Rock 'n' Road Part Five

Music

Part Five: The Photographic Evidence

This story is part of a week-long series covering my three days behind the scenes at John Mellencamp’s Rural Electrification Tour.

My brief but unforgettable odyssey on tour with John Mellencamp ended the evening of June 12, after an outside concert at Massachusetts’ Tweeter Center (the venue formerly known as Great Woods). When I first planned the trip, I never imagined that a mere three days could give me such a true taste of life on the road. In those 72 hours, I became part of a family -- all of a sudden, it was me walking backstage with a purpose; it was me hearing the crowd’s appreciation.

I also gained an understanding of why these people are different from the rest of us. The instability of a music life is not for the faint of heart, or the weak of mind. As I was told time and time again, people who love it never want to go back. The constant change of scenery, the surge of satisfaction when a show comes together, the perks and the power: These are all pieces of a whole that career traditionalists rarely experience. The ability to live out of a battered duffel bag and to wake up every day in a different city may be the true essence of life on the road.

My Five Favorite Flashes
5. Hearing T-Bone’s Words of Wisdom. "Have you ever seen a 350-pound man eat chicken?" the band bus driver asked me, all the while chewing on a poultry sandwich.

4. Discovering Mellencamp's Teenage Fans. I was truly surprised when I saw three young guys screaming in the front row of Philly's First Union Arena. That, combined with the fact that all the fans never left their feet: This rocker still has it.

3. Recruiting a Hairdresser Backstage. My mission (accomplished) at the Tweeter Center was to find a seasoned professional to trim the locks of a Mellencamp crew member.

2. "Sleeping" on the Bus Couch. The experience of trying to wedge my feet in between two green leather cushions for traction was one in a million.

1. Becoming a Manicurist. After the Philadelphia show on Friday night, I was introduced to Jim Boquist, the bassist from amazing opening band Son Volt. Admiring my nails (a lovely shade of purple), he asked if I had the bottle with me. Ever obliging, I visited a drug store the next day to procure said nail polish. On Saturday afternoon, he let me paint one set. And then when Son Volt went on that night, I smiled: a real, deep smile, as I watched my handiwork create music.

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Rock 'n' Road
Part One: I'm With the Band
Part Two: How They Got In and Why They’ll Never Leave
Part Three: What's It Really Like on the Bus?
Part Four: Interview With Mellencamp Keyboardist Moe Z MD
Part Five: The Photographic Evidence
Plus: Squeezing Mellencamp: The Albums, the Accolades, the Cigarettes

Questions? Write me!

Want more info on my fateful encounter with John Mellencamp? Read Rock 'n' Road Part One. Curious about how people get into the biz? Care to take a ride on the band tour bus? Check out Parts Two and Three. If chatting with musicians is more your thing, see Part Four.

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WildWeb - Rock'n'Road | June 23, 1999

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