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The atmosphere was beyond intense. It was amazing. Girls upon lovers’ shoulders. Fans screaming, swooning, crowd surfing. Four bands back-to-back on a November night. What a way to spend a Saturday evening.
At Amos’ Southend, on the Nov. 8, a line formed outside the doors more than 2 hours before it opened. In the chill of the wind, fans adorned with band T-shirts waited patiently as one performed acoustic songs for the crowd. I approached the tour buses, greeted by Preston Jones, tour manager for Secondhand Serenade. In the warmth of the bus, I was ushered in to sit among a crowd of musicians, a worn-out book titled “Critical Mind” poking my side. John Vesely, popularly known as Secondhand Serenade, came out in a white T-shirt and cap, displaying a variety of tattoos on his arms.
“Want some Hooters?” he offered dinner. I passed. He sat down beside me as we talked about his music and career. Secondhand Serenade has been touring for about two years now, and he told me it’s often hard to be so far away from home, and for long amounts of time as well. The experience does give him his best moments, though, as he meets new friends and builds strong relationships with his fans. Inspired by bands like the Beatles, Muse and Jimmy Eat World, he invokes a message through his music to his fans.
“Follow what you love,” he explained. “Follow your dreams.”
After a short chat, I departed his tour bus to enter another. I was introduced by tour manager Sean Heidinger to Dave Melillo of Cute is What We Aim For. He was seated with a laid-back attitude, relaxing to the night. It was intriguing to have left a conversation with a man who had a message to give his fans to start chatting with a bass guitarist who would just likes to go with what happens.
“We don’t really have a message. We just want to play. It’s not that we want to have a number one song or anything. We just love to play,” he said.
I asked if the songs take long to write, but he told me that sometimes, it could take only two days. Other times, it could take longer than a few months, even a year. Melillo added that they change up their songs from time to time. Not for the fans; but for the band, to add some difference in their music. Jeff Czum, another guitarist for the band, who performed some great solos later that night, joined in the conversation.
“We just act spontaneous on stage. I’m a scatterbrain. Sometimes, I just go up there and think, ‘What am I gonna say next?’”
“What was your best experience?” I asked him.
Czum didn’t hesitate. “Warp Tour.”
Melillo agreed. “Definitely Warp Tour. It was great to just hang out with the bands we heard growing up, like Simple Plan, New Found Glory. It was awesome.”
“Awesome” would be only one way to describe that night. With the opportunity to meet some passionate and down-to-earth musicians, and then enjoy a front row view of their incredible performance, it’d be impossible for me to look forward to another two months of school now.
