Last night was the most surreal show we’ve ever played. We were invited to play a 90 minute set at the outdoor BoilerYard venue of the Camp North End complex in Charlotte, NC- a unique 76 acre music / arts/ small business playground with local history baked in. Mind you, the weather had been beautiful all week- sunny, warm, spring coming in... when we first set the stage, we worried about the weather. But the rainclouds passed and all proceeded as expected... right up until it was our turn to take the stage. Whipping cold wind, rainclouds- should we set up? We decided to just go for it and play as long as we could.
The lights were up, and it was so nice to see young people enjoying our music- we don't often get to play all ages events (but believe they are so important).
Watching the skies while we continued our set, we made it through some spitting drops before it really started coming down mid-song. Reminder- it is COLD. And WINDY. To see all those folks out there stickin it out for us.. we can’t explain how that made us feel. It was an amazing moment.
The rain now coming down, the whole crowd immediately jumped in to get all of our equipment up out of the rain by throwing it into the cars that our friends Hey, RICHARD had pulled up while we were still playing.
I remember our talented drummer friend Thomas of StormWatchers appeared immediately at my side and asked- "What is most important?" I gestured wildly at my amp like a crazy person and couldn't even tell you what equipment I meanwhile was messing with. Next thing I know, he's got my new pedal board in his hands and I'm helping him shove it into its case. I just kept directing wildly- "Any car! Any car!".
It all happened so amazingly fast that I was literally in shock afterwards just staring at the empty stage… and then, I kid you not, from out of nowhere a full on drum line rolls through at the other end of the courtyard, the rain of course now nowhere in sight.
This is why we play music- for these amazing experiences and people and the sense of community that we get to share and be a part of. They make us feel alive in ways that nothing else can. If I could go back and somehow change the weather, I'm not even sure that I would. What a wild night.
We are beyond grateful to Camp North End. Charlotte would not be the same without you. Thank you for being a space for people to be people and for music, arts, play, small businesses, and so much more to thrive. Y’all please support what they’ve got going on. We hope to be back soon in their amazing space. Getting the opportunity to play our original music for 90 minutes is something we do not take lightly. We are humbled and grateful. ❤️
Unforgettable.
We still want to play our 90 minute set that we practiced for. But now we can say that we have rock'n'rolled in the rain.
Photo credit to Seth Telles of local greats Anchor Detail- a heavy rock band of amazing humans that we love.