Steve and Raena Blais. Local favorites, wandering souls, musical magicians have returned home to Fallon for the holidays and will perform at the Fallon Theatre in concert on December 14, at 7 p.m.
Finding themselves empty nesters and displaced after 22 years from his contract job at the base, piled on top of the impermanence after the pandemic, Steve and Raena decided that time is a gift and they were going to invest in themselves and one wild adventure. They rented their house out, let go of many of their worldly possessions, and gutted and rebuilt their camp trailer into a beautiful home on wheels, setting out to wander the west.
“We wanted to leave by our 10-year wedding anniversary,” said Raena, and they were on the road in September of 2022, traveling over the past year through much of northern California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Utah, and Idaho.
They’ve stayed in the yards of friends, playing music at their BBQs, been off-grid, boondocking where they’ve played music in the desolate deserts of the west with friends they just met. They have “gigged” in every state they’ve explored and have made life-long friends of strangers, building a community network of nomads.
“These are the moments,” said Raena, “the reception we’ve gotten has been humbling.”
On of the places they played in Arizona loved them so much, after playing four shows, began introducing them by suggesting they “stop wandering, and stay here with us.”
Their YouTube Channel is called “Wandering Songs” where their music and videos, including an original song, “You and I” can be found at https://youtu.be/dIWeRs8PJ84?si=jPqUAKUXCAPw6Fa6.
This is what Steve calls the “job part of the career change,” building a social media following through their channel. “The more follows and likes, the online persona,” all goes to building a following and then hopefully partnerships, and sponsorships.
Outside of the beautiful photography and video that goes along with their music online, it’s the moments of music and the connections they build with their in-person audiences that have kept Steve and Raena enjoying their high adventure.
They have been able to visit family and each other’s friends, and they both say living in the trailer together has been great. “Wherever we go it’s home, and we’re together,” said Raena. And when they stay with friends, because they have their own house, they aren’t really guests, they’re neighbors.
Steve said sometimes it’s work to find where they’re going to stay, but the low-impact living has been enjoyable. He said Raena is often “momming” other nomads, and the friends they’ve made who are on adventures of their own have helped confirm what is really important in life.
“We’re living the dream – the life many people want,” he said.
But they are really excited to be back in Fallon after their travels, for the holidays, and before they set out again will play for their hometown friends. “The theatre is a great venue,” said Steve. “We’ve done our sound check and we will have great visuals. Annabelle is opening. It will be an evening people will remember.”
Their music self-describes as “from Led Zepplin to the Beastie Boys” but also include simple, heartfelt original ballads. Tickets are $12 per ticket.
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