Action Jackson!
Woah, Serendipity!!!
Early in the tour I signed up for a website called Couchsurfing.org, a website that connects travelers with hosts, and operates on a karmic / tit-for-tat basis … surf on couches, and let others surf on yours. It’s free, with a recommended donation of $25. I gave the donation, figuring it’s less than a night at a hotel, so I’d only need to use the service once for it to pay off. And boy has it!! Let me ‘splain…
Since using the site to find a free place to crash in Tucson back in December, I hadn’t really needed it…I’ve stayed with friends and family just about everywhere I’ve been between then and now. But, since non-stop from Austin (where my last show was) to Atlanta (where my next show is) is too damn far to drive, I decided to try the site again for a spot to rest in the middle. I looked on the map and spotted Jackson, MS…still a 9 hour drive from Austin, but better than the 15 I would’ve faced otherwise. So I put out a request to a “verified and vouched for” couchsurfing member named Lizzie Wright and she wrote me back right away saying “sure you can crash on my couch! Also, I’m a musician too…do you want me to set up a show for you?”
OF COURSE! WOOHOO!!!
So, last night was that show. And it was amazing.
Lizzie Wright Super Space Ship
Lizzie feat. Emily Baker and super-zealous aux. instrument dude (who, incidentally, was clearly very talented)
Emily Baker and crowd
this guy
In addition to the incredible music of the other performers (Lizzie and Emily Baker, pictured above)…it was just awesome to see SO MANY PEOPLE come out to a short-notice, acoustic house show on a Tuesday night. There were like 30 people! And damn near all of them bought CDs or gave me tips! One even offered to write me up in Jackson’s weekly! And, most importantly, the show was followed by an epic hour-plus singalong, featuring many of the hits from the 80s that I learned to play for friends’ weddings, as well as classics from the Backstreet Boys, the Little Mermaid, Sam Cooke, and TLC. Clearly, these are my people.
I was so impressed with everyone’s kindness and hospitality; but more than that, with their motivation to take action and build a strong, supportive community. The people I talked to were all involved in lots of cool projects, organizations, and businesses that sounded super-rewarding, and I got the sense that the people I spent last night with really give this town its pulse. Several people I talked to described Jackson as being like a “blank slate,” in that the changes they wanted to see here were easy to make happen…that’s kind of amazing, when you think about it, and one of the reasons I ultimately don’t see myself ending up in New York again. I want to be somewhere that feels the impact of my being there, and is better off for it. That’s how it feels to be in Jackson, and I love it.
(Don’t worry, I’m not moving here.)
That said, I want to give my biggest, mushiest, most heartfelt thank yous to Lizzie for hosting me, setting up the show, and performing with me…and to Emily, Amanda, Annie, Josh, and everyone else I met last night. I had the best time, and think what you’ve got going on here is really special.
My next stop is Atlanta, where I’ll be staying with family tonight, and have a show at a space called the WonderRoot with a bunch of awesome locals tomorrow night. As always, please spread the word!
Lots of love…and see ya soon!
xo, P
