Or a good day... I. can't. stop. watching. this. [youtube=http://youtu.be/OWoQpzdB5gs]
Holimusidays!
I hope your holidays were glaaahrious. I hope you were able to rest and laugh and get lots of hugs. I had the privilege of playing for a good many Christmas parties this year. And then I spent actual Christmas with my in-laws at a lake. It was fun. I ate some turkey. I slept a lot. I even read a book. I forgot to take pictures. Got some pretty sweet gifts. Yep. That's about it.
Wow, this blog post is really starting with a bang....
Well anyways, right after Christmas, my husband and I took a trip to Ft. Walton Beach, FL to get away and write some songs, thanks to my aunt and uncle's gorgeous beachside condo. Good lord, it was heaven.
I really wanted to post pictures of the inside of the condo, but every picture I took looked like our suitcase exploded on it.
Aw, heck. We're all friends here.
Woowee! What a treat we didn't deserve in a million years. And we wrote new songs that you can hear at my shows!
So we drove back from Florida on New Years' Eve, just in time to hang out with these n00bs:
We hung out, ate soup, drank some sherry (and by sherry, I mean I tried the sherry and then proceeded to cut it with a large amount of Mountain Dew), and then drove to downtown Nashville to "watch the music note drop."
In the freezing rain.
And the chick on the left in the last picture wore her pajamas.
I love my friends.
So anyways, we stuffed ourselves onto Broadway like sardines, running into each others' umbrellas, and feeling the water seep through our clothes. This picture really sums it up nicely.
I kid, I kid. Well, not about the rain part. I kid about the insinuation that it wasn't fun - okay, so it wasn't the BEST time I've ever had, but if it wasn't for good company, I believe I would've been the cranky so-this-is-what-it-feels-like-to-live-in-an-ice-cube lady. Instead, I was the joyful mute, glaring at the intoxicated many who ran into me with my laser beam eyes. Wow, Jessie, you're lame. But I digress... how cute are my little friends?!
Yay, adventures. :)
My Other Job
Along with making the minuscule big bucks being a music artist, I also teach voice and piano lessons to some pretty cool folks. ...And the occasional demon zombie child... But mainly cool people.
I absolutely adore teaching. I especially love teaching voice. I get very "into" it and sometimes quite emotional. I'll give cheesy thrilling motivational speeches and make my students do vocal exercises they wouldn't want anyone in the world to hear them sing. And, hey Jack (Si from Duck Dynasty reference, anyone??), it works. And it's fun to watch them squirm wwoohahaha.
The other day, I had a few lessons, and I had to grab a couple of new piano books for one of my students. I walked into Shuff's Music in Franklin, TN, my most favorite music store. Get in, get out. That's what she said. That was the plan.
But, nope. That wasn't going to happen. Why? Glad you asked. I'll tell you.
I walked back to the music book room, a very echoey, wood-floor room, and there was a lone high school kid trying out a trumpet for what sounded like the first time. "Awww," I thought at first. "That's so sweet."
My "awww"s turned to "WTF" after about 10 minutes, when he continued to toot that thing loudly and obnoxiously, as well as stand in the very spot from which I needed to grab my music. I wasn't quite sure what to do. So, I did what anyone would do. I pulled out my video camera so y'all could get you a piece of this action.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pBJJKkgU9Ng&feature=youtu.be]
I finally quit being nice and nudged my way to my books.
As I was leaving, a store clerk came by to check on the trumpeteer (kinda like a rocketeer, but way, way lamer). He proceeded to ask if he could try out a saxophone. "I've never played one before, but I wanna try it," he said.
I ran out as fast as I could. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So I get to my lesson. And my sweet and gorgeous student Lucy greets me at the door with Setzer, the coolest cat in the history of cats.
Did I mention that her dad is THE Pedal Doctor? He's a guitar gear genius, and pedal-maker to the stars! And the lead guitar player in my band. :) But I digress...
So take note of little Lucy's fingers in this picture...
Now take a look at 'em...
This little smarty figured out that if she could just memorize WHERE to put her hands on the piano, and write all the note names on her fingers, then the piano was much easier to play. I can't say I haven't thought this very same thing.
And did I name-drop mention that BONO has played the piano I teach Lucy on? Yeah. STUPID!! (That means cool in this instance, Mom.)
I think my favorite part about teaching music, though, is just being around kids. I love their smiles and their enthusiasm and their - who am I kidding - I love their COMPLIMENTS! Ever feeling down about yourself? Go find yourself a kid. Don't kidnap the thing or anything, but just go find one and talk to 'em. They think grown ups are super stars! But be sure to stick around the 5-9 age group. By 11 or so, they pretty much hate your guts.
My last student was a sweet, sweet girl whom I had just met. She was a bit shy at first, but by the end, she was squealing and laughing and drawing pictures of she and I frolicking in flower fields.
