Nashville certainly wasn’t tired

[bdysnatchers]

I’m a 32 year old man from Kansas City and I made the drive to Nashville to see a band I have loved for half my life @ The Brooklyn Bowl.

I’ve had an awful run of luck recently. I lost a parent in March of 21. I work in education, and I’m sure you can all guess how that’s been recently. I just quit a job as a school librarian - a job I had dreamed of doing forever - after an absolutely miserable year about two weeks ago.

I’m not saying that to elicit pity or anything, it’s life. We all have our bumps and bruises. I can’t express how much I needed the release of this show. To scream those words. To finally see it. To somehow give something back - as insignificant as my joy and merch expenditures might be - to a band that has given me so much.

It was everything I could have dreamed of and more. Not only did I get to see an incredible show, but I was absolutely blown away by the community. The kind, intelligent, and open hearted people drawn to this band are second to none.

For the first time in a long time, I can proudly say that there is so much joy in my heart. I can’t wait to do it all again.

Also, sorry for anyone that ended up next to me frantically screaming and bouncing every which way during Stuck Between Stations. I needed that one pretty bad. See you all as soon as I can make the travel work again.

[sequesteredinuk]

Thanks for your contribution. Glad to hear that you got what you needed from the show and I hope you begin to see some new light after the darkness of the last year and few weeks man. 

Also sorry for the loss of a parent. It's never easy and there's no timeline for grief. Take it one day at a time mate. 

My story might help.you? I hope so. February of 2020 my mother died. I'm older than you so.my mother was certainly older than your parent. She was in her early 90's so to the outside world it may not seem a tragic thing? Still, it hit me hard, harder than I ever imagined it would when the inevitable end came. My mother's funeral was on the Thursday before the Hold Steady weekender in London. I had resigned myself to not going to the three gigs. Despite flights, hotels and tickets being purchased I had no interest in going. Two different friends along with my wife persuaded me to at least go to the first show on the Friday. Leave hallway through if it's too much they all said. 

For that persuasion I'll be forever grateful mate. 

I went, still grieving internally. From the first note it all melted away. I put all that grief to one side for three days. The joy of the music combined with the community put all that shit on hold. Three of the best days of my life. On the Monday morning I went back to grieving but with a renewed outlook on things. No longer was I sad my mother was gone, I was grateful for the years I had with her. Just like The Hold Steady shows themselves, when the last note of killer parties ends I'm not sad it ends, I'm happy it happened. 

Hang in there mate, things will improve. Don't be stranger. Post again next time life is getting the better of you or when life is joyous. Either way. We've a good community here and at shows. You're not alone. Remember that.