Stonewall

twloha:

The TWLOHA interns had the opportunity to set up a TWLOHA table with Nichole at the Stephen Kellogg & The Sixers concert on September 28th. This news excited me since I have been a fan of SK6ers for the last couple of years. To be directly involved with a band I already admired was thrilling. I am a concert fanatic. It is where I can escape without fear of being myself. So to be able to give back to such an event was only fitting.

When meeting people I look up to, I always get nervous about the possibility that they might not be the role model I have made them out to be. When we arrived Sam, the SK6ers guitar player, greeted us. He is an excited and happy soul, to say the least. Sam was very interested in all of us and in the organization. That quality was true throughout the band once we met the rest of the members. To know that we were a part of the evening’s show was relieving and encouraging. This organization is built upon reaching out to others and spreading love, and it was nice to see that feeling returned from this band.

Before the concert, SK6ers played a couple of acoustic songs for SIXERTOWN (their fan club), and we were lucky enough to be a part of that. Seeing the band interact with their fans and seeing their fans share their love and support was wonderful. This isn’t a band that just shows up for a regular day at work, but rather a group of gentlemen who come to spread a smile and a night of music and community.

This sense of community was displayed halfway through SK6ers set. They played the first few songs plugged into their amplifiers and bound to the stage, but the band quickly traded their gear for acoustic instruments, jumped into the center of the crowd, stood on milk crates, and shared a song with their fans. From the back of the venue, Stephen’s words were just a whisper lost in the voices of fans singing as one. That performance summed up the evening for me. The band was there to share a memory with all of us. It wasn’t about the band themselves, and this wasn’t just another night on tour. This was a community event that was only possible because everyone in the room shared a common love for music.

TWLOHA has never been about one group. We exist because we believe in hope and community. It’s important to surround yourself with those you love and keep close those you care about. This concert and that one act of community showcased an example of hope and love that you just don’t see all the time. It’s one thing to see love alive in the office, but to see it put to action in person and in public is inspiring on a whole new level.

Concerts were always my escape from society, but this particular show was almost the exact opposite. It allowed me to bring those around me closer and to exist within a group of strangers without fear. We were all brought together as outsiders and sang as one voice of hope and love. I couldn’t be happier to be a fan of Stephen Kellogg & the Sixers and to know that TWLOHA is a part of this wonderful tour (keep an eye out for specific dates to come). If this group is stopping in a town near you, please don’t pass up the opportunity to share a night of music with them and say hello.

—Barry
Fall 2011 Intern

P.S.—The band was excited to be a part of our Fears vs. Dreams Campaign. Above is a photo of Stephen owning his. You can see the fears and dreams from the whole band here and check out their new video here.