You can never underestimate the power of a decent band name. Every once in a while, an artfully arranged stack of words instantly triggers a potential fan’s innermost mental imagery, and they become obsessed without hearing a second of music. If you think about it, band names are kind of like Manchurian Candidate or MK Ultra.
But anyway, speaking of transportive qualities, we have a surprise doozy for prog fans this week with a special edition of The Tour Diaries, featuring none other than Japan’s Green Milk from Planet Orange.
If you’ve never heard of them, we imagine you’re thinking “wow, that’s an incredible band name,” and of course you’d be right. However, their vintage prog flavored madness counts for a lot on its own – it’s sharp and dextrous enough to cut though the modern age, but it’s also hairy and fuzzy enough to bring to mind the best of 70’s and early 80’s psych.
Check out their most recent offering Third below, which even though it’s just three tracks, clocks in at about 44 minutes. Given that the shortest song is nine minutes long, you’d be forgiven for thinking the record would lean into a drone/stoner direction, but it’s higher energy, like Daikaiju meets Space Blood.
GMFTPO are almost done with their mighty European tour, and in perfectly serendipitous events, PR extraordinaire Dan Volohov handed us some of their actual tour diaries 24 hours after we mentioned our Tour Diaries column were a thing. We can’t say for sure, but it felt like they already existed, just waiting for a segment like this to beam them out into the world, and we’re all too happy to do it – band members dead k and Damo share the nitty gritty of touring internationally, and we’re a bit biased, but we’d say it’s an absolutely fascinating read. Below we’ve got exclusive anecdotes, pictures, and insights from the trio themselves. Enjoy!
Thu 1/15
Berlin, Germany – Neue Zukunft
Written by: dead k
At 11 p.m. on 1/14, the day before the tour began, we departed from Narita Airport. After a 15-hour flight, we arrived at Warsaw Airport in Poland. After waiting about three hours, we transferred to a flight to Berlin and arrived there around 10:30 a.m.
Jakub from the Czech tour support company Seek Harbor brought a van loaded with equipment and merch to the airport. Jakub then returned to the Czech Republic by train, and A took the wheel. The winter tour had begun!
Since we had time before load-in, we tried to check into the hotel, but check-in wasn’t until 3 p.m., so we gave up. I got hungry along the way and stopped at a McDonald’s drive-through. The Big Mac was great. Around 3 p.m. we arrived at the venue, Neue Zukunft, where the promoter Boris showed up and let us in. We loaded our gear into the smaller floor where we’d be playing, and gratefully took a break with the light snacks and drip coffee they’d prepared for us.
We set up on stage and started soundcheck, but my Marshall JCM900 guitar amp was acting strange and wouldn’t put out much volume. No matter what I tried, I couldn’t get a proper sound. The sound engineer said there were a few combo amps at the venue, so we tried one—but even plugged into that, there was no sound. It seemed like the guitar itself was the problem. I switched from my usual front pickup to the rear pickup, and suddenly there was sound. I plugged back into the JCM900 and it worked. Strangely enough, the front pickup also started working again. I checked all the effect pedals just in case, but everything seemed fine. Still, the guitar is suspicious—I just hope it lasts until the end of the tour. On the last tour, a borrowed Marshall amp literally started smoking and died, forcing us to stop the show near the end. That’s why I bought this JCM900 in London. I really hope there are no more gear troubles this time.
After soundcheck, Aidan Baker, who we were playing with that night, arrived and we said hello. He often tours Japan with his band Nadja and as a solo artist, so I was really excited to finally play together.
Dinner was a buy-out, but Damo and A both decided not to eat—for saving money and moderation—so I alone bought a pizza at a nearby kebab/pizza shop. It was great. Since we were about to play, I saved half for later.
Damo set up the merch. He handles all merch management for the band. We had a huge amount of T-shirts, so I really hoped they’d sell well. The new T-shirts designed by our longtime artwork collaborator Sohale Kevin Darouian looked amazing, and the repressed THIRD LP also turned out great. As the audience came in, Aidan’s performance started. His ambient drone soundscapes were massive—it was hard to believe it was all coming from a single guitar. It was a fantastic set, and the audience was completely drawn in. We’ll also be playing with his band Nadja in Madrid later on this tour, which I’m really looking forward to.
Then it was time for our first show of the tour. It looked like about 70–80 people were there, which we were very grateful for. We started with “Memories,” then after some MC went into “Abraxus.” We were stiff at first, but gradually loosened up and played really well. We finished with “Tragedy Overground,” and the crowd went wild, cheering nonstop, leading into an encore of “Driveout.” It had been a long day from Tokyo to Berlin and I was a bit tired, but it was a great show and a strong start to the tour.
Damo immediately went to sell merch and sold a lot—huge thanks to everyone who bought something. Maybe because it was a cold Thursday, people left pretty quickly after buying. We packed up, thanked Boris, and headed to the hotel. After taking turns showering, we went to bed. It had been a very long day, but I was happy we got off to such a good start. Tomorrow: Nijmegen, The Netherlands!
