We were on the road for seven weeks, all across America, for a chapter i won’t forget. The opportunity was both amazing and challenging – the chance to speak to hundreds of people every night, briefly before Anberlin would take the stage. As the weeks went by, TWLOHA was introduced to thousands of people and there was the feeling that something was happening. Chris from Bayside wore our shirt on Craig Ferguson’s show and then Deon from Anberlin did the same a few days later. It was an exciting time and something like a traveling camp, everyone rooting for each other and celebrating the good news as it came. That part was incredible and yet for me it was also a strange existence, each day revolving around two or three minutes on stage.
This was early 2007, Anberlin’s “Cities” U.S. tour and for me, it was also a painful time. i was in a relationship that was coming apart and so the time on the road was filled with conflict and uncertainty. Looking back, it feels almost like a movie – getting to see so many places for the first time, so much hope with the organization starting to take off and yet so much drama as well.
Along the way, there was this adorable girl who brought a little bit of sunshine everywhere we went. She was always smiling and she was always kind. Her band opened the show each night and their song “Monster” was always a highlight.
The adorable girl was Dia Frampton, and the band was Meg & Dia. Hopefully, some people discovered them on that tour. Either way, it’s safe to say that a whole bunch of folks know about Dia now. Below is her cover of Kanye West’s “Heartless,” which she performed live on “The Voice” last night.