Kevin Bronson on February 26th, 2009

4

[The Airborne Toxic Event’s show postponements due to singer Mikel Jollett’s laryngitis have wreaked havoc in the camp of tourmates the Henry Clay People. But …]

I woke up in Denver at 4:30 this morning with a blinking phone and a text:

“You’re at the part of the Muppet movie when it seems like all hope is lost and Gonzo – the flightless bird/thing – sings about a dream life of flight in the sky full of stars.”  And Kermit is scared and he doubts himself for convincing them to dream too. But dream. Dream. What have you got to lose?”  Get up. Get back up.”  Joe Frazier said he never counted the times he got knocked out; he counted the times he got back up.”  You’re the Henry Clay People!”  You’re always falling! But you get back up.”

This was the text from an anonymous (323) number. Anonymous because my phone was crushed two nights ago, resulting in the loss of all my contacts. The last tour blog seemed pretty bleak. That was three nights ago. There was even talk of coming back to L.A. with our tails between our legs. This was hopefully the low point of the entire tour. We sent out an S.O.S. to some of our friends.

Now, I admit that I’m a ‘glass half empty’/ ‘the world is going to end’ / ‘people will crap on each other if it serves them’ type. But I must say that my love of humanity has grown exponentially in the past 3 days. I love our friends.”  I love all of the people that came through for us, strangers, family, bands, friends. This is a big fat thank you to everybody!

Our friends scrambled and we ended up getting a show at the Larimer Lounge which is basically the Echo of Denver.”  We borrowed gear from friends of friends; complete strangers to us, willing to lend us their amps/drums.”  Local L.A. music aficionado, Sea Level Todd set us up at his parent’s house in suburban Denver. His parents treated us to Colorado pizza. Yep, they put up with five smelly strangers in their house and then took us out to a very nice dinner. This level of generosity overwhelms. I’m in awe.

Over the past three days, we’ve had countless text messages, phone calls, e-mails from people concerned about the band. We love all of you.

So here’s where we are at:

We played Denver. Denver people are amazing. Sweet and true-blue music fans. Tonight we play a gig in Lawrence, Kansas. Both last-minute minute gigs.”  Both a result of promoters taking a risk on an unknown band. Airborne came through in a big way and they are helping us pay our way to Minneapolis which will be our next show with them.”  Good dudes.

We’ve been on the road two weeks. No hotels. Just floors and extra bedrooms.

The tour continues and I can honestly say that this is a direct result of the outpouring of kindness from friends and loved ones … Andrew from Radars to the Sky, Rademacher, Vancouver Bruce and his bro, Cousin Alex, Todd Clifford, Prudence Hyman, Scott Simoneaux, Josh Riggs, Seattle Amy and Yin, Bill and Sue Clifford, David and Judy Henke, Kat Corbett, Adeline, Ft. Collins Elizabeth, Justin Gage, Denver Heather, John Bauccio, Airborne, Larimer Scott, Little Radio Dave, K- Bronson, Michelle Bagur and Aaron, Portland/Day of Lions Ashley and Charlie, Dane’s parents, and our families.

Thank you.”  Back on track in Minneapolis.

Love,
Joey, Andy, Mike, Jonathan, and Dane