Road Crew and Promoter in Wurzburg
Germany: May 8th
The night before our flight to Germany to start tour I realized that not only was this going to be the longest tour I’ve ever done but also the longest trip I’ve ever embarked on in general. At the end of this tour we will have played 87 shows in 81 cities that reside in 9 countries. I packed my small luggage bag full of clothes and books, packed my guitar case with extra strings and settled back in to tour mode.
The days leading up to a trip like this are filled with a combination of anxiety and excitement. The anxiety can be mostly attributed to leaving my job and relying on the tour to be my sole source of income. Living in an expensive city like Boston does not help this. This is my second time touring Europe but this would be the first time that I’ve headlined the majority of the shows, last time I was fortunate enough to be main support for my friends in Landmines. Unlike some other tours I have no idea how it will go.
All the anxieties are quelled immediately upon arriving at the venue in Wurzburg where the first show will be. The promoter is a friend from the first European tour and makes us feel right at home with food and beer (I love Germany!). As it is with many of these shows I am the only performer of the night. 40 people cram into the cafe for the set and much to my amazement some of the kids know the words and sing along. The feeling of being so far from home and having people from another country sing along to songs you wrote in your living room is indescribable.
We’re 3 shows into the European part of the trip and I already feel so fortunate that I’m getting to see the amazing German cities and countryside. The people here are so kind and giving. We are given dinner and endless drinks by every promoter/venue. The two shows after Wurzburg, Heidelberg and Regensburg have both been crammed tight with gracious show-goers. I’ve played two of the three shows without a PA which is a testament to how respectful the crowds are.
Show in Heidelberg
It’s early on in a long trip but our crew of three has already settled into our mobile home as if we’ve been on the road for weeks. We have a stove to make coffee on and every drive is accompanied with sing alongs as the German countryside slips past bringing us closer to another city and another show…
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