I think it's safe to say that I am full of it the child whisperer.
I feel quite lucky.
Wardrobe Dysfunction
I looove clothes. And my mom thinks I'm super fashionable. I'm really good at finding the most cutting-edge clothes at Sears. I value buttons and pockets and hemlines and stuff. I'm also fantastic at styling my husband, if I do say so myself. I decided to take a camera on my last shopping trip so I can teach my plethora of readers how to shop like a professional.
I started my day purchasing these well-tailored jeans.
The extra length at the bottom really makes me look taller, don't you think?
Then I saw an ad for the movie, "The Hunger Games," and got inspired.
Effie Trinket is my fashion hero.
Then, I heard The Rolling Stones over the loudspeaker and grabbed me this hot little number.
My advice to you: when finding the perfect fringe skirt, look for the tightest one - it'll give so much dimension to your look. This one cuts the circulation off of my stomach - a must-have!
Then, it was my hubby's turn. With Bradley, I really focused on his face and framing it with things that show off his spectacular bone structure.
I added chain mail to complete this ultra-sexy look.
Then, I wanted something vintage and regal, something that would make a statement onstage.
Sexy.
I completed his look with a full, vintage-inspired outfit handcrafted by the designers at "Colonial-Or-Bust-Dot-Com."
I can't wait for you to come to my next show, so I can dazzle you with my wardrobe. That's what makes the music sound good, you know - the clothes.
At least that's what Lady Gaga told me.
Show Shtuffs. :)
Another swampy show under my belt. It was a blast! Plus we had PEOPLE, glorious PEOPLE who came to the show!! And they weren't just my in-laws! And it was in Nashville, the hardest place in the WORLD to get an audience!
Praise.
We played a lot of new songs for the first time. Always good to get the first time jitters out.
[gallery]
And here's a couple of videos from the show. :)
[youtube=http://youtu.be/s9W6h05m0Pw]
[youtube=http://youtu.be/l7EZvV93vtU]
Now my husband and I are in Georgia for Thanksgiving, scouting out some new places to play here. I cannot WAIT to play more shows in this beautiful state!
email list
It would mean the world to me if you would Subscribe to my Lil' Buddy Newsletter!
Click the link and it'll send you straight there.
I promise I don't send lots of emails. Just a few. Think Oprah's Favorite Things, but a little swampier. :P
Oh, and I gots me a show in a few days. If you're in Nashville, I'd love to see you. <3
What do you DO All Day?!
This week, I've had a few people ask me the following question: "Now that you're 'not working,' what do you DO all day?!"
I go blank, every time. I get a little annoyed, a little hurt, and then I think, Man, I really need to blog about this. But all I say is,
"Um... you know... I just kinda, write and sing...."
I've never been the most quick-witted person. But if I was, here's what I would say:
"Oh, you know, not too much, except risking my life to pursue my dreams, where it is required of me to not only sing and perform as perfectly as possible, but it also requires me to write not just good - but STELLAR songs, perform said songs as much as possible, learn that "stellar songs" is a very broad term and dang near impossible to meet, book all my own shows, find money to pay for said shows via odd jobs, keep up with every social media outlet that exists, find a producer, network, convince successful people to take a chance on me, beg prospective fans to take a chance on me, and best of all, be judged by all of you. What do YOU do all day?"
You tell 'em, Self!
Ok, that was a little harsh. And I realize I sound like I'm complaining. I'm not. I am letting folks know that I ain't just sitting around the apartment, luring fans into a web of beautiful melodies via a crystal ball or something. I'm trying so, so hard. I'm scared on a regular basis. I'm overjoyed on a regular basis. I'm discouraged, too. I'm on a roller coaster of adventure, and I am choosing every hard second of it. It's worth every hard second of it.
Here are some quotes I live by these days. I found them on Pinterest, glorious Pinterest. They're great reminders for those of us pursuing great goals.
Source: happyserendipity.com via Jessie on Pinterest
Source: venspired.com via Jessie on Pinterest
Source: beautifulcarolinasun.tumblr.com via Jessie on Pinterest
Source: thatonerule.com via Jessie on Pinterest
Source: overcoming-obstacles.tumblr.com via Jessie on Pinterest
Source: tealcheesecake.tumblr.com via Jessie on Pinterest
Source: imgfave.com via Jessie on Pinterest
Source: iwastesomuchtime.com via Jessie on Pinterest
Just kidding on that last one. :P
Oh But For A Chance...
...to be on THE AMAZING RACE, that is! My sister and I have sent in an audition video to be on The Amazing Race. To say we love this show would be an understatement!
Dear Lord, please let us be on this show. Amen.
[youtube=http://youtu.be/EIY7QlwpG_k]