Headed home on the plane right now from Warsaw to Cleveland. I can’t believe how fast this whole tour has went. It really started out in the US with some regional dates culminating to the 212 Kent Stage show on April 15. From there I took off to Italy for a few days of rehearsal with Walter and Enrico and we were off and running. The Italy dates were amazing and I just wish we had stayed longer in that wonderful country…if not for just the food and coffee! It looks like I’ll be back in August and November so I’ll have to get my fill then as well.
From there we headed to Poland for our next leg of the tour. I’m telling you, the Polish fans are absolutely amazing. As with the Italian fans, there is a real passion and reverence about the music. Just in Poland they are crazier! My friend Michal put the whole tour together and he was the road manager throughout our stay. I’ve been to Poland before, but he really showed me such a beautiful side to the country that I had never known. I’m even a bigger fan of it now.
Every show was incredibly special and they were all different. From playing to an incredible sea of people in a couple of performances to some great small club dates, I really felt focused and sharp in what I was doing. So many times throughout my shows I really took a step back, so to speak, and realized that I am so fortunate to have followed my dream of playing guitar. There are so many haters in the world that tell you it “It can’t be done” or try and drag you down to their level. I’m glad I had an undying focus as to what I really wanted to do with my life and followed it.
Trust me when I say that I never took for granted the fan’s enthusiasm or their crazy, insane reaction when I started to play “I’m Alright.” I remember so clearly in Italy when the fans were singing the melody to “I’m Alright” to me when I stopped playing mid-song. Mind blowing! Or two fans that drove 14 hours from Denmark to see me play in Radzyn, Poland. To me, that’s some heavy stuff that I appreciate.
But most of all I’m just happy to be playing my guitar. It all really begins and ends with that, doesn’t it?
Bruce Said:
on May 31, 2011 at 7:45 AM
Hi,Neil,I am your fans from Shanghai,China! I really appreciate your music a lot cause the inspiring melody help me overcoming many obstacles in my life! It’s a great honor to me to have seen you in Shanghai 2010 Music Show in China and taken photos with you.Hope you can come to Shanghai once more,my great idol! You are always the best!
Hawk Said:
on June 24, 2011 at 9:34 AM
Neil, I saw you play ‘I’m Alright’ and Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ on the Thanks Jimi Festival in Wrocław. Too bad I didn’t really know you or your music then. It was after the festival that I noticed that you are a guitar player in the same league as Joe Satriani or Steve Vai. I hope that the next time you’re in Poland, I’ll appreciate your work more. Now… back to 212!
James Watts Said:
on July 3, 2011 at 7:04 PM
Neil,
I did not know about you until I seen you on the Carvin site while I was looking at their guitars. When I heard you perform the song “I’m Alright” I was hooked. Your style is unique and hits all of the attributes that i find appealing in guitar. I just downloaded your tabs for the “When Gravity Fails” album. I am so impressed that you created the tabs to you music. I really inspires me to play more and to open my horizons on what I can learn and play. I hope you tab a lot of your work. I will keep watch for them. Thank you so much for your music and your inspiration. I hope to listen to you for a long time.
James Watts
ingvay Said:
on August 14, 2011 at 2:40 PM
Neil..your fan from India here. You are a phenom.Keep rocking! Currently cant get enough of the Thrills and Chills album. Please perform Ground Zero live.