You cannot create an special evening on paper. Sure, the Daytrotter Barnstormer Tour looks good at first glance: six talented, young bands in a remote barn in Monticello sounds at least fun. But a special evening – one that will live on in the hearts and memories of those in attendance – is the sum of all its parts.
Friday’s leg of the Barnstormer tour was a special thing not just because of the bands that performed, but because of the great combination of things brought together by the Daytrotter team and fate.
The rainy weather that had hovered over the Midwest for days finally broke on Friday, letting the sun shine and raising the spirits of the bands and fans. Those bands, in their fourth night of playing together, developed a wonderful, immediately evident, rapport and reached the peak of their performing prowess. This was not lost on the fans, who returned their energy with energy of their own, eclipsing their diversity in age only with their diversity in dancing skills. Though the moves weren’t always fantastic, the important thing is that the fans were dancing and having a good time – and it was contagious, when one person danced so did their neighbor and soon the whole barn was moving, including the floor.
Just like last year, the barn’s floor moved and swayed along with the rowdy fans, bending in step with the beat but never buckling. It was as if the barn itself was responding to the music, and with the Kalyx Center, that does not seem entirely impossible. The barn’s slightly spooky, wonderfully quirky aura seemed alive, and contributed to a sense of community among the fans and bands-turned-fans inside. The crowd was one in their fandom, awed by each acts’ vibrant performance.
No band gave less than their best Friday night. Even tour newcomers, Mike and the Moonpies and ARMS, poured their soul into their performances and seemed sincerely appreciative to be in the company of other great bands and the incomparable Daytrotter crew. Though I can admit The Romany Rye and Keegan Dewitt really stole my heart with their performances, there was not a dull moment or a flat performance.
When Sondre Lerche closed out the evening with a one song, solo encore the crowd roared
with appreciation. Though the crowd had dwindled from its largest size, the loudest applause came right at the end for not just Lerche’s dynamic performance, but for an entire evening of incredible entertainment.
Before the concert Daytrotter founder Sean Moeller expressed his hope no one would walk away feeling like the show was just “okay.” It should be safe to say, no one felt that way Friday. What came together at the Kalyx Center was a truly special affair, much better than “okay.”
(All photos by Chris D. Davies)