Fri 1/16
Nijmegen, The Netherlands – Merleyn
Written by: Damo
Woke up at 9 a.m. Morning in Berlin. I had last night’s catering leftovers for breakfast.
Checked out at 10:30. Relieved to see we hadn’t gotten a parking ticket. We headed for Nijmegen in the Netherlands—already a long drive on day two.
My lunch was also bread from last night’s catering.
After about eight hours on the road, we finally arrived in Nijmegen just before 7 p.m. Loaded in, organized merch, and ate venue food: Korean-style Asian cuisine. Very tasty. Washed it down with beer. Set up merch and did soundcheck. The place was already packed with people. I spotted quite a few wearing our T-shirts, which made me really happy. We’ve played Nijmegen many times, and it feels like our recognition there is slowly growing.
Showtime was at 11 p.m. Huge response. Personally, I regretted not having my bass set up better, and my amp tone still wasn’t quite right. Merch had a long line and we were incredibly busy. Big thanks.
We packed up and checked into the same hotel we stayed at last year, but it was after 2 a.m. Took a shower and stretched. My stomach has been in bad shape ever since arriving in Europe. Went to bed after 4 a.m.
Sat 1/17
Tilburg, The Netherlands – Gifgrond
Written by: dead k
We left the Nijmegen hotel around 12:45 and stopped by McDonald’s for lunch. Japan doesn’t have the Quarter Pounder anymore—I wish they’d bring it back.
We arrived near what seemed to be the venue around 3:30 p.m. but couldn’t find the entrance, so we went shopping briefly. When we returned around 4 p.m. and rang the doorbell, the promoter Thea welcomed us in. Passing through a courtyard, we reached today’s venue, Gifgrond. The first floor is the art space where we’d play, and the second floor is Thea’s living space—we’d be staying there after the show. Earlier that day, a synth workshop by the synth player of Hakai 0+0 (one of the support acts) had just finished. Apparently he’d also played MUTEK in Tokyo last year.
With Thea’s help, we loaded in from a parking spot a bit away and did soundcheck. Then we handed things over to Earth Logoff from Berlin, and Damo set up merch. Since it was tucked away in a corner, it seemed like selling would be difficult. After a while, everyone gathered around a long table upstairs for dinner: a mild vegan pumpkin curry and a tomato-and-cucumber salad. Very good. During dinner, Hakai 0+0 was doing soundcheck, and the synth player kept coming back and forth to eat.
After 9 p.m., the audience came in and Hakai 0+0 started. An experimental, punk duo of guitar and droning noise synth. Everyone was completely absorbed, and they received big applause at the end. Next up was Earth Logoff—a fierce drum/vocal and sampler duo. They were amazing. It felt like Lightning Bolt switching from bass to sampler, but played with keyboard-like groove and intensity. The crowd exploded, and the set ended with a huge encore.
We were told the show was sold out, with 120 tickets sold. Surrounded by so many people, we started our set. We opened with “Memories,” then went into “Hundreds Downers Dawn.” The song choice might have been a bit subtle, and the crowd reaction felt lukewarm at first, but everyone exploded during “Tragedy Overground.” Big encore, finishing with “Driveout.” I was really happy we played such a good show in a place we’d never been before.
Merch sales gradually picked up—what a relief. Thanks to everyone who bought something. I bought a cassette tape from Earth Logoff. Every time I listen to tapes, I’m reminded how special they sound. They’re also much easier to carry than LPs.
The DJ party went on until around 2 a.m., finally ending the event. There’s a shower attached to the downstairs restroom, which we were allowed to use. I really regretted forgetting the paper mattress I’d prepared before the tour.
Thea treated everyone to cheese and bread as a late-night snack. We went to bed around 4 a.m. Tomorrow we have to be up at 9. Tomorrow: Leffinge, Belgium!
Sun 1/18
Leffinge, Belgium – De Zwerver
Written by: Damo
Broken sleep. Woke up at 8:30 with stomach issues. Cold.
Had breakfast and left at 11. Entered Belgium and arrived at the venue at 1:30 p.m. A calm, pleasant rural town. After tea and some relaxation, we loaded in and did soundcheck. Chatted a bit with the other bands, checked into the hotel, went shopping at a supermarket and drugstore, then returned to the venue.
The dressing room was spacious and comfortable. Beer in the fridge was all-you-can-drink, so I immediately started. It was an early show, with the first band starting at 5 p.m.
Drank too much thanks to the free beer, and before I knew it, it was showtime—6:30 p.m. For a Sunday in a first-time city, the turnout was pretty good.
On stage, alcohol worked against me. Things didn’t go smoothly and I had some regrets. Merch sales were okay. After the show, dinner—veg curry washed down with beer. Delicious.
We packed up leisurely and returned to the hotel before 10 p.m. Early shows are a blessing. Took a shower, lay down, and fell asleep. In bed by 11:30.
