Days of Rona: Amber Pollard of Sun Blood Stories
The statistics of COVID-19 change with every news cycle, and with growing numbers, stay-at-home isolation and a near-universal disruption to society on a global scale, it is ever more important to consider the human aspect of this coronavirus. Amid the sad surrealism of living through social distancing, quarantines and bans on gatherings of groups of any size, creative professionals — artists, musicians, promoters, club owners, techs, producers, and more — are seeing an effect like nothing witnessed in the last century, and as humanity as a whole deals with this calamity, some perspective on who, what, where, when and how we’re all getting through is a needed reminder of why we’re doing so in the first place.
Thus, Days of Rona, in some attempt to help document the state of things as they are now, both so help can be asked for and given where needed, and so that when this is over it can be remembered.
Thanks to all who participate. To read all the Days of Rona coverage, click here. — JJ Koczan
Days of Rona: Amber Pollard of Sun Blood Stories (Boise, Idaho)
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How are you dealing with this crisis as a band? Have you had to rework plans at all? How is everyone’s health so far?
Well, we haven’t really reworked plans as much as just cancelled them. Like for all of 2020. Or at least that’s how it feels. Some of our shows have been rescheduled for later in the year, but that feels like an eternity from now.
Practicing is also out right now since social distancing recommends people from other households shouldn’t enter your own. As a band with a new member, Cody Goin on bass, we’ve been focusing a lot on exploring the new dynamic of the group and this really throws a wrench in that.
As far as our health, physically we seem to all be doing pretty well. Mentally, the isolation and lack of music-making has been a real bummer and it’s tough to not really have any solid idea of when we’re going to be able to resume. But we also see that there is a terrible amount of suffering in the world right now and we’re happy to be able to help in any way we can, even if that’s just staying home in order to slow the spread.
What are the quarantine/isolation rules where you are?
The city of Boise has done a pretty good job of handling the situation:
– No gatherings of 10+ people
– No unnecessary traveling
– Stay 6 ft. apart from people who don’t live in your house
– Work from home if you can
– All non-essential businesses closed
However, even though non-essential businesses are closed and there’s a pandemic going on, the Republicans and Gov. Brad Little still had time to pass some absolutely vile anti-trans bills. So we just wanted to say, fuck Governor Brad Little and fuck everyone who voted for those bills.
How have you seen the virus affecting the community around you and in music?
It’s mostly just come to a grinding halt. Any of us who make our living from performing, or serving drinks or making food or running the door or doing sound, are in real trouble right now. No one knows how long this is going to go, so no one is really able to make any serious plans for the future, especially since no one alive has any experience with a pandemic of this size and severity. We’re trying to support our fellow artists and workers within the scene and just help everyone to get through.
What is the one thing you want people to know about your situation, either as a band, or personally, or anything?
We were fortunate enough to have amazing support from our friends and fans this month which raised enough money to cover our band bills. After the bills were paid, we used the surplus funds to support other artists by buying their music/art (through Bandcamp or Venmo or digital tip jars), small businesses by buying their beer, and other folks feeling the financial strain right now.
If you’re lucky enough to have an income and love any kind of art or craft, now is the time to support them. Without trying to sound hyperbolic, it really is now or never for a lot of these folks.
Other than that, we just want to say stay safe and take care of one another.
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