Latest News

The Mission: Venice Fans!

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 03:15:00 GMT

The word is spreading about the mission to sell 1000 Cd's and earn a "Venice" tat for me. Some of y'all are confused as you're just getting bits and pieces of this "mission"... Basically, it's like this...

"A Little Bit Of You" was used during episode 5 of "Venice The Series" and on a whim, I threw out the challenge... If I sell 1000 Cd's due to this Venice placement, I will go get a tattoo in honor of Venice. It's a bit confusing to the fans that have been around a while and don't know anything about Venice. I wasn't able to announce anything about the show until it aired, which was two days before I left for a 7 week tour with Sarah Peacock to the island of St Croix (the beach is beautiful, by the way).

So... all you Venice fans... if you wanna see me get a tattoo of Venice, y'all gotta spread the word and buy Cd's off the website. www.jessilynn.com

Sadly, I can't count the itunes album downloads as that's a completely separate thing and honestly... as much as I love iTunes, they aren't exactly fair to their artists, so I prefer it if you downloaded off the website (those full album downloads DO count if you buy from my website).

Because the "3 song signed Cd burned straight from my hard drive" was/is selling like it is, I went ahead and signed a bunch more and left them with my team of peeps filling all of the orders before I jumped on the plane to take me to St Croix. I also signed a bunch of full-length Cd's for those of you who are still ordering. Hopefully you'll be one of the ones that gets the signed ones. If we run out of signed ones.. no worries... we'll work it out once I'm back from the tour of St Croix in March.

Also... with all this Venice stuff going on, somehow the release of my latest Cd "live @ Eddie's Attic" has been neglected. The Cd was released on the very day that my song was aired in episode 5 of Venice. So... for all the Venice fans... and for all the JLynn fans... don't forget to pick up your copy. I have made this disk a Limited Edition and all of the money earned goes to a very special cause, of which I cannot tell until we reach our goal. It would compromise the cause if it were to get out. So, just know that every Cd sold is a very big thing for me.... and is very dear to my heart.

Once I return from the Virgin Islands... there will be many more surprises to come (some are so big I can hardly contain myself right now!). However, I do have to focus on this tour right now and put on kick ass, high energy shows to the people of St Croix. I absolutely love this island and the people here. If you ever get a chance to go, DO IT!! Please forgive my lack of tweeting (for you tweeters) as I am doing the best I can...

Now... go to the shop and buy a Cd or two... I promise that I will get the Venice tattoo as soon as we reach 1000 Cd's sold. And for those who are dying to know the count.. believe me when I say... when we get close, I will let you know! All of my tattoo's have to mean something big... I have set that 1k goal as a personal goal and will be a tattoo that I will be so very proud of wearing. I hope that Venice fans will help me reach that incredible goal. It's been a while since I set a goal that big (believe me when I say 1k cd's sold is big for a girl who sells them one at a time out of the truck of her car).... let's do this together!!

On that note... I have to go running... in the cold Nashville weather, I didn't realize how much weight I had packed on... lol... funny how bikini's will put you in check really fast. lol.

Oh... and... every Cd that you order puts your name in the drawing for the signed DVD (giving away three copies) that is with the full band and goes along with "Capturing A Moment - Live", the Cd. It was recorded the same night. There's also a bunch of interviews of the bandmates and myself... Give away happens this Friday... Jan 22nd.

Love and Peace my newest and oldest fans... I am truly blessed for this placementin Venice. I absolutely love that they are including independent artists... you have no idea how many times us indie artists are passed up for opportunities like this. Thank you Kimmy... CC... and to Jen Foster who hooked me up with those ladies and ultimately, with all of you.

jessi

The Holidays and New Year.

Thu, 17 Dec 2009 21:40:21 GMT

Next week is Christmas? What? Where did the season go? Yikes. I haven't stepped foot in a mall, nor have I bought my annual Christmas card... oh... wait... I don't do that any year... lol.. I just always SAY I'm gonna, but then I run out of time. I swear, being busy is a lot of fun, but I am way behind in pretty much everything. Take my taxes for example. lol. I have been behind for years... literally... I just FINALLY sent all my info in to my tax guy. Thank God for him. So, now I am current on all my taxes (except maybe one year that I swear is missing, but I have no proof of what so ever).

So... this next year is a year for progress. I have been so incredibly busy for so many years that I have let so many necessary things slide, which has only been adding weight to my shoulders. That's no good. So my new year's resolution, or new life resolution, is to catch up, organize my life and figure out the most efficient way to keep up and actually get somewhere. The roller coaster of my career has kept me busy, for sure... but it's time to... uh... maybe.. ask for help? Ghasp!!!!!! I know, I know... I don't ask for help for anything. It's terrible.

I love the Holiday's... the Christmas lights and the egg nog!! I love love love it! It makes my heart happy and makes me smile from the inside. My sister and I pulled out all her Christmas decorations and popped in a cheesy Christmas movie (don't ask) and decorated her house... it was so fun! Hot Cocoa... Christmas candles... and then... shutting off the cheesy movie and listening to Christmas tunes and decorating the tree... awwwww... it was a really great night.

On that note... I better hang up here and set my sail for the day. Clean up the tax mess and tuck it away in a closet for seven years. lol.

Happy Holidays my sweet friends...

No shoes. No key. No phone. Locked out. 5am. Touring sometimes sucks.

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 07:55:09 GMT

I didn't want to get up and take the puppies out at 5am, but they insisted. After driving ten hours to get to Dallas, Sarah and I were exhausted and with it raining and slushing around, we just wanted to sleep. I woke up Sarah to go with me since there are safety in numbers, Lord knows, you gotta be safe, right? We put the leashes on the pup's and headed for the door.

Well... just as I was reaching for the handle to NOT let it close, my sweet little dog yanked on her leash and... the door slammed behind me . Locked out. 5am. It's raining. I have no shoes on and both Sarah and I are in our pj's. My heart sank to my feet as I realized what kind of a situation I had just gotten us into. We are staying at a venue, an art gallery in the industrial part of town. There's nowhere to go, nowhere to walk to and damn it.. I'm barefoot and it's pouring down rain.

We see there are a lot of vehicles arriving at one of the buildings down the road, so we walk down that way. I try flagging a few trucks down, but... they drove by us. I mean, two girls in the middle of the industrial part of town at 5am in there pj's? Ummm... yeah... they probably thought we were hookers or something. Well, I finally approach this guy who is walking from one truck to another truck, but he keeps walking.. and I keep talking... I just asked him to call the police for us and he told me nope. It was a company phone and that he wasn't allowed to. Nice, huh? Then he told me to go inside the plant and that they would help us.