Tue 1/20
Göttingen, Germany – Vinyl Reservat
Written by: dead k
Yesterday was our first day off of the tour—a drive day. We drove from Leffinge to near Göttingen and rested at a hotel. My cold gradually got worse.
We left the hotel at noon, went into Göttingen to do laundry, and while waiting, went to a drugstore to buy cough syrup and lozenges. After that, we checked into today’s accommodation, rested briefly, then headed to the venue, Vinyl Reservat—a record store, just as the name suggests. After a while, Joshua, who was organizing the show, and sound engineer Alex arrived and set up the live space inside the shop. It was a one-man show for us. After soundcheck, we arranged for dinner to be delivered from the Vietnamese restaurant next door after the show.
After 8 p.m., people started gathering. The area had been quiet, so I was worried, but about 20–30 people showed up and we started the show. We opened with “Memories,” followed by “Abraxus.” Lots of cheers during the set, which made me very happy. We finished with “Tragedy Overground.” The audience listened very intently, so I thought that might be it, but the applause didn’t stop and we played an encore, “Hundreds Downers Dawn.” My throat was rough because of the cold, but I was relieved I could still sing.
Everyone who came bought merch, which we were incredibly grateful for. Huge thanks to everyone. After the crowd left, the Vietnamese food arrived for dinner. I had bún bò Nam Bộ—it was delicious but an enormous portion, so Damo ate half. I was amazed by his stomach capacity.
After thanking Joshua and Alex, we returned to our accommodation. It was an apartment with shared bathroom and toilet, but it seemed like no one else was staying there, so it was comfortable. Went to bed after 1 a.m. Hopefully my cold improves by tomorrow. Tomorrow: Dresden, Germany!
Wed 1/21
Dresden, Germany – Chemiefabrik
Written by: Damo
Morning in Göttingen, Germany. Woke up at 8 a.m. Laid around in bed, checked out at 11. Stopped by a supermarket before heading to Dresden. Got a parking ticket after stopping for just 10 minutes. Minus €30.
Arrived in Dresden just before 5 p.m. The river was frozen. −2°C. Way too cold. Loaded in while shivering.
Soundcheck, merch setup, ate the venue’s vegan pasta, and killed time in the dressing room chatting with ChatGPT until showtime. It seems my body might be on the verge of dystonia. The trouble with my right fingers has been going on for over six months. Still, I feel like I can recover if I take things slowly and carefully, working through it while continuing to play. First step: relax. With that in mind, I watched the Czech support band and then went on stage.
We started playing at 9:30 p.m. I focused entirely on staying relaxed. The show went really well, with big energy and even an encore. I got through it without overdoing things, and for once my body wasn’t completely wrecked afterward. Merch sales were great—thank you so much. The support band also bought a lot of merch, which I really appreciated.
After load-out, we walked to the band apartment just before midnight. We ran into one of those European doors that you have absolutely no idea how to open, but the support band staying there came along and helped us out. Very grateful.
Took a shower, stretched thoroughly, and went to bed after 2 a.m.
Thu 1/22
Wrocław, Poland – Art Cafe Kalambur
Written by: dead k
We left the apartment at 1 p.m., stopped by Chemiefabrik to load the gear into the van, and then headed for Wrocław. At a highway rest stop in Poland, an old man was sitting outside in the cold collecting toilet fees.
We arrived at Art Cafe Kalambur around 6 p.m. We were welcomed with coffee and tea, and with help from the staff loaded in our gear. Aga, who was organizing the show, and sound engineer Matej arrived, and we were happy to see them again. This was our second time at Kalambur, two years after the first. It was a shame that the owner, Mike, wasn’t there.
Kalambur has two bars on either side of the entrance hall; the bar on the left was today’s venue. We did soundcheck while regular customers were already inside, and even got applause from people sitting at nearby tables.
Back in the backstage room, we ate pizza for dinner. Kalambur has its own pizza place, and it was really good.
The show started at 10 p.m. Although it was a free concert for bar customers, the place was packed all the way up to the second-floor balcony. People were standing and sitting right up against me, so I had to play while avoiding them. We started with “Abraxus,” the crowd went wild, and continued into “Stardust.” The drums shifted on the riser, and at one point a cymbal fell toward Damo. Thankfully he wasn’t hurt. After fixing the drum position, we moved into “Tragedy Overground.” There was no encore, but the show ended with massive energy. My cold still made singing difficult, but I was really glad it turned into such a good show.
Merch was set up on stage, and there was a long line—so many people bought things. Huge thanks to everyone. I was very happy we could play a show that the people of Wrocław truly enjoyed.
We were supposed to load out the next morning, but then a problem arose: we realized the hostel check-in time had already passed, and we couldn’t check in anymore. Aga rebooked us into a nice nearby hotel. I’m incredibly grateful to her and also felt bad about the extra expense she had to cover. We slept comfortably, going to bed around 4 a.m.