch Bluesrock guitar giant you see on the right. This is backstage at P60, a sweet venue located in Utrecht, about 20 minutes south of Amsterdam.	Greetings to Toronto from Chicago Mike!