They did.

I stood outside with the dogs while Sarah went in and called the police, who called the ADT alarm people, who called someone else who called someone else..... and two hours later... sopping wet... freezing... and huddled in the corner of the building, we were rescued by "Jimmy". The owner's father.

So, the lesson I learned... yeah... no need to say it... I got it.

The Rumor Mill Always Leads Back To....

Tue, 08 Sep 2009 04:42:10 GMT

I have tried to think of a way to address the rumors around Madison about the demise of my band, but honestly, I just don’t have the energy or desire to fire back at the rumor mill. Firing people sucks. I hate it, but it has to be done. Sadly, the friendship is probably not recoverable at this point, which is the saddest part. I have since decided that I will no longer be playing as The Jessi Lynn Band. Don’t be surprised if I show up with another band and maybe some of the same players, but you wont see The Jessi Lynn Band again.

And to address the amount of errors that were printed in the Isthmus article. Please don’t think that the story they printed was factual. Yes, they got bits and pieces, but they made a lot of mistakes in facts , the biggest one is that my parents aren’t together. They ARE together and have been married for thirty four years (separated once, yes, but for a short time). I realize my story is incredibly difficult to follow, but damn.

I’m also very sorry that they never mentioned my band in the article. Seeing as though I come up here every summer to play with them, I think it was a huge mistake to bypass that part of my career. I can’t tell them what to write, but I will say… I was shocked and irritated that they weren’t mentioned. I guess because of the amount of errors, I didn’t zone in on that one in particular until I saw the uproar in my band. I get it. I should have apologized to them for lack of mention in the article, for that, I am sorry.

It’s time to move onward. Believe whatever it is that you want to, just remember to consider the source of the rumor mill… seems like it always leads back to someone I fired. It’s business. This is my career. No hard feelings… just progress…

My fingers hurt and I sound like I gargled with razor blades, I love it!

Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:38:13 GMT

Hey friends!

It has been insanely busy for me lately. I cannot seem to keep up with everything that needs to be kept up with, especially the website and mailing list and bloging... whew...

First, take a look at my gig schedule, seriously busy. I've been playing a bunch of new places in Wisconsin and trying to get my name back out there and leave it on the tip of everyone's tongues again. It's been a while since I've really been playing Wisconsin, so this summer is extremely important to re-establish myself in my home state. And let's face it, I'm having a damn blast playing these places, and playing new songs (A LOT of new songs in the solo show).

I played this past weekend at a new place in Mauston, WI. Right on Castle Rock Lake, Amazing place. It's called "South Shore" and they managed to open the place in 20 days, so they are really trying to get a handle on last minute everything. I played Saturday & Sunday, both amazing!! Super super laid back, people coming in off the boats and chillin' with good food and drinks out on the patio with me. I was amazed that there were so many people who knew me, or who had seen me years ago and remembered me. That's a good thing!! If I'm remembered after years.. well that's just plain cool.

So... Yeah... I'm playing South Shore again... July 3rd, 4th and 5th... which I was going to keep that weekend opened for myself to hang out with family and friends and just relax... but I had such an amazing time that I couldn't say no. I played almost six hours on Sunday, just because I felt like it. My fingers hurt and I sound like I gargled with razor blades, but... I absolutely loved it.

Then there's the new addition to my team, SandMan Music!! Michael Alexander and I are working together now, he is doing a lot of booking for me as well as helping me re-vamp "Jessi Lynn". We have a photo shoot set up to update my look and attitude, making a detailed plan of what direction I need to go in with my songs, shows, image, band, etc. We are focusing more on solo shows (and A LOT of them) and taking the band out of the clubs and putting us on bigger stages and bigger events. We will still play clubs, but it will be rare. Speaking of... the full band plays at Club Tavern on August 8th. And we play SUMMERFEST this coming Saturday, June 27th at 2pm on the Harley Davidson Stage!!! Those are the kind of events we are going to steer towards, hopefully by next summer we will be on the Country Jam, Hodag, Country Thunder and all them other huge festivals with the national acts.

There are many many other things going on, but you'll have to keep up with the website or mailing list to see all the different layers of which are changing for me. Since bringing so many new songs to my solo shows, people are getting excited again about the music, as am I. It's hard to bring 14 new songs to a show, especially when people want to hear the old stuff... but let me tell you... it's been absolutely amazing for me to share my new songs with you. The comments and compliments from the audience and people noticing the "growth" in my songwriting and my performances... well.... let's just say... the changes are good for everyone involved. It's been a rough couple of years and thank God I am finally seeing the point of it all... lessons that I needed to learn... all wrapped up in growing pains and ultimately... a bigger dream... funny how my life motto is "dream bigger" and sometimes I forget how to do that.

All things in time.

Well hello there my friends...

Wed, 17 Jun 2009 10:13:11 GMT

I have been so incredibly busy as of lately that I haven’t done much with the website or interacting with my friends, fans or family. Sheesh… I love being busy, but at the same time… I miss people!!

If you have been paying attention to facebook and myspace, then you know I had a good friend of mine sharing the stage with me for the past week of shows. She is an amazing artist, right out of Nashville, TN and is on Maze Records. Her name… Sarah Peacock. She is truly amazing and I highly recommend that you look her up and buy her debut Cd “Straight For Your Heart”. She and I have been collaborating on a bunch of songs and are excited to share them with you at each of our individual shows as well as the shows we will book together in the future. We both hope there will be more opportunities to share the stage again this summer. If I can get her back up to Wisconsin, that would be awesome!

www.sarahpeacockmusic.com
www.myspace.com/sarahpeacock

Sarah left this morning and is headed to NYC, while I am stickin’ around Wisconsin and continuing the string of shows that I have booked this summer. Oh… and I should tell you all that I am now working with SandMan Music (Michael Alexander) as my booking agent and other business adventures that we are currently working on that we can talk about later *wink*. Now that we are working together, my schedule should fill up tighter than a tick! I know, awesome, right?!

So… here are the rest of the shows I have coming up for the month of June. Be sure to keep checking back to the website for updates. Every day there are new additions and I have had a lot of really last minute gigs lately, so there isn’t much time to promote all of the shows when they are so last minute (such as this weekend for example I just added two shows).

