A Summary - Part 1 - Me

This will be a fun, happy and a sad post to write, but mostly the first two.

I am currently sitting at The Parcel Yard at King's Cross Station in London, UK, about to have a full English breakfast, minus the black pudding and the mushroom. It is 11-12 am, Sunday morning and I am going home. I can't wait to cuddle up in bed with my kitties and my Sweetie, and give my son a hug. I am missing them all like crazy.

This morning I said goodbye to my wonderful baby sister, one of my absolute favourite people in the world, whom I love so incredibly much and I don't know how long it will be until I get to see her again. It feels extra hard this time since we have seen each other so much over so many times over the last 5 months. But the upside is that we have had so much fun together and we have made so many wonderful memories we will remember with love for the rest of our lives. Thank you for everything, lil' sis! You are truly amazing, and my life is better because of you. I am a better person because of you!

This morning I also said goodbye to our room mates, the amazing H and E. I love both of you! You are both such amazing women and great friends and thank you for sharing this past month's joy and fun and rooms with me.

Yesterday, after a nice breakfast together, I said goodbye to some other people I have come to love and cherish; you know who you are, ladies - Thank you so much for being exactly who you are, for bringing diversity and more love into my life. Thank you for everything and I'll see you soon, somewhere in the world!

All these women are my sisters, and I have more of them - sisters, I mean, Fry sisters - and you know who you are - I am so glad I got to meet most of you during this tour. To those I didn't have the chance to see this time around, there's always next tour! I love all of you and you are all forever in my heart! Thank you for all the laughs!

These ladies, my Fry sisters in crime, are from all over Europe and we were all brought together by the mutual love for Home Free and their music, and thanks to this tour we also share the love for Jeffrey East and his music. Thank you to all of you for giving us this! For sharing so much love and joy with the world, so much that we can spread it with more people.

I started this tour when the guys of Home Free and Jeffrey East started theirs, in Oslo, Norway on August 30th, a little over 3 weeks ago. The guys went on to do 16 more shows in 11 more countries, and I was there for 5 more shows in 4 more countries; Sweden, Czech Republic, Germany and 2 shows here in the UK. Seated shows and standing shows have been a hot discussion during these past few weeks and I will write more about my different experiences with that in my next post. I've been on 7 flights, and a number of trains and buses to get to where I needed to go. I've stood outside in the rain and the cold, I've walked bear armed in the sunshine. I slept in bunk beds, double beds, sofa beds, in teeny tiny rooms and big rooms.

I've laughed and I've cried. I've danced and I sang. I've clapped and I've cheered. I've started a fan group for a new favourite artist. I've written 9 blog posts so far. I've had early mornings, and late nights. I have had nice food and just food. I've had coffee; some days later than wanted, some days too much and some too little. I have walked. A. LOT. I've seen new places and old places.

I have had an absolute blast from beginning to end! And I can't wait to do it all over again in the future.

To my readers; thank you! Thank you for reading, thank you for engaging in discussions, thank you for coming back and thank you for sharing. While I don't write FOR you, knowing that you are reading what I write inspires me. I write from my heart and I hope you will keep coming back for more.

To everyone I've met during these weeks; it was lovely meeting you all! If I missed you, I am so sorry, it's been crazy, it's been fun, and there's been a lot of people around! Next time, if you want to say hello, come and say hello!

Lastly, for this post, I want to say a big thank you to the man in my life, the love of my life, my Sweetie; you are the best, the most loving and amazing man I have ever known. Thank you for supporting me in my life dreams, for being my safe haven to come home to. Not just from these trips, but every day. I love you with all my heart and soul and I can't wait to be back in your arms tonight!

Thank you for reading, this is me signing out from London, UK. Keep your eyes open for part 2 of this summary, but until then remember to live life to the fullest. Smile and dance, and sing. And keep spreading the word to the world about Home Free and Jeffrey East!

Love/
Carina

Home Free and Jeffrey East in London, UK

Last night's show at Union Chapel, London, UK was the last show of the European part pf the Home Free Timeless World Tour and it was simply amazing, of course. What else could it be with these guys?!

Union Chapel is an active church, but it also serves as a concert hall and there is a bar connected to it that serves hot food and beverages of all kinds. You are however not allowed to bring hot food and alcoholic drinks into the chapel itself. The venue was really gorgeous with wooden pews and a high ceiling and balconies.

I didn't have VIP for this show, but we decided to go stand in line for good seats, as it was general admission, about 2 hours ahead of doors opening and I am glad we did because by the time the doors open the line was long. Very long. Very, very long. And it was cold, not as cold as in the rain in Birmingham, but it was cold. Let's just say I am to go back to warmer weather tomorrow. Monday I will go to the beach, to warm up from the outside and in.

This show was emotional because it was the last one for this tour, meaning we don't get to see the guys again in a long time, and because it was the last show the guys gave us all they had left to give. so it was bittersweet.

Jeffrey got everyone going, he is really good at that which I think has been a big reason why the energy has been so high on this tour. His songs are, as he says, very easy to sing-along to because the melodies in the choruses are very sing-along-friendly and catchy (I swear I have at least one of his songs playing in my head at all times these days), and he has a natural way of encouraging the crowd to engage. Jeffrey got us laughing, singing, clapping and he got us so quiet you could have heard a pin drop in the pews. It's unfortunate that his attempt to live stream the whole show fell through due to technical problems because it was good. Really good.

After his part of the show there was a break before Home Free came on and I saw Jeffrey at the merchandise table selling CDs, signing things and having his picture taken with fans. I expect you US Fries will pick things up over there. We will be waiting for his return to Europe, but you can have him for now. Make him feel loved back home too, will you!

