October Sky Tour Diary – Decatur, IL stop
Tonight was a rad show because the bands were playing a gig at the county fair!
What I love about county fair-type shows is the awesome vibe. Everyone’s cheery and in a good mood because who the hell can be grumpy when you’re around funnel cake, cotton candy and good music? Based on the collective sugar high of the crowd, it was bound to make for a kick-ass show, and that’s exactly what happened.
As the tour goes on, I’m learning that it’s not always about the numbers of how popular your band is. I’ll admit that the crowds at the shows haven’t been the biggest, but shows like these remind me that even if you have a million likes on Facebook, that doesn’t always make for a loyal fan following. Tonight we met two people who were super sweet and supportive. They were so supportive that they followed October Sky to see them again and it was a two hour drive for them! You can tell that music is the reason their hearts beat and that they’re passionate about the bands and supporting the music industry.
That’s what makes it all worth it: When your music can impact people’s lives in someway. That’s why musicians do what they do. That’s why they tour and meet the fans. That’s why they put their hearts out into every song and record they produce.
Of course, sometimes there can be hiccups: We had to find a Guitar Center, because Karl broke the nut on his guitar. If he couldn’t fix that, that could be a problem: He is the band’s guitarist, after all. I don’t know about other musicians, but that place will always be my weakness.
Luckily, after some handy work, Karl’s guitar was fixed before the gig. The gig went well: It may have been a small crowd, but I can assure you that every person in that audience was either singing or jumping and just having an awesome time.
As I type this, it’s 2:40 a.m. We’re at a truck stop for the night with the boys from Assuming We Survive. Later today, we’re finishing our drive to Pontiac, Mich., where we’ll be performing at The Pike Room.
Stay tuned…
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