6.17.09 ***Star Country 96.3fm Radio Interview - 9am
6.19.09 The Brink Lounge - 9pm (Madison, WI) - Listening Party with brand new songs that I need your opinions on whether to add them or delete them from my set list.
6.20.09 Strawberry Festival - 10am (Sun Praire, WI)
6.20.09 South Shore - 6pm (Mauston, WI)
6.21.09 South Shore - 11:30am (Mauston, WI)
6.25.09 Baja’s - 8pm (Wis Dells, WI)
6.27.09 Summerfest - 2pm Harley Davidson Stage (Milwaukee, WI)

**check the website for more information on each show**

Also, if you haven’t checked the myspace blog on “Dirt & Sunshine”, please go check it out! Beth Kille (from Clear Blue Betty) and I have teamed up to form a new duo! It’s a side project for both of us and we are bringing new songs that she and I have written and will write together along the way. Beth and I are incredibly excited about this new adventure and will be putting on limited shows every year, so if you get a chance to come see “Dirt & Sunshine”, don’t miss it!

Whew… and on that note, I have to get in the car and head to band practice. The boys and I are playing SUMMERFEST on June 27th at 2pm on the Harley Stage!!! We are also working on new songs that we, as a band, are writing together. We hope that there will be enough additions to our co-writes to showcase a night of them near the end of the summer (before I head south again). This summer is turning out to be amazing. And to think… I was about to get myself a real job. Duh!

If you could help me out a little bit and forward this email to your friends, that would be so helpful. I really want to branch out and meet new people and I would love to meet YOUR friends since you obviously think highly enough of them to call them friends. I have a few free downloads on my website and of course, there are Cd’s, ball caps and (new) T-shirts for sale.

Happy Summer my friends… I look forward to seeing you at a show or two.. Or three.. Or all of them, if you dare! Muhahahahahaha… ;-)

Off to see my boys!

Jessi Lynn
Be Original. Create Yourself.
Dream Bigger.
www.jessilynn.com

The White Board

Wed, 13 May 2009 20:47:47 GMT

So, I have this white board. It haunts me in the night. The list of things that need to be done, whew... as soon as I erase one thing, I have at least two more to add. "Blogging" is one of the things that is NOT on the white board today, but.. here I sit... blogging. Yay Me!

It seems that my email isn't working today, so I figured blogging was okay on this rainy Wisconsin morning. I need to go running so that I get SOME sort of exercise today, which reminds me... I need to put "call NASM for extension on my test:" Darn it. lol. Serves me right for not studying, I forgot to write that on the white board. It's my personal training certification that I need to study for. You know, just in case this whole music thing is a bust. hahahaha... I only get one extension, so I really better find my books.. hmmmm... I wonder where I put them....

Alrighty, this blog is really just me babbling and really has no significance to my career and it's really not helping me get my white board cleared... dang. My assistant is late today... but she just walked in the door... yay Neena... Okay people, here's to a day filled with more erasing than writing... on the white board that is...

Learning.

Thu, 26 Mar 2009 07:43:34 GMT

Life is an adventure for sure, especially if you're me. lol... I have had the funniest week EVER. Okay, maybe not EVER, but ever (small caps), lol. I can't seem to leave well enough alone, or consult a professional once I've gone a little "too far". The story of my life and now... my hair is orange. It's not the intentional "cool" orange... it's "holy crap, what did I do?" orange. Well that's not exactly true... some of it is very clearly white... platnium maybe? Probably the only platnium I'll ever have in my life... lol... and it's on my head. Super. Thank God my sister made it obvious that under no circumstances would I be able to pretend that nothing happened and no one would notice. Nope. I felt like a little kid when she looked at me, gasped and said "what did you do?" and then demanded that I take off my hat and show her the damage. Whoops. My brother in law slapped some money on the counter and said "here's my contribution".... so... yeah... thank God for honesty that's only found in family. lol. Believe me, this isn't something I need to learn again... there's a reason I'm not a hair stylist or colorist or whatever... there's a reason we pay them to sit in their chairs and let them handle it, right? As I sit here with mayo on my hair praying that it doesn't fall off, I have officially learned my lesson and have an appointment tomorrow at 1pm. Sigh... life as a rock star... clearly I am just a "wanna be"... a real rock star would probably have done it right the first time.

It's a Holiday? Damn, I missed that.

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 04:41:57 GMT

I have been staring at this computer for four solid days. I've barely eaten, showered once and have been outside only to let my dog out. Why? Because that's what "rock stars" do when they want to be "rock stars". haha... I've been working! (Gasp!) Booking is the most difficult thing for me to do, because I absolutely hate it. Finding the venues in the cities that you are passing through at certain times and then doing your best to be honest with the clubs in saying "hey, I probably wont draw all that well because I've never played your city before, but I'm really gonna bust my ass in an effort to put asses in your seats, money in your till and make you love me by the end of the night". It's exhausting, I must admit. The thing is... It's HARD to get people to show up to all of your shows. People have lives, responsibilities, kids, OTHER PLANS! So, although you bust your ass and try like hell to get the word out, you spend money on promotion and stare at a computer trying to meet people in new cities, sometimes, you end up playing to the bartender and sleeping in the car cuz you didn't make enough money to even pay your bar tab, let alone for a hotel. I don't mind sleeping in the car, but it really breaks my heart to play in a new place and no one shows up. It's not like I didn't try to get people there, but how on earth do you get people to go from "yeah, I'll be there" to actually getting their asses showered and ready, put them in the car, drive them there and then get them through the doors? So, on that note... I just want to ask you guys for some help... if you see that I'm coming to your city, can you help me promote by telling your friends? Hanging a poster? Maybe... come to the show and bring someone with you? If you have any ideas for promotion that you want to try out, or if you wanna dance like a monkey on the corner of the busy streets and shout "Come see Jessi Lynn at __________", I welcome your enthusiasm (but don't send me loads of suggestions that just add to my pile of things to do, I can't be on every street corner, oooh... that could be a whole other career, lol). I'm not "too good" to admit that I can't do this all by myself, I don't want pity, I just want help! Being a "rock star" is really not all that "cool" until you step foot on stage, but the rest of the "uncool" stuff is what it takes to get you to that stage. And that.. is all my bitching for today. Oh... and Happy St Patty's Day... I just realized that today is a Holiday. Damn. I need a green beer. Hallar!

Change.