And then we have Home Free. The band that changed the way I listen to music, the band that added so much joy and love on top of my already love-filled and joyful life. The band that brings people from all over the world together. They gave it their all. They gave everything they had left to give us right now, there was no holding back. They beamed from beginning to end and the audience picked up on it. I saw old men getting so excited they couldn't wait to stand up and dance. I saw young kids dancing in the aisle. I saw people of all ages and both sexes laughing, singing, dancing, clapping their way through the show. I saw a whole church filled with love and joy coming together thanks to these guys.

Finally for today, I would like to thank the staff at Union Chapel for being amazingly friendly and helpful. Every single one of you was a part of making last night a night to remember, with love and gratitude. Thank you so much for adding joy to our lives!

Within the next few days I will write a summary, my thoughts and feelings about the whole tour, and what it's meant to me. I hope you come back here for that.

But, for now, I am going to rest for a while before it's time for our last dinner in London for this time. See you soon!

Love/
Carina

Home Free and Jeffrey East in Birmingham, UK

The second to last concert of the European leg of the Home Free Timeless World Tour took place last night at the O2 Institute in Birmingham, UK and I want to start with that part to get the only negative part of the show over and done with. The venue itself was beautiful, but the rudeness and lack of basic people skills of most of the staff left a lot to wish for and we left there with a bit of a cloud hanging over us, not just the cloud that had been pouring down with rain on us before the show, but a cloud within. This was after a show that was absolutely through the roof amazing.

While we were waiting for the doors to open for us with regular tickets it started to rain, and it was windy. I had an umbrella and was standing next to the wall and still got quite wet. Those in wheelchairs had their own little area where they were supposed to wait, I say supposed because nobody let them in there, so they were waiting at a corner which I'm sure was even more rainy and windy. I don't mind the security staff going through everyone's bags before entering, but I do mind that they went through the bags of the people in wheelchairs outside in the pouring rain before allowing them inside. Not OK.

Also not OK was the general way they spoke to people, for no reason whatsoever. With one or two exceptions they were rude, harsh and unnecessarily unpleasant. I do not care what experiences they have, if you want people to behave at their best you treat them with kindness and respect. Period. Shame on you, O2 Institute. Shame on you for putting a damper over an otherwise amazing evening.

Right, let's get to the fun stuff!! And boy, this was a fun concert. Leaving the staff's behavior behind this was one to remember. As the tradition now is there was a sing-along to Take Me Home, Country Roads (John Denver) leading up to Jeffrey East's entrance. 6 of us had put on caps or hats and ginger fake beards and he loved it! We had our picture taken with him after the show, by Chance, and it was a blast!

Jeffrey was amazing as always and the audience seemed to love him, as always. I really hope you get the chance to see him live in the States. Ask for it! Demand it! He is so worth it and worthy of it!

Jeffrey asked us to help him out with something for tonight's show in London; if you are there he wants us to sing-along to his song Roller Rink, a song that is a bonus track on Rascal Flatts latest album, as he wants to live stream his part of the show on his Instagram. So start playing it on repeat! You can find it on both Spotify and YouTube. I recommend listening to Jeffrey's own version as the Flatts has changed a word or two in their rendition.

After a break it was time for Home Free and if you have watched Jeffrey's Insta Story from last night you'll hear the noise from the crowd as they are about to enter the stage (and you'll see us in our hats and beards as well). It was loud! But hurry, it'll only be there for a few more hours.

After a few songs Tim urged those who wanted to stand up and dance to do so, he said something like; "sit if you want, but whatever you choose to do, please sing-along, we love it when you do that". And wow! The audience obeyed and WOW!, the guys absolutely loved it, and so did the audience!

Sometimes it was dancing time, sometimes it was quiet time, sometimes it was loud sing-along time. It was a fantastic mix of everything of the best. At one point during Castle of the Hill the audience sang so loud that we couldn't hear the guys. And it was amazing! It was glorious. Everybody had a fantastic time, it was a party where everyone was engaged. I looked around the room and there were huge smiles on all the faces I saw. Standing or seated, singing or not. Huge smiles. The response during the show was amazing. People were allowed to sit or stand, nobody complained, everybody had the time of their lives, or very likely very close to it, and it was absolutely perfect. Well done, guys, and well done crowd. It's also nice when the guys thank you for helping them out to get the crowd going, because they love it just as much as we do. At least. Probably even more. And we love it a lot.

The comments after the show were those of joy, love, amazement and satisfaction. Perfection!

I am hoping we can beat it tonight, so if you're coming to the show in London, please join in. The guys will very likely ask you to, so don't hesitate. Join the party! It is worth it!

If you are at the London show tonight, please come and find us before it starts and say hello, we'll be wearing name badges and we'd love to have a chat with you.

And tomorrow I'll tell you all about the last concert for this time. I hope I get to tell you they ended it with a bang. No, I am sure I will tell you we all ended it with a big bang of fun, love, joy, dancing, singing and laughing. All mixed up in a couple of amazing hours. Bring it on! We are so ready!

Love//
Carina

Home Free in Cologne, Germany

Well, not just Home Free, Jeffrey East as well of course, because to me this tour has become as much about him as it is about Home Free. I find myself singing his songs as much as I sing Home Free's songs, but I think you already know this. I think Jeffrey himself is starting to understand the fact that he has gained some true fans in a lot of us Euro Fries. .

As you know the last 2 shows I've been to were standing shows, but the show in Cologne yesterday was seated. The guys of Home Free has clearly shown us during this tour that they love it when we dance, sing and clap along to their songs and we sure have done that at those standing shows, so it would be interesting to see if we could get the energy going for a seated show.

