Friday, November 20, 2009

Julie Peel - Review of Jammin Java on 11.19.2009


Admitting you're nervous to yourself is one thing.

But admitting it to a sold out crowd of about 200 people you don’t know is just one hint of what endears Julie Peel to us in the audience.

She's honest and sincere.

Supporting her Debut CD - Near The Sun, last night, Julie opened her heart for us all to see and join her…..and with this one statement, she endeared herself to us all….reminding me of the verse from The Byrds song 5th Dimension "I opened my heart to the whole universe and I found, it was loving."

Julie ran through her roughly 40 minute opening set list mixing in her harmonica and tossing in the kazoo in one song. I love the kazoo. You cant help but smile when you see the kazoo and her playing it with one of her songs. I have a 6 year old daughter and she loves the kazoo. And hearing it reminds me of being young and having fun.....and the innocence that goes with that.

The final song in her set - Once More With Feeling - she forgot the words at the very beginning of the song. She smiled, was a little embarassed, yet, beautiful. And, Ben (big shout out to you Ben!!!!) went into the monitor speakers and voiced a few lyrics for her and she was fine again. But let's be fair - I've heard John Mellencamp inform a Radio Studio Audience he didnt remember the words to Pink Houses. So, in my book, the musician ALWAYS gets kudos for remembering all that they do.

You see, Julie had already opened her heart to us and we were there….the fact that she forgot the lyrics didn’t matter….we were there to protect her heart and protect her because she had already brought us in.

She could do no wrong in our eyes.

And, after a quick reminder of the first line….Julie was on her way to closing out her set and forever keep us with her......and she, with us.

If you'd like to order her record, Near The Sun, stop by her website at: http://www.juliepeel.com/.

Julie also is appearing on a special compilation of songs via her label American Laundromat Records http://www.alr-music.com/ that is for "The Valerie Fund" - a 501(c)(3) non-profit charitable organization that provides support for the comprehensive health care of children with cancer and blood disorders. Julie has a personal experience with this with one of her family members.

Julie previously appeared on Independents Uncovered on May 18, 2009.