Reflections on Touring
As fall starts to settle in, I wanted to take some time to reflect on the most memorable part of this past summer for me—touring across the U.S. with The Family Crest. I met The Family Crest almost a decade ago when I was in another “folkestra” band with similar instrumentation. I fell in love with their epically orchestrated music. It was truly a pleasure to get to play some of my favorite songs and share their music with their wonderful fans years later. There are a handful of things to love about touring, which of course comes with its challenges as well. I thought I’d reflect on and share some of my favorite things about this summer tour.
Exploring New Places and Foods
We started off our tour in Gallup, New Mexico playing a Fourth of July festival at the Navajo Nation. It was enlightening getting to learn about their history and struggles and experience the wonders of Gallup Flea Market. The creamed corn and the Navajo tea were my favorites. I even picked up some bundles of Navajo tea for myself and for some friends back home. I also had an amazing bibimbap bowl from a spot we stopped by in Santa Fe. I’m also on a personal never-ending matcha tour, except that I got pretty good at making my own matcha at home, so my rule is it has to be a matcha unique enough for me to try. I stumbled upon an absolute gem in Ames, Iowa called Little Woods Herbs & Tea. They had an amazing piña colada matcha and incredible selection of loose leaf teas. We were extremely lucky and grateful to have Coneflower Creamery based in Omaha, NE that a band friend picked up and delivered to us while we were passing through on a day they were closed. It was truly a tour miracle. This was also the first time I was in Washington, D.C., and Boston—I will need an re-roll here because I was sick with a cold. East Coast memorable eats include crab cakes from Koco’s Pub in Baltimore, MD and Pizzeria Vetri in Philadelphia, PA. I think the most beautiful city was Milwaukee, WI were I saw one of the Great Lakes for the first time. Of course, the PNW is a personal favorite area. I especially enjoyed the lush scenery and reconnecting with all my dear friends who came out to the Seattle show.
Memorable Fan Connections
I was amazed to hear of so many stories of fans turned friends. After each show, it was so heartwarming to connect with fans and hear how the music and performance resonated with them. In Cleveland especially, I was in awe of how many traveled a great distance to be at that show. (Now that I think of it, I also traveled a great distance since I left tour for a few days prior to play at my friend’s wedding in Washington state! I missed soundcheck, but I made it back for the show.) Getting to meet some friends in-person for the first time in D.C. was awesome. I also go to see my little sister who had just moved across the country, who is also a big fan of the band. It was super sweet to have her in the audience. In Portland, someone drew an oil painting of the band during our set. A lovely San Francisco fan made us friendship bracelets. As tour went on, I was also surprised to realize how many people I actually know in other states. Shoutout to Jotaro Nakano for showing up to our Boston show last minute! That was probably my least favorite day on tour since I had a cold, and the venue had no green room nor A/C—which ended up being a good thing for me because I had sweat out my cold by the end of our set. I felt way better after the show. Catching up with an old friend also helped redeem the day.
Staying Healthy on the Road
This is more of a challenge highlight. Touring is tough on the body. Movement was essential for me. With many hours sitting in a van on the road, any time we were stopped I was out of the car walking around. I also packed a yoga block, a massage ball, and a resistance band to incorporate some stretching at the end of the day (sometimes at the start of the day. Okay, maybe it was just that one time I happened to not sleep in). Eating healthy can be another challenge. Stocking up on some fresh produce when possible helps. Of course, a big part of tour the food experience. I try to find a balance between meals. If I know we’re having BBQ for dinner, the I’ll probably opt for an açaí bowl or salad for lunch. I think having a light pack helps mentally as well. Staying present is important to me, and it was nice to have just one job for the summer rather than juggling multiple gigs/work as I tend to do back home. I’ve honed my packing list (with help from a super seasoned touring musician Marc Encabo, appreciate you lots!) to include only the essentials—comfortable clothes, toiletries, and my health gear. I think I’ll circle back and share my packing list in a PDF if it helps anyone. A little luxury is important as well. For me, that was packing a little selection of loose leaf tea and a travel tea set, and having my point & shoot camera handy for a little creative outlet.
The Music & The People
Despite all the challenges that come with touring, it can feel like a breeze when you love the music and you love the people that you share the road and stage with. This goes for any gig really. If the music or the people are not fun, then you better be getting paid extra well to make up for the unpleasant experience. Also, every show is fresh when you factor in the different venue spaces and audiences. The exchange of energy between the audience and performer can really make all the difference when it comes to the whole vibe of the performance. I think it’s a beautiful thing how unique each show can be.