I didn't have VIP for this show, but some of my fellow Euro Fries did and they told me before the show started that the Guys had asked us to help them get the audience up on their feet - have them follow our lead - and who are we to disagree, right? There were 10 of us that have been traveling in different constellations to different shows and countries over Europe, meeting up before shows for dinners and some quality friends time, and we were seated on the first 2 rows on one side of stage with ail in the middle. When Take Me Home Country Roads started playing we picked up the sing along to it, as the traditions has become, and when Jeffrey came on at the end of the song we cheered him on. It was obvious from the beginning that we would have to work harder to get the audience going at this show than at the previous shows. My fellow concert goers felt reserved and we felt the looks in the back of our heads when we cheered, clapped, stood up and sang along to Jeffrey's songs. Who are those crazy and annoying people up front? While the audience certainly seemed to like Jeffrey and his music and jokes this crowd didn't show it as much as other audiences have during the shows I've been to previously this tour - reserved and held back was what the 10 of us taught they felt like. Having said that we did get support from a few other groups in the 400 people big crowd and at the end of Jeffrey's set he did get a lot of applause and cheers from all around the venue. Jeffrey is, after all, amazing at getting the crowd to like him and to sing along to his songs.

Then Home Free came on and we, the 10 of us and a few more, got up on our feet again to cheer them on. Just as we thought it did take some hard work to get the audience started, but with the encouragement from the band to follow our lead and dance and sing along more and more got up, and before the show ended most people were up dancing, singing and clapping and all the guys were beaming with joy.

Now, we didn't stand from beginning to end, for some songs we sat down - when it felt appropriate and the guys allowed us to. Yes, there were one or two occasions when we sat down and one of the guys questioned it, like for Adam's beat box solo; when the lights went out and the rest of the guys left stage we sat down, but as soon as Adam noticed it he asked us; "Why did you sit down?". When Adam speaks we listen. The rest of the audience followed our lead and got well into his number, cheering, hollering, clapping along, more than I've experienced at any of the other shows I've attended, and this was my lucky number 11.

I think this show was important because it was a seated show that turned into a mostly standing show, and because it did so the audience got more engaged, and an engaged audience creates better memories for both themselves and the artists.

Most people have experiences with memories being triggered by music. The reason those memories are triggered is because of the emotions connected to the music at the time the memory was created. When we add physical movement we also add muscle memory to the music and the emotion and it will make the memory even longer lasting. That is why being engaged by singing, clapping and dancing raise the energy and why it makes the standing concert a more memorable and more joyful event. This is how it gets deep into your heart and soul and into your bones. The adrenaline and the happy hormones produced when engaged both emotionally, physically, visually and auditory helps with saving the memory as well as creating it. This, I imagine, is what the band gets from the audience when they stand up during their shows rather than just sitting down in their seats. This is what you want to take with you from a concert.

I liked this show because the energy was higher than a full seated show, but my feet and body didn't get as tired as after a full standing show. It was, in a way, the best of two worlds combined. However, if I had to choose between a full seated or a full standing show I would without a doubt choose a full standing show. Memories, remember.

After the show I had the pleasure of having a chat with Jeffrey East again, there is a Facebook fan group for him in the makings and I will be interviewing him for the blog. I can not begin to tell you how much I like this guy, for his personality as well as for his musicianship and I am very excited to be able to give you a bit more of him soon, so stay tuned.

I also had the pleasure of meeting a fan of my blog after the show. Thank you, B, for telling me how much you like what I do here. It meant the world to me and your words made my already amazing day even more amazing.

When walking through the signing line I could sense the gratitude coming from the guys for the help with getting the crowd up on their feet. I also heard of other audience members thanking other Euro Fries from our little group for getting the energy up. Yes, both the guys and the crowd appreciate the energy, the greater memory that comes with engaging more fully.

If you ever wonder whether to do something, to go for something, that could make your heart jump of joy, that has the possibility to bring a smile to your and other people's faces, that has the possibility be full of love and joy stop wondering and just do it. Give it your best focus, pour your heart into it, love every moment of it - because those are the things that make you feel alive. Doing things like that is part of my everyday life, by choice and deliberation, and I truly believe it is what makes my life so amazing. These Home Free experiences with everything it involves, especially spending time with some of the most amazing people and friends I have made along the way, only adds great things to my daily life experiences, and it also creates all these amazing memories for my olden days. To me that is what life is all about. Have fun now, and enjoy the memory of it later.

So, don't let fear hold you back. Dare greatly. Step out of the normality and your comfort zone from time to time. Live. Love. Laugh. Smile. Sing and dance your way through life. Because you're worth it.

Love/
Carina

Home Free in Prague, Czech Rupblic

Yesterday the Home Free family hit the beautiful city of Prague in Czech Republic and as you know I was there. This was the second standing Home Free concert I have attended and just as in Stockholm, Sweden it rocked. Home Free rocked, Jeffrey East rocked, the crowd rocked!

While waiting for the show to start there was music playing and it seems as if it has become a tradition for this tour that the audience has a sing-along to John Denver's Take Me Home, Country Roads and the Prague audience didn't disappoint. We were simply just standing there in front of the stage, or wherever you were standing, singing along with all that we had. And it was awesome. The feeling of it was that of expectation, because those who have been to one of the previous shows, or if you have seen Jeffrey East's live stream of his act earlier this week, know that it's the last song before Jeffrey comes on. And we were ready. We were so ready!

Just as in Stockholm I was second line up front right in the middle of the stage, but the stage in Prague was smaller and lower so we were very close to first Jeffrey, then Home Free, and it gave the concert a feeling of intimacy. Well deserved intimacy in an artist - fan kind of way. Why well deserved you might ask? Because any crowd that is so engaged as this crowd was from beginning to end deserves it. It is important to remember though that the relationship is that between an artist/s and their fans. They give us their all and we give them our all. They give us their skills and we give our skills. They give us their music and we give our joy of enjoying their music. That's what it's all about.

