The Classic Crime – 2nd ROAD BLOG from their Spring Tour 2015

The rock band, The Classic Crime, is currently on their 2015 spring tour, hitting cities across the western half of the United States, with supporting act, Megosh. While they’re on this tour, they will be doing an exclusive blog for our site. You can check out the second entry, after the break.

I’m sitting sideways on a bench in the van with an open can of Miller Lite between my legs. Don’t worry, it’s not too cold, it’s wearing a Buffalo Wild Wings coozie. I promote drinking responsibly with extra protection.

My last blog was about how we’re trying to change the business side of how we tour… but I don’t care anymore about that. Right now, I care about the day to day, the nitty gritty, what it’s like to live life on the road. I’m sure there are many blogs like this, but I haven’t read those, so maybe this is a different perspective.

The more we tour, the more we have in common with long –haul truckers. When we’re not in the van, we’re in truck stops. Truck stops are 98% bearded truckers trying to fill their 76oz thermos coffees, and 2% grubby band dudes trying to take a leak anyplace other than a water bottle.

The scenery changes, but the days blend together. Certain things give you a sense of the norm… T.V. in the hotel room, cold light beer after load in, trying on truck stop garments, Frisbee at rest stops, late night fast food… these are all staples, traditions of life on the road. This stuff makes us feel normal, which is important because what we do is really abnormal. We’re gypsies, vagabonds, and troubadours. We bring the party… We’re the circus!

It doesn’t matter if it’s Monday or Friday, Seattle or Miami, body healthy or broken, drunk or sober, homesick or happy, the show must go on. So we do what we do to feel normal because if we let the doubt and the regret and the “what-the-fuck-am-I –doing-with-my-life” creep in, our shows would suffer. If we became too envious of those Tuesday-night-concert-goers enthused about our show being the highlight of their month, how could we actually be the highlight?

But it always happens… even if I know I’d be miserable working for Microsoft back in Seattle, I envy that life. The stability, the planned adventures, the excitement for travel and vacation and concerts…

Then it hits me, the why I do this. It comes in a sincere comment after the set, something too personal to repeat in a casual blog like this… but I think, “How could I complain?” For some reason, we’ve been mystically given these songs that have an actual impact in the lives of others, and I’m worried about money, stability, or worse… fame. This is the sobering moment, when I’m thankful for the struggling vocal cords, lack of sleep, long-ass drives, and missing my family. Gratitude overwhelms me, and I am once again happy to be part of the circus.

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