Tales From The Golden Road: Stop Light Observations Conquer Fears and Get Loud on Tour

June 15, 2017 by Glidein B-Sides, Columns

Plenty of people go to see bands when they come through their town, but most people don’t think about everything that it takes to get those bands to their favorite club. Being on tour for a musician is both enlightening and daunting, as physically and mentally draining as it is stimulating. And no matter what, there are always stories to tell. In Tales From The Golden Road we let musicians tell their own stories of life on the road to get a behind-the-scenes, up-close look at what really goes down between each show.

Charleston, S.C.’s Stop Light Observations has quickly garnered a following with their potent blend of Southern rock that incorporates elements of psychedelic, electro, reggae and hip-hop. If you listen to the band’s newest album Toogoodoo you’ll quickly realize this is catchy stuff with a wide-ranging appeal. The album is loaded with powerful anthems that balance pop sensibility and straight up rock and roll. Now the band is touring in support of the album, and they will be sharing dispatches with Glide Magazine from the road. Vocalist Will Blackburn…

Sometimes I lay in the bus after a show, put on headphones, and turn ’em up loud. We almost always have at least an hour trip to the hotel. As we drive from the venue to our hotel I’ll lay there and think over everything I did during that show… where I feel I slipped up, or didn’t quite nail it.

I’ll think about home and how I know all the other fellas miss their friends and family just as much as I do. I ponder whether or not we really are as “amazing” or “special” as we’ve been told a time or two by fans and industry folk alike. “Is this really my life?” I’ll ask myself. “Am I truly on the road to achieving my dreams and conquering my greatest fears?” “Are the fellas proud of me for trying to grow not only my vocal ability but my strength and courage as a man and a friend?” These questions free flow through my mind. With eyes closed and a tired body, I feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be. Those questions are valid and deserve a moment of reflection, but time has told that keeping the faith in the common goal is just about all you can do to keep an even keel out there.

Most of all I am thankful. Thankful to share the toughest moments and my greatest trials with the very best of friends and most supportive of fans. I would remiss not to say that without our family’s love and support we would surely be more likely to fail. Truthfully, I hate that word. Failure. It used to be one of my greatest fears. I’d lose sleep and question my every decision, knowing that this could be the tipping point of demise for us. I’ve forgotten that word, left it to die somewhere where my thoughts aren’t polluted with that ominous doubt. We keep the faith, in our biggest fights, our longest days and our worst shows. Thank you all!

Check out tour dates below, visit stoplightobservations.com, and stay tuned to Glide for more installments of this edition of Tales From The Golden Road! Read the first and second entries!

Wednesday June 21 – Revelry Room – Chattanooga, TN

Thursday June 22 – High Watt – Nashville, TN

Friday June 23 – Bidentennial Park Concert Series – New Albany, IN

Friday June 30 – The Windjammer – Isle of Palms, SC

Thursday July 6 – Summerfest – Milwaukee, WI

Friday July 7 – GMAN Tavern – Chicago, IL

Saturday July 8 – Bell’s Eccentric Cafe – Kalamazoo, MI

Friday July 14 – The 8×10 – Baltimore, MD

Sunday July 16 – Fairfield Theatre – Fairfield

Monday July 17 – Rough Trade NYC – Brooklyn, NY

Thursday July 20 – Wonder Bar – Asbury Park, NJ

Friday July 21 – SummerSounds – Greensburg, PA