Is it really a good idea to plan a FREE tour?
Words by Jessica Klinner
On July 15, the Maine announced their brand new fall tour in support of their fifth studio album, American Candy. But this tour looks different than anything they’ve done in the past. This tour is free. Yes, you read that correctly. Free.
In an announcement video posted on the band’s YouTube page on July 15, lead singer John O’Callaghan said, “It’s an idea that we’ve had for about five years now, and with the help of everybody at 8123, we finally made it a reality.”
“It’s our way of giving back to the people who’ve supported what we’ve done for a long time,” drummer Pat Kirch explained in a live stream Q&A on the Meerkat app.
Currently at 13 shows, the Free For All tour kicks off in Henderson, Nevada on August 30 and wraps up in Tustin, California on October 3. The band will be sprinkling in a handful of intimate club shows between the free ones. These special club shows will feature two sets: American Candy in full and another set of songs spanning the band’s career. However, these special shows will not be free.
One of the downsides to the fall tour is the routing, which (at this point in time) completely avoids the Midwest and Southeast regions of the country. Kirch reassured fans on the Meerkat stream that more free show dates will be added. These cities will be announced as plans are finalized within the upcoming weeks.
While the Free For All tour is a unique and thoughtful idea, it comes at a strange time. If this tour took place during the Forever Halloween era, no one would have batted an eye. But American Candy is the band’s most successful release since 2010’s Black & White, which landed at number 16 on the Billboard 200 chart and sold 26,634 copies in its first week. Though American Candy sold a significantly smaller amount of copies in its first week (roughly over 14,000), it garnered more praise from critics and fans alike than any of their albums to date.
Annie Zaleski of Altpress.com rated American Candy at 4 out of 5 stars and said:
“A decade into their career, the Maine are proving they possess one of the most elusive qualities a pop-rock band can have: consistency. There’s not one bad song on American Candy.”
So why offer a free tour now? Why not head out for another full U.S. tour and cash in on the success?
The answer is simple: That’s not the Maine’s nature.
As O’Callaghan mentioned in the video, this tour concept has been in the works since 2010, the year Black & White was released on Warner Bros. Records. Since the Maine broke away from Warner Bros, they’ve been a successful, independent band and make it look easy. They’ve made music their way and have simultaneously allowed fans to be a part of the experience and relied on them to keep the dream alive.
It doesn’t seem like time or money is an issue for the Arizona quintet. They seem just as excited (if not more) about the free string of shows as they have been about any other tour. It’s rare to see a band with such a huge reach offer this type of show, but the Maine have always gone against the grain. They’ve been very vocal over the years about their feelings toward bands that charge fans for meet and greets. They’ve always advertised their willingness to come and meet as many fans as possible after every single show, and they always work to make sure that their shows are as affordable as possible. This tour was built around the need to offer a free experience and give back to a community of fans who have been faithful through thick and thin.
But these shows aren’t just for fans. They’re for anyone who has ever considered going to see the Maine but hasn’t because they were skeptical or didn’t want to pay for the show. There’s no excuse now. The Maine is offering a chance for everyone, young and old, to experience their live show.
Since the tour is free, the Maine will not be making any profit from ticket sales. But that’s not entirely a bad thing since most of the money made at shows comes from merchandise sales, and those attending the free shows will be more likely to purchase merch because they don’t have to pay for a ticket.
To help with any additional costs such as gas, the Maine have set up an account on Square Cash, a secure money exchanging platform, where anyone can make donations if they choose. The band have stressed that donating is by no means necessary. A statement on the Maine’s website says, “We appreciate your donations, but it is not required. Your support over the past 8 years has been priceless.”
There’s already been an outpouring of support through Square Cash with fans giving as much as they can as a ‘thank you’ to the Maine for being so generous.
This type of tour announcement may come as a surprise to many, but to fans of the Maine, it’s just another reason why it’s so easy to support these guys.
The venues for the free tour include a few House Of Blues’, parks, malls and other public spaces. The shows will operate on a first come first serve basis. No wristbands or tickets needed. Just show up.
“It is our gift to you and we hope you enjoy it…It’s one of the coolest things we’ve ever been able to do as a band,” Kirch said.
Fans seem ecstatic about the free shows, at least those who live within a reasonable distance of each one. If the Maine wants to really take this tour to the next level, they will add more dates in areas they completely ignored in the original routing. If you want the Maine to visit your city on this tour, find out about local venues willing to accommodate a free show, and let the Maine know! They might just be able to work it out!
What do you think of about the free shows? Tweet us your thoughts at @highlightzine!
