Girl at the Rock Shows

What do you do when a loved one dies? Do you mourn their death? Do you celebrate the amazing life they led? There are a million ways to cope with death, and there is no right or wrong way. It’s a morbid thing to think about, but what do you want to happen? I never met Lane Campbell, but I know the festivities that took place on Friday night at Carol’s Pub in Chicago, Illinois, were just what he wanted.

I made a turn-and-burn trip to Chicago on Friday. Between Friday and Saturday, I spent more time in the car with a friend than anywhere else. Some might say that we were crazy for doing it, but we had a friend in need, and if our faces at this show gave her any sense of comfort as she celebrated the life of one of her best friends, then it was well worth it. There were many signs and nods that proved that it was, in fact, worth it, but, really, it turned into so much more than just being a support system for this friend; it turned into joining a family that, like me, lives their life to the beat of a song, the hum of a guitar amp, and the strength of the power of music.

As mentioned, I never met Lane Campbell, the man who everyone was celebrating at the sold-out show, but as the night progressed, I truly felt like I knew him, and it filled me with an undeniable sense of emotion. Lane was a man who loved music, but it was more than that. He connected to people with music. Heck, he connected people with music. From all that I could tell, nobody in Carol’s Pub really had anything in common other than their love of music and their love for Lane, which created such a beautifully stunning atmosphere. Whether you were paying attention to the acts that were rocking the intimate stage, reminiscing about Lane with friends, or just acting like a fly on the wall completely out of your normal element and in a foreign venue (that was me), it was a night that filled your heart with so much love.

Although this was a celebration of Lane Campbell, it was also a rock show, and it featured some acts that rarely come to Chicago, including Slobberbone (who absolutely killed it). I feel like the fact that tickets were available to the public and there were people at this show just to see the music was very in line with what I learned about Lane through talking to people throughout the night. He didn’t care if you knew him; he just cared that you had a tune to follow your heart to, so the fact that there were others in the audience alongside of me who did not know him, brought me this odd sense of comfort but also made me realize just how perfect this event truly was.

Whether you were there for the music or there for Lane, your eyes were filling up with tears as some of Lane’s closest friends and family took the stage to give their thanks for coming out. Everyone who took the microphone echoed the same sentiment. We were all in this room because of Lane’s love for music and the way he had of connecting people through music. They spoke of his kindness and how, even after his passing, they feel Lane when they hear certain songs, certain bands, certain music. They talked about how involved he was in music. It was all music, music, music, and it was at that point that I realized that, had time gone differently or had I been in another world, met my friend just a couple years prior, Lane and I would have many a drunken conversation fighting over which band is better and why.

I debated how to write this review the whole trip home. Sure, it was a concert, and I could have done a standard concert review, but that was not the point of Friday night. With that in mind, I want to give a huge shout-out to all of the acts that played- Slobberbone, Frog Holler, Chip Robinson, and Tyne Darling. Although some were more of a fit for my personal preference than others, everyone who graced the stage was clearly doing it in tribute to Lane. Every note and beat that passed through the speakers was done with so much heart and passion.

I also want to give a huge shout-out to the venue, Carol’s Pub. This little club is the cutest thing ever, with the sweetest bartenders I have ever experienced in Chicago. On top of that, they had one of the best veggie burgers I have ever had in my life. I really want to thank the staff for dealing with the sold-out crowd in such a professional and perfect way. Although they were forced to be at this event in a way, I like to think that they, too, felt Lane’s spirit throughout the night.

Lastly, the biggest shout out and the largest hugs to all of the organizers of this event. As a booking agent, I know pulling off a show isn’t easy. Add the heightened sense of emotion, and I truly don’t know how they all did it. All of them truly nailed keeping Lane’s spirit alive throughout the night while also giving people a chance to celebrate and just catch up with friends that span across the country.

I never met Lane, but he was at Carol’s Pub on Friday night. Rocking out to some good music with some of the best of friends. I didn’t know Lane, but he seems like a super amazing man who is missed dearly by his friends and family.

If you or someone you know is struggling with mental health and is in a tough spot– please get help. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline is available 24/7 via call, text, and chat. It’s okay to not be okay but it’s also okay to ask for help.