Border reopening a step toward normalcy for Windsor musicians who play in Detroit
CBC
For many in border towns like Windsor, Ont., Monday marks one step closer to normalcy, but for musicians who make a living playing in the Detroit area, it's a giant leap.
"When I crossed the border for the first time, I wept," said Russ Macklem, a trumpet player who was able to get across the border with a special work visa for musicians.
"There's been many tearful reunions, still now, just coming into contact with musicians over there and friends over there."
Jody Raffoul has also been missing the music scene in Detroit, but also his band mates.
"You get used to being with somebody and all of a sudden boom — they're gone for a year and a half," he said.
"They're still here, but you can't see them."
While the border reopening to fully vaccinated Canadians on Monday is a step in the right direction, Raffoul and Macklem said things aren't back to a pre-pandemic stage yet.
Raffoul said his usual Thursday-night gigs aren't going to start until the end of November because the club can't find staff.
And Macklem said even though rules are less strict on that side of the border, there still aren't as many gigs as there used to be.
"I've been fortunate to get quite a bit of work for things not even being that open," he said.
Raffoul can't wait to start playing with other musicians again.
"I haven't played with a rock band, you know, for a while," he said.
"I just keep thinking about my band and I haven't seen them. I just keep thinking about that."
Macklem said the rules around crossing the border are still going to present problems for musicians trying to book cross-border shows.