JEFF PIKE - MANIA - FALL 2022 TOUR BLOG - DAY 2

MANIA - The ABBA Tribute (Formerly ABBA MANIA)
​October 19, 2022
Michigan City, Indiana
Uptown Social
www.uptownsocialmc.com


I find it amazing that you can tour for years, and you will occasionally come across a city or small town in which you have never played. Such was the case when we rolled into Michigan City, Indiana, on October 19, 2022. A town I have never heard of before.

Unlike many tours in the past, I am doing my best to stick to a healthier routine this time. In short, I go to bed directly after the show, get up early the following day, and start to work—work is catching up and staying current with responsibilities back home, online, the band, and future projects. I fast for 16 hours daily, and I eat healthy all day. Also, most importantly, getting up early gives me time to exercise and walk to get my 15,000 daily steps. Since I enjoy walking and hiking outside, being on tour is the perfect way for me to experience new cities and towns healthily.

The weather was beautiful, albeit cold, and there wasn't a cloud in the sky; it is a good thing for me that I like cold weather. Walking around Michigan City, Indiana, I got a strange feeling that it was a city severely affected by Covid 19 and a failing economy. Of course, this is my first impression, and I could be wrong. But there were many old houses in disrepair and many closed businesses that looked the same. I walked around all day and did not see anyone until I bumped into Chris and, later, the rest of the band walking around town. They also shared the same observation. On a positive note, however, they did score some great deals at the only large outlet mall in town.

On an even more positive and educational note, I came across a park with a beautiful tribute to a female African American suffragist from the 1800s named Naomi Anderson. I looked her up on the internet and read all about her. There is too much information to post here, but I encourage everyone to do the same. She was an incredible woman, and her story is worth reading. ​

I found a certain charm about the town, which I found hard to pin down. I guess that, along with the beautiful fall weather, set a perfect background for a good Halloween or Stephen King movie. Both of which I love deeply.

Our venue for the evening was a distinctive, small concert venue that had been converted from an old church. The venue's name is Uptown Social, and it is absolutely gorgeous inside. It only holds under 200 people, so tickets were a bit pricey, but that did not stop people from coming out and having a great time. I do not think it was the best venue for a group such as MANIA, but it worked, and I enjoyed the intimacy of the small room and the close audience. I would love to play here as a solo artist; the room is perfect for that type of performance.
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