This was the 3d time seeing Jeffrey East and you all know I loved him from the get-go. It hasn't changed. At the first show in Oslo he didn't know what to expect and he was blown away by the response he got. In Stockholm he might have started to understand that we might actually really like him. Yesterday he knew, and it showed. The audience showed their love for him and he showed his love for us. One of Jeffrey's strong sides is to get the crowd to sing-along to his songs. He doesn't even have to ask us anymore, as he pointed out. Last night he played one of his songs he hadn't played before here in Europe, but we still knew it and could sing along to it. He loved it, and we loved giving it to him! I really hope those of you that are in the States get the chance to see him live, because he is already becoming the second music act I would travel Europe to see. I have already gone from going on a Home Free tour to going on a Home Free and Jeffrey East tour. So here's the opening act becoming just as important as the main act. Well done Home Free for picking Jeffrey East to support you on this tour, and in case any of you read this; you guys are a perfect fit! A match made in heaven. Thank you! And I'm looking forward to any type of collaboration between you, and I really hope that Tim was telling us the future last night when he said there will be a Jeffrey East song on the next Home Free album. Can't wait!

Being so up close to a stage as low as it was last night brings, as mentioned, a very intimate feeling, and it also gives the opportunity to read the guys' facial expressions and looks in their eyes. In Stockholm they were surprised and amazed by the response they got from the crowd, in Prague they expected it, but they were still amazed. The joy and love they showed when looking out over the audience was so visible you could almost touch it. This show was my 10th Home Free concert and to me it has been obvious for a long time that even though the set list might be the same for every show, the expression from the guys are slightly different for each of them. I believe that the reason for that is that they feed off the energy of the audience. I haven't been to a show in the States, but for this tour in Europe we give them our all. We sing every word, we clap along and we dance. We engage fully and completely from beginning to end and we feed the guys a whole lot of energy to give back to us. We give them all our heart and soul and we're all loving it! It's a win - win. Yes, our feet and our backs hurt afterwards and we might lose our voices, but I can't think of anything I would rather do in a concert than feeling all the love and joy and I have inside of coming out to be shared with everyone around me. This is why I travel all over Europe to see them. It makes me feel truly alive, it brings out the best feelings in me, it gives me inspiration to live my life to the fullest and it is making me amazing friends for life.

I understand that standing shows isn't for everyone, but I hope the rest of the world will get to experience them too if you choose to try it out. I can promise you that it is worth it for most people. Unless you are there only to hear beautiful harmonies. But if you're in it for the guys, then you are in for a treat, for sure.

What else can I say about last night's show? We surprised Adam by not shouting back 3, but doing the beat boxing part instead. That was fun! We waved flags from around the world during the encore Love Train, the bass literally moved back a step when Tim or Adam hit those lows and my chest rumbled more than ever before. It felt like an earth quake going on inside it! Amazing! Freaking amazing! It was hot, but not as hot as Stockholm.

I am currently 11 hours into a bus ride from Prague to Cologne, Germany for tomorrow's show. I'm looking forward to a day off from traveling tomorrow and a bit of a sleep-in before doing the touristy thing.

Look for my next post on Tuesday, where I will keep you updated on the the difference on going to a seated show after 2 standing shows.

Love/
Carina

Trip 2 - Prague and Cologne

And it's tour time again!!

I am at the airport, killing time waiting for my flight to Prague, Czech Republic this evening. The time is 4:45 AM and my flight leaves at 7:00 AM. I'm sure I don't need to tell you how excited I am.

So far Home Free and Jeffrey East seem to be enjoying this tour a lot. In show after show both they and the audience are singing, dancing and clapping for all they are worth, and I am positive tonight's show will keep adding to the list of shows that are mind-blowing, heart warming and joyful. 

I will be meeting up with a lot of friends in Prague, lovely people I've gotten to know through Home Free. My sister I've known her whole life, another friend I've known close to 30 years, some I've met several times before in several countries over the past 2,5 years since the first time Home Free came to Europe, some I've shared a room with before, some I've met once and some I will meet for the first time. We come from all over Europe; Sweden, Finland, Poland, Germany, Italy, Czech Republic and of course Spain (that's me). 

This show is a standing show, just as Stockholm was last week and just as Vienna was last night. I know Stockholm was epic, and I have heard that Vienna was even better so there is no doubt in my mind that Prague will be even more epic and better than those shows. I know all of us will do our best to make it so.

Tomorrow morning I will get on a bus, together with another Swede and 2 Finns, from Prague to Cologne, Germany for the show on Monday. I am looking forward to seeing the scenery along the way, and to get some rest. I've had a busy week and so far I've only slept 45 minutes tonight. I'm not a great plane sleeper, but I will do my best to get at least an hour of it on my 3 hour flight. 

Some of us are landing at more or less the same time so we'll kick everything off at the airport already. I see a lot of laughter and hugs in my near future. 

On the bus tomorrow I will write a blog to tell you all about tonight's show, and of course there will be one about the Cologne show on Tuesday. I'm so excited to write them! 

But now I will have my airport breakfast of champions - a banana, salt and vinegar crisps (chips for you US folks out there), black coffee and water - and watch a film. I've got another hour to kill before my gate is announced.

I wish you a fantastic day, I know mine will be. Have fun, love a lot, laugh much!

Love/

Carina

Home Free in Stockholm, Sweden

Before last night I was seriously wondering how a standing Home Free concert would pan out. I wonder no more. And I want more!

Last night Home Free became rock stars.

But before I tell you more about it I want to talk to you a bit more about Jeffrey East, Home Free's opening act for (almost) the entire tour. The only show he isn't opening for them is tonight's show in Denmark, I assume because it's a festival rather than a concert. 

I mentioned yesterday I had a chance to chat with him after the show in Oslo, and I had a chance to chat with him again last night in Stockholm. He is such a great guy and I'm really looking forward to seeing him 4 more times this tour. 

