Time For Change (Addendum)

After hitting publish on my last post I realized I neglected to mention something that occurred recently that is also a huge change. It wasn’t an oversight. I honestly just think my heart and mind weren’t ready to talk about it again.

As most of you know, Jackson and I began a local music blog here in Traverse City around April of 2024. It was such a fun time getting to interview bands and get plugged into the local music scene here, which is vast and filled with so much talent.

We started to fall behind on a lot of work and things we had planned for the blog and began debating on whether or not we should continue with it. We decided to let the majority of it go, but would still keep the Instagram semi-active as Jackson has a whole backlog of photos from live shows and still enjoys taking pictures when we get out to see music. We won’t be able to be as active attending shows since both of us know that the constant non-stop of things hasn’t been good for us. We’re trying to lighten our loads as not to overdo things to set off health issues again.

During this process I had been in contact with a good friend of mine we met last year, Rob Dailey, who became a part of The Jam Files and took on the role of being “the video guy”. He loved filming for Instagram reels and truly loved music. He loved a lot of things. When I last spoke to Rob it was early April and I told him we were deliberating on how to move forward with the blog. He said he would gladly still contribute to reel-making. He also told me he understood health stuff as he had been battling some flu-like thing for awhile that wouldn’t seem to go away. His last Instagram post was on April 15th.

I didn’t find out until June that he passed away on April 21st after making many attempts to contact him through text message with no response. I thought maybe he was busy, too sick, or just needed some space. For days I kept saying “I need to just call him.” I will never know the details of his passing. It doesn’t even matter. He was a good guy and a great friend and he’s missed by many. Everyone in town knew Rob, but not well enough it seems and as far as I know his death is a mystery. When we posted about it on The Jam Files Instagram, many people didn’t know, they just wondered where he’d been lately since no one had seen him around. He lived in Reed City but worked and hung out here in Traverse City and could often be found at The Coin Slot or Right Brain playing pinball, which he also loved as much as live music.

I miss him. He could talk to anybody and I’ll never forget the first time I met him in person after connecting with him on Instagram. He talked to me like we were old friends and I’ve truly never met anyone like him on this Earth. I took him to his first powwow and also to his first trip to a casino. He had an unforgettable laugh and even though he was often somber in his mind, he was full of energy and wonder at all times. He was fascinated by so much and always kept an eye and ear out for signs and symbols he could never decipher. He had a deep interest in the paranormal and was highly intuitive himself.

Jackson and I both miss him and when we finally went out to a concert after not attending any for a few months, it just wasn’t the same without Rob there. I kept thinking I saw him in faces of tourists. It was so odd.

I’ll see you on the other side, my friend. I wish I didn’t let a month go by without us talking but you told me you understood. I don’t think you were mad at me. I also wish I didn’t know so late that you were gone. I can only hope that we honor your memory but telling all the local artists how much you truly loved their music.

RIP Robert Dailey — 1973 – 2025

https://www.pruittlivingston.com/obituary/robert-dailey