Tour Diary #1: Go Radio

Tallahassee, Florida-based Go Radio (Fearless Records) are currently out headlining the Lucky Street tour with This Providence and Tyler Carter. They'll be sending us diaries from the road throughout the run. Check out the first entry below.

Hey Readers!  My name is Alex Reed and I play guitar for Go Radio.  I’ve been given the unique opportunity (courtesy of Alternative Press) to share my experiences while I’m out here on the road.  This not only marks the first of many entries, but the very first blog entry I’ve ever written. So let's get started….

Time is a pretty amazing thing: It seems to disappear if you're not paying attention and this is especially the case while on tour. It feels like just yesterday that we were packing up our trailers to head back out on the road for the first time this year, but sure enough we are already almost 2 weeks in.  Our adventure began with the long drive from Tallahassee, FL to Austin, TX to play our first SXSW showcase.

After a few short hours of sleep our first day at SXSW began. Press was first on the agenda but not before a brisk mile long hike to the convention center: this was where all the latest and greatest music industry ideas, gadgets, and inventions were setup, reminiscent of an 8th grade science fair.   A handful of interviews later we were on a mission to find some late lunch before playing. Our first showcase was super exciting for me because we were playing with The Used, Forever The Sickest Kids and Eve 6…..I definitely nerded out and nearly blew out my voice singing along with all my favorite songs. The show went great and a bunch of friends we hadn’t seen in a long time came out to hang.   Day 2 at SXSW was a blur of events.  We woke up pretty early to get press out of the way so we could head straight over to the Buzznet/Purevolume showcase with Lights, Forever The Sickest Kids, Every Avenue, and States.  The show went even smoother than the night before and morale was really high going into the Fearless Records showcase later that night.  This was without a doubt the highlight of our experience in Austin: the show was completely packed and the crowd came with an overwhelming amount of energy. It's definitely one I’ll always remember.

Although we had a blast and relished in every second of the chaotic atmosphere, I would love to go just to see the shows without playing.  I realized by the time we were wrapping up to leave that I had barely seen any bands!  Was I going to be the only one who left without the “guess who I saw at SXSW” moments?  No. Way. With just a few short hours until we departed Austin, my week was made. As soon as we walked out of the interview and onto the back deck (of what was just one of hundreds of stages) we were informed that Built To Spill would be playing in just an hour!  Now, I’ve listened to this band and always enjoyed what I heard… but I can promise that you won’t be the same after you’ve see them live.  Easily some of the most inspiring musicianship I’ve ever witnessed.

Without a moment to rest we packed up our vans and trailers and set off on the 2,200 mile drive to Indianapolis to start our headlining run with This Providence and Tyler Carter.  The road tends to present you with some pretty spontaneous moments, maybe that’s why I love it so much… I can imagine that, to some people, the idea of hopping back in a van to drive from Austin to Indianapolis (after driving from Tallahassee to Austin just a few days earlier) would be defeating or frustrating. For me, there are few things more enchanting than seeing the sun set and rise all in one drive.

Getting to Indianapolis could not have come sooner as none of us had showered since Florida… if you think a shower after a hard day of work feels nice just imagine what it feels like after five… it can really become more than just a shower at that point haha.  Then it was off to family dinner at a pretty underwhelming chain restaurant… but hey, it was nice to sit down around a table with everyone and have a pre-tour meal.

Lucky Street Tour Day 1!  The sun was up and the weather was uncharacteristically warm… it was going to be a good day. There can be a lot on your mind on tour. We had put SO much thought into conceptualizing this tour from the setlist to the production, it was extremely important to us that we made an experience for our fans that they have never seen before…you just want everything to go according to plan.  As soon as we got everything set up my excitement had nearly doubled.  Kids lined up, everybody sounded great, the show ran smoothly and most importantly… we had a blast!  Sometimes you can just tell when it’s going to be a good tour.

Next on the list was Pontiac, MI at The Pike Room.  My home state! Of all of the places to play in the wonderful USA Michigan is always one of my favorites and the shows are consistently amazing… Pontiac was no exception.  The crowd was packed in like sardines, it ended up being our first-ever sold out headlining show.  I don’t think I’ve ever been so sweaty in my life. At this point everyone was in a great mood and such a successful day two of tour warranted a few celebratory drinks with our new buds in This Providence.

Off to Grand Rapids for the second show in Michigan!  I almost felt bad for the crowd at that point because Pontiac was so sick, I didn’t know if they could live up to it…..but they proved me wrong.  They arguably had more energy than both of the previous shows.  I got to see a lot of my old friends and it definitely put more wind in my sails.  Grand Rapids you are amazing!

Time to head to the most exciting city in the US of A: Akron Ohio!  Just kidding…this may be one of the most odd cities I’ve ever been to. We walked nearly 5 blocks and didn’t see one open business or thing to do.   This made me the most unsure I’ve ever been on tour, seeing as we’ve never played there. I didn’t know what to expect but I was very pleasantly surprised.  The room was absolutely packed and everybody played a incredible show.

Last night was Pittsburgh, PA, easily my favorite show so far on the tour.  We played the Altar Bar downtown: I really love that venue, everybody who works there was super helpful and kind.  AND they gave us some of the best catering I’ve had in all my touring days! Mmmm stir fry. The crowd was super enthusiastic and knew every word…no matter how many shows I play, I will never get used to that-it always gives me the chills!

Welp, that just about sums up our first week (and a half) of tour!  Off to a great start and can’t wait to share more.  Till then take care!