The show in Stockholm was a sold out standing room only concert of around 600 people in the audience. I was standing second line, smack in the middle with a fantastic view. Having seen Jeffrey the night before I knew it was going to be great. And boy was it! Jeffrey's voice remind me a bit of Ed Sheeran's, but smoother, softer and more country. His songs are memorable melodies with great lyrics, and his stage presence and interaction with the audience are exactly what they should be. He's there to have fun with you. And he was having fun last night! And so were we! If you haven't looked him up on YouTube or Spotify yet you should, even though he doesn't have much out there yet. Jeffrey East is a name you'll be hearing more of in the future. You might as well want to get used to it right now. There will be a separate post about him further on this month so keep an eye out for it! 

So Jeffrey rocked last night, the audience cheered him on, loved him and he had the sweetest smile on for his entire act. A great opening act for Home Free, not because he delivers great music but also because just as them he makes you laugh. So important. Laughing is such a big part of a concert experience. When you combine music, laughter and joy the memory stays alive forever. 

So, a standing Home Free show, what's it like? Judging by last night it is magical, it is rock, it is dancing and moving your butts, it is loud singing in front of the stage (and yes, you still hear the guys as much as you want to), it is being so close to the stage you can see the joy on their faces, the amazement and surprise in their eyes, the what the heck is going on here all over them from the beginning to the end. It is hollering and shouting and clapping, and it is the best thing I've ever experienced as far as concerts and fun in general goes. 

Last night was magical and if Oslo was the best I've ever seen them before, Stockholm kicked Oslo's bum to the moon and back. For real. Last night will be a night a lot of people will remember for a very long time. Not only us Crazy Euro Fries supporting the guys from in front of the stage, but for those further back as well from what I heard after the show, and I'm pretty sure the guys in Home Free had a dream come true last night. Because isn't being on stage in front of a crowd that is having as much fun as we were having last night every artists dream? Arms in the air, and engaged from top to bottom fans enjoying everything you deliver. That dream. That what we, the audience, gave them last nigh. That was what they inspired us to be last night.

We were having so much fun that I don't think any of us got anything on video, so I don't have anything for you to share today, but I'll see if I can get hold of something further on.

Rob, who's grandparents are Swedish, was loving it and he sang us a bed time song they used to sing to him when he was a kid, that he sings to his daughter now. No-one recognized it and I only understood a few words of, which brought down a lot of laughter, but I understood enough for me to be able to find it when I googled it so it wasn't as bad as we first thought.

Chance, who is a football (soccer to you in North America) fan and also a fan of Zlatan Ibrahimovic, who is a world known Swedish football (soccer) player, was wearing a t-shirt that said Zlatan and it brought down a lot of cheers when he showed it off. 

I was so close to the stage that I could see Adam's face muscles moving during his solo, that guy don't need to do face yoga, I tell you! He was on fire. There was a bit of moment there during is solo when the lights were turned off so Adam could change his jacket into the mirrored one, but he couldn't find it in the dark so eventually we heard him giggle in the darkness before the lights came back on and it found it.

Austin was shaking his head a lot during the show and I saw him exchange looks with the other guys on numerous occasions in disbelief of what was going on. Austin always feed off the energy of the crowd and last night was no exception and when he put his fist up in the air in a classic rock star position and a big smile on his face you know he's loving it! 

Tim's smile, well all the guys' smiles, during the show was that of someone being in complete awe. I almost thought his head would break into two halves because it was stretched so far from ear to ear. Several times I got the feeling that he was almost at a loss for words. Tim Foust - at a loss for words. Can you even begin to grasp that?

The energy of this show was stronger than I've ever experienced before, the guys and the audience were all on fire. On FIRE. 

What to say about the songs and the singing? The set list was a couple of songs less than in Oslo, but it didn't even matter. With the joy, fun and energy going on last night the guys obviously sounded fantastic as always, but with some extra spicing on top. Hot! Hot! Hot spicing! It was the spicing of feeling like rock stars. For a concert that could be the best ingredient you can add. 

Speaking of hot, it was hot.The room, I mean. We were as wet of sweat as if we had taken a shower with our clothes on right then and there, but we didn't even mind. Our feet were aching, our ears were ringing, but it just added to the fun and joy. Hot!

There is nothing I would want to change about last night, and I am challenging the rest of Europe to keep this up. I am challenging the world to step up and follow the lead. If you want to see Home Free in their truest element this is the type of concert you want to see.

With two sold-out shows in a row, two shows that were actually sold out within a couple of hours and moved to bigger venues, that have lifted the roof in different ways we sure have our job cut out for us for the rest of this tour. I'm excited about Prague, which I believe is another standing show, and I know there will be a lot of Euro Fries from all over Europe there to put a special touch to that show as well. 

But for me it's time for a week's rest. Today I'm having dinner with my family here in Sweden before going home to Spain tomorrow.  

Since I don't have a live video from last night I'm going to share the brilliance of Jeffrey East with you today. Go like him on his socials and enjoy! 

My next concert is in Prague on the 8th, 1 week from today, so on next Sunday I'll tell you all about it. Until then. Keep feeling alive, keep believing in love and keep listening to great music!

Love/

Carina

Home Free in Oslo, Norway

Right now I'm in Stockholm, Sweden, in our hotel lobby getting some well deserved rest after a very long day yesterday and an early morning today. Tonight is the second concert of the European leg of the Timeless World Tour, but I will tell you all about that tomorrow. Today's post is all about yesterday's concert in Oslo, Norway - my 8th Home Free show so far.

It was the first time for the Guys to perform in Norway and they loved it there. Not surprised. And let me tell you that Norway LOVED them! A lot!

The venue was a 1000 seated venue with 4 bars, as Tim kept telling us, and I believe we managed to get the best seats of the house on row 10 with the 9 rows in front of us being 2 steps below our floor level. Perfect view and perfect sound!

