Monday, July 21, 2008

Chicago Hates Hawk Nelson

Yesterday we played a festival just outside Chicago, and we had quite the day. It was at a baseball field, and as I walked out to the stage I couldn't help but notice how AWESOME the grass was. I really wish my grass was that nice.

For the most part, that's where the good ended, and the bad began. Jay's mic died halfway through our set, and we had some other difficulties that altogether made the day pretty frustrating. There were a TON of bands playing this stage (Newsboys, Mercy Me, David Crowder, Hawk Nelson, Superchick, Red), and everyone had loads of gear.... So the back-stage area looked like a yard sale. Instruments and cases were strewn about like dirty laundry.

I would have to say that the David Crowder Band gets the "Garage Sale Award". Each member of the band has at least 2 instruments, and many have much more. Quite a few of them are home-made... including an instrument made from a car battery, a guitar with a nintendo controller built in, and they even had a guitar hero controller that had been modified to sample real guitar sounds. I also remember seing a lawn-gnome on stage. That added to the yard sale effect. They make some amazing music with all that stuff, but I always feel bad for them at festivals... It would stress me out to have that much stuff lying around for our set!

After a long day, we got back to our hotel to find that someone had been in our room, and had stolen our manager's laptop and iphone. This is not the first time we have been robbed in chicago. About 3 years back our van was broken into in Chicago, so I'm starting to think this city has it in for us. We called the police and filed a report, and I was surprised with the response. A very nice officer came by the hotel room and took a statement, telling us that detectives will be talking to the cleaning crew, and checking for any possible video footage in the area. I didn't realize they'd go to such lengths for a theft of a laptop.




Well, I don't know who committed this dirty deed.... but one thing is certain. If Columbo were here, this mystery would already be solved.


Oh, and one more thing....


Steer clear of Chicago.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

but but but the best deep dish pizza is in Chicago and we have never been robbed all the times we have been there and oh yeah Jesus People USA has an awesome community in a not so great area and well, I am not giving up on the windy city. and neither will Oprah.

love reading your blog, Jon...matte

Anonymous said...

Yeah, I don't like confusion...

Hawk is always welcome in Alaska and hopefully you will leave with more than you came with. :)

Anonymous said...

Jon. I'm really truly sorry that you guys had kind of a crappy day in Chicago. And I can relate to your issue with your manager's stuff being stolen. A few day's ago my brother's car was broken into while parked at home, he didn't loose a laptop but his ipod touch and GPS and some other random thing were taken. I hope she gets all of her things back. But seriously, I hope your next show go better, I'm sure they will.........but Chicago does have some fans that adore you guys so I hope you guys don't rule us out.
-Anna

Anonymous said...

Bummer man. Hope T can get her "life" back. Loosing that stuff is rough.

Yeah Chicago can be rough, hence the reason I moved to Colorado. :-) although the food is WAY better there!!

Jennie Macaluso said...

I know exactly what you mean. A few years ago when my mom and I were in Chicago we got our stuff stolen at a Best Western but here comes the worst part it was from our maid and our hotel didn't do anything about it.