Adam Smith!
Adam is someone we met while touring through Albuquerque and have since formed a great friendship with him. He is an artist and multi-instrumentalist, and a figurehead in hardcore and DIY music scenes from ABQ to San Francisco, and is chock full of incredible insight and wisdom when it comes to everything from DIY touring to putting together shows. All around, he is a pillar of the live music scene and we're so happy to have him on 🙂
He is the singer and guitarist for his band Stars Don’t Mean Anything so definitely make sure to check them out.
Here are some words of wisdom from Adam:
"I’m not really good with getting sentimental outside of the moment. Life has moved incredibly fast for me in the last year and I’ve sorta just been floating along trying to cling to my morals and ways I can have a positive effect, which was hosting and contributing to shows the best I could. Fly Honey Warehouse definitely started outta fun and the need for a place for shows when Amped and Gasworks closed a year prior, but I’m astonished by how it evolved and the impact it had, especially post quarantine in 2021 when we started having shows again. Every show I’ve worked or played I’ve imagined a 14 year old Adam in the audience who is just filled with passion and awe, a kid who sees the magic and wants to do everything in their power to keep it going and spread it to everyone possible. That’s why I’ve always told people to start bands, because playing music with my friends is the best decision I ever made and I can’t even fathom where I’d be if I never pushed my first band to play so many shows and write and record and tour. I leaned on doing everything to help friends from across the country or overseas, I wanted them to have the best experience possible because I knew exactly what that magic felt like in Albuquerque.
I wanted people in Albuquerque to see and feel that magic too, because this world finds a new way to take it away every single time you wake up and scroll social media. Or when you really feel the constant pressure from capitalism. Or when you have to hold yourself together the best you can for your friends who can’t hold it together much more than you. That magic healed me, at least in a moment when I felt beauty and that everything in that moment was alright. That 14 year old Adam was in the crowds to me. I’m just hoping that they can see my dysfunctional ass contributing by hosting shows, playing shows, and going to shows, and think to themselves “I can do that too.” Because I promise anyone can, and the more people that really get out there and contribute, the more beautiful it will become and the more people will be able to witness and share that magic."
About the Unwritten Rules of the Road
The Unwritten Rules of the Road is a combination blog and video series with live streams and interviews with people who are on the ground level in the live music and touring world: musicians, promoters, set builders, venue owners, and more! Our mission is to provide an educational resource to artists of all types who want to get into touring but may not know just how to do it... Or maybe you are already touring but just want to figure out a way to level up. With your host Tash Cox (who is a seasoned DIY tour booker and touring artist herself), we shall guide you.