There are Two Indian Restaurants in Katowice. As the likelihood of a return visit on July 30 increased with each hour spent here, Hector decided to try Buddha (ul Drzmaly 9, 40-059, Katowice, Polska) which was a few blocks south of the Town Centre but nearer to this evening’s Venue – Kinoteatr Rialto.
With poor street lighting and the road ripped up on the approaches, Buddha was hard to spot. They had not put on their own exterior lights. We entered to the right, another venue was to the left, it was empty.
The Young Waitress showed us to a Table, far right, there were Five Fellow Diners initially, more arrived. The Polish Restaurant next door remained empty. The Décor was Simple, Tablecloths established the Tradition of Indian Dining.
The Menu was not Extensive. Five Lamb Dishes to choose from. Mainstream and European, expectation levels were not high. Aloo Methi did feature under Vegetable Main Courses, this was a time not to challenge but accept what comes.
Marg chose from the Sizzlers Section – Fish Tikka. This would be Salmon. Maybe in Europe this may be the best way around the disappointment of Bland Curry, don’t order Curry! A Tandoori Roti would accompany.
My Fall-back in these circumstances tends to be Vindaloo, so Mutton Vindaloo it was with Mushroom Jeera Rice.
Four Rolled Poppadoms and Dips were brought to the table, Complimentary – as they should always be. European Poppadoms tend to have Cumin Seeds embedded adding an extra Blast. Tamarind has been featuring as a Dip with increasing regularity, and so it was here. Cumin, Poppadoms and Tamarind Dip. A Good Start.
From entry to delivery of the Meal took forty-five minutes. The Gig was due to start at 20.00, so the tickets stated, we had an hour.
Fish Tikka
Two Thick Pieces of Salmon sat on a bed of Onions with accompanying Stringy Vegetables, well presented. There was no Masala accomp
animent. This is how Chicken Tikka Masala was invented, I reminded Marg. She ate the Fish and enjoyed it, I sampled a piece, Salmon Tikka. With no Sauce, the Roti was redundant. Just as well no Rice was ordered on that side of the table.
Marg’s Verdict – The Salmon was Lovely, Very Tasty as were the Onions and the Stringy Vegetables. Very Little Bone, a waste of a Chapatti.
Mutton Vindaloo
The Big Metal Bowl of Rice immediately made the karahi look Small. Half of the Rice was spooned on to my plate, I do this so rarely now. The Mushroom content was Sufficient, the Cumin understated. There was enough Rice for Two.
The Aroma from the Curry was very familiar – European Curry. One wonders what mix of Spices, Garam Masala – is employed. Perhaps, it should be a list of what is missing. There was Sufficient Spice to create a Small Kick, the Masala was Brown, Thin but evidently Onion Based. Counting the Lumps, I was happy with the Meat Content, only Two pieces of Potato featured. The Aloo Methi was being missed already. The Quality of the Mutton was a Highlight, the Texture was Perfect, just enough to have to Chew, nowhere near the Pulp served from the Curry Pot.
The Masala turned out not to be Excessive, it disappeared into the Rice. So did the Flavour of the Cumin, the Rice did little to add to the Overall Flavours unlike Ganesh in Kraków two days earlier.
A Competent Curry, it did a job. On July 30, it will definitely be the Masala House.
The Bill
Zl112.00, £21.29. Cheaper than Kraków, not as Satisfying. The Calling Card was accepted graciously, none of the Management were around to have any discourse. We were off, Music awaits.
Pendragon in Katowice, Gary Chandler (Jadis) Supporting
Why are you in Katowice? A local asked Marg and Hector last night in C4, Katowice’s first Craft Bier Pub. Pendragon are playing in Katowice? Before my Bier was poured the Barman had – Not of this World – playing via his laptop. The Poles know Pendragon. That – If I were the Wind – the first track on said album would kick of this evening’s concert was spooky.
All the way to Poland to see Pendragon? This is how much this band have impressed in recent years, their last two albums – Pure – and – Passion – being absolute stand-outs from what has come before. All of the albums are different but indisputably recognisable as Pendragon. This month they are touring the latest offering – Men who Climb Mountains -, it was released last week. There have been but a few listenings.
The tickets said 20.00, Marg and Hector were there just after 19.30, the doors were open, no queue. Through the inner door to the downstairs standing area I could hear a Chap playing acoustic guitar, I recognised the Music – Genesis? The brain was not tuned in. Gary Chandler had related earlier they had to get a move on tonight, something to do with tachographs. As we took our seats, one of which was already occupied, Gary changed over to electric. We had missed the first half of his short set. Daylight Fades from Across the Water started the conclusion to the set, then Follow me to Salzburg, nothing from the classic – More than meets the eye album. I need to see Jadis again, properly.
When a band has a new album to tour, they can intersperse it throughout the set, or play it all at once as they take the stage as both Yes and Weather Report famously did back in the 1970s. Not tonight, we were on familiar ground with Eraserhead (Pure) then The Freak Show (Pure), with Paintbox (Masquerade Overture) following on without much banter. Nick’s Polish goes as far as – Good evening and welcome – one or two other phrases were appreciated by the locals, he admitted to never getting a particular phrase correct. Good on him for trying.
Such is the strength of the back catalogue, Pendragon Gigs must lead to disappointment for some. There are momentous tracks that have been dropped through time, with each new album more tracks are cast aside, yet Nick insists they vary what they play each night. One can see one night on a Pendragon Tour and be lucky, or not. I know Two Tracks that I consider mandatory, yet one of these was dropped when they played Glasgow in 2011. Tonight Breaking The Spell would be performed with the skill and passion that makes this track a show-stopper.
Nick commented on the fact that all of the DVD releases of Pendragon were filmed in Poland, and all but one in Katowice. This very theatre I assumed, but no, in the bigger theatre on the Main Square. Had we not been across the railway line, I probably would have gone to the other Curry House.
This Green and Pleasant Land (Passion) was the last of the well-known before the new stuff was introduced. Beautiful Soul then Faces of Light (Men who Climb Mountains), two pleasant songs, but neither a show-stopper. Nostradumus (Window of Life) has always been pitched in to liven things up after a serious work or two, and it did its job once more. Breaking the Spell (Window of Life) made my sojourn to Katowice worthwhile. Remember, Nick, Glasgow has only witnessed this played live twice to date. Back to the new, Explorers of The Infinite (Men who Climb Mountains) and another song I still can’t identify. The realisation is, pleasant as the new album is, it is full of – safe – songs. There are no great guitar breaks, the – wow – is not there. Still, three weeks from now I may be more enthusiastic over the new material.
Material form the Passion album was at a premium tonight, It’s Only Me (Pure) closed the main set, if my memory is correct. There had to be an encore, it had to be Indigo (Pure), IMHO, the greatest composition in the Pendragon catalogue. After another break we were treated to Masters of Illusion (Masquerade Overture). Finishing on this was a master-stroke, it woke me up to just how complex and, well, Progressive this song is. From the stomping start, there are numerous mood changes climaxing with the great Barrett guitar sound. This song has everything the new album does not.
No Cameras – the tickets said and so I left the near write off Lumix in the hotel. There will hopefully be better photos in three weeks.
Afterwards, Marg commented – He never introduced the band! Nick did mention the new guy on drums, Craig Blundell, and that he first met Clive (Nolan) aged four. Peter Gee played all night without a mention. Pete had played Bass, Acoustic Twelve String and Keyboards. It is about time I explored his Solo Material.
Three weeks until Glasgow… but the evening wasn’t over, Browariat was open!