On August 31st, the band embarked on their journey with no external help. The four of them, armed only with their instruments, hit the road, embracing the spirit of a truly independent band road trip to kick off their album promotion tour.
Warner Records was completely taken aback: "Is this even possible?"
Of course, bands often did this in the past. In an era when radio and TV promotion resources were highly coveted, singers, especially bands, would promote themselves from city to city, starting with small pubs and theaters, hoping to make it onto radio playlists and eventually gain national recognition.
It was a simpler and more sincere time.
The saying went, "Good wine needs no bush."
But now, times have changed, and the world is different. Nothing is the same anymore.
Could the band really manage to pull this off with such minimal support? Even the notoriously heartless Warner Records felt guilty, wondering if they should give the band a larger share of the profits.
Nevertheless, the band set out on their journey.
In response, Warner Records provided generous reimbursement for the band's accommodations and meals, knowing that, compared to the huge promotional budget, even the best food and lodging would be just a drop in the bucket.
At the same time, Warner Records focused more of their budget on distribution.
In short, not only did they penetrate major chain record stores and supermarkets, but they also made sure the album was available in bookstores, independent record shops, and vinyl stores—everywhere possible—to ensure the album would reach the audience.
This way, when people looked for the album, they wouldn't miss it.
While Warner Records adjusted its promotional strategy to match the band's approach, the band embarked on their European tour—just as planned.
No one knew the August 31st band, and no one recognized Anson. Even if they saw him, it was difficult to associate him with a movie star. They simply thought of the band as another ordinary underground group.
The start of the tour was undeniably tough, bringing back memories for Lily and the others.
Sometimes, they'd perform for a full thirty minutes without anyone stopping to listen, even when they played their hit song "Wake Me Up." But the population density of European cities couldn't compare to New York's, so even a unique performance couldn't quickly gather a crowd.
Other times, they'd perform all afternoon, sweating and parched, with just a few scattered coins in Miles' cello case. They were just like a truly unknown underground band, ignored, with no one willing to buy their displayed albums.
It was undoubtedly grueling, even terrifying.
Especially after experiencing the fame and praise from their "Tonight Show" appearance, the sharp contrast of returning to obscurity could drive anyone mad.
Lily and the others, struggling with memories of their previous failures, couldn't help but feel discouraged. But unexpectedly, it was Anson who stepped up to console them.
In theory, Anson was the one who had truly experienced the highs of stardom, basking in the spotlight, and the drastic fall from fame to anonymity should've been the hardest on him.
Yet, Anson wasn't fazed.
Not only did he adapt quickly, but he was also the first to embrace the life of an unknown musician.
"Hey, everything started with the music, and now we're back to the music. We should enjoy this journey. It's a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity."
"Look."
"We don't have to worry about rent, about where dinner will come from, or whether the heating will get shut off in winter, leaving us freezing."
"All we need to think about now is the music. It's all about the music. Treat this as a once-in-a-lifetime road trip, the last bit of youthful recklessness and indulgence. Enjoy it, and leave behind some memories."
"What do you think?"
Anson was right. This rare opportunity allowed them to fully immerse in the music and express themselves—something they had once desperately longed for. But they had become greedy, blinded by their growing hunger for success, and forgotten the original reason they started.
They needed to enjoy this, to fully immerse themselves.
Slowly, the journey began to change. There were surprises and touching moments, adventures and excitement. There wasn't even enough time for them to revel in the joy, let alone wallow in sadness.
In Oslo, they couldn't secure a permit for street performances, which was disappointing. But instead, the band performed a bonfire set on the balcony of a youth hostel, singing along with young people from all over the world.
In Helsinki, their street performance didn't attract much attention, but they unexpectedly caught the eye of a guitarist from a rock band. He invited them to be guest performers at a bar gig that night, giving them a taste of wild Nordic heavy metal.
In Berlin, the band had their most successful street performance of the European tour at Alexanderplatz. Their performance of "Wake Me Up" ignited the crowd, gathering over 500 people for a collective celebration. For three consecutive days, their shows drew large crowds.
Altogether, the band managed to sell over 1,300 albums during those performances.
In Budapest, for the first time, someone recognized Anson at first sight. While people in other cities had occasionally called out Anson's name, this was the first time someone had immediately recognized him, giving the band a taste of Anson's "movie star" fame.
The band didn't just stick to big cities; they also visited smaller, less populated towns, performing on the streets while continuing their road trip. Inspired by Anson, the others rediscovered their youthful energy, embracing life with full force.
There were highs and lows, crowds and solitude. Sometimes, they were surrounded by applause, and sometimes they went unnoticed. But through all the travel and performances, the meaning of the journey and of their youth became clearer.
It was about the people, the moments, and the genuine happiness they experienced firsthand.
Maybe it was a girl telling them that their performance saved her terrible day. Maybe it was an elderly man, beaming with joy as he enjoyed their show. Or maybe it was a shy boy who finally mustered the courage to confess to the girl he liked. Or a toddler dancing along to their music.
These seemingly small but deeply meaningful moments made their journey and youth worthwhile, breathing new life into their music and dreams.
Life is hard; but if you slow down and focus on yourself, you can find a little color in the daily grind.
And so.
Street performances became a source of enjoyment.
As Anson had said, they no longer had to worry about making ends meet or going hungry for their dreams. Now that they could indulge, they needed to make the most of it.
Then, the August 31st band arrived in Paris.
A city full of magic.
Another new day, another fresh start. No matter what happened, the day would be worth looking forward to—that's the essence of adventure.