Day 4: IRL (Laramie to Salt Lake)

Today we played in Salt Lake City. I know this town from a movie; SLC punk. Before I ever came here in person, I already had a sense for it, I had a script about it in my head based on the film.

A person came to the merch table tonight to compliment our set. He mentioned how excited he was when he saw we were coming to town. “

Huh? Us?” I asked. He smiled and pointed out how he’s bought records from us online.

I looked him up. Sure enough, I have personally packaged and shipped goods to this person. Before we’d met, we’d already written a script about each other. Now we both got to act out the scene.

That’s part of the magic in what we are doing. It’s something internet connections can facilitate but never quite match. It’s real bandwidth. Now I know a graduate professor in Salt Lake City, who also edits a magazine. Now he knows the guitar player in the band he’d been following online who also happens to write. It’s the basis for collaboration.

My buddy Jon is the main tour manager on this tour. I have known him at least a decade; seeing each other a few times a year when he rolls through Chicago on tour. He has a saying “Buy the ticket, take the ride.” He mentioned it tonight when we were talking about how great it was to be on the road together, instead of catching up via text or on a quick visit.

It reminded me how I was initially hesitant to accept this tour; jobs, comfort, time away, and on and on. My mind had tossed all the usual reasons at me. There’s never a shortage of them. But when the offer came, I bought the ticket and trusted I’d figure the rest out later.