Tour Diary: Demi the Daredevil Takes Us Through His September U.S. Tour

It’s just been a monumental month for Demi the Daredevil. The alternative pop artist completed his “American Zombie Tour,” which kicked off in Nashville on September 11th. The tour brought together Demi with TikTok artist RudyWade, Filipino-American performer Ethan Gander, and Nashville alternative hip-hop star Mitchel Dae. All four artists collaborated on the recently released “American Zombie” single. Released at the end of August, the single came together as the official theme song to the tour. Each night, the four artists teamed up for a performance of the epic track. Both eerie and spellbinding, the song captures how detached modern people have become from themselves and the actual realities of their society. “American Zombie” was written in reaction to the current digital information landscape that dominates our attention.

Originally from El Paso, Texas, Demi the Daredevil is the songwriting and performing pseudonym of musician Jeff Azar. He has used Demi the Daredevil as a platform where his proclivity for dark, introspective lyrics, haunting soundscapes, and theatrical pop can all come together under one roof. These songs are anthems for those who feel lost or misunderstood. Azar’s music is intended for people searching for their own unique voice. Many of the themes he touches on are on the heavy side, including identity, mental health, and existentialism.

With his recent tour now behind him, Azar joins us for an exclusive Tour Diary in which he takes us behind the scenes into many of the notable and significant moments that happened along the way.

September 7th

“Headed to Nashville from LA. It’ll be a three-day trip. The way this tour and tour collaboration song came together was very last minute. The previous tour bands had to drop and we put this together a little over a month before it started! I’m always nervous about who shows up but I think since the last tours with Skydxddy and TX2 I was able to make even more in-person connections.”

September 8th

“I really needed these drives to be in my thoughts. Lots of alone time; started to think about my content blocks. Posting doesn’t have to be that deep and complicated! There’s a hostile argument happening outside of my hotel room. Gallup, New Mexico. Ready to leave.”

Demi the Daredevil, photo by Erin Leeper

September 9th

“Really using these first drives to be quiet and see what melodies come up. Recording random ideas in the voice memos. It’s really tough to make time for this in daily life, but the time is NOW.”

September 10th

“My drummer Jake flew in today from Austin. Found a gym, and picked up the merch sent by Smark Punk Recs. The only practice lab that was open was from 9 pm to midnight. The in-ear system ended up not working and the backtracks weren’t coming out. We had about 30 minutes to run the set without having diagnosed the issue. Freaking out!”

September 11th

“First show day. We stopped by Guitar Center before the show and figured out why the tracks weren’t coming out (had to do with the mixer setting), so thankfully that was fixed. We showed up to DRKMTTR, a very DIY and homey-stylized venue. I get to meet all the bands in person again and everyone is super chatty. I am catching up with everyone I hadn’t seen since the last Nashville show.

“We lost track of the run of show times so everyone had to cut their set. But still felt really good to see everyone and hear them sing the words. A few fan arts which always make me happy.”

September 12th

“We are here on the road from Nashville to Houston. We passed by remnants of Hurricane Francine in Southern Arkansas. And we only hit part of that storm but it was cold, windy, and rainy. I hope everyone’s alright. We are bummed we can’t play Nola. Everyone we knew who lived there evacuated. Two-hour standstill on the highway. We ate gas station pizza and that made it better for 30 minutes. Drove from Nashville to Houston in one day.”

September 13th

“I am juggling a lot. With coordinating between every POC, I’m just a quiet introvert pining for quiet non-logistics time. But ready to work. Feel a moment of peace looking at the sun on the way to the venue. I’ve hardly been eating anything, as long as I get some fruits and veggies in me a day I’ll be ok.

“Post-show: What an amazing show! BFE Rock Club. Everyone was singing and they supported us with merch. Someone showed up in their haunted house job mask and we had a moment during our song ‘Paranoia on Main Street.’ One fan gave an amazing Demi-themed voodoo doll gift. This is such a creative fanbase.”

September 14th

“Off day. Lounged around. Finally got good sleep and it makes a world of a difference. My brother’s wedding party happened to fall on this day so I got to see him and his now husband. I waste energy being anxious. Be here now.”

Demi the Daredevil, photo by Rylee Danielle

September 15th

“Maybe the first show I’ve ever had where nearly everybody there came to see our band. The crowd’s energy was so alive, so real, so engaged. They were screaming the words so loud. Extra chaotic trying to talk to everyone after. I can’t sleep, this was a bucket list experience. Mohawk, Austin, Texas.”

September 16th

“Drive to El Paso. My hometown. We stay with my mom and stepdad. I have a mini manic breakdown and then I am ok. We talk by my old lead singer’s house and I ring the doorbell to say hi to his parents but it’s too late in the night. It’s nostalgic seeing the side of the house where we used to dream and laugh at his Jim Carrey-esque jokes.”

September 17th

“Drive to LA. Plenty of long desert roads. Working through family problems in my head. This tour is definitely reinforcing my belief that I just want to live and die by the stage and be a really good performer.”

September 18th

“LA show at the Whisky today. Moving slowly, we went to the gym and made it to an early load-in. Probably the nicest dressing rooms I’ve been in. And what an epic show. The sound was great. The crowd really showed up. Fans from the discord flew from all over to meet. This is what it’s about. Went to Mel’s Diner afterwards for some good ole French toast.”

Demi the Daredevil, photo by Rylee Danielle

September 19th

“Drove to Sacramento a day early. My drummer is feeling spendy so he takes us out to a nice restaurant bar. We accidentally ran into Ethan Gander, one of our touring mates, on this patio out of all places. And he freaks me out by showing up with a phone light, shouting ‘Is that Demi the Daredevil?! Can I get a picture with you?!’ This shouldn’t have scared me as much as it did.”

September 20th

“Smaller show because it was a 21+ venue but it was still a VERY lively show at Press Club in Sacramento. Got to meet some fans that have been here since the beginning. Beforehand, we were promoting the show to strangers, and a few came out. Sacramento is very beautiful, with a heavy homeless population it seems.”

September 21st

“Raced to Portland and made a soundcheck just in time. The scenery is beautiful with big pine trees, mountains, and lakes. Mount Shasta is epic. I am worried about the sound system not having enough power initially, but it turned out great at Bridge City Sessions. There is a long line of Demi fans waiting to get in. It was the most intimate show of them all. Someone brought gifts and everyone brought the heat by singing the songs.”

September 22nd

“Last show of the tour at High Dive in Seattle. I put on the best show of the whole tour because I expected the turnout to be much less than it was. It was a ‘nothing to lose’ mentality and it worked! Great energy the whole show, especially for a Sunday night. Overall, for me, one of my flaws is that I open up too quickly to people. About all my insecurities, excitement, etc. But the one place where it’s not a flaw is with the ‘devilins’ (demi community) because that’s what it’s all about. It’s a place where you can open up and feel safe and seen no matter how weird and broken you feel. These people are my purpose and that’ll never change.

“Also, I realized that as much as I think staying at home introspecting is the way I’ll really understand life and who I am, I think connecting in person, on a real level, is really what gets us out of ourselves enough to find ourselves.”

Demi the Daredevil, photo by Madeleine Azar