As we are all painfully aware of now, we are living in a whole new era since the Corona virus stopped life as we knew it, and this is especially true for the entertainment industry.
Bands like All Time Low and Palaye Royale are navigating the new world of releasing an album while only able to promote it via online posts or interviews, and no live shows or crowds to interact directly with. While social media has played a large part in promoting bands for years now, the use of Twitter, Instagram and Twitch live streaming service has become essential. The Unlikely Candidates have taken to doing weekly live stream show on Instagram to interact with their fans, and promote their newly released song. Taking Back Sunday singer Adam Lazzara and guitarist John Nolan, who were quarantining together with their families, did a live stream show to support their tour crew, a group that are being impacted just as much as the artists themselves.
I wonder if there are other bands that are more up-and-coming, such as I DONT KNOW HOW BUT THEY FOUND ME, who may be forced to push back releasing albums due to the uncertainty of the times.
And while many bands appear optimistic with regard to touring, rescheduling spring and summer shows to the late summer and fall, the possibility that these shows will happen as scheduled seems to be dwindling quickly. Reports came over the weekend via the New York Times Magazine that indicates that things like concerts will be the last type of event to get back to normal, likely not until fall 2021.
My personal concern is that tours will be cancelled outright and then rescheduled for the future and the ordeal of trying to obtain tickets will need to happen all over again. I believe that other My Chemical Romance fans who were able to snag tickets to the fall reunion tour would not want to have to go through that fiasco again. And while tickets to shows that are cancelled do get refunded, the emotional toll of cancelled shows can take on fans and artists alike can be significant, especially in times like these where looking forward to something, anything, can really make or break a person's mental well being.
It is very important that as we get through these dark troubled times, that we remember what it was that brought us comfort and distraction: the musicians who released new music and that found new ways to connect with their fans. Support them as you can by buying merch and albums directly from them, and when tours do begin again, go out and see shows, both from bands big and small. It's the least we can do to show appreciation for those who lifted our spirits now.
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