How indie rockers Saving Vice overcome a touring disaster

After being left stranded with a canceled tour and blown transmission, Saving Vice looked to the industry for help. To their surprise, they got a response.

by James Shotwell from Haulix

Saving Vice left their home state of Vermont in late May, thinking they were embarking on the opportunity of a lifetime. After cutting their teeth in the tough New England music scene, the band was graduating to national tours with global talent. They were to support rapper Lil Xan alongside other up-and-coming rock bands, and the tour kickoff was set for the So What Music Festival in Dallas, TX. Touring is a notoriously unpredictable business, but Saving Vice saw the worst of it after leaving home. 

The band’s transmission blew before the first show, leaving them stranded in Dallas. Then, as they were working with mechanics to find a solution, they received word through social media that Lil Xan would not appear on tour. The headliner they drove across the country to support was a no-show, and the bands were left with little to no recourse. 

As word of the band’s predicament spread online, something amazing started happening. Artists, fans, and strangers began reaching out to support the artists, asking what they could to help. Some gave money, while others offered gigs, which helped alleviate some short-term stresses. But it wasn’t enough. Saving Vice and the others would need to do more to salvage their career, which meant taking action themselves. 

Music Biz host James Shotwell chats with Saving Vice member Tyler Small about his band’s recent tour troubles in our latest fast-five interview. Tyler shares how he and the crew learned of the situation, their initial response, and how the industry’s incredible support gave him renewed energy to chase his dreams.

James Shotwell is the Director of Customer Engagement at Haulix and host of the company’s podcast, Inside Music. He is also a public speaker known for promoting careers in the entertainment industry, as well as an entertainment journalist with over a decade of experience. His bylines include Rolling Stone, Alternative Press, Substream Magazine, Nu Sound, and Under The Gun Review, among other popular outlets.