The guys are traveling with an opening act this tour so before we got to see and hear the brilliance of Home Free we were treated with the brilliance of singer-songwriter Jeffrey East. Let me tell ya'; if you ever get a chance to go see him live - Take it!! As Home Free fans we are used to their special connection with the fans during the show - Jeffrey East got that part down too, so funny!

Not only that; his songs were really good, his voice as well and last, but certainly not least, he has an awesome beard! Jeffrey East - remember that name! I will share live videos of him later on, but until then check him out on YouTube and Spotify and like him on socials. Jeffrey East

I had a chance to have a chat with him after the show and he is also a very gentle, kind and polite guy who is very excited to be on tour with the guys of Home Free. I'm looking forward to seeing him opening on every show I'm going to this tour! So keep your eyes open for the name Jeffrey East!

So, what about Home Free? They were absolutely amazing, as always but more! I have stayed away from watching any live video this past year because I wanted to be surprised on this first concert and boy are they getting better and better. This was also the first time they brought their special lights with them, and they are using a tour bus to get from show to show - just as they do in the States. We were told that the bus is enormous and sleeps 14, and has at least 1 microwave in a strange place.

I'm not going to get trough all the songs they did, but they did some songs I haven't heard live before and some I have heard. Some of the banter in between was new to me and some I've heard before, and it was as funny as always. I've mentioned before that going to a Home Free show isn't just a concert, it's a stand-up comedy act as well. I stand by that after Oslo as well!

They all look great and look like they are taking really good care of themselves, which is great because we want them around for a long time still.

The biggest cheer of the evening was when Timeless went into Try Everything, a song that means a lot to me for personal reason, and the roof probably lifted the ceiling a bit. Adam Rupp got a standing ovation with applauds that went on for a long time after his beatboxing solo - a well deserved tribute indeed. The talent of that freak of nature keeps blowing  my mind. I will never be able to understand the talent he's got. How one single man can sound like a complete drum set will forever remain a mystery to me.

Austin's wailing opening of When You Walk In was powerful, wonderful and dreamy. Seriously, that man got skills!

Rob's sweet and buttery voice in Go Rest High sent chills down my spine. In an extremely good way!

Chance's highs and lows with that raw, raspy and smooth voice hits home for me every single time. The choice of bringing him in is undoubtedly a great one. And yes, Tim, we are also so happy that he didn't join Pentatonix!

And then we have Tim, with his sarcasm and spot on humour, his rumbling low notes, his sweet high notes and his charm, who brings down laughter after laughter. He certainly didn't let us down this time either.

But the thing that gets to me most when it comes to Home Free are all the feelings I get within. Not only during the show, because that is to be expected with them, but that feeling when it was getting close to being our turn to do the VIP pic (we started VIP with the pics followed by signing). It's a feeling of excitement and expectations. It's butterflies in the stomach, it's rushing blood, it's brain going blank and it's love. So much love! One of the Fry sister's I'm traveling is described it as the fantastic feeling she gets before getting up on stage to perform. To me it's a feeling of going home after a long time being away.

If Home Free was a religion their live shows would be MY CHURCH!

Tonight's show is in a standing room only venue, so I'm looking forward to it for that reason, because I'm sure the energy will be very different. But I'll tell you all about it tomorrow.

Oh, and Europe finally got to meet Nate! Love him! Such a sweet and gentle guy! Home Free knows how to surround themselves with sweet people.

With that I'm going to end this post with a snippet of yesterday's My Church, because that's what I'm doing when I go to their shows. I'm going to My Church. Courtesy to my sister H for catching it on video and allowing me to share it with the world.

Love/
Carina

Home Free - A Heartfelt Moment

This post may be emotional - consider yourself warned.

Saturday a week and a few days ago Home Free was scheduled for a show at the amphitheater in the small town of Kearney, Missouri, USA. This show was the first Home Free show in Kearney and Fries were traveling for hours and hours to be there for it. Kearney, MO was the home town of a very loved and special Home Fry (Home Free fan for the newbies on my blog), Mr E, who had been looking forward to this show for a very long time. Sadly Mr E suddenly passed away only days before the show.

Mr E and his lovely wife Mrs L were already a big part of the fan groups when I started my Home Free/Home Fry journey almost 3 years ago and there were many times I smiled and/or laughed at one of their comments. Mr E loved Home Free and he loved taking amazingly good pictures of them and share with the rest of us fans that weren't lucky enough to be able to attend a Home Free show. Mr E's pictures were so amazing that the Guys of Home Free frequently shared them and praised them, and they were so amazing that they inspired other Home Fries to take up photography just so they could take great pictures of Home Free. Those Home Fries went on to taking their own amazing pictures that they graciously share with the rest of us, and those pictures now inspire even more Home Fries to take up photography as a hobby and passion. All thanks to Mr E and his amazing pictures of this group of Guys. Mr E, thank you for starting what I see as a Home Fry culture. We, the non-photographers of the fan base thank you, and I'm sure that those you inspired thank you just as much. Mrs L, my love goes out to you, thank you for sharing Mr E and his talent with the rest of us.

The day of the show started out, sunny and warm, with a Fry Hog Roast Fry Meet (Fry Meet is when Home Fries meet up to have fun and get to know each other, usually before or after a show but can be at any time and place). In the middle of all the fun and yummy food the Guys of Home Free show up with flowers and condolences for Mrs L, and of course to have some of the lovely food. There are pictures of the guys sitting there eating and chatting with the Fries, being just like every single one of us, showing us that the Fries matter to them. They see us and they care about us.

The weather that started out so lovely changed and by the time the Guys were about to start the 4th song of the show their manager Luke took them off stage. By then it wasn't just raining but the sky was filled with thunder and lightning making the stage with it's electrical equipment and the open area where the audience were sat/stood potentially dangerous. 

