America America

The one lesson everyone learns from touring, or atleast, attempting to tour the US of A is that it is a HUGE country. We knew that going in, but we did not know, exactly how big this place was. And the tour was a great way to find out

PS: This post started out with the intent of describing our tour, but I think it is more a vote of thanks, in a way, and I think each of the shows we did in the US deserve a post of their own, and that effort starts right after this!

We have been planning a tour of the US for the past 4 years now, and in 2010, we did a short splash and dash tour where we were invited by the Kennedy Center, and then filled that weekend up with some more dates and showcases. However, after much trying, this was going to be our first proper tour of the US.

The other thing that many people over look when touring the US, is how much work it is, right from setting up the tour to actually going through with it. And at many times in the cycle, we thought we would cancel, or not be able to get through it! But huge thanks are due to Archana Athalye, from One World Entertainment, who put together a fantastic tour for us this time.

Every single organisation in the US of A that hosted us, right from AKKA to the students of Ohio State University to the Kannada Associations in Chicago and Washington to the venues that had us play, were incredible. We can’t thank all of them enough for the amazing hospitality and generosity they showed to us on our tour and that really warms the heart. It makes us feel good to come over all the way from India and be treated with such love and adoration.

Today, back in Bangalore after a whirlwind 15 days where we covered 9 cities, across the length and breadth of America, I can only sit back and thank my stars that we have such amazing friends around the US of A, with whom we stayed, came over and crashed out at moment’s notice, who put up with our completely erratic schedule and made us feel at home and many times, like it was our own home! Trust me, we don’t eat that much Indian food when we are in India :p

I don’t know what prompted this post, but it was things that I wanted to say I guess!

So thank you, and apologies if this sounds like a badly prepared acceptance speech :p

Photos taken by Rakesh Raj at AKKA, Atlanta