Adams- based indie band “Crafter” is traveling across the United States, to bring their unique flare of indie punk rock to fifteen states, mostly in the northeast. Their tour kicked off May 31st at the Elks Lodge in Adams, Mass.
“This is the most expansive tour we’ve done to date,” Vocalist Kyle Taylor said. “We’ve done similar tours in the past, but we kept losing shows due to weather and other conflicts. So far, we’re only going to lose the show in Walled Lake, Mich., but we might get it back.”
“Crafter” is a small indie band, under contract with Sounds and Tones Records, based in the Berkshires. They have published three EPs, one of which is with their current label.
They have no tour bus, and their attendance widely varies from gig to gig. They make do with a van, and their ETA between stops can be well up to four hours at a time.
Yet they share what they love, in hopes of invigorating a passionate, but young indie scene, not just in Adams, but across the country.
“We play almost anywhere someone is going to have a show happen,” Guitarist Dan Archambeau said. “We play at American legions, other Elks Lodges, and bars, though we try keep our events age-inclusive.”
According to Archambeau, attendance to “Crafter” events can range from two to 150 people.
“That’s part of the fun, you don’t really know,” he said.
The musicians are all in their early to mid-twenties, which is common for the punk genre. However, this doesn’t always bode well when in transit.
“Being on the road can test your patience,” Taylor said. “You’re in such a small space, with the same people for hours on end. When you’re in traffic, it can be hard to get along.”
The members also hold jobs and have relationships, both of which they have to leave behind to perform. However, Taylor believes it is worth it.
“When you see everything new, you forget about all of that,” he said. “We get to see new highways, new cities, and make new friends. I think that’s part of the reason why we do this.”
Remaining tour dates and locations: Algonia, Iowa, June 11; Newport Minn., June 12; La Crosse, Wisc., June 13; Bloomington, Illin., June 14; Walled Lake, Mich., June 15; Greencastle, Penn., June 16; Elmira, N.Y., June 17, before finishing their tour in Pottstown, Penn., June 18.
They will be accompanied by post-hardcore and metal band, “Castor’s Hollow” on most of those dates. The bands will post updates about the tour on their social media pages.
Mitchell Chapman 