Top 5 Gifts Bands Need on the Road

Hello Kelly played it’s first show back in Ontario in 6 months on Monday in Caledonia.

We put together a 60 minute set, and we’re all proud of how the set flows … I feel like we earned every pay-off and led the audience into the experience instead of expecting them to buy into it right away, which is a mistake that so many bands make. (Hello Kelly has made it in the past!)

Last night, we played in Clinton, a little down outside of Goderich. Goderich holds special place in my heart because in university, I had a crush on a super cute girl from Goderich. Her name was Tracey. She didn’t come to the show.

Being on the road again though brings back all the memories of past tours and it got me to thinking of how grateful I am of all the support we’ve received over the years, financially, with prayer … but also through awesome “tour gifts”!

Today I’ve decided to give you guys a little window into how you can help bands on the road. So next time a musician tells you he’s going on tour, you’ll know a great gift to get him/her by referring to this list: I present to you “Top 5 Gifts Bands Need on the Road!”

5. Fingernail Clippers

I started keeping one of these in van after we did a whole tour without them and I realized how gross it is to live without. It’s the simple things.

4. Power Pack

Anybody who travels in a van needs one of these. They power AC and DC devices, it can boost your vehicle’s battery and some of them have air compressors (to inflate your flat tires.)

3. Subway gift cards

When you’re in a hurry & broke and your other options are McDonald’s and Burger King, Subway is food for kings. For $5 you can get 12” of relatively healthy sandwich: Half for lunch and half for dinner. And Subway can be found everywhere across the continent. Plus, the gift cards work on both sides of the border!

2. Jump Rope

I prefer to go on late night runs after we get to the hotel or billet’s house after the show, but my bassist George and drummer Ben are skipping rope for a half hour every morning: What a great, simple idea! No need to hunt down a gym in every city we visit! It’s not the most complete or intensive regiment, but it’s something.

1. Laundry Bag

It always happens like this: 3 days into the tour, you realize you don’t have anywhere to put your dirty laundry! Mesh laundry bags are $2 at Wal-Mart. They sell heavy-duty “you’ll-never-break-this” laundry bags for $6. To keep from taking up valuable space in the van, I just keep the laundry bag in my suitcase, letting it grow as the clean clothes are depleted.

Come back tomorrow when I post the opposite countdown: “Top 5 Gifts Bands Don’t Need on the Road!” You might be surprised at the things that people give us that actually make life a little bit harder!

If you’re a musician, tell me what some of the best gifts we’ve received on the road (not worst, save those for tomorrow), and what YOU consider to be the best gift to get on the road.

For those about to rock  …

–

francy