I would be remiss not to apologize for my absence from the blog in recent weeks. I can't turn up a great excuse, and while I was prepared to blame laziness I just considered the last month of work and feel anything but. So lets just say I was neglectful and hope I have learned from my missteps. :)
I figured I'd return with a tour wrap up. The short story is simple, the shows were amazing. For me this tour was a bit of reeducation in how to headline a show. I know it sounds crazy after so many years, but truthfully aside from the one-off shows we did in the spring it's been a long time for me. That being said it was a lot of work and a lot of learning and it was an experience that could only take place on a stage in front of a large crowd. Usually I am very self conscious being so vulnerable in front of so many people, but there was a humanity to this tour and it's audiences and I am so thankful for the ability to go through that reeducation without having to hide. I found that my body was not immune to what it's gone through this past 18 months nor was my mind. There were definitely times when the usual tour sickness would make it's rounds on me and leave me terrified I may be really sick again, there were nights my lungs didn't hold up and I would leave the stage feeling like I had just run a marathon. (Not that I've ever run a marathon or have any idea what doing so might feel like :) Still, with the hardships considered it was worth every minute. Not only did the tour help me to reclaim some confidence I had lost it taught me that sometimes the only thing you can do is wrestle your demons. Not to say they didn't occasionally get the best of me on this run, but while there were moments I felt too tired or sick to finish the tour it was not hard to see the impact of what we were doing nightly and it kept me steady. I am still waiting to get the final numbers on what the tour brought in for the dear jack foundation, but that will be posted in part II and I have a feeling it's going to be very impressive. To all of you who came out and supported us on this run as well as those involved in the light the night walks I am so thankful for your involvement. I also have to thank my management, label, agency and all the promoters on this tour who bent over backwards to turn up extra money anywhere they could. They did this knowing that it would end up in the hands of people who will be fighting to make sure that blood cancers become more treatable and eventually cured. In a business that is characterized by it's evils I have truly found a team of people who not only do what they do because they love music, but like you who came to the shows, they have huge hearts and I am honored to work with each and every one of them. In closing I would like to dedicate this tour to two incredibly strong young men who I met over the course of the past few months and whose attitudes throughout their battles with cancer were unwavering and positive. Both were gifted musicians in their early 20's and both had incredible friends and families who adored them and saw in them what it is to be truly courageous. When I found out that both men, Brad Andreas and Chad Harjer had lost their battles within four days of each other it became clear what we were doing this past month and who we were doing it for. It is in their names that I will donate earnings from this tour and with their families in my heart that I will aggressively pursue research for this disease. No one deserves to be taken so young but both Brad and Chad will live on in the purpose of everything we do with the Dear Jack Foundation going forward.
please tell me i have first comment....
anyway! i really wish jm played my T4TC date, but it was still an awesome time. :) see you nov17. :)
Posted by: annie g | October 18, 2006 at 10:48 AM
really glad you are doing well. just like to say that you are th ecoolest person ever. you have an incredible soul and you are very humane. thank you thank you thank you.
-Pat
Posted by: pat | October 18, 2006 at 10:50 AM
It's super good to know you're still doing well. I always find your words so motivational... makes me want to go out and do something great. Keep up the amazing work, both for yourself and for the great causes.
Can't wait til the next time you're near SF.
Posted by: Laura | October 18, 2006 at 10:52 AM
thank you for finally blogging andrew, i was beginning to get worried. im glad you enjoyed the tour, i know we all did. knowing it was for a good cause made it even better. i wish i could come up with something witty and philosophical..but im just too tired. see you soon :)
Posted by: cece | October 18, 2006 at 10:52 AM
ok...so i actually read the whole thing this time instead of skimming it...
it is so upsetting to hear about people like brad and chad because then people realize that it does take lives and it could be anyone and age doesn't matter. the dear jack foundation is going to help so many people. it's amazing.
there was a more sufficient comment on my part... :)
Posted by: annie g | October 18, 2006 at 10:53 AM
I'm so proud of you Andrew. The Dear Jack Foundation is going to make a huge difference. See you soon.
Posted by: Myra | October 18, 2006 at 10:58 AM
cancer is horrible. but you've done so much to get people to realize how it affects people so much, and for that, you should smile.
Posted by: lindsay | October 18, 2006 at 10:59 AM
Be proud, Andrew. You've managed to do so much and while you continually give thanks to those helping you, make sure you take a minute to realize what /you/ have done.
Be happy, stay healthy.
Posted by: Beth | October 18, 2006 at 11:12 AM
I'm glad I could contribute to this amazing thing you're doing, Andrew.
This blog made me a little teary-eyed.
