Take Five With Walter Clark

Instrument(s): Piano, left-hand bass synth, synths, drum machine.

Anecdote from the road: My last road trip was to northern Japan, the Kanazawa area from July 14-17, 2007. It was a series of wedding dates on the first two days and a showcase on the last day and it was a trip in every sense of the word.

When I set out on Saturday morning there was a typhoon coming. So riding through that on the train was interesting, but I got there in time to do the first wedding and check into a hotel to rest up for the double header the next day. But after unpacking I noticed that somewhere along the way I had lost the extra pair of socks and underwear I had packed, so I had to venture out and buy some replacements.

Folks were all ready for the big storm with sandbags up around the local markets and everything, but it kind of blew itself out before it got there, so Sunday, I hit the stage and did my thing. Monday, moved on to another city to do a bridal fair which also went smooth, and when it was over I was ready to get out of there and headed straight to the train station. But there was an earthquake which delayed the train an hour, and by the time it got there it was packed with people trying to get outta there, so I had to stand on the train for a five hour ride, as the train had to stop many places and wait for the go ahead, as they checked the tracks up ahead to make sure they were not damaged.

After reaching Osaka, where the train was also delayed, finally made it back to Kobe, and after two more trains and a total of six hours I made it home.

I couldn't complain. I was just happy to get out of there and make some people happy, promote my act, and make some money. The earthquake left ten dead, destroyed a thousand homes and there are a few thousand people in shelters, still today roughing it without running water. So you know it was a relief to get home.

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