In all my years I don’t think I’ve ever had so much fun as I did while participating in The Donnas’ Feather Nation Tour. I use the word “participating” because at some point in my travels I stopped being a casual concert-goer and became an active participant. Whether that’s a reflection of how many shows I went to or how many times I was fortunate enough to talk to, hang out with, and just be in the presence of so many great musicians I don’t know. What I do know is that if I was given the option to do the Feather Nation Tour all over again, I wouldn’t hesitate. In fact, I’d do everything in my power to start my tour sooner.
There’s something to be said for being in a different city every night. There were so many sights that I had the opportunity to see and there were so many fascinating people that I was able to meet. Aside from meeting my own hero and my favorite band I had the pleasure of hearing new bands that I may not have heard if not for the tour. I had the great joy of meeting, talking to, and hanging out with girl-rock legends Donita Sparks and Dee Plakas and I was fortunate enough to meet and hang around with up-and-comers American Bang. And if you can look past the “celebrities” I immersed my world with, the fans at the shows were amazing. I met so many people at the shows that I was more than happy to have conversations with, raise beers with, and generally just hang out with.
Since joining The Donnas’ fan club three years ago (and becoming an active member only one year ago) I’ve often been noted as saying that there are no fans quite like the Donnaholics. These are truly some of the nicest, most helpful, caring people I’ve ever had the pleasure of knowing. In every city – even those which I traveled to alone – I was never away from friends. I don’t know many people who can say that about going to a concert by themselves. Donnaholics are truly one of a kind and I’m honored and proud to call myself one of them.
I’m one week away from the Feather Nation Tour now. Last night I even popped in some Donnas DVDs to lessen the blow of not being at a show. It’s been very strange to not be constantly on the move, going to a show, and generally rocking out. And for the first week back from the tour I spent much of it wishing I had never left the tour behind and, of course, sleeping. For 10 days I was a part of the Feather Nation Tour but I will always be a part of the Feather Nation. I’ve got thousands of memories and thousands more in photographs. There were ups and downs but thankfully the ups always outnumbered the downs.
I’ve rocked and I’ve rolled. I’ve partied and I’ve (tried to) sleep. I’ve driven all night only to make it to the next show and I’ve slept two hours only to get up and drive a few hundred miles more. Is it an addiction? Yes. I can’t deny that I’m addicted to The Donnas. I’m addicted to seeing them live and I’m certainly addicted to them as people.
Throughout all these Blog of Sound entries I’ve said it over and over, the ladies of The Donnas are the nicest people I’ve ever met and I really can’t say it enough. I’ve never seen a band react so…positively, I guess is the word I’m looking for…to their fans and even little things like glow sticks. They were super sweet and super nice. I had always heard that about them but it still came as a bit of a surprise when I finally ran into them in Baltimore. They couldn’t have been nicer or more enthusiastic.
Brett’s comments about my own band’s t-shirt which I wore in Boston still stay with me. Yes, She Eats Planets is an awesome name. Yes, it’s X-Men. Allison’s attack on me in Baltimore will make me smile every day until I die. Torry’s comments to me following the NYC show about my enthusiasm about American Bang are those I’ll never forget. Even Maya’s big grin and enthusiasm over the glow sticks and spider web bag are forever embedded in my brain. And I will laugh over Brett’s freak-out over my purple Sharpie and her purple feather earring following the New York City show. “Oh my god! Did you see my purple feather?” as she proceeded to dig through an enormous bag filled with some 5,000 necklaces.
For all the fun the Feather Nation Tour held for me, I’m sad that it’s over. But I’m forever living in the Feather Nation.
A photo recap:
The Donnaholics in New York City
On my drive back from Birmingham I passed a few signs which just mean that I’m a true Donnaholic…
…there’s no cute guys in Decatur… – 40 Boys in 40 Nights
…Met a shy guy from Knoxville, Tennessee… – I Don’t Care (So There)
The unofficial fuel of my leg of the Feather Nation Tour
Hanging out with Allison Robertson after the show in Atlanta
Livin’ it up with Donita Sparks and the O ring after the show in Birmingham
Thanks for the stories – I’m very jealous of your whole experience, but glad for you nonetheless that you were able to do it.