In the hopes of the weather picking up and the show starting up again most of the audience stayed and took shelter under a pavilion up a wet grass slope. After having waited some time they could see the five Guys of Home Free walking up the same wet grass slope through the rain, and with thunder and lightning all around them. Instead of having one of the arrangers, or their manager Luke, announce that the rest of the show had indeed been cancelled they wanted to break the bad news to their fans themselves. They could have just jumped into their tour bus and drove off and let someone else handle it. But they didn't. They could have been asked to be driven to the pavilion, but they chose to walk through the rain - just like their fans had done - to break the bad news. They could have left it at that, or long before, but they didn't. 

What they did was to express their deepest regrets that the show had to be cancelled. What they did was to climb up on picnic tables in a pavilion with the thunder and lighting having it's own concert all around them. What they did was something that makes me love them even more than I already did. What they did was to yet again show the world what a class act they are. What they did was to set an example on how to care for your fans. What they did was to sing the most heartfelt and astonishing rendition of How Great Thou Art I have ever heard - off-mic. They sang it from the bottoms of their hearts, they sang it for the 770 fans that were sticking around in the bad weather in the hopes to see more of them. And I think, although this is entirely me thinking and I have no proof of it being true, they sang it for Mr E. Whatever reason they had for singing it with so much passion and heart it worked. There are plenty of videos on YouTube from every possible angle, some will show the lightning around them, some will not. You will find a video below starting when the Guys start to speak to their waiting fans and all the through the song. Also below you will find the official Home Free video and the studio recording of it. The official video and version, filmed in the Austrian Alps, takes my breath away, but this live version beats it by far.

I have asked a few of the Fries that were there to share some of their thoughts and feeling about the experience. All of these Fries are experienced Home Free show goers that have been to multiple shows with the knowing that these Guys already were to be considered class acts, and that they will always get their money's worth. Here is what they said;

Melanie - "I'm sure from all the posts you can gather how much this moment meant to me as well as the rest of the fries. This was my 40th concert and even though it was only four songs it was my favorite. Them slogging through the rain up the hill to the pavilion to hop up on picnic tables and sing for us all was my most favorite Home Free moment ever. I can only imagine how the whole concert would've gone because Austin especially but also all of the guys were so excited and feeding off the energy from the people..."

Abby - "The whole weekend was just such an amazing example of how incredibly giving these guys are to their fans. They didn't have to give those beautiful flowers to Mrs L or come to the hog roast to hang with their fans or dedicate the concert to Mr E, but this last action not only giving us this last song but deciding to walk up that hill during the storm just like we had was their way of saying we not only appreciate you but we are part of you. It expressed their love for their fans in a much more meaningful way than just words could ever have done"

Marcia - "I was at the Kearney show hoping that the rain would stop but I guess the powers that be decided that this was the perfect time to show the people at that concert just how special the men from Home Free are. They could have been driven up to the pavilion but they decided to walk thru the rain, up that slippery wet grassy slope the same as we did to show us that they are just regular folk and to show their solidarity with their fans. My heart swelled with pride watching them coming toward us. They keep doing things like this and we just love them more and I didn't think that was possible but they keep proving me wrong as they did Saturday evening."

Mary - " I was overwhelmed with love and admiration when I saw the guys walking into picnic shelter during the storm to sing for us. I felt in that moment, the fans are who matter the most. It was the most beautiful rendition of HGTA that I've heard. So many emotions were in the air that night. I felt honored to be a Home Fry, and to know such talented and amazing people I will never forget how I felt listening to them sing in a thunderstorm. The joy they bring to my life is indescribable."

Sarah wrote this to the Guys - "The words and sounds that came from you with the storm in harmony in the background-absolutely breathtaking. I just stood there in witness fighting back tears. Not tears of sadness, just tears of the pure emotion your music brings to me. The individuality of your voices so powerful and then when they all come together it triggers feelings deep within reminding me why I am there. Why I drive 10 hours to watch you sing. Why I listen to you when I am having a bad day and why when I am having the best day. You are five others have posted pictures and videos. I am just happy I was there to experience that incredible moment. Thank you for all that you give to us."

Eleanor wrote this to the Guys - "Y’all… this weekend was amazing. Branson was wonderful, but just a usual fantastic Home Free show. However, Kearney was inspired. Starting with y’all’s appearance at the Fry Hog Roast, the first 3  songs (could really tell tht was going to be some kind of party!) then followed so quickly by the disappointment of the storm! Then when the situation was the bleakest… Y’all walked up, through the rain and personally gave us the news that concert could not continue, but then you gave us a tremendous gift. This connection with your Fries is why we love you. Hang onto it as long as you can. Thank you so much."

Here is what Rob and Austin shared on social media afterwards;

Rob - "Although it was unfortunate the show was rained out last night, I was able to experience one of my favorite moments singing with Home Free. Coming out and singing "How Great Thou Art" off-mic for the people huddled under the pavilion for shelter, hoping the storm would pass was amazing. Everyone was so quiet all you could hear was us singing and the 'rolling thunder' in the background. I'll never forget it. I'm sorry for everyone who got a very short show from us. Thanks for being so understanding and thanks for making such a sweet memory for us under that pavilion."

Austin - "Even though we only sang three songs before the storm cut us short, last night was one for the record books. To everyone who stayed, thank you. Getting to sing one last song acoustically, under the shelter: well, I won't ever forget how your love and applause made me feel."

So there you have! These Home Free guys; Adam Rupp, Rob Lundquist, Tim Foust, Austin Brown and Adam Chance have yet again showed their fans and the world their hearts, their love for what they do and their appreciation and love for their fans. Being a Home Fry is not a temporary thing, it is something you are in your heart, and it is that way because of how the Guys show their hearts to us. They show it with their music, their humour, the way they interact with their fans, and most importantly they show by doing unexpected things like getting up on picnic tables during a thunderstorm to sing one off-mic song for 770 waiting fans, turning disappointment into the most memorable of memories. That is a class act in it's true definition.

