DJ Jim Q's Playlist: Endurance
I was recently at a local live show, the band was fantastic, they played an exceptionally dynamic set. It was a dreary Monday in the nation’s capital. The venue was small, there were about a hundred people in the space but it felt comfortably full. The three members of the band were likely in their forties. This particular show was night nine of twelve dates in September alone. The band had crossed the midwest and are now working their way down the east coast playing what appears to be a number similarly-sized venues. My friend and I stuck around until after the show. I bought something from the merch table, I felt compelled to contribute to the momentum of their tireless journey. My ticket price seems like a weak gesture compared to what I had just enjoyed and what I knew they had to do to make it happen. I bought a record and my compatriot bought a shirt and record. As the opening band left the venue they wished the headlining drummer, now turned merch table guy, good luck on the rest of his tour and I thought to myself, god damn this takes commitment and endurance.
This is just one band of the countless sea of touring bands. It’s just the three of them, lugging their equipment across the country in a van playing small venues almost every night. It requires a reserve of dedication, passion, and strength that I’m not sure I could muster. I heard so many stories over the years of friends playing to five person rooms, getting ripped off by promoters or club owners, having their gear stolen, sleeping on the floor of some weirdo’s filthy apartment next to the cat box—it’s a wonder anyone still does it. And yet they persist; thank goodness for that.
I’ve been surrounded by working musicians for most of my post teenage life and touring is just a part of the deal, or at least it was. While the horror stories and hijinks are sometimes amazing and always entertaining, the vast majority of it sounds, well, way more boring than you might imagine. It turns out, rolling around the country, in a beat up cargo van, crammed full of equipment, with your unbathed bandmates, is not glamorous at all, in fact it sucks a lot of the time. The sensational and salacious escapades we’ve all heard about surrounding the excessive fame driven rock bands of the 70s and 80s are way out of reach for the average touring band. About as out of reach as a vegan meal on the southern leg of your US tour.
While filled with some unsettling stories and a lot of simmering rage, Henry Rollins’ road diary “Get in the Van” is nonetheless an exceptionally detailed and seemingly honest portrait of road life for a small touring band in the 80s, at least from the perspective of a 20 year old punk dude working through anger issues.
What I like about the book is how touring is framed as almost a physical and mental challenge to overcome, a test of spirit and endurance, although I imagine Rollins sees a lot of things that way, he’s still pretty intense. I would recommend reading the book even if just for its anthropological value; not many documents exist that so thoroughly illuminate in such personal confessional detail the realities and mindset of touring musicians pre internet and pre cell phone. It reveals that it takes a level of commitment, sacrifice, and endurance that few possess. So next time you’re at a live show, after the sweat-drenched band has finished and dragged their gear off the stage, wander over to the merch table and buy a record and a shirt. Your contribution might help the art endure a little longer.
Welcome once again to another playlist. I do hope I haven’t worn out my welcome. This month’s theme is Endurance. Nominated by the Timișoara chapter this playlist explores all manner of stress, perseverance, dedication and tolerance. Mary Jane Girls go “All Night Long”, The Impressions “Keep on Pushing”, ELO tells us to “Hold On Tight” and Genesis Owusu is “Tied up” but undeterred. Queue it up and hang in there until the end, it’s a long playlist, but well worth the listen.
Thanks for your support and interest. I hope you enjoy this playlist. If you do, give me a shout on Twitter or Threads, and be sure to follow and like on Spotify. See you next month.
Header graphic composed using the kitten image from the original “Hang in There, Baby” poster by Victor Baldwin, 1971.