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:53:19 GMT

I've always wondered why people are so resistant to change, as if it's some dirty word or shameful thought. What is so scary about it anyhow? I grew up in a family of change. Probably due to my mother who once lived in a school bus and traveled around with her first husband and son. There was never a time when my mother surprised me, never. I could come home from school to a mother with purple hair, and it wasn't shocking at all. The house would be re-arranged and my bedroom would be switched with my sister's or completely given away to a stranger who needed a place to stay. Sure, it wasn't exactly the easiest of childhoods, never being sure of what was going to happen next, but it sure was exciting (annoying at times, I wont lie, but definitely exciting). For many years, I resisted anything that had to do with my mother, including change. I think it was my "separation" from the parental examples (rebellion anyone?), but as I aged and went out into the world, I discovered the honest truth. I'm just like my mother (eeeeeeeeeeeek!!!)... I actually do appreciate my mother's ability to change at the drop of a hat and it certainly has allowed me the freedom to change without so much resistance. I love it, actually. I love getting up and going to a new city whenever I feel like it (or have a gig). I love loading the car and watching the white lines disappear behind me. I love the freshness of a new city or a back country road. I love walking into a a little bar or restaurant that I'd never know had I stayed still. The people, the stories, the excitement... of change. There are many people that I know, friends, fans, even family members who have never left the place they were raised. Scared to drive the streets of a big city or even change their hairstyle (ok, I'll admit... the hair was a tough change for me back in 2005 when I chopped it off for the first time in ten years)... but the excitement and freedom of change is exhilerating, once you find the courage to DO IT! I think it all goes along with "fear" as I have written many journals on "fear" lately in my quest to be a better person and admit my fears to the world (yikes). It's amazing how many fears we carry around with us, never really thinking that we are "scared" or "fearful", but... we are. What keeps you where you are? Are you happy in your life? Do you walk by the mirror without glancing into it because you have that extra 20 pounds you dont want to see (or deal with)? Do you avoid your friends because they are "too honest"? Have you given up on your passion? What makes you truly and genuinely happy? Why aren't you doing that? What are we so damn scared of? Geeeeezzzzz!! Change is GOOD! Hard, but good. I certainly am not saying that I'm free of fear and that I don't struggle with changes, cuz Lord knows I have fears that can stop me dead in my tracks and ruin my entire day. Once I started to really learn about fear, I started recognizing how many times a day I was being stopped by it. Change is scary, it really is... but the more changes you make in your life, the more strength you find within yourself. The bigger your confidence grows, it's the most powerful feeling, it's the freedom of fear.

Repeating Patterns

Wed, 11 Mar 2009 23:04:04 GMT

We all repeat patterns... it's a safety thing I think... probably fueled by fear of change, of differences, of the unknown or of... FAILING. Often times we don't try (or try again) for fear of failing (or failing again). Such as New Years Resolutions. So many people don't make resolutions with the excuse of "I never last at it". Smoking, losing weight, searching out a better job, working on fixing a marriage or being a better friend, sister, brother, mother, father, etc... So instead of striving for better, we keep ourselves stuck in our own patterns... never actually TRYING to fix, or TRYING be better, or TRYING to achieve any sort of goal for the fear of failing at it. Of course, by not trying... you automatically fail, yet we don't seem to care too much about the failure if we don't try at all. Blows my mind actually.

What sense does it make to not try? I mean... really... who wants to stay in a mediocre life when they could have more? What keeps us standing still, not trying, not exploring, not attempting?

Fear of failing.

So we keep lliving unhealthy and unproductive by staying in crappy jobs, mediocre relationships, closed circles of friends and we continue to repeat patterns that are comfortable, even though they aren't fulfilling (and we know in our hearts that we aren't fulfilled and still choose the same patterns of misery, most of the time bitching about our lives and never attempting to fix a damn thing).

Fear limits you. It doesn't allow you to reach higher, dig deeper, go further or dream bigger... it keeps you still. Paralyzed in a mediocre life.

If you don't try, you fail. Awesome, right?

God gave us the ability to do anything we believe in. He gave us passion for a purpose. He blessed us with free will so that we can be the ones to decide our lives and our futures. We get to choose happiness, fulfillment and contentment. WE do. US. YOU. ME.

So, do you try and risk failure or do you stand still and fail by choice?

What I learned today: I don't want to fail by standing still... if I fail, I want to fail knowing I made the choice to TRY.

Back to Wisconsin I GOOOOOOO!!!

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:21:07 GMT

For all my Wisconsin peeps.... I just wanted to let y'all know that I am coming back to see you!

I have talked with the boys and we're ready to rock it out again - as well as some solo shows that I plan on doing. It's been almost a year since I've played Wisconsin and I know it's been said that I've dropped off the face of the earth, which is partly true I guess.

Soooo... I need all my Wisconsin friends, fans and family to help me spread the word... Jessi Lynn is back in town! Okay, I'm not there yet... but I will be soon. I'll start working with the guys in early May, gearing up for the festival season as well as some venue gigs that I'm working on as we speak.

I have solidified Brat Fest for May 23rd... so plan on coming for that. It's a free show and since it's family oriented, you can bring the kiddies! I love it when kids can come to my shows, it makes my heart very happy.

Alirghty then... maybe I'll throw a big ole party... hmmmmm... I got me some ideas for sure... but for now, I just want it to be said that YES, I AM COMING BACK TO WISCONSIN TO PLAY!!!

Check in with the website and myspace for the schedule and I have a facebook page up and running (although it's more personal than professional, you're still welcome to it). Tell your friends and family to add me on myspace and facebook... suggest me as a "friend" and help me spread the word. I'm really excited to get back to Madison and to play new songs, old songs and songs that will be written between now and then.

Ready, set GO!!!!

