The only reason that we tour in Germany is because I made a friend in Columbus almost a decade ago. Lars was in Columbus while his partner Nelie was doing post-doc work with researchers at OSU. And at the very beginning of Hello Emerson, I got an email from someone putting together show — they said that a German band called “The Gentle Lurch” was going to play at Kafe Kerouac, and that our music might be good to open.

I listened to it and was blown away by Lars’ writing. We opened the show, and I remember being absolutely captivated by it — even in a room as small as Kerouac. We hit it off, and he came to our first cassette release soon after. And then we made it a bit of a habit to meet up at Dick’s Den for a drink from time to time.

Now, I have a new little family of kind, creative, and joyful folks in Dresden. And that night, we all met up at Lars and Nelie’s flat for a big “family” dinner.

This was my happiest moment thus far on tour, and it was maybe the simplest. Just good friends, gathered around a table with food and drink, good music on the stereo, and gratefulness in the air. We played a game a charades with their daughter, Ani, which helped us learn some more German vocab just as much as it helped her learn some English vocab. We strummed some folk instruments that we didn’t really know how to play. We told stories and jokes and helped ourselves to seconds. I didn’t take many photos — but I think the ones that I did take captures the energy.

There are many reasons not to go on tour as an independent indie-folk band. It can be unhealthy, destabilizing, financially damaging, isolating, and difficult. But it can also be life-affirming, illuminating, surprising, elating, and full of so much love. I’ve felt both extremes across our four tours over here. But I’ve never felt more love than this moment, this night, with these people.