When you read about bands that struggled before becoming successful, it's always inspiring. But with Strand of Oaks, that struggle is taken to a different level. For the bandleader Tim Showalter, the obstacles were beyond anything most people or bands could endure, yet, he used those obstacles to his advantage.
The years of struggle are at the core of the Strand of Oaks' most recent album HEAL, an album that has been resonating with fans ever since its release. Throughout his songwriting, Showalter tells us that when we get knocked down, we must take that knockout and learn from it.
When our crew showed up to film a few days with the band in Tennessee and Kentucky, the venues were packed wall-to-wall. You'd think that a guy with such success with a new album would have a little swagger, but not Tim. He seemed to be genuinely grateful that anyone would show up to hear his music. He was glowing before each show like it was a first, yet he had already been playing sold-out venues for months. His regular guy persona reminded me of Springsteen a bit, that's why I'm confident he'll be successful for many years to come. He's just a genuine guy who has found his calling.
Tim and the band were genuinely excited about being chosen for the Lollapalooza line-up. For them, it's not just another festival date, it's the festival date. Each band member spoke about it as being the most significant milestone yet and embraced the historic nature of it.