Captain Julian Orzabal and Dion Smith recently released a new album under their band Libre Stone. It is available on iTunes and makes an excellent road trip companion as you head out to see Julian’s brother and music comrades, Tears For Fears in the UK this summer. Julian has collaborated with musicians in the past including Tears for Fears, DelaQ and with Alisa McCathern to name a few as mentioned on the Members section of this archive. He’s got some great work and it has a style of its own that is captivating and hits the spot. You’ll really like it so be sure to get your copy while it’s available.

Being swept up in this circle of audio artistry and musicians is actually quite relaxing and euphoric. The emotions their music bring forth are spiritual in nature meaning it feels rather divine and rooted deep in the universal bond we as humans have with rhythm. Whether you feel you can dance or not, we all move to music in our own way. Tears for Fears have certainly pulled on our emotions, often from a place we didn’t know existed. When you listen to tracks from Captain Orzabal under DelaQ such as Butterfly and 20th Century, which are top picks, one can easily be swept away. Like a good meal, you want to hush up and enjoy it. It’s the kind of music that fills the void of silence in just the right way as you travel or contemplate. It’s a piece of fabric that is woven into a moment in your life. When you listen to it you don’t forget where you were or what was going on in your life. It becomes part of your life’s soundtrack.

Fans’ dedication is shown in so many ways. For example, there are several who keep immaculate collections of their work, the concert t-shirts and guitar picks thrown into the crowd. Some have been lucky enough to get more than one set of drumsticks from Jamie Wollam and have shrined those as well. Just look at those well kept, next to new soldiers that were part of the EWTRTW collection. As soldiers of sound, we certainly find this to be a thing of beauty! Nice job Mr. Wenner!

Again, the way Tears for Fears’ music has become vastly memorable and important to pop culture, the Orzabal and Smith families’ work has created a sort of virtual island for many fans to live on daily. A great example is a newly formed Facebook group called Tears Roll Down (administered by Darren Hull). After being a part of another of the 56 TFF dedicated groups on Facebook, Darren wanted a space where superficial details were not the focus. Instead, it’s about the collection of the band’s music as well as gathering with others at concerts. But most important, it’s to celebrate the legacy of the work and the various tracks.
While sharing photos of his recent concert attendance at Hampton Court where Tears for Fears played back to back on the 18th and 19th of June, Darren mentioned the reaction of a guy three times his size and how overcome with emotion he was at the show. He states,

“Last nite was the nuts 4 rows from stage. TFF on fire Best crowd reaction/atmosphere I’ve been in. The guy crying next to me, a lady in front kept turning round and fist bumping me while we sang. A couple behind me dancing away like crazy Amazing it was.”

He also noted that the man bear hugged him after the show and then went his merry way. It should be noted that this happens A LOT at shows. The band brings out some of the most comforting, soothing and, again, euphoric energy. It’s very lifting. People who did not know each other before, soon know each other VERY well. For example, in 2015, at Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, New Jersey, a man turned around and smooched Andye, the TFF Travel Fan Moderator. They’d never met before and he was vaguely familiar with the work of the travelling crew.

“We were all drenched with sweat from head to toe and as if it were Woodstock. He had been taking amazing photos all night. At one point we were all intertwined on that front row, as if we’d all just shared an UBER ride to the show. When the concert ended no one left. Instead, people just starting turning toward their neighbour hugging and smooching. It was like someone had sprinkled brotherly love dust over the venue. I’ll never forget that night. It was surreal. You usually only see people that interlocked at airports when a loved one is about to move away.”

This isn’t the first time, it continued in 2017 in Tulsa Oklahoma after the show among the fans. Tears for Fears and those musicians that are a part of the sphere bring out a sense of humanity, brotherhood and humbleness that is indescribable.

The dedicated love the band and respect their families. Their level of respect and love goes as far as being willing to sacrifice a moment to say hello if the band members are spotted heading back to their hotels or on their way out. Julian, DelaQ, Alisa and others that are present in the TFF Universe, are a bit more accessible and one can pour their feelings into their appreciation of them via Facebook wall posts, Twitter feeds and Instagram. But we still want to keep our wits about us. One fan from Boston noted that she’s often just looked the other way because she knows they need their privacy. “After the show I went back to my hotel and I just happened to be on the same elevator as one of the band members. I politely smiled and then got off on the wrong floor because I didn’t want them to think I was going to share their location. I’m very aware of that type of behaviour and I didn’t want them to live with that fear.” She also noted that she’s seen them before at their hotels on countless trips to enjoy and support their music but she goes the other way because she just doesn’t want them to feel like they have to keep performing even after they get off stage. “They’re musicians, they need their rest more than most. That’s an hour and a half show. That’s a lot to give. Once it’s done, they’re done. That’s all we should respectfully expect.”
We hear that! That’s all we should respectfully expect.

“It is tough when you’ve flown over one or two continents and you REALLY want to tell them what an impact they have made on us. Or perhaps they finally came to your town after you waited to see them for 20 years…however, we have to learn to enjoy the energy they have at that moment and call it. It is one of the hardest things we have to be brave enough and self-controlled enough to do/be as fans. It’s excruciating really.” -ANM

All emotions and expressions of admiration within the space of those shows or online when conversing with members of Libre Stone, TFF and those residing in this sphere are valid, understood, shared and expected. Many talk about how much they cry at the shows or while listening to the band’s music. They don’t know where this emotion is coming from but it is such a release. You literally let it all out. All your woes drain you and you are on cloud 9 for quite a while. Coming down from that can be as painful as sugar, coffee and stimulant withdrawal. In some cases, it is essential to seek medical attention just to get through it. That’s how intense the shows are in addition to new albums or events where they are present. It’s a miracle we can even hold it together.

Thanks for reading!

-TFF Travel Fan Team

P.S. Friendly reminder the online birthday party starts at midnight BST on the morning of the 24th. Get your crunch cakes ready and sing happy birthday to Mr. Curt Smith!