Here is the video you all have been eagerly waiting for. Thanks to LeAnna Reilly for sharing it on YouTube

And here is the official Home Free video, make sure to subscribe to their channel;

I'm wishing you a great, fresh new week. Make sure to smile, love and enjoy every moment the best you can, and please share this post as much as you can. Let's show the world what Home Free is all about.

Love//Carina

The Euro Fry Family

Yesterday I came home from yet another Home Free travel. This was my third one and they just keep getting better and better although it's hard to believe that it's even possible. It isn't just the Guys of Home Free, as a whole and individually, that keeps improving - everything is!

This trip made my 6th and 7th time seeing them and my 3d and 4th VIP meeting them. I can honestly say that I am already excited for the next time. The pure love and joy I feel in their presence is quite stunningly mind-blowing when I start thinking about it. It how they make us feel that keeps us coming back for more.

My first stop on this trip was Utrecht in the Netherlands and my second stop was Girona, Spain, but in this first blog post about my trip I won't get into any details or stories about either of the shows or the VIPs. This post is dedicated to my extended family, to the Euro Fry Family as we call ourselves.

Back at the end of 2015, after the very first European show was announced I decided to start a special group for the Fries going to that show, and the later added shows, on that very first tour in this part of the world. I felt we needed a place where we could get to know each other better, a place where we could plan and discuss things like when we would arrive, which hotels we would be staying at and what clothes to wear without interruption from other Fries, and without posts about it getting lost in all the other posts. After that first tour we decided to keep the group for those that had been there and for future shows. We decided to keep it dedicated to only Europeans or to others going to any Euro shows. We felt we wanted and needed a place to ourselves to grow our own culture here in Europe.

We became a family even before we met that very first time. As you might have read in previous posts I wouldn't have been able to go to those first 2 shows, Birmingham and London 2016, if it hadn't been for a couple of amazing Fries making sure I got tickets and even picking me and my partner in crime, my sister Helena, up at the airport and driving us 3 hours to Birmingham.

Today our Euro Fry Family has grown to almost 200 members, and we expect it to keep growing.

This family is filled with so much love and joy it is almost difficult even for me to understand it, and I'm all about that love! This past weekend I have met Fries from all over Europe; Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, the UK, the Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Portugal, Slovenia, Slovakia, Italy, Poland and probably more I can't think about right now. Please let me know in the comments if I met you and you're from a country I missed. I am used to multiple nationalities hanging out together since I live in a tourist area and have friends from all over, but this was still quite amazing.

I have gotten and given so many hugs and I have laughed until I cried more times than I ever have in such a short period of times. I have shared hostel and hotel rooms with people from a total of 4 different countries. I shared a flight with 4 other Fries from one show to another. I shared some of the best memories I will ever have with these people and I am so incredibly grateful and happy to have them all in my life. We slept little, talked a lot, laughed more, sang loud and loved from the depths of our hearts.

And we owe it all to 5 Guys that share their time and talents with us with joy and love. I know we are all already eagerly waiting to hear about the next time Home Free will come to see us - maybe even more so we get a chance to see each other than to see them. And we will all do whatever we can to see them again.

To my Euro Fry Family - you know who you are - I love you, you are amazing and I am so grateful I get to share this unbelievable experience with y'all. Thank you for being a part of this crazy life!

I loved being at Home Free's first show in Spain, just as I loved being at their first show in Europe last year, and I have so many things to tell you about that experience, after I told you all about the Utrecht show, in an upcoming post.

I didn't film any of the songs myself, but I found this video of Don't It Feel Good from Girona on YouTube. For those who don't know this is a Home Free original written by their bass singer Tim Foust. I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. Watching a video will never even begin to prepare you for what it's like to be there in person, but it will give you an idea of it.

So, Don't It Feel Good to be a part of this Euro Fry Family, my lovelies?

Love//
Carina

Home Free Tickets - Fry It Forward

Fry It Forward

As I mentioned in my last post I have two Home Free tickets I will not need. Here is what I am doing with them;

1) This is a regular ticket to the show in Aurora, IL on March 24. The seat is Orchestra One/R 8

Who can get it?

I want to give this to someone you think would love Home Free, but won't give them the time, or the money, to actually listen to them, and certainly not go see them. Maybe you have a partner, a parent, sibling. child, other relative, good friend or even a colleague you think would get blown away by their amazing talents, humour and on key singing. The important thing here is that this ticket will not go to anyone that has seen them or are truly considering seeing them. This person is not already a fan. Do you know anyone like this?

Leave a comment below stating that it's ticket 1, who you want to have it and why.


2) The second ticket is a VIP ticket for Terre Haute, IN on March 25. Seat A 14

Who can get it?

This ticket is for a Fry. I will not give this ticket away, but I will sell to a reduced price. I paid 102 USD for the ticket, I will sell it to you for 60 USD. You will have to have PayPal for the transaction. I would like it to go to someone who has never been to a VIP. Is that person you or maybe another Fry you think deserves it?

Leave a comment below stating it's ticket 2 and why you want it, or why you think someone else should have it.


Leave your comment no later than Thursday 23d of February, and I will draw the winning names during next weekend.

Now, what song would be more suitable right now than "Sold!, by John Michael Montgomery! This is one of my favourite Home Free covers, and I am so happy I got to see it live several times last month! As soon as I start singing it I feel like a pretty lady, and I start to smile! I hope you do the same!

  "Hey, pretty lady won't you give me a smile" 

I hope to see a lot of entries for the tickets! Have fun, spread the Home Free love and always love yourself and your life!

Love//
Carina