So, before we continue with the final installment of the series, let’s go back to the beginning for a second. At the end of Part 1, I outlined the all the “baby steps” I had worked out to get me from home to Fremont, Fremont to Nashville, Nashville to Minnesota, and Minnesota to Detroit. But the missing link in my master plan had not been locked down – getting home from Detroit. I had talked to a friend (and fellow musician) about coming to the show and giving me a ride home afterward. But by the time I had embarked on the first legs of the trip, I hadn’t gotten confirmation that he could make it. My back up plan was to have the tour bus drop me at a truck stop near Toledo on the way back to Nashville, and have my brother pick me up there. But seeing as how it would be roughly 1am by the time we would get to the truck stop, and my brother had to work in the morning, I wanted to spare him that misery. So I kept my fingers crossed that my Plan A would come together. And sure enough, somewhere along the line, I received a call from my guitar playing pal, Dan Searles, saying that he would definitely be able to come to the Detroit show and give me a ride home. Whew.
Fast-forward back to the evening of September 2 at the Michigan State Fair. The sound check was done, we had visited the Motown Museum, dinner was consumed, and the band was prepping for the show. Opening act, Chuck Wicks, was taking the stage and beginning his set. The sun was setting on another beautiful, late summer day. Dan called to say that he had arrived at the fair, and we began the process of figuring out exactly where he was and how he would make his way to the stage area. This proved to be a little tougher than it sounds, since every visual landmark he referenced was meaningless to me. I had only entered the fair through the “back way” and remained mostly in the backstage area, so I was completely unfamiliar with the rest of the fairgrounds. But after about 20 minutes or so, Dan had parked and found his way to the entrance of the music venue, where I was waiting with his backstage pass. We chatted for a minute or two, then headed toward the bus area for a “nickel tour” of the backstage area. While we waited for Joe’s part of the show to begin, we hung out near the bus, where Chris and the rest of the band and crew came and went, as they prepared for the show. I was going to give Dan a quick inside view of the bus, but I thought it would be best to wait until later, as it was somewhat hectic at the time. The last thing I wanted to do was bother any of the tour personnel. They had all been so accommodating to me throughout my brief stay with them, and I respected that.
Finally, Chuck’s set was done, and Joe’s crew (Josh, Taylor, and Chris headed for the stage to help with the setup changeover. I gathered my photo gear, threw on a dark-colored jacket (to be less of distraction as I wandered along the front of the stage), and escorted Dan out to front of the stage. I had apologized to him up front, telling him I would be shooting the show from the pit and that I couldn’t really ‘hang’ with him during the show. He was fine with that, and just thrilled to be there, getting access to all the areas of the venue. For free. During the show, he moved back and forth from the edge of the stage near me, to the front of house position near Chris, to a spot in the audience near the entrance.
This show for me was going to be bittersweet. I was looking forward to shooting the third show in 5 days, because I was now quite familiar with the set and the movement of the players. But I was melancholic, because I knew my show biz road show fantasy tour was about to be over. But as the show started and I began shooting, I became totally immersed in the moment, and any negative thoughts soon vanished. The interesting thing about this show, was that the band members were so conscious of me shooting them, that they actually started to “mug” a bit for my camera – making more direct eye contact, getting a little more theatrical with their movements or antics. It made for some great shots, too.
Thanks for following along with my ramblings. This experience was one I will always remember and cherish.
Finé.
(Link to Addendum below)