tragedy & memories

Most people in my geographical area know what happened over the weekend at the Indiana State Fairgrounds right before Sugarland was to take the stage.  The wind blew the stage down and 5 people died, many more were injured. 

I went to the fair last night.  I kept looking at the crumpled rigging of the stage, the blue tarp lying there, the seats have all been removed, and the trailers that hauled the Sugarland stage still parked, looking abandoned.  The sun was setting and it looked so eerie, quiet and the scene demanded some respect.  A band that was at a peak in their career, shocked, shaken, by mother nature's wrath.  Families mourning, worrying about those still in the hospital.  Professionals and the public wondering how this happened, why this happened, and can it happen again.

I'm a veteran of about 300 concerts in my lifetime at all sorts of venues, indoors and outdoors.  I've been to the state fair grandstands to see concerts more times than I can count right now, I've gone nearly every year since I was a teenager.  I stood at the fence looking at the crumpled stage and all I could think was how many times I had been close to that stage, or up in the grandstands watching, knowing exactly where the video screens were placed (removed by last night), looking at the steel rigging that supported the lights, speakers and the canopy that covered the stage and knowing where the bands come and go to the green room.  I could see it all unfold in my mind, aided by several views of the amateur videos on Youtube. 

There was nothing to say out loud.  A night that should have been filled with fun, singing along, and a great performance ended before it had barely begun.  A girlfriend and I were talking how it could have happened to either of us at one of the shows we've been to.  Something can always go wrong and when it involves mother nature then there's nothing you can do.  I've gone to shows in rain storms, cold weather, scorching hot days, jumped in the mosh pit (ok, 20+ years ago, but I did it), and camped out all night to get in back in the days of general admission seating.  I've been lucky and I know it.

Tragic events are not foreign to the Indiana State Fair nor to concerts in general.  I hope it doesn't prevent the state fair from holding concerts on those grounds again.  I hope the space, after a season, doesn't become an unused venue.  A monument to the lives lost would be appropriate, but celebrate what drew people together in the first place - music.  Music and art are the world's language, transcending ethnicity, geography and grief.  Let healing begin with music in the open air again at the state fair.