HBD FTV
Photography by Laura E Partain. Design by Kelcy Wilburn.
Gabe’s — Iowa City, Iowa, 2014. Photo by Ross Christopher
Field of Dreams — Dyersville, Iowa, 2014. Photo by me
Follow The Voices release show at The Old Rock House — St. Louis, Missouri, 2014. Photographer unknown
Follow The Voices by Aarik Danielsen of the Columbia Tribune
That tour was at an odd confluence in history. We had the honor to record a Daytrotter Session, and had a day off spent at The Field of Dreams. Both rare and magical highs. But this was all around the time Mike Brown was shot and killed by a cop in Ferguson, North St. Louis. Sparking massive protests and unrest not just in St. Louis but across the United States. By the time we got to St. Louis for the CD release show the unrest was exploding. I was scheduled to go on the air on local television the morning of the show - and about 20 minutes before we went live they announced the police officer's name involved in this, and 100% of the media coverage pivoted to that.
Photography by Ross Christopher and me
Field of Dreams — Dyersville, Iowa, 2014. Photo by Ross Christopher
The pendulum swings on this tour were unusually difficult to hang in there with. Keeping one ear on the unfolding news and one eye on the road. Unattached to the unrest surrounded by fields of Midwest space, dark bars and sweaty microphones - but at the same time being unable to escape it as an American. What was happening to my home was happening all around us.
In regards to where we are today in America, this is what I believe: there are many problems that you didn't create, that I didn't create, that this batch of people on the earth right now did not create. But it is every generation's responsibility to solve them. It's an obligation. Passing generational trauma after trauma down to the next generation is child abuse. Call a thing by its right name.
I wish Mike Brown were here. I wish it didn't go down like that. I want you to know you are loved.
The Old Rock House — St. Louis, Missouri, 2014. Photo by Abby Gillardi
Field of Dreams — Dyersville, Iowa, 2014. Photographer unknown