HOME FREE "European Escape (Part 2 of 2)" // Audio Engineer & Wifey React

[@babyfry4775]

Yeah my husband had just retired and we were planning to travel and we had to stay home. We were fine until we traveled again in 22. We had just seen Home Free and a hockey game back to back and I caught Covid and then my husband caught it. It was just like a bad cold to me but my husband got it worse. We were fine though but it delayed out leaving a bit. Always something! Yeah, they had to scramble. Can you imagine if they had been stuck in a foreign country? Glad that didn’t happen and I discovered them during the pandemic so I’m so grateful for them!!!! Thanks J & J!!!😍😄

[@user-bp7vi7is8x]

We are all just glad they made it home safely and that they were able to get back to live performances eventually. There is a really good video compilation of their "make up" European tour called Home Free--Live From Europe Multicam Road Sweet Road Tour 2023 put out by ManLikeMusic about a month ago. It's video snippets from about 16 different locations in Europe featuring the guys singing the same song at each event. The compiler chose one soundtrack to play for all the different views, and he edited it seamlessly. Jeremy, especially, might appreciate his skill here on this labor of love for Home Free. Gail L.

[@carinalindberg7377]

Chris was their sound engineer. Nate, aka Potatoe, was their merch guy. The guy with the guitar is Cash Campbell, a country artist, their opening act for the tour.

[@rodconner9079]

Along with all that was difficult, at THAT time --- I believe (but could be wrong, but ummm I dou... : ) the other behind the scenes ... leading up to this point (for this trip), revealing or revealed - think this is Jenika's "all one guy" management! Logistics and all - scheduling, the dos and don'ts, transport - along with all the problems encountered amongst all thats; not just the managing role (of the group)...... A tremendous amount for 1 person to take on! A lot of respect for her -- she's a trooper and then some. Be Safe

[@nanadeborah8717]

At that time,I hadn't discovered Home Free. It was a very strange time indeed. Even stranger as an RN working in the hospital with the CDC changing the rules everyday. And no traffic on the highway. Love your reactions.

[@dianneantos480]

@@nanadeborah8717 thank you for being part of that front line in care

[@dianneantos480]

Thank you, Anne. This certainly was a stressful time for so many. Jillian and Jeremy, your discussion was important to wrapping up the two videos. BTW, I believe they have gotten back and finished their tour.! 🥰

[@annehffry3284]

@@dianneantos480 ❤️

[@solveigaarnes]

I was lucky to get to see them I Oslo , Norway 11 days before the lockdown 🤗 The rest of the tour got cancelled😔 They came back to Oslo in September 2023 and I didn’t miss it 🥰🎶 Just love them ❤

[@rebeccarose7405]

Looking back like this brings back just how shockingly quickly all our lives changed. Glad the guys were able to get home safely! And that y'all were able to pick back up and change direction! I'll gladly watch any travel stuff you want to do in the future, but I am glad you became reactors! ❤🎶

[@mrs.allczech9185]

Was so lucky to be at the Prague show (the last one of the tour), it turned me into a hardcore fan.

[@brendasorenson6186]

I missed this home FrYday last Friday! Ack! These 2 BTS were great; a good reminder of the weird chaos of covid. So many things did not survive the covid lockdown. (For instance, Chris & Tristan Rupp's group 7th Avenue.) I've read comment after comment how all of HF's videos during covid lockdown kept them sane during lockdown. HF certainly worked hard to provide content then. Thanks, J&J, for the Home FrYdays!

[@pastelcarnations]

I love that we get a chance to see their personalities shine. Chance really shined in this for me. It's just so good to see them enjoying themselves amidst all the confusion

[@teresacartwright5406]

One thing I've noticed in all their 'back-stage' videos: they never have security/bodyguards. I've seen ones where they're just walking around different cities or trying restaurants, whatever - no security/bodyguards. They're so down-to-earth, I'm not sure they'd even think of it. Thanks for playing this & your comments.