Muah! Jessi

www.jessilynn.com
www.myspace.com/jessilynnsongbird

Fear

Sat, 14 Feb 2009 21:55:00 GMT

Fear. It's probably the one thing that we as humans are controlled by the most and often times, have no idea that we're paralyzed in it. I was talking with a friend of mine, another artist, who is about to take the big jump into music full time. It's probably the scariest thing for an artist to do because of how far the fall is if your wings fail you. I realized throughout our conversation that I was speaking not just to her, but to me as well. You see... a few years ago I took that same leap. I stood on the edge of "nothing to lose" and "everything to lose" and as scared as I was, I did it. I jumped... and my wings proved they were a good investment. lol. I am very blessed to have friends and family who are VERY honest with me and I remember many conversations that I felt beaten up afterwards because the truth was hurting so bad. "If you want music to be your business, MAKE it your business. If you don't, it will always be your hobby." A dear friend of mine said that to me and it has stuck with me and runs circle's in my head pretty much non-stop. I also recall my mother saying to me "If you spent as much time on your career as you do on everyone else's, you'd be someone by now." (referring to how much money and energy I spent on being a "fan"). I've been listening to podcasts from Cross Point Church in Nashville, TN. ( www.crosspoint.tv ) and the series the pastor has been preaching on has been "Fear". I have been learning so much about myself, re-learning stuff I once knew and discovering a part of me that I never knew about. I am taking a leap of faith by writing this out. I know "God" and "church" typically get people's defense's up, Lord knows I spent many years with mine up and anytime anyone said anything about God or church, I was guarded and ready for battle. The thing is, when you're guard is up, you are simply paralyzed. In fear. Fear of the unknown, fear of the past and of experiences that you had (such as myself, having horrible experiences in church). But there came a point in my life, recently, when I realized... I'm missing something in my life. I started going to church a few months ago, after the hardest break-up of my life. If you know me, you know that I never talk about my personal life. Few people ever meet the people I date. I have always kept my personal and professional life completely separate. I'm not about to change that completely, but I will admit that this break up has truly and honestly changed my life. Fear of losing someone you love will change your life completely. I promise you that. It seems like every "issue" we all struggle with in life, whether it be pride, low self esteem, control, anger... it's all based out of fear. Afraid that we aren't good enough. So, as we stand in our fear, we try to control situations - to avoid being told, or feeling like we aren't good enough. Where does fear come from? Everywhere. Your fears feed my fears, my fears feed yours... we suck the lives out of each other... because of fear. In the past year, I faced fear in the darkest of ways. The hardest of times. The reality of what "living" really means hit me like a ton of bricks. I pretty much spent the last year being terrified. Rightfully so, when you sit in a doctor's office and listen to the doctor tell you the horrible news and that you may lose the one that you love. I did the best that I could, I did the research, I put my career on hold, my family and friends really didn't see me or hear from me... I buckled in for the ride. I was determined. I'm a fighter afterall, I can "handle it". Why? I was scared to death to lose. In my fear, I became very controlling. Very strict with what needed to happen and why. I probably was a bitch... I was scared shitless. I wanted to do everything right because it was the most important thing I have ever done and I had no preparation time. None. In the end... I lost. The relationship ended. The sickness didn't do it... fear did it. Both of our fears did it. And... I have recently realized that fear has me paralyzed in every area of my life. At one time, I stood on the edge of "nothing left to lose" and "everything to lose" and I had the strength to jump. What happened to that girl? Well... I'm searching for her. I know she's still in there, she's just really beaten down right now and needs a little work before she's ready to stand on that ledge again. Music has always been my escape and somehow, I have forgotten how to use the escape door. Every time I pick up my guitar, I'm clueless. I have no idea what's going on or why music isn't filling my needs right now. Maybe it's fear. Fear of letting it all out and being vulnerable to the truth of which might come out. My songs have almost always had bits and pieces of this and that in them. There are few songs on my records that are 100% me. It's really hard to be honest in my songs, because so many people hear them. Fear of being vulnerable. Fear of people knowing too much of me. Fear fear fear fear. I am learning just how deep fear goes. What fear makes us do. Where fear takes us. How fear controls us when we are trying to control our fear. It's a damn mess. I want to be fearless. So, my current journey will be filled with challenging myself and facing my fears head on. If you really stop and think about all the links in our lives that take us back to fear... you'd probably be as embarrassed as I am in realizing how fear controls us without us realizing it. Making music my business. Again. Facing the fear. With the economy the way that it is, the venue's that are struggling to pay artists, Cd sales are dragging and the bills gotta get paid.... it's easy to be afraid of the fall. I am preparing myself for that day when I am standing on the ledge... I encourage each of you to take a look at yourself and ask your family and friends to be honest with you about things. It's uncomfortable to hear "truth", because we are afraid of not being good enough. But, until you (and I) are open to hearing the truth, we will always be paralyzed by our fears.

Gettin' back in the swing of things...

Thu, 22 Jan 2009 05:15:00 GMT

Hey guys! I gotta say, I am SOOOO happy 2008 is over. Damn that was the hardest year of my life. I'm glad it's over and I'm on to a new phase of my life and career. Some good stuff to tell ya and maybe a few bad things... just know that I'm doing the best I can with what's been given to me and the circustances of which I have found myself in. First, I'm FINALLY getting my butt to Europe! We're working on getting dates solidified for my first official European tour and I am super excited about it. My passport is still good, thank God, from the ONE time I ever got to leave the country a few years ago (Mexico baby!). So... as soon as we get everything finalized, we'll announce the details. Second, I am officially on the move again. Yes, I settled down for a while and took some time off from performing with the full band in an effort to take care of some personal things and write some new songs, but I'm definitely on the move again! I'm in Nashville right now, but heading towards St Louis this weekend.... wanna know why? (keep reading) Third, I'm working on getting certified as a personal trainer (again). I'm heading to St Louis to spend some quality time with my brother (he's a trainer too) and really focus on getting myself ready for the amount of things I have on my "to do" list. I'll be working as a trainer and helping people reach their fitness goals. If you know much about me, you know that besides music, I have always been passionate about fitness and health. It's a huge part of my life to be fit and active (keeps me sane, among other things) and it's amazing how much it helps my performances and confidence on stage. Although I will be "working" as a trainer, my priority will be just as it's always been... music. While I'm making people do push-ups, I'll be singin' to them. lol. Just kidding... that would be awkward. Fourth, my hope and prayer is to get back up north to Wisconsin and spend time with my band again. I really miss playing with my boys and am eager to put out some new music and re-live the old stuff too. It's incredibly difficult to travel back and forth and keep all parts of my career going at full speed and I will admit, I took on too much by adding a second band in the south along with the acoustic shows. I am no longer working with the southern boys, although I reserve the right to change my mind at any time *wink*. Fifth, although I can't officially announce anything... I would highly recommend coming to my show at The Loft in Columbus, GA on March 28th. I'm opening for Sonia Leigh, who is frickin' awesome. She's been touring with Zac Brown as of lately, she is so amazing. I love her. www.sonialeigh.com That's all I'm gonna say for now... just show up if you can. Sixth, I gotta have surgery on my face next month to remove a bit of skin cancer that's apparently been there for years, whoops. It's nothing serious, but... the bill is gonna be serious... so... buy a record or two, help a sister out, lol. I can barely afford health insurance and my deductible could pretty much pay for another record. Ugh. Sick. Seventh.... hmmm... there's no seventh... six is plenty, right? I may think of more things to tell you, but I'll put it in another blog and confuse you when I just start off by saying "seventh..." Welcome to 2009 my friends! There is a lot of change happening within our country right now and although you'll never hear me talk about politics or truly know my political views, I will say... bring on the change and progress. We need it desperately and no matter who you voted for, or what you believe... needing progress is the one thing I bet we all agree on. I hope this year is successful for all of us and I really hope that you will keep up with my tour schedule and make it out to a show or two. Thank you for sticking with me all of these years... and for still checking my website and my blogs even though I haven't had much to say. Musically Yours, Jessi

