I stayed out of view today in an effort to clear my mind and spend some quality time with my guitar. I haven't had much quiet time these days and I really wanted to spend the evening with my guitar.

I picked up my guitar, sat down on the floor (my favorite writing spot), strummed a little, tried to find inspiration... looked around the room.... put the guitar back in the case and curled up on the couch.

Writer's block got me again. Ugh.

Tomorrow is the 4th of July celebration and the half dozen invites that I have yet to decide on are still sitting on the counter. Hmmm... might be a good day for a six pack and a good hook line. Or... it might be a good day to join in on the limbo parties and jump in the nearest swimming pool with my belly full of brats and hamburgers... hmmmm... there could be some inspiration in that... right?

... that my life is a roller coaster ride?

My journal entries pretty much say that, lol. How obvious can I be?

sigh....

Sometimes I think about how the world works and it just amazes me. I mean, strangers become friends, friends become strangers... and it all works the way it's supposed to.

I am excited that every day is a new opportunity for a stranger to become a friend. Lord knows we all need more friends in our lives, whether they are there for a short time, or what I call "lifers". I never have been much of a social butterfly, but music has allowed me to meet and become friends with pretty much every friend I have.  And to think... I'd be some old hermit with fifteen cats had I never picked up my guitar. Sigh... life is good when strangers become friends. (although there is nothing wrong with having fifteen cats... *wink*)

What happens when the truth fails you?

What happens when your reputation is hurt because you stand up for the truth?

At what point do you fight back?

I want to fight back, but I know better than to stir the pot. I know what the truth is and I know that eventually the truth will come out and my reputation and honor will be re-established. Standing up for what is right can be so very difficult, but that has never stopped me from doing so when the world is casting stones.

This isn't the first time I have been cast out, stoned, ripped to shreds by the deception of one man's word. I made it through many a trial and I have ended up stronger than ever. "You Ain't Seen Nothin' Like This" is a true story of standing up for what is right when the world can't see the truth. I can take it, my back is strong and I do not have to fight back in order to prove anything. "This ain't my first time on the ledge"... "come on now man just split my lip, is that all you've got left to give?".

I will survive this.

The truth will prove my survival.

Last week pretty much kicked my ass. I played Eddie's Attic on Monday night, which was a lot of fun! Eddie was very nice to me and talked to me afterwards with many compliments to take with me. It reminded me a lot of the Nashville scene, but better. Eddie is a great host and the place was PACKED. I only wish I would have played later in the night, as I was the first artist up and the place was still filling up. I will play there again, no doubt.

Smith's Olde Bar I played on Friday Night. I had a bunch of friends come out to support me, the show itself was great and a lot of fun to see my girls and hang out with them for a little bit.

The TailGate Party on Saturday was a lot of fun as well.  I played a duo instead of the full band, hopefully next year we can bring all the guys. Overall it was a success and I met a bunch of the Falcons and talked with an anchor of "Good Day Atlanta" and are now arranging a time for me to be on the show!

A lot of things coming up for me on many levels. I am making some transitions within the business and I hope that the ignition of those changes will prove to be a good move for my music. I'm excited for what is to come... stay tuned!

This week is busy - I LOVE IT!

Here's what I got going on this week. I hope you will find a way to join me at one, or all of these shows!

June 9th - Monday - Eddie's Attic @ 7pm. It's an open mic slot, true. I don't have but a few minutes to sell myself to the crowd there and hopefully book a full show. The more people that I have there, cheering me on, the better I look. Which means... as long as I play well... I should be able to solidify a show. At least that is my hope. I have always wanted to play Eddie's. I'm finally getting that chance on Monday night.



June 13th - Friday - Smith's Olde Bar @ 8pm. I played The Atlanta (acoustic) room a couple of months ago, on a Wed. I brought enough people to impress Sean, the host. Along with my AWESOME booking agent, Shirley, we solidified another date and here it is! Friday night I will be on stage again, in the acoustic room. Please come out and see me!!! Make sure that you tell the door guy that you are there to see JESSI LYNN. That's how they keep track of who is popular and who isn't. lol. I've always wanted to be popular. ;-)

June 14th - Saturday - Keith Brooking Tailgate Party - Newnan Airport, Newnan, GA.
I am super excited about this show! I was asked to be the headliner this year, so that's a huge honor. Keith Brooking, from the Atlanta Falcons, hosts this every year.

