Delayed and cancelled flights, food benefits in limbo, and pay cheques frozen. These are the numerous issues faced by citizens as the U.S. government shut down for more than 40 days.
It’s not just those who live in the states, either. Canadian bands and musicians have had to adjust to the increasing difficulties of crossing the border.
The band ‘Autopilot’ is travelling all across Canada in lieu of an album anniversary. Frontman Marlon Harder said a delay in B2 Visas is making it harder to get around.
Processing times have gone from 60 days to a year. Not being able to cut through the States has turned their trips into 10-hour escapades.
“If we got [it], we would have probably had 20 dates and it would have been 3 hours apart,” said Harder. His band’s current tour has only 10 shows announced.
Honey Dip Bar (Finn Dermo / XFM News)
One of their most recent stops is in London, Ontario. The band is performing at a venue tonight located just above ‘DoughEV.’
Autopilot’s Myk Ulan-Holol said he’s glad ‘Honey Dip’ exists to host affordable shows for music lovers. He added that financial pressures and a lack of spaces have made it difficult for Canadians to attend live music events.
The conditions aren’t always ideal, but getting to perform makes it all worth it for the members.
“[The] best way to keep that stuff going is for people to keep going. People gotta go out to shows if they want more shows. Which sucks, cause it seems like Ontario and even back home, everybody’s hurting for whatever. But we’re all hurting together,” said Ulan-Holol.