[@lisaseverance6785]

About the whole pandemic shift....my work, after years of refusal, was forced to allow us to work from home. They didn't trust that we would actually work from home, obviously. But with the lockdown, they knew they had to do it. And surprise surprise, after a few months, they came to the conclusion that working remotely actually helped in our productivity. With no office politics and gossip to distract us and with the flexibility to be able to work any hours we needed, our productivity went up. The real point got to them when they realized they would only have to pay for our computers to work from home whereas if we worked in the office, they had to pay for computers, rent, phone, electrical, heating and cooling plus office supplies. We have it now where they really only pay for a miniscule amount of office supplies, gave us headsets for phone calls through our computers and they pay for the computers. Huge savings for the company!! I love it! No more worrying about using my PTO for snowstorms when I just could not travel to work. I have saved a ton on gas. I set it up so I have strict work "rules" No working in my PJs, my office is separated from most of the living space, I do not work crazy hours unless I have to. It was a godsend when my husband was injured and needed someone to be at home with him in his recovery. So I can actually use my PTO for vacation or times when I am really sick! I guess that may be why I resonate so much with Austin's decision to leave the group...enjoying being home and doing the ordinary daily stuff. I get it! Plus, I'm a bit of an introvert at times and hate the office politics/gossip crap. LOL

[@wolfe6220]

Amen to your whole comment!!

[@musikbyjh]

So happy the pandemic created a positive for you, Lisa!!! Completely relate to all you mentioned about rather work from home. We get it!!

[@annehffry3284]

Thanks for the reactions J&J! The Covid shutdowns impacted artists for such a long time-shows and tours cancelled. The guy’s became even more creative with their music videos during covid, but it was a pretty long span of time that shows were not allowed. I remember wondering if things would ever go back to normal. It was a weird blip in our past that I hope is never repeated. I think it makes me more thankful for Home Free and for being able to go to one of their concerts.

[@musikbyjh]

Hey Anne, happy FrYday!! THANK YOU again for the fantastic requests - these were really good to see and give us even more of an appreciation for our guys and their resilience. Hugs!!

[@laurabuckles7961]

Oh man, it's so hard to watch things from this time, March 2020 was when my Mom started going downhill, and after a stroke in July passed away in August. The year from hell, as I call it. But, it was a hard time for everyone. I'm glad HF got back home before the lockdowns, and were able to make the home videos to keep us all entertained.

[@sythompson9331]

The extra guys are their crew

[@kennethbryson7751]

This was really good for us to see! I heard Tim on an interview go through the pandemic and frantic trip home to America and all they went through. Seeing it from their perspective is real! They left merchandise, you saw the bar as they were leaving! That was built over there, a prop for the dive BAR saints tour. Tim said that someone shipped most of their merchandise back to them! Crazy times for all but theirs was one of a frantic exit! Thanks for doing this! Low bass Kenneth

[@pennymaple1817]

IIRC Manchester stored all the merch from the cancelled 2020 tour and brought it out for the 2023 tour. The guys were stoked!

[@cynthiamiller483]

Anne, Anne, the WomAnne! Good choices for today. I’m always up for Home Away from Home and BTS. I’m a little behind today, due to circumstances beyond my control, so was happy to get home and sit down to watch these and see your faces. I had Covid before it was recognized. Thought I had bronchitis, but was never so sick. I was sick, they were stressed, but so glad they made it home, especially Chris. Until then, they were having such a good time! Their antics are funny and kind…nobody gets hurt. I’ll be here tomorrow for more fun! 🎶 Cyd

[@musikbyjh]

Hey Cyd!!! Uh oh, we hope everything is ok with you and Mr. Cyd. And re: COVID, we think Jeremy's Mom was in the same boat as you (had Covid before we knew it existed) - same symptoms you mention. Sending healing vibes and big hugs your way!! xo

[@cynthiamiller483]

@@musikbyjh ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@annehffry3284]

@@cynthiamiller483 ❤️

[@tinah8833]

Hey! Happy Home Friday! Great reaction J & J and thanks Anne! Both videos just make me appreciate Home Free on another level. They are all so humble , kind and down to earth. This is why they are adored by all of us fans. I'm grateful for them and how hard they work. Beautiful guys, inside and out. Love you guys!

[@musikbyjh]

We completely agree, Tina. BIG HUGS and lots of love (PS: next FrYday, July 12th we have something special planned for you and Miss. E.!!!). xo

[@tinah8833]

@@musikbyjh I can't say enough how grateful I am for your kindness and friendship. God willing, I'm going to be able to meet you in person one day. 💘

[@MN_Home_Fry]

My understanding is that was going to be their first profitable international tour (obviously didn't turn out that way). The previous one had essentially broken even. Always great to spend some HFryday to me with J&J! Jenika was tour manager for a year or 2 Chris is their VERY long time sound guy. Potatoe was the long time merch guy until about a year ago. The other guitar guy was warm up for that tour as Jeffrey East was for the previous Euro tour

[@musikbyjh]

Thanks for the helpful info, friend!! Happy FrYdaaayyyyyy!!

