Mark asked me to do this. Tour stories…the telling of what happens on a Touché Amoré tour. If you don’t know of my band, we’re a “hardcore” band from LA. If you know my band you’ll know that we’re hardly “hardcore” dudes at all. We don’t really party hard, and we don’t really get into whacky adventures. Generally we’re quite laid back, and would rather watch movies and nerd out about gear, than go “party” with people after the show…it just isn’t in our nature. (Granted, I’m only 20 years old and I’ll be turning 21 on our fall tour this year, but almost everyone else in the band is over 21 so it’s not just me)
So why do we tour? What is the point? If I’m not gonna go party and live like it’s a vacation 24 hours a day then why on earth would I do this? The answer is a little complicated. I can’t really explain it.
I’ve worked jobs before. They all sucked. But having a job is great sometimes. Hell, when I’m home I work a 9-5 job. I love having money in my pocket at the end of the week, and being able to buy what I want. It’s a very rewarding feeling. It’s fantastic to be able to measure our successes. Myself, I buy records, amps, guitars, clothes, and other things that when I look around I can be proud of. And what’s weirder is that the instant gratification I feel is usually better than playing a pretty good show or something like that. But the long-term feeling I have gained from being in this band is unparalleled. Its something I’ve never really experienced before. I am in love with this band. I am in love with playing every night, I am in love with being taken in by total strangers who only know me by my music and kindly allow to sleep on their floors, and most of all it has allowed me to love myself. When I wake up for work, I hate myself, even though those nights I wake up in my bed, clean, fed, and in far better condition than I am on tour. But the feeling we share together as a group…that’s what I live for. I love Touché Amoré. I love my friends. I love you and I’m sorry this wasn’t a story.
-Clayton