It is an annual fundraising event held at the Newnan-Coweta County Airport. The 5th annual Tailgate Kick-off event will be held on June 14th, 2008. Expected attendance is 1200. This event raised over $100,000 in 2006 and 2007. The event includes a VIP reception/autograph session with professional athletes and celebrities, a delicious catered meal, live and silent auctions, door prizes, raffles, live entertainment and much more. Profits from this event help support the programs and services of the foundation.

Get your tickets early! Book a hotel!! Line up a cab! It's gonna be an awesome night raising money for an awesome cause!

www.keithbrookingfoundation.org

I am really looking forward to playing Darwin's again. Two out of my three "southern" boys joined me on stage a while back and we had such a great time out there. The place was filled with a great musical vibe... almost like something out of a movie. You can just hear the struggles of every songwriter who has ever graced that stage.

If you are near Marietta, GA on June 5th (Thursday night), please stop by. We would love to have you there and although I don't need to say it, I will anyhow... without an audience, there is no reason for us to play.  So, come to the shows and help me keep this thing going! 

It's gonna be a fun night either way!  We play two shows, 9pm and 11pm. $10 cover.

www.darwinsblues.com

Darwin's
1598 Roswell Rd.
Marietta, GA 30062

I hope you will come.

Jessi

Troye Shanks will no longer be playing in The Jessi Lynn Band. I wish him well in his adventure in The Trailer Kings, his newly formed band. He has a lot on his plate and I hope that he succeeds in all he attempts.

Troye and I have been friends for 10+ years and although he is not in my band any longer, he is still my friend. To me, that's the most important part.

I am not replacing Troye's postition in the band, we will continue on as a four piece. We are eager to start the next chapter and will be bringing bigger and better things to our shows as the changes develope and we grow in a new direction.

The rumors are flying around everywhere that I am moving to Georgia and that BratFest is my last show with my northern guys. I may have been to blame for those rumors starting as I have mentioned I will be gone for a while (again). Let me explain my statement.

Indeed, I am moving to Georgia. That part of the rumor is true. However, I am not abandoning Madison or my band up here. I will always return and this band will continue to play together, grow together and make music together. We are even talking... a NEW RECORD!!

Brat Fest is tomorrow and I am here to put the rumors to rest... IT IS NOT OUR LAST SHOW!!!

It is not the end...

It is just the beginning.

jessi

Friday Morning Radio Interview on WRCO!!

Check out www. WRCOradio. com for all the station information and dial numbers!

My interview will air between 8:30am - 9am on Friday morning (May 16th)!

Phill Nee from WRCO radio interviewed me and I hope I didn't babble too much... you'll have to let me know... and don't worry, I love honesty!

Also remember that the DVD release party will be going on this coming Friday night at Arthur's in Spring Green, WI. If you get a chance to come by, please do. I would love the place to be jam packed full of my friends, fans and family! It's the only club venue that I am playing in WI for a while... might be six months before you see me in a Wisconsin club again. I am hittin' the road (as I always am) and will be doing a bunch of acoustic shows in the Atlanta area and hopefully will do many more "mini" tours throughout the year.


So, my point is... you really should make this particular show!

The music is going to start up around 9pm, but I'll be there early to have some dinner and enjoy the people who show up early! Marc will be there selling merchandise and doing the chicken dance for those who toss money at him (or drinks).. teehee... wait... is it the chicken dance or the monkey dance? Crap... I'm not sure... but knowing Marc, there's probably a chicken/monkey dance combo that he'll pull out of his hat!

Speaking of hats! I FINALLY have hats to sell!!! Y'all have been asking for them for years and I finally got a few... but literally, I have only a few. I sold a lot of them already and if memory serves me correct, I have less than 10 hats left. So... get there and buy one quick!

Okay! Have I plugged the show enough? Arthur's in Spring Green, WI??? Friday night?? 9pm??? DVD Release party (maybe we can get it on the big screen??)?? NEW SONGS with the band!!

All I know is that it's gonna be a great time and I have been looking forward to this show for a while. I miss my northern band and it's been so much fun jamming with them again.

Come hear the new songs!

