Things Can Only Get Better Tour - Week Three

richardblade
Aug 10
4 min read

From Texas to Nashville: Another Week on the Things Can Only Get Better Tour

After a great show at Harrah's Stir Cove in Iowa, I was up very early the next morning, flying back to Los Angeles from Omaha. I was heading home for a couple of days before rejoining the Things Can Only Get Better Tour in Austin.

And if you're wondering about the bandage on my nose in the photos, there's a story behind it. I got into an argument with the luggage hatch on the tour bus after the show.

The hatch won. Fortunately, I was fine — and ready to get back on the road.

Austin, Texas

A few days later, I was excited to return to Austin, one of those cities that always seems to have something special going on when it comes to music.

The Things Can Only Get Better Tour brought me back together with Howard Jones, Wang Chung, English Beat, and Modern English for a night of '80s music and fun at ACL Live at The Moody Theater.

As usual, I arrived ready for another free meet-and-greet when the doors opened.

And what a group of people showed up. Fans brought books, photographs, CDs, and all kinds of memorabilia for me to sign. We talked, took pictures, and shared stories before I had to make my way backstage for my first set. Then the music started.

This was one of those nights you don't forget. The Austin audience was completely into it — laughing, dancing, singing, and clapping along with everything happening onstage. You can feel that kind of energy from the stage, and it makes you want to give even more back to the audience. I was already looking forward to coming back.

Dallas

From Austin, we headed to the Dallas area for a show at the Texas Trust Theatre in Grand Prairie. Backstage, Howard Jones was soundchecking as we prepared for another night on the road. The schedule was tight, as usual. Doors opened at 6:00, the show started at 6:30, and I had only about 20 minutes for my free meet-and-greet.

So if you're coming to one of these shows, my advice remains the same:

Get there early!

Dallas delivered another great meet-and-greet, followed by three sets and another fantastic crowd. There's something about playing Texas that I always enjoy. Great people, great energy, and great fun. Thank you, Dallas.

My Other Job

We had a night off from the tour, which meant it was time for me to return to my other job. Running the country from the Oval Office. At least, that's what the photo suggested. I'm not sure how well I did, but I was thinking that maybe having Depeche Mode perform a version of "The Star-Spangled Banner" might have been a good idea.

You have to have a little fun on your days off!

Indianapolis

Then it was back to the airport. I was at Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport, ready to fly to Indianapolis for the next show. The flight was on time — thank you, Alaska Airlines — and I arrived ready for another free meet-and-greet.

I always encourage people to bring a copy of one of my books if they'd like me to sign it. We can talk, take some selfies, and have a little time together before I head backstage. Indianapolis was a first for me. It was my first time in the city, and I have to say, I loved it. Another fabulous meet-and-greet, followed by a quick change of gears and a trip to the stage. Ten minutes after my last update, I was ready to go.

Another night, another audience, another city — and another reminder of just how much fun this tour has been.

Michigan

Next stop: Meadow Brook Amphitheatre in Rochester Hills, Michigan.

The venue itself is beautiful, and we couldn't have asked for better weather.

Once again, I was doing a free meet-and-greet when the doors opened, although this time I only had about 20 minutes before I had to rush off to the stage.

Bring a book to sign. We'll take some selfies. Then I'll see you inside!

But the real highlight came once the show started.

Sold out.

And what an audience. The crowd at Meadow Brook was truly exceptional. They were completely into every moment of the show, and the energy from the audience was incredible from beginning to end. Honestly, I wished I could pack that entire crowd up and take them with us for the rest of the tour. That's the kind of night you hope for when you walk onto a stage.

After the brilliant show, I was hanging backstage with Howard Jones when we ran into our dear friends Steve and Jacqueline Robinson, the people behind 80s in the Sand.

It was one of those wonderful backstage moments that reminds you how small the music world can sometimes feel. We talked about how much we're looking forward to this October's 80s in the Sand event in Cancun.