A Tuesday...It's Belgium...and It's the Rolling Stones' European Tour

Despite a massive traffic jam, by the time the thousands of fans attending the opening night concert in Werchter Park began arriving, they were ready...for a strong set of standards and gems from Van Morrison and his great band...and for a perfect summer's evening of partying.
Of course fans also got to see the newest Rolling Stones Rockware additions- designs made specially for the opening night, two vintage inspired T's with European cities on the back, a green version of the Bigger Bang CD's liquid tongue and the latest tongue variation-a Biggest Bang DVD inspired tongue in motion featured on a button, t shirt and track jacket which proved to be very much in demand.
The 20 song blistering set that followed was as good as an opening night could be. With gems like Rocks Off, Some Girls, Heartbreaker, and the so rarely performed Waiting on a Friend, the crowd and band were as one. But with the return of the amazing Can't You Hear Me Knocking, and covers of a James Brown classic featuring a duet with Mick and Lisa Fischer and a very nostalgic version of Bobby Womack's It's All Over Now on the B Stage, the concert went into overdrive. The show finished with an encore of Sympathy For the Devil, a skyful of fireworks, and as the motorcade of vans filled with tired but relieved musicians departed with police escort for the 40 minute ride back to Brussels, it was unanimous the audience had truly experienced an amazing Belgian Bigger Bang.

Beer, Chocolate and Rockware...aka Anthill Acts Attack Antwerp and some!

Three different clients booked by three different agents into three different venues in three different cities but with all falling between June 1 and 5, the Belgian music calendar most certainly belonged to Anthill.

Il Divo's non-stop touring schedule brought them to Antwerp Friday the first. With just one month left on this record breaking world tour, the Boys are still thrilling audiences with dramatic flair and Pete Bell keeps sending them home with a great range of collectibles.

Next stop was beautiful Brussels where Josh Groban made his Belgium debut in a perfect concert setting-the acoustically perfect and totally intimate Cirque Royal theater. In support of his multi platinum selling CD, AWAKE, the 17 piece band helped Josh show why he has earned so many accolades thus far and just how diversified his repertoire has become. And although he'll deny it Bob Hannam has admitted that he has strongly considered joining the German chapter of the Grobanites!

At the same time in a studio in Brussels, the rehearsals for the final leg of The Rolling Stones' Bigger Bang world tour were wrapping up. After a six month break and recharged batteries, band and crew both did some dusting-equipment and some songs from the vast Stones catalog. At the same time hundreds were already busily transforming Park Werchter into the site of 07's first Stones gig.

As busy was the newest Anthill Stones team delivering and allocating the latest Rockware range to Ash and Ruth of vending experts IVS who were putting finishing touches to the 7 impressive sales locations that just 24 hours later would be rocking.

Oh Say Can You BRMC ?

May could not have ended on a better note. Two hour's worth of notes actually.

The where ? That would be New York's trendy Webster Hall on the lower east side packed with anticipation by twenty and thirty somethings of all sizes in both sexes.

The why ? Because there is such a strong media/street/industry/scenester buzz about this three piece's recently released CD, Baby 81.

The Who? Well not exactly, but just as great a live band with a great sense of itself and not afraid to do it show by show, market by market.

The what ? A full range of edgy Anthill Rockware so aptly vended by the newest road warrior aka MerchGirl.

The band? Black Rebel Motorcycle Club. Touring non stop on both sides of the Atlantic through 07. Accept No Substitute!

Back to the Scene of the Crime

It might have been the snow capped mountains surrounding one of the world's great port cities.

It might have been the memory of building a business from the ground up.

It might have been reminiscing about the whereabouts and exploits of so many of that business' alumni.

It might have been the runs around the seawall of Stanley Park still majestic despite Nature's best efforts last winter.

It might have been the pride of working in Western Canada with a band since it's infancy in a club and every step since on their ascension to the pinnacle of worldwide recognition and Hall of Fame status.

It might have been the mandate to have been asked to produce the exclusive range of merchandise for millions of fans to share around the world for the next year.

It might just have been the roar of the crowd almost deafening for the spectacular two hour performance some 23 years in the making.

And it might have been that much louder thanks to visitors like members of Pearl Jam and R.E.M., lawyers, business managers, label execs, or the always willing to fly for rock Joel Kleinfeld.

Or it could have been three guys who for the time being have regrouped to remind so many of so much.

And if so, the POLICE back in Vancouver where a marriage was consummated, Perryscope became a reality and Cathy was a marketing maven in training, was truly a totally surreal experience.

Another great reminder that the job has great rewards and lifelong friendships.