To The Music Boys

Ping! My phone's "important email" notification chirped, but I was not in any shape to open my eyes. Or read. It was "way-too-early o'clock" on the morning after Lovejoy completely blew the roof off Chicago's House of Blues. Still, I rolled over to grab my phone and see what all the fuss was about. 

It was a mailing list message from Lovejoy, titled "A Note For You (From Us...The Music Boys). I won't get too detailed, as you can read it for yourself on the included image. As I absorbed the words "the music boys" wrote, I was whisked back to last night's gig, feeling all the feels and experiencing all the emotions. The moment Will flew out onto the stage as "Baptism" began? It felt like I was seeing Lovejoy for the very first time instead of my tenth.  They were still Ash, Joe, Mark, and Will, of course, but the vibe had palpably changed, even since I saw them at Summerfest in July. There was communal fire and strong, yet quiet, confidence. There was Will, coming into his own as a charismatic frontman, hopping around like one of those little wind-up chicken toys you’d get for Easter as a kid. There was a newfound level of musical tightness and cohesiveness that only happens between musicians who click on a very personal level. 

As I read the email, I realized that Lovejoy is quite observant. Dancing with your eyes closed? Check. Shouting the lyrics back at them? Check. Showing up with crazy excitement, screaming the lyrics to our friends, and actually listening? Check, check, and check. 

From first listen, it’s clear that the music boys have poured their hearts and souls into each second of each song on “One Simple Trick”.  That passion, in turn, fuels the crowd’s passion, and the result is simply electrifying. Perhaps I can best explain the intensity like this - I made rock shows my entire life in my teens and most of my twenties. The energy of One Simple Tour makes almost every show I’ve ever attended look like teatime. 

A few days later, at the Minneapolis meet and greet, I told the guys how much I loved the email and how much it resonated personally. True to form, I’d already talked too much and needed to get a photo and move along. I tried to squeeze in one last thing - how I hoped we (the crowd) were giving back as much passion as the band was giving to us. As we took a quick photo, Will was very kindly assuring me that he understood, he got what I meant. I was so grateful for his acknowledgment of my rambling. (Side note: If your meet and greet is coming up and you’re scared- don’t be. All four music boys are absolute sweethearts and so easy to talk to. Promise.) 

Lovejoy, if by some miracle you’re reading this (you aren’t), thank you for the lovely words in that email. Thank you for puttering around from city to city to play for us and meet & greet us (you must be mentally exhausted after talking to so many people!) Thank you for creating an album that is above and beyond my wildest expectations, with some good screamy bits that I can rage to as I drive (What’s more fun than shrieking “all guns for a hire” while rambling down the highway? Nothing.) Finally, thank you for seeing us. For “getting” us - at last some of the time. For being the reason this community is standing strong. 

If you haven’t read “The Music Boys” email, I really encourage you to sift through your inbox or use the graphic here. Yes, it’s just a little electronic message. To me, though, it’s much more important than that. 🖤