[@user-qp8jh9vl7v]

More of these, please! Thank you for the Home Free reactions

[@musikbyjh]

You betcha!!

[@glendamcgrady1244]

Enjoyed your reaction!

[@carolburnett190]

At some point, Austin (I think) said they were very lucky because their manager had made sure they had a full year’s worth of money saved so the guys could get paid during the pandemic. I felt so bad for those who lived in Nashville and had the worry about the tornado damage. I know I’ve seen a video(s) about how things were when they landed at home. Tim said it was so surreal to be in Italy(?) and suddenly they were sitting on the couch and not knowing when they would be allowed out. If you haven’t seen it, y’all should watch Tim’s interview with Elizabeth of The Charismatic Voice. For a lot of us Home Fries, we’ve seen the random videos where they talked about their experiences and have cobbled together a more or less coherent story.

[@musikbyjh]

Great comment, Carol. Thank you! So smart on having a year's worth of salary - good management, for sure. And I appreciate the reminder to watch Elizabeth's interview with Tim - we've been meaning to get to this!! Happy FrYday!!

[@princessButtercupp]

@musikbyjh it's a fantastic interview and really humanizes him. This one and the one with Peter barber are fantastic. It's nice to see what he's like when he's not in stage mode and just being "Tim."

[@carinalindberg7377]

So, we were waiting for them to cancel the rest of the tour. We didn't want them to, but we saw it coming and it felt like the safest and wisest decision. Personally, I was relieved, but sooo devastated when they did. I lived in Spain at the time and was due to fly to Sweden to celebrate my upcoming 50th birthday with my family two days later, and from there to the UK for the concerts in Birmingham and London. London was scheduled to take place on March 20th, the day before my birthday, and it was to be part of the celebration, of course. Frie(nd)s from all over Europe were flying in for the concert and to celebrate with me. We had a lunch planned the following day and then a musical booked for the evening. It was also a celebration that I, finally, had quit my job. I did my last day on the day the tour was cancelled. Of course, instead I was in very strict lockdown in Spain. It was rough, but at least I got to celebrate with my son and partner. Crazy time, for sure. At the end of the day, we were just glad they got to go home in time to be with their families and that we didn't have to make the difficult decision of not going to our planned concerts.

[@musikbyjh]

WHOA!!! Loved reading about your experiences, Carina...what a journey. I'm sorry your milestone birthday was impacted, but love your "make the best of it" attitude. You rock!

[@carinalindberg7377]

@musikbyjh There's no other way of living. What's in the past is in the past, and the future isn't here yet. I love avd live in the precious present moment. I had a great day, despite the situation, although it was emotionally intense at the time as well.

[@antrazitaj5209]

The drinking. They used to drink a lot more, but then the 2 party people of drinking of the group decided to became adults. Since then Rob only drinks beer and Tim is completely sober

[@Malmas7]

Now you get to see what happened.😭🥰

[@minneyruth]

❤❤

[@Indigo_moon]

Make sure you eventually react to some of the new, old stuff they are putting out. It's fantastic! They redid "Your Man" and it's the first music video ever made for it. It is also one of the first songs they did together. Love all these videos though. ❤

[@musikbyjh]

Coming very soon!

[@gailcline1910]

It was a scary time

[@uosuaq]

Could have used some Spinal Tap lines. "I mean...you can't dust for Covid."

[@belinda9696]

Tim dosen't drink anymore, Rob dosen't much anymore either. I think when you are in Europe where there is different food to try and good drink there, they have to find some kind of fun during their stressful shows with minimal crew and crazy schedule with unplanned events and a lot of long boring wait times on transportation with not much to do.

[@princessButtercupp]

Tim quit drinking in 2017 so was already dry by this tour. I don't recall if Rob was at the same time or later on, or was all together like tim, or just slowed way down. But good for them

[@musikbyjh]

Good for them is right!! Having been around that "scene", we know it can be easy to fall in to. Gets old though. As long as they are happy and healthy, that's all that matters!

[@Rangatology]

Handed your badge back to the Pentagon??? What information have I missed out on?

[@musikbyjh]

Yep, used to work there friend!! ;-)

[@Rangatology]

@@musikbyjh I’m both impressed & a little bit scared! Remind me never to piss you off with the potential connections you have made, haha.

[@musikbyjh]

@@Rangatology LOL!! Never worry - left that world and connections four years ago. You are SAFE (for now, teeheee!).