Saturday, December 17, 2011

Let Me Introduce You

Have any of you ever watched the television show, Chuck?

I haven't. I'd never heard of it until a couple of weeks ago.

This should not come as a surprise to any of you. I have no television channels so I don't know nothin' 'bout what's on the boob tube unless someone grabs me by the shoulders and shakes me until my teeth rattle. Then I know there's something I ought to be watching. I kinda wish someone would have given me shaken baby syndrome over this show though because the premise sounds fascinating to me!

Anyway! This isn't about me. Moving on.

Here's a special scene from the show. I'd like for you to pay particular attention to the music in the background:



Got it? Good.

Here is the song without the action...



Y'all see that angel-faced girl in the background?

That's Jessie.

I have a big crush on Jessie.

Jessie, that girl with the face, voice, and spirit of an angel, is a beloved friend of Lex. She sleeps on our couch when she comes through town. I love it when she comes through town. Her energy is just so...so...SO GREAT!

This past July, she and her band, Alameda, came through town on tour, stopping to play the Underground Music Festival here in Denver. So enamored of their music was I, I begged for 2 copies of the Alameda CD - Seasons/Spectres - one for me, one for my favorite indy radio station getting ready to launch (that'd be OpenAir...public radio, y'all. Can you dig it? I knew that you could. Now go like them on Facebook).

That CD has been stuck in my car's CD player (no really, it's actually stuck in there. I can't get it out, even if I wanted to) ever since.

It's so amazing and lovely and...and...and...not since Simon and Garfunkel's Greatest Hits have I found an album that can put me in THAT place. It's a special, calm, soft sort of space. Part of it is the song writing, part of it is the voice of the cello, part of it is Jessie...knowing Jessie and thinking she's covered in awesome sauce talent - because she totally is.

Here is my most favorite song on the album, New Leaf...



Starting at 2:29...is that NOT the face of an absolute angel?! Believe me, it is. I know. I've been near that angel. Even Vinny loves her.

Hooked yet?


If you are so inclined, you can...

Buy the album at CD Baby, or

Request a song to be played from Alameda's album by your favorite indy station. KEXP out of Seattle, for instance (I'm looking at you, Dayna and Periphery and Dr. Jenni o_O). Or from The Current, (shout out to those Minnesotans out there like Michael's Fishbowl and The Time For Change).

Regardless. You don't have to buy the album or like the YouTube video or request any of their songs.

I just wanted all of you to know about Jessie. Because I think Jessie is one of the most beautiful souls I've ever met. And I have an incredibly strange sense of pride when I think that one of their songs made it onto network television even though I had absolutely nothing to do with it whatsoever.

Y'all? Jessie and Stirling and Alameda? That's talent.

9 comments:

TangledLou said...

I will have to check this Jessie out when the house isn't full of sleeping monkeys. How cool that she sleeps on your couch. You're like a rock star by association.

Just Jane said...

Only slightly rock star by association. Seriously, I love their music so much! Lex thinks I'm a dork because New Leaf makes me cry no matter how often I listen. It's just...wow...phenomenal.

Anonymous said...

I've never seen the show, Jane, because we don't really watch much TV either, but it looks very interesting. And I liked the music from the background! :)

By the way, inserting these clips is such a neat idea. I enjoy them very much.

~Virginia

Lucy said...

I have never seen Chuck, I have heard about the show and glad you cued me to the music, I love the music in shows!

Jessie is pretty, love her red hair and enjoyed their music AND how cool she sleeps on your couch.
I bet they were thrilled their song was used for a Network show, now that is too cool! I enjoyed both songs!!!

cdnkaro said...

This is how we find television shows as well. If enough people tell us about one show, and it sounds interesting enough, we'll get a few episodes to try it out. That's how I discovered Big Bang Theory, and how my dog got his name:)

How very cool! I quite like their stuff (that I've heard)- thanks for sharing!

The Shiftless Wanderer said...

I've added Alameda to my wish list of CD's. Love them! And yes, she is beautiful! I love being around people who have good energy. Lucky you. I look forward to ordering my CD from CD Baby so I can get that wonderful email from them that's all warm and fuzzy and full of excitement and that I'm important. I know they write those emails just for me. :-)

Masked Mom said...

Gorgeous stuff--people, music, post. Thanks for passing it along.

Just Jane said...

I'm glad y'all are liking their music. Thanks! Again, I'm unreasonably proud of them and am happy to know when others like them.

Falsemigration said...

Wow! Thanks so much for this write up and for listening to our music! I'm truly humbled. - Stirling.