Merry Christmas Eve

Thu, 25 Dec 2008 06:01:52 GMT

It's Christmas Eve and I'm dogsitting for some friends, drinking PBR from a can, watching "Pretty In Pink" and writing songs. Hahaha.. or should I say.. ho ho ho.. whatever, that was cheesy. Sorry, I am cheesy. Born this way, don't send advice. Ha! So, I just wanted to say Merry Christmas to everyone and to say Thank You for another successful year as an indie artist. Y'all make it possible, by showing up to the shows, bringing your friends and buying the Cd's. I appreciate that so much more than I can tell you. Enjoy your friends and family this Holiday Season. Bring in the new year with a new attitude and maybe.. a new tattoo... teeheee... My love to all... Jessi

I'm a finalist in the Showdown @ The Loft!

Thu, 11 Dec 2008 22:50:36 GMT

I played last night at The Loft in Columbus, GA and amazingly, I made it to the finals!

So... next Wednesday... 8pm, I'll be one of the final twelve competing for the winning slot. There are so many incredible artists who are in the contest, it's nice being a part of it, even though I probably wont win. I never win contests... I just don't. I think it's like the grocery store line... no matter which one I pick, someone is writing a check or there's a price check needed or there's a computer problem or something...

Either way, I'm excited to play next Wednesday and of course, I would LOVE LOVE LOVE for you to be there and cheer me on. Get there early though, it's gonna be packed.

Oh... and... Tomorrow I'm playing at The Alamo in Newnan, GA. It's a "living room" show, complete with a couch and coffee table... super intimate evening with myself and two other writers (PJ Elias & Alex Early). THEN, Saturday night I will be opening for Sonia Leigh at The Loft, in Columbus, GA. Soooo... you simply MUST come to at least one of these shows, right?

I'll have my annual stocking's for sale as well.... Stuff full of Jessi Lynn stuff...

See you soon, hopefully!

Jessi

The whole place was singing my song...

Wed, 03 Dec 2008 22:24:27 GMT

I was hired to play in Eastman, Georgia for The Magnolia Music and Medicine Show this past weekend. I wasn't really sure what to expect, it being a type of variety show 'n all, but I gotta tell ya... it was one of the best nights ever!

I had to leave early to get there in time for my 3pm sound check, with the drive being hefty and my directionally challenged self, I had to leave extra early. I did, however, make it there in one piece AND without getting lost. I was so proud.

The place was located in what looked like a strip mall in the old days... the railroad tracks separated one side of the street from the other, which was really quite fun to see (and walk down). There were a lot of shops that were closed up, victims of the economy, or maybe growth of the town had moved "downtown" to another area. Either way, it was a cool little area that I walked around until someone was there to let me in the building.

The marquee had my name up, spelled wrong, but... hey... that happens a lot with a name like Jessi, Jessie, Jesse... but it was nice to see my name up there anyhow. While I was waiting for someone to let me in, I took a little walk down the tracks, bee bopped from one side of the tracks to the other. I went into a clothing shop, I can't recall the name, but it was like walking into a different era. Trendy clothing, fancy rockstar stuff... nowhere to be found. I walked in and out of the racks of clothing and enjoyed the southern drawls that were everywhere around me. I definitely felt out of place with my black spikey hair (yes, I dyed it black on Thanksgiving when my brother told me I looked so much like Mom, sigh...)... but I guess it didn't matter that I was out of place, I had a purpose for being there... I'm the "headliner" across the tracks.

The doors were finally opened and I walked into what used to be an old movie theater. It was clear that whomever owned it had taken very good care of it as it truly felt like an old movie house. I made my way through the lobby and to the theater where I found an amazing stage. I don't know how many people the theater holds, but I would guess between 500-750 and I had heard it was a sold out show. The stage was decorated so beautifully and the house band was setting up as I introduced myself to the sound guys and whomever else I found.

After a quick sound check, I was guided to my own personal dressing room, complete with a bathroom and shower. Weird for a bar room rock star to have her own dressing room... but Lord did I enjoy that! I tuned up my guitar and played through a bunch of songs, touched up my make up and sat around til dinner was served at 5pm.

We went to the little restaurant next door for dinner, not the best food I ever ate, but... the company was awesome. I met the other performers and the photographer who introduced herself and apologized for the amount of pictures she's about to take. She was cute and made me laugh... and I authorized all pictures as long as she photoshops out the flaws. lol.

Back to the theater we all went after dinner, and the place had already started to fill up with people. I met with the stage manager and found out where my time slot was, the cue for my entrance, and all that other jazz. I was supposed to have twenty minutes to play, but they ended up giving me thirty five, which was a really nice surprise.

Show time...

The place was full. The band played. The skits started. I could hear it all from backstage, as I soaked up my surroundings and amazingly, stayed calm. I usually get nervous when I play a new place, but... I was very comfortable and at ease. The cue came, introduction of "13 time Grammy Nominee, Jessi Lynn" and there I was, center stage, staring out into a sea of people. Plugged in my guitar and away I went...

Playing a show like this can be really tough if the audience doesn't give back what you throw at them. I tested the waters with a few comments and a joke in between the first two songs and when I got the A+ on reaction, I relaxed and fell into my performance. I played with them and they played with me, which was sooooo nice. They laughed at my jokes!! THAT is important. There is nothing worse than being on stage, spouting out some joke and the whole place being dead silent. I didn't rehearse my "act", I figured I'd just be myself and do what I do, thank God that worked out for me.

I wasn't going to play "Aint That Just My Luck", but something told me to sing it, so I did. Audience participation, yep... what a way to push my luck, huh? They laughed a my jokes, so... yep... I'm gonna push my luck and see if they'll sing with me. When we got to the "doop doop doops", I played it over and over again, singing and playing almost not at all... I wanted to hear them sing it... so I got quiter and quieter and listened to them repeat "doop doop doop, doo dah dah doo..."... it was amazing. That many people, singing my song back to me... now I know how Garth feels. Sigh...