Don't forget the radio interview Friday morning! www. WRCOradio. com check the details... Phil said he may or may not be able to get the interview up by then (online), but you can find out all the information about the station and the dial numbers so you can hear it!

See you all on Friday Night! jessi

It was such a great night last Saturday at The MAMA's!!! I ended up winning Female Vocalist of the Year (along with Laura England!!!)... it was a tie!

And so... we are celebrating a lot of great things at my next show! When is it?? hmmm... shame on you! You should know when the next Jessi Lynn show is!!! *wink*

My band and I are meeting at Arthur's in Spring Green, WI THIS Friday night at 9pm to celebrate the release of my DVD, my winning "Female Vocalist" at The MAMA's and the BRAND NEW SONGS that my band and I have been working on!!

I would love to see you at the show Friday. Arthur's has been very good to me and is helping promote this show to the extent of their ability.
I appreciate that greatly and really want to be sure we pack the place out for them!

Here is the address:

US Highway 14
Spring Green, WI 53588
(608) 588-2521

Please come!!!

Thanks my friends, jessi

Well, I did it. For years, people have been telling me to play Smith's Olde Bar in Atlanta, GA. So... I did it!

I gotta say, it was a blast! It was just me and my guitar and a bunch of friends, hanging out, having a few beer and playing some music. I wasn't sure what to expect and I know that the repuation of Smith's is pretty high. It's almost impossible to make any money there (hmmm... reminds me of Nashville)... but I got free beer. Yay! It probably would have been cheaper to pay me, I mean, let's be real.

Anyhow, it was a very intimate setting and I knew almost every person there! My sweet sweet friends came out to support me and for that, I am so grateful. It's so important to have a support team when you're starting out at a new place and in a new city. It really doesn't matter how "good" you are, it matters how many people you bring and that's how it's always going to be. I would not have impressed Sean (the music host in the Atlanta Room) had I not had so many friends show up. So, please remember your importance and always remember that I appreciate you showing up.

I was asked to come back to Smith's and I agreed. Of course, Shirley, my booking agent will take care of all the details, but please keep track of the schedule and come see me! Next time it'll be on a weekend, so it wont be so difficult to get out and stay a while.

Again, thank you for helping me prove my worth. It's a long ride... thanks for riding with me...

jessi

It's been so chaotic the past few weeks that I didn't realize that I haven't updated my page! Whoops.

The gig at Darwin's was really fun! I had never been to Darwin's before so I wasn't sure what to expect. It ended up being a really laid back, friendly crowd and the place itself was filled with an incredible "feel" of warmth. Posters and 8x10's of the many artists who have played there filled the walls and ceiling, which added to the charm.

They have invited me back for June, so keep up with the tour page and mark it on your calender! We're working on the details now... so... keep up with me!

Up next is the "Saving 2nd Base" party that I'm playing at The Alamo in Newnan, Georgia. I just realized yesterday that it's NEXT WEEKEND (April 12, 2008 @ 9pm)!  This party is going to be huge, it's been the talk of Newnan for the past two months! The entire thing was / is planned in an effort to raise money to help a friend with the medical bills from breast cancer. We're doing a raffle, of which I donated my hot pink Daisy Rock guitar, and a bunch of local businesses have donated lots of goodies as well. The party will start around 8pm and I'll play (full band) at 9pm. The raffle will be announced during the show, so be sure to pick up a ton of tickets when you show up!!

Just a few days after that show, I have an acoustic gig at SMITH'S OLDE BAR in Atlanta, Georgia on April 16th.  It's a Wednesday night, but it's an early show, so there's NO reason why you can't make it out and help me secure a Saturday night show with the full band (they make you play a Wednesday before they'll let you play a Saturday, at least that's what they told me). So... I really REALLY need people to show up for this one. It's $5 and you MUST tell them that you're there for JESSI LYNN so the tally is right.

After that show, I will head to Wisconsin to start working with my Northern Boys on BRAND NEW SONGS! The Madison Area Music Awards are being held, May 10th at The Barrymore Theater and I'm up for FOUR awards this year as well as performing with the band!  Please vote  for me @ www.themamas.org and then, COME TO THE SHOW!

Oh... and if you haven't noticed, I'm playing A LOT more than usual. Thanks to my new booking agent, Shirley Kennedy. I'll introduce you to her in the next blog!

See you Saturday, April 12th, at The Alamo!