Check out IC’s feature at the 2:40 mark.
It’s insane how fast days go by on Warped, especially when some days seem never-ending. Not that I want days to end, but somewhere between random rain storms, high humidity, crazy temperatures and hundreds of conversations, I start to lose my mind a bit – and so goes along the concept of time.
Warped meets the forest. The East coast wins best venues.
When 4 PM hits, things get a bit weird. Maybe a British accent makes its way into conversations or I find entertainment in starting dance parties in our tent (they never really pan out – for shame). Next thing you know, three weeks have gone by and the tour has crossed over to Canada, traveled the upper East coast, and made its way into the Midwest. Did I mention the occasional torrential downpour and venue evacuation caused by a tornado watch?
Going into week six, the only things constant are midnight runs to Walmart and my struggle to wake up at 7:30 AM (alongside catching some sets throughout the day). I guess you can say my body is catching up with the rush of the past 29 shows. There’s no better wake up call than stepping out into the heat, pulling gear into a venue and setting it all up. It’s a great workout and I hear it’s better for your health than coffee. I’m into it.
Backtracking a bit, I feel extremely settled into tour life. It wasn’t a major culture shock or anything, but it’s truly a routine and the odd things (shower lines, being in the heat for 9+ hours a day, sleeping on a moving bus) that replace average life don’t phase me anymore. If anything, those small differences make tour life seem more real rather than just a two-month journey. It’s all about being dynamic and adaptable. Down the line, I’m sure the struggles of tour are going to make for the best stories.
Week one was a crash course, the second was a challenge and everything fell into place on the third. From Indianapolis we headed north and spent the 4th of July in Toronto. Before heading out to a local venue and catching what may be the best live performance by unknown band Benjamin and the Howling, our bus appropriately attended country night at the Blue Jays game to celebrate the holiday outside of the US. #Merica After a couple rainy days in Toronto, we headed to Buffalo, NY to brave the East coast heat.
Venues aside, the East coast has shown us some of our best days. We’re not just saying this because we had awesome alumni join us at various stops, but we met some major IC supporters – everyone from teachers, 2011 Fourth Estate Summit attendees, club presidents, and people who helped raise thousands for IC. These interactions deserve way more than a thank you and a handshake.
Honorable Mentions from the East: getting into a theme park for free, meeting Schools for Schools winners, seeing close friends, a beach day, artist signings, a day off in New York City, and this:
Our volunteer for the day took the poster game to the next level.
It’s crazy to think we only have 12 shows left. Last I remember, our bus was contemplating whether we were on day 14 or 15. I have a few ideas lined up, so stay tuned.
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