Jess Klein - Backstage

One of the most beautiful things in the world is when you can be thrown off guard, out of your comfort zone, and learn unexpectedly what the world has to offer, and what you have to offer the world. 

I’ve been touring the past week with Damien Dempsey around the midwest and northeast.  Damien is one of the few contemporary acoustic songwriters who’s passion and soul are so present in his work.  It’s political and passionate and brilliant.  When my manager gave me Damien’s album “Shots” a couple years ago, I immediately started clamoring for him to get me on tour with Damo.  So then I got a call last fall saying I was on for support for his US tour this April and May.

It’s been a really mind-blowing experience because I just watch the whole show every night and learn from it and try to absorb as much as I possibly can from someone whose work has influenced my own so much.  It’s like that buddhist saying - when the student is ready, the teacher will appear.  I feel like I’ve been looking for a ‘teacher’ for a while, and this experience has been one.  Also, we’ve been singing one of my favorite of his songs together, “Sing All Our Cares Away” each night.  I just feel like a sponge absorbing all this soul.

Then it’s off to Ireland for me next week, which is like icing on the cake.

Wrote a new song today - a real weeper.  Sometimes I wonder where that stuff goes in between songs - I mean luckily touring means singing them every night.

xo

jk