I am a junkie. I'll admit it. I need my fix...singer-songwriters who sit on stools and play old beat-up guitars and pour out their heart stories through beautiful, intimate lyrics that come to them in the middle of the night, set to melodies that are haunting and lovely. Deep down I long to be in their club. But alas, at least at this point in my life, I am not. My best attempts at song-writing have ended in staff paper torn to shreds, usually beside an empty glass of wine.
I do, however, trust my ability to know musical brilliance when I hear it. Take, for instance, the first time I heard a David Wilcox song. That baritone voice, those incredible lyrics...I was an instant convert. There's Beth Wood...the voice that is somehow a mix of every female singer I've ever admired, so beautifully summing up the human experience in her poignant lyrics...ahhhh. And my sweet friends, Kari and Jared Dobbs. I will never tire of hearing my "Mosey" favorites.
A few weekends ago, a new acoustic wonder entered my personal Hall of Fame. The difference for this singer, however, is the number of years she's been on the planet Earth. At the ripe old age of 19, Sarah Jarosz has penned words and melodies that you would swear came from the soul of a well-traveled, road-weary, experience-rich musician, well beyond ages I would consider "middle." (I am, sadly, firmly in that club). I had heard recordings, but when I saw this Wimberley, TX native singing live in a tiny park next to the 72nd Street Subway Station, I knew that I was witnessing something special. This girl is going to make a mark that lasts for a long, long time. And I got a fix that still hasn't worn off.
