The Power of Peers and a Guitar Riff
Like a lot of you, I’m still reeling from the surprise performance of Tracy Chapman with Luke Combs on Sunday night at the Grammys. I’m always amazed how music has the power to transport us to a specific time and place.
Summer of 1988, my dad had completed the construction of his new 2-bay shop and my brother and I were tasked with moving all of the tools, welding rods, hoods, gloves, nuts, bolts, screws, etc. from the old shop to the new shop… a 50-ish yard round trip journey in the sweltering South Carolina heat that was our backyard. Any activity we were engaged in usually had a supporting soundtrack from one particular Sony boombox, so you can imagine my excitement when the mail truck arrived with my latest Columbia House delivery… 12 tapes I had ordered for ONE penny, taped to the subscription card I’d mailed in 4-6 weeks prior. I hopped on my bike and pedaled down our long gravel driveway to the mailbox, and hurriedly made my way back to the shop in perfected one-handed fashion. I ripped open the box and struggled with tearing the cellophane wrapper off the self-titled Tracy Chapman cassette tape. I popped it in the cassette player, fast forwarded to track 2, and heard that opening acoustic riff I’d only heard when I was lucky enough to catch it on the radio. Fast Car, and eventually the album in its entirety, was the soundtrack to the remainder of that hot and sweaty summer. (George Michael’s Faith album was also in that particular Columbia House order and got a lot of air time that summer, too.)
I knew the Grammys were coming on Sunday night, and while it’s not something I ever go nuts about, or set aside time to watch, I’ll typically turn it on to catch the few great performances and turn it off when things get crazy and folks start losing their clothes… and minds. I happened to turn it on Sunday night at the exact moment that Luke Combs and his “special surprise guest” were being introduced. As soon as that acoustic riff started, I was immediately transported to that summer of ’88… the smell of cut metal, welding “dust”, sweat, and the feeling of accomplishing something my brother and I felt was much bigger than we were at the time. (Never thought I’d say it then, but thanks Dad!)
The sheepish grin on Tracy’s face in response to the audience’s roaring applause sent chill bumps across my skin. The entire performance had me literally on the edge of the couch. Her giddy glimpses at Luke and his in return — it was a give and take, back and forth rally, loaded with emotion that I haven’t witnessed from my living room couch… well, ever. And, if that wasn’t enough, the camera gave us glimpses of the crowd… many of whom were on their feet. Taylor Swift, dancing and singing every word. Jelly Roll and Michael Trotter Jr.’s fist pumps in the air like cheerleaders on a sideline. And so many others, standing and singing and cheering in support.
What a gift for an artist to be able to look out and see their peers in full-on, invested physical support and engagement of their craft. What. A. Gift.
LinkedIn, Facebook groups, Instagram, etc are social forms of that platform for many of us. They are communities of professionals supporting one another and offering support and advice and critique (hopefully this is your experience). As a freelance graphic designer, I get positive feedback from clients (and friends and family, of course), but it’s altogether different to receive it from peers. (Love her, or hate her, you can’t argue that Tay Tay modeled class for us all on Sunday night.) Let’s not forget how good a fist pump in the air feels. Let’s keep getting up on our feet and cheering each other on from the sidelines and singing each other’s songs at the very top of our lungs. It’s a gift that only we can give.
