A Thursday in CC

Last night was wonderful. I sat down for most of it, not 'cause I was tired, but because I felt no wall. We were all just in the room together.

I've had a couple conversations recently about moments or settings when all of a sudden you realize you're in America. It's like these moments when "Madison Avenue" (or some street in Santa Monica...?) couldn't have created a more perfect picture of diversity. It's not like those political conventions you see where you can tell the seats are arranged. It's like the ObamaNation. All of a sudden you try to repaint the picture in your head of a perfect night and then you realize what an amazing palette is required. I just feel that. We had generations/colors/orientations digging the stories of the songs, sharing moments of misunderstanding with an openness, a respect, and just fun. A little boy requested one of the darker songs on my latest album and it felt alright. If a kid can request and receive some of the feelings that I sometimes shy away from in performance for "lightness' sake," I guess I don't need to do that. I can go on my journey with you. I mean if I can get up on stage and sing about stuff, you know it's probably gonna be o.k. (I haven't had too many onstage emotional breakdowns in my life!) So, yeah... I'm gonna keep embracing the emotional diversity of what's happening as I see it as if it doesn't need a single remark. But then when you try to repaint the story later, maybe that amazingly diverse palette required will inspire a rich retelling of the joyful night.

Thanks to all that were there.

- J