August 2021: "Buffalo," Trampled By

post Originally published August 18, 2021

Quite excited to share this! If you like it, send it to a friend, or twelve :)
 

The premise: We asked five visual artists to each draw a scene on digital art programs. Their art is transformed into a series of time-lapse images—from sketches to full color—all drawn as the artists listened to the words and music of the first track on my new album, “Buffalo.” The video was a collaboration (and guitar lesson trade) with acclaimed film-maker, Benjamin Boult, and an experiment on what creativity from a distance could look like during the pandemic. 

"Buffalo," is a portrait of my friend Rio. When I was 12 he was my river guide hero. Now I work beside him on the Futaleufú River in Chile, and I understand that being Rio is impossible, because he's still superman. But I get to make up songs using his words. “Buffalo” voices Rio’s dream to someday retire to a buffalo ranch at the foot of the ocean.

Last Wednesday…


My band biked two sweaty hours with our instruments and sock inventory to The Suttle Lake Lodge to play a dinner gig for thirty or so lodge dwellers. Dave, the lead singer for Trampled By Turtles, happened to be staying there that night. After the show around 9pm I was camping on the other side of the lake watching the sunset and my phone rang. Unknown number, I didn't pick up. Then a slew of texts. I was shocked I was getting service. I called back – it was Dave asking if I would open for Trampled By Turtles two nights later at the eight thousand person capacity Les Schwab Amphitheater in Bend. I said I had no plans :) 

On Friday night I got to play six songs through an enormous speaker system in front of Trampled By Turtles super fans! On Sunday morning I was back playing John Prine tunes at the Sisters Farmers Market. Beautiful.

Thanks to all who listened to "Biggest Rock" this last month, we broke all my previous streaming records, and congrats to Santiago Chile, for winning top listening city on Spotify!

Bestest,

Jenner

Opening for Trampled By Turtles and Mt. Joy at the Les Schwab Amphitheater.

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Fly Me To The Moon – A Spotify playlist of songs I'm digging. 

"Inside" – Bo Burnham's new Netflix comedy special. This is work of art. Painfully new, and staggeringly brilliant. He figured out how to say the thing. 

Know My Name by Chanel Miller – my Palo Alto school district classmate! Her book is heartbreaking and so important. Chanel tells her story of being reduced to a "victim" of sexual assault, a story told with overwhelming compassion and poetry. I'm part of the way through, learning about my many blind spots, and especially appreciating her beautiful descriptions of growing up my hometown. 

P.S.

Love will always be "on sale tonight at the Five & Dime." – Nanci Griffith, peace be with you.

Jenner FoxComment