Rarely do you come across a group of people who you instantly connect with, that make you feel, that make you want to love, that make you so happy that you forget they are on-screen. These people form the titular Roadies, the protagonists of Showtime’s new series. Let me explain Roadies.
Remember the first concert which you attended and made you forget reality, the concert that was intoxicating in itself. I remember feeling elated when I first saw Ed Sheeran performing live in the blue kurta. I remember when he played ‘I See Fire’ and across eight different screens behind him, you could see this magnificent and gorgeous dragon called Smaug. And, at that moment, I knew that this was a ‘You-Had-To-Be-There’ concert.
Roadies made sure that everyone could hear Ed’s brilliant voice. Roadies made sure Smaug was on-screen at the same time Ed sang ‘I See Fire’. Roadies are the backstage workers who set the stage, check the sound, fix the lights. Roadies are those who make sure that every time their band performs in a city, it is unique and memorable.
Since you now know who Roadies are, let’s focus on this particular set of Roadies. Tour manager Bill Hanson (Luke Wilson) and production manager Shelli Anderson (Carla Gugino) lead this loyal group of roadies for the Staton-House Band. There’s the philosophical and opinionated stage rigger, Kelly Ann (Imogen Poots); her bad-ass espresso making twin brother Wes (Colson Baker); and rounding up this bunch is the outspoken sound engineer Donna Mancini (Keisha Castle-Hughes) and the trying-to-blend-in bass tech Milo (Peter Cambor). The daily chaos of their lives is further shaken with the arrival of a new financial advisor Reg Whitehead (Rafe Spall). This is where our story starts. And as it progresses, you start to feel incredibly close to this family that is bound together by music.
Watch Roadies if you love music, watch Roadies if you love family, watch Roadies if you just wanna feel loved, or watch it if you’re just fucking curious about what goes on backstage during a concert. A special shoutout to Nora Felder, who has truly outdone herself as the music consultant, and if I may say so, could just be the new Alexandra Patsavas.
Roadies is written and directed by Cameron Crowe, best known for his Oscar-winning film Jerry Maguire. Honestly speaking, Roadies is my first exposure to Cameron Crowe. Which means, I have not seen Jerry Maguire, but if it makes me feel half as cozy and comfortable and happy as I felt while watching Roadies, then I know I am going to like it.
The pilot episode of Roadies is available to view online. You can view and vote on the premiere episode here.