I had been asked to play a Christmas song, since it was the Christmas show... and so, I managed to make my way through the one and only Christmas song that I have. I closed my set with that and left the stage with a huge smile on my face. Thank God they liked me! That could have been miserable. Lord knows I've played places where misery was something I was looking forward to. Ugh. The first thing I had to do after leaving the stage was to DRY OFF. I made a really poor decision to wear a sweater (a Wisconsin type sweater no less) and under the 135 degree lights... uh... yeah... maybe a change of clothes would have been a smart decision for me. Where is my manager to take care of these things???

After drying myself off the best I could, I ran down to the lobby where my merchandise table was. I was the "headliner" for the first half of the show, so during intermission would be the best time for me to sell my Cd's... which... Lord did I sell Cd's! It felt like I sold more than I did because I had this Holiday Special going on, all three Cd's for $20 til the end of the year. I sold out of the Cd's I had brought in and had to run to the car to get more... THAT was a first for me. Nice....

I watched the second half of the show from the back of the theater, the entire show was really good. I really enjoyed the concept of the show, the quick changes, the different acts... it certainly kept my attention well. So, here's the part where I may have been a total idiot.... lol... can't have a show without doing something completely moronic....

The show was ending, the house band was playing (Giant Bear had just finished their set, what an awesome group that is!) And then, they started introducing the entire show... and as they introduced each member, they came from back stage and did that bow thingy... and there I was, at the back of the theater... lol... so... when they called my name "Jessi Lynn"... I had to run from the back of the theater to the stage... DUH JESSI!!!

As if that isn't enough, they pushed me front and center, in between Giant Bear, to help sing "Goodnight Ilene", which is a song that I had never heard of.... uhh... whoops. They did tell me this before the show and said they would all do a verse and then pass the instrumental solo's around to each musician... What a bad idea for me... I don't "do" solo's and I probably don't even know the chords y'all are playing... lol... which, was true. I didn't know any of it. So... after singing "watermelon" over and over again, not REALLY singing anything at all... I sorta stepped back and let Giant Bear take the center and do their fancy solo's.

All in all, it was an incredible night for me and at any time they want me back, I will do it with pleasure. And... next time... I'll know how to get home... and that when I end up on a dirt road... I'll know that... "hey, you missed your turn somewhere waaaaaaay back there, Jessi"... instead of convincing myself that I just didn't remember that particular road and that NO WAY I'd miss the signs for the interstate... lol.... sigh.... yeah... directionally challenged... but always seemt to make it home in one piece....

From Eastman, Georgia.... Goodnight Ilene....

As an artist...

Tue, 18 Nov 2008 06:27:19 GMT

... the hardest thing about being an artist, for me, is the tug of war that is constantly going on in my head and heart. The tug of playing cover songs, of writing more "bubble gum", of kissing someone's ass just to sell a Cd so you have enough gas money to get home. I've always struggled with this. The rent is due... crap... I gotta sell some Cd's... I gotta book more gigs... I gotta... gotta... gotta... I may pretend that everything is all fun and games and that "I'm just so blessed to do this for a living"... and truthfully, that isn't a lie... but... with the economy as it is right now... Holy crap is it catching up with me. Venues are cutting back their budgets, people aren't buying Cd's, uh... yikes. There are millions of people in this world who work jobs that they hate just to pay the rent and keep their kids fed. I get it. I've done it... well, keeping my puppy fed... I do get it. I keep telling myself "one day this is soooo gonna pay off" and I remind myself of that at least a hundred times a day. There are days when I've spent writing, but it looks like I've done absolutley nothing all day. The laundry is still on the floor, the fridge is still empty, the bath tub still needs a good cleaning... but... I wrote a few songs! lol... yeah, I know... it seems menial. The credit card companies aren't as nice to me anymore... I've always been so good to them, lol, but darn it all... they are really kickin' my ass these days. Go figure, one late payment and they're like vultures ready to pick me apart, literally. Auhhhhh... the sweetness of bliss.... It's the Holiday season and I gotta say, I really do love this time of year. Nothing can really get me down, honestly. No credit card company, no ring around the tub, nope... nothin'... this is my time of year! I love it all, even the cold ass football game where even silk long john's can't compete (and I lived in WI for years, how I survived I have no idea). I'm excited to see my beautiful family next week. I haven't been all that good at keeping in touch lately. I got the best picture text from my sister in law the other day... she sent a picture of my sweet little neice, sleeping in her car seat... I think my heart broke right then and there. I can't believe she's gotten so big and I have missed it all. Ugh. But the good news is... I get to see that sweet little face in person next week! Yup! I get to do what aunties do... feed them candy all day and then ship them to their mom! Whoo hoo! (I am totally kidding Ashley, I'd never do that... I'd totally send them to Daddy!). My family has new traditions since we have all grown up and moved away. We were raised to move out and move on... funny how Mom and Dad miss us all the time when this is exactly what they taught us to do, leave the nest... in a big way! lol. Christmas used to be our big "to do" but now, it's Thanksgiving. We're all too busy with too many families to handle Christmas together any longer, which is fine by me... I'm sure they are all sick of getting Jessi Lynn Cd's for Christmas anyhow. lol. (oh, I'm not kidding at all... lol)... So, this year... we are all heading to Nashville. My sis and bro in law live there and I'm there quite a bit since I live just a couple hours away now, but having the whole family there will really be great. I think it'll be the first time my folks have ever been... and hmmmm... I wonder if my older brother and his family are going to make it... (sorry, I'm babbling).... What was the point of this here blog anyhow? This is just an example of my scattered brain these days. I swear, I've had full conversations with people, sober as sober can be and I cannot remember a darn thing. Better not be age... cuz... for real... no.. it can't be. Hmmm... maybe just a lot on my plate... well, if I had a plate... dang. lol. So... uh... it's time for me to put up my Christmas song, huh?? I wrote a song for a Christmas compilation disk last year for a charity thing... which was an awesome experience, by the way. I just did this whole little myspace ad. It might have been a really dumb idea... spending money that I don't have on an ad that probably will be seen as "spam" and no one will click on it anyhow. Go figure, right? But... no guts, no glory. And for real, the credit card companies already hate me. lol. My next Cd is going to be titled... "Master Card and Me"... uh... I'm totally serious (only not at all). I am certainly excited about the upcoming months. The shows I have booked, the new people that I'm going to meet and of course, the Holiday's themselves. I'm sure I'll spend Christmas with friends as that tends to happen ever year... and I love it. I'm heading to the mountains tomorrow, to do some soul searching and find myself a new song... Here's to all the ADD folk out there... if you read through this and understood a word... I love you. And if you didn't "get it"... yeah... it's okay... I love you too and honestly, I don't get it either... Over n out...

