STATEWIDE — It’s the feeling of the bass underneath your feet, clenching your heart, crowds chanting, bodies swaying barely inches apart, a concert before the pandemic.
Now, it’s a bit different.
“When there’s more people there’s more energy,” said Timothy Scott, lead singer of Timothy Scott & ToolBox Union, “So, it heightens your ability to play a little more, I would say, just kind of brings out the best in you, and it’s lacking that a little bit when you have less people.”
Scott has been playing for more than 40 years and says even though there are a lot fewer people, he still plays with passion. He said because of the pandemic he’s mainly been playing a lot of solo stuff just because it works better in clubs, and if he wants to play with his band it’s easier to try the counties outside Marion county.
“The key for me is just being able to play music,” said Scott.
For rock’n’roll band Stereobella the pandemic hit right as they were getting started. Lead vocalist, Tyler Kemmerer said they recorded a single, he was driving down to Terre Haute to record with the others, and then…the pandemic.
Travel restrictions, recording limitations, limited gigs, socially distanced concerts are just a few of the challenges for musicians, but it isn’t all bad.
“We really had the chance to work in the studio and kind of hone in our sound,” said Marcus Rogers, lead guitarist for Stereobella, “Whereas normally you hone in your sound out in the garage or playing free shows, and we’re actually able to hear back immediately what we’re doing.”
Rogers has been playing for years, but Stereobella, made up of him, his brother, his sister-in-law, and Kemmerer, never got the chance to perform live.
He said the band has agreed they want to wait until things are a little safer before having people gather to watch their live music, even though he misses it.
“Just about a week ago, I was like, ‘Man, I really miss going out and playing,” he said. “Even if I have to go play in front of like the freaking bartenders at a club right now, I would just be excited to be on stage and just be able to play live music.”
When he does get the chance he says he’ll probably be more mindful of getting into people’s personal space.
They said the pandemic slowed things down, but they’re still having fun with it, and they’ll continue to grow and evolve just like music always has.
“Where music’s going to go, where the arts are going to go, I think music, arts, entertainment have always adapted,” said Kemmerer.
In the future, he thinks we might all get a little more appreciative not just in music, but in life for the things we have and who we spend our time with.
“As long as there’s a message that needs to be heard, as long as there’s emotions, and human life there’s always going to be music,” said Rogers.
You can listen to the full interview with Stereobella and Timothy Scott here:
Marcus Rogers and Tyler Kemmerer: Stereobella
Timothy Scott: Timothy Scott & ToolBox Union