Posted by: Karamie | October 18, 2006 at 11:13 AM
I'm so amazed at how much you do. Anyone else would just sorta sink down on their couch and take a huge long break after all that, but I'm admired at you... well, unlaziness, and ur dedication to everyone. It's people like you who make music worth... well I'm not gonna say listening to, i'm going to say living, because we live through your amazing lyrics and your connection to us. It's through you that we find our selves, and we all thank you greatly for that.
Posted by: Christina | October 18, 2006 at 11:26 AM
i'm so glad i got to witness a T4TC show, so good. Your an amazing person&see you soon<3
Posted by: Devon | October 18, 2006 at 11:35 AM
we are all so very proud of you, andrew, for your accomplishments. i'm absolutely left without words. how is it that i can sit in my writing classes with a huge block of frustration sitting on my brain halting any form of creation from coming onto a page and you can sit and write within a blog and make something amazing? this makes you who you are...your words, how much you mean them, and everything else you do. you are making such a difference in this world and in so many lives. It's incredible. God Bless you and thank you. I'll be seeing you on November 24th in Minneapolis.
Posted by: Katie Anderson | October 18, 2006 at 11:39 AM
dont even worrrry about not updating. but i'm not going to lie i can't wait for part 2.
chad and brad's families are in our prayers. and thank you so much for everything youve done on the tour, i saw two of them and they were two of the best yet.
Posted by: leigh rice | October 18, 2006 at 11:41 AM
woot!! you're back!! I'm glad your tour was a success both personally and also for The Dear Jack Foundation. Keep on truckin'! I can't wait to see you again! yay concerts!
Posted by: Alison | October 18, 2006 at 11:50 AM
I am so glad the tour went well.I am quite excited to see you guys with Panic! Here in Minnesota, the 24th of November. Yes, I am counting down the days.
Thando
Posted by: Thando | October 18, 2006 at 11:50 AM
I'm disappointed that I didn't get to see one of the shows, but I will be seeing you Nov. 16 which is comforting.
I'm so thankful for all the work you do, and all the people you rally together to fight for people's lives, people like my really amazing friend David. I know that Brad and Chad are thankful and very proud of you, just like I am.
Posted by: Sam | October 18, 2006 at 11:50 AM
Thank you so much for putting on an amazing tour and at the same time working to make a difference. I can't wait to see how much money was actually raised. This was an amazing thing you did and I can't wait to see you again in November. I'll be praying for Brad and Chad's family. Take care Andrew.
<3 Jessica
Posted by: Jessica | October 18, 2006 at 11:53 AM
it was a good tour.
im very glad you hung in there.
Posted by: rhonda | October 18, 2006 at 11:58 AM
T4TC was amazing and I was glad to be able to attend one of the shows. I'm glad that you stayed strong throughout. Truly amazing.
Posted by: Meggan | October 18, 2006 at 12:14 PM
oh andrew i love you. way to make me cry. i wish i could've gonna to one of the shows but i was there via cellphone for a few songs. i'm proud of you for fighting through the hard parts and for doing everything to fight this disease not only for yourself, but many other people. thank you. <3
Posted by: Marissa | October 18, 2006 at 12:15 PM
glad to hear good feedback, finally, because this tour has a special place in my heart for sure.
the shows were nothing short of amazing. the atmosphere at the jacks shows is just magical and it's what keeps me coming back.. more often than is probably good/normal but it's all coooool.
ps get ready for a BIG surprise.
Posted by: Leah B. | October 18, 2006 at 12:15 PM
I think that sounds like an amazing experience.
On a different note, "Last Straw" is amazing! I am so impressed. I absolutely love it because it resonates to the quiet beauty within people and for some reason makes me hopeful. I loved it.
It's amazing and thanks for doing all you do for charity, its very inspiring!
Posted by: Juila Britz | October 18, 2006 at 12:18 PM
Andrew,
I was so excited when I saw that you posted. =] And everyone knows that you have been busy this past month, so we'll let it slide. =D
I'm so glad the tour went so well! This tour definetly raised a lot of money for cancer.
You definetly don't seem like the one to feel vunerable. You are an inspiration to me and to many other people.
-- Hayley
Posted by: Hayley | October 18, 2006 at 12:21 PM
basically, I freaking love you
and that's that
Posted by: Kara | October 18, 2006 at 12:27 PM
i'm so proud of everything you stand for and i'm so happy to be, in some small way, a part of it. this money, research, and awareness will make in immense difference in more people's lives than anyone will know. after losing one of the most important people in my life to cancer just a few years ago, and after your ordeal with it, i would love to take any part in raising money to fund research to cure cancer, and to provide hope.
and i'm proud of you for such an amazing tour. i'm sure that milwaukee was only a small glimpse of the energy and dedication you continue to put into your shows....dedication and passion that i've seen time after time since 2001.
congratulations on a great first part of the tour! i'm proud of you andrew, and i'm especially proud of all the good you're doing....like you say, music does heal.
Posted by: Laura | October 18, 2006 at 12:28 PM