The Holidays... and a few shows....

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:51:00 GMT

Happy Holiday's my friends!

This is my favorite time of year... the chill in the air... the furnace being turned on for the first time all year... the apple cider... mmmmmmmmm.....

I'll be in Nashville this year for Thanksgiving. My entire family is meeting there, whoa... I know. It'll be great though, all the siblings and their spouces... all the babies... the music (we're all musicians, go figure)... the food.... the food coma's... the naps... auhhhhhh yes... it's the best time of year!

I could go on and on about that stuff and all the details that I love, but... I really wanna tell you about a few gigs that I have coming up in the next month or so.

Many of my fans/friends are way up north, in Wisconsin. So, I apologize that these gigs are too far for you to drive (unless you wanna), but... I haven't figured out how to separate "area's" in my mailing list. Go figure, right?

November 22nd
Opening for The Bridges - www.thebridgesmusic.net
The Loft - 1032 Broadway, Columbus, GA - www.theloft.com
9pm

November 29th
Magnolia Music & Medicine Show - www.magnoliamusicandmedicineshow.com
Eastman, GA
6pm

December 5th
Bellissima - 560-B Amsterdam Ave, Atlanta, GA 30306
404.917.0220
9pm (show up early and have a drink with me!!)
www.myspace.com/bellissima_lounge

December 10th
The Loft Showdown Competition
1032 Broadway, Columbus, GA
www.theloft.com
** This is an 8 week competition and I am scheduled to play on the 10th. If I win that night, I go on to the finals, which is the following week (17th) and if I win THAT night, I win a lot of great stuff... most importantly, STUDIO TIME. I would love to win this so I can put out a few more songs for you. If you can show up and vote.. please do.

December 13th
Opening for Sonia Leigh - www.sonialeigh.com
The Loft - 1032 Broadway, Columbus, GA
www.theloft.com

December 27th
The Alamo - 19 W. Court Square, Newnan, GA 30263
9:30pm - FREE SHOW!
www.thealamonewnan.com

I am also working on a "writer's round" that I'm excited about. I will host it at The Alamo in Newnan, GA... Still working on dates as of right now, but I'm hoping for December 12th. Keep an eye on the website for all updates... I'm bringin' a little bit of Nashville to Newnan, GA. It'll be a great night.

And on that very long note... I say, HAPPY HOLIDAYS! I'll send out a more personal note soon... I just wanted to let y'all know about the upcoming dates I have.

Be sure to tell your friends about me, if you would. I'm doing a special on Cd's right now... all three releases for $20. Just go to the website and buy a few for your friends / family... Christmas is a great time of year to give out a few Jessi Lynn Cd's. Plus, it helps me more than you know.

Enjoy this beautiful day,

Jessi

www.jessilynn.com

Finally, time to blog!

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:29:55 GMT

Hello everyone!

It's been almost a week since I got back home from being gone nearly a month. I headed to Nashville to spend some time with my sister and hit the town with my songs again. It was a VERY inspirational time for me and I wrote a ton of new songs that I'm hoping to start playing at my shows soon. For me, it takes a long time before a song is truly complete and I practice it for months before bringing it out at a show, however... this time I think I'll let the "practice" happen at shows. I may have my cheat sheets with me... and who knows how it'll all work out, maybe the birth of the song will happen right before your eyes... lol...

I headed to Texas with a eager heart, ready to take on new territory and excited to meet the many people I had met via phone, email and myspace. I was staying in Gainseville Texas, where my guitar was waiting for me. My NEW guitar! Vince Pawless had been working on this custom guitar for nearly three years and I finally laid my eyes on it when I rolled up the dirt road and shut the engine off. What a beautiful guitar, even as it was dusty and wasn't completely finished, it was beautiful. Vince stayed up all night that night, finishing it. When I woke up the next morning, I played it... and oh what a beautiful sound came from it. Vince and I sat in his living room and drank coffee and passed the guitar back and forth while he told me stories of the wood, the process and why this guitar is so amazing. It was a great morning for me.

I headed off to the radio station in Dallas that morning, my interview was set for 1pm and since I am always lost, I left quite a bit early so I'd be sure to be on time. Sure enough, I got lost... but still ended up right on time! They were all so very nice to me at the studio, and the interview went well. The first "performance" with my guitar!!

I left the studio (sold a cd in the parking lot to a nice couple that asked what I was doing carrying guitars out to my car...)... and I headed to Salon Nights On The Levee where I would meet up with the ladies from the venue, whom I now call my friends. Sure enough, I got lost again... but eventually made it. The venue was incredible. They really created a songwriters house there, so comfortable and fitting for any songwriter looking for inspiration. Truly a wonderful experience meeting them, dinner, and then playing a few songs on the stage before heading back to Gainseville.

Friday was the night I played at Salon Nights On The Levee and let me just tell you - that was one of my favorite nights ever. A modest crowd... but a well suited crowd. They LISTENED to my songs. They paid attention! I play a lot of places where I'm not exactly able to capture the attention of everyone, but this night was magical. I played my set on my fabulous new guitar... hung out with everyone as long as I could, sat in the green room and just soaked up the night. It was a night to remember for sure.

I had to play at 10am the next morning, so I hustled back to Gainseville and thre myself into bed only to get myself up and out again in a few hours. The festival was a GREAT SUCCESS - so much so, that they decided to make it an annual thing. It was awesome to see Vince Pawless guitars everywhere... and the artists were incredible, the people were soooo friendly and although it was HOT HOT HOT out, it was an enjoyable experience for sure. They asked me back for next year and of course... I said YES!!!

I took off down the road the next morning pretty early. I had to drive back to Nashville... then back to Georgia shortly after... so... although it was a long time being away from home, a short time in Texas and a long drive... it was an amazing month for me. New songs. New experiences. New friends. New faces. New inspirations. It was food for my soul in many many ways. Exactly what I have been needing... and right on time...

I hope to see you at The Alamo this Friday night, Newnan Georgia. My hope is to break out a few of the new songs I wrote...

jessi

PS I played THE LOFT in Columbus, GA on the 3rd. I opened for Keni Thomas, who is AMAZING. I had an incredible night and look forward to getting back there as soon as possible! Thanks to all you girls who came out and hung with me... thanks for dinner too *wink*...