After getting lost on the south side of Chicago and having to take a detour through downtown Gary, Rich and I finally made it safely to my brother's house. We were greeted at the door by his two dogs, Elvis and Hallie. Elvis is a 35 pound pug which a poop fetish. He apparently likes to eat his own doodie, so my brother has taken to calling him, "Poop Chin." Say that five time fast when you're drunk and it becomes very funny. Hallie is a 120lb Rottie who lets you know that she likes you by sitting on you. Yep.
We played two shows yesterday afternoon at the Indiana State Prison, one for the general population and one for Death Row. The Death Row show was a first in the history of the prison, but more on that later.
An offender named Harry ran sound, and I have to say, he did an awesome job. I've met many an incompetant sound guy, so this was a pleasant surprise. He even recorded the show and that also sounded amazing. I have no idea which offenders are granted access to the internet, but a big shout out and thank you to him.
The show opened with the Praise Team, a gospel choir/band that writes their own music. An offender named Earl was the soloist and he was so damn good that I had second thoughts about taking the stage. He really knocked my socks off. After the show, the PT presented me with their cd, which was a very humbling moment. Despite their situtaion, they maintain their love for music, a tough order to fill in that environment. There are so many days when I fill like I'm failing and should throw in the towel, but I have a different perspective now.
Hands down, this was the strangest gig we've ever done, but it was also one of the best. I've never signed so many autographs, shook so many hands, or heard so many thanks yous. I signed guitars, hats, t-shirts, id cards, and letters home to their kids and families. Some sang along, some even clapped along and at the end, we got a standing ovation. They were polite, well-behaved and very, very appreciateive. They even asked me to come back. I realize this was a captive audience, but attendance was voluntary.
Playing to Death Row was an entirely different experience. Out of the 19 men on X Row ( what the officials call it) 11 of them attended the show. Rich and I both found it incredibly difficult to concentrate and I found it even harder to sing. Playing without amplification and having to reach people sitting 30 feet away was quite a challenge, but looking these men in the eye was even harder.
As a performer, I always want to connect with my audience, but it's scary to face someone who has taken a life. There was a 25-year old man sitting not 5 feet away from me who had killed his step-father, sister and brother. Another man killed a little boy. Someone else killed and ate his father.
You read that right.
He ate his father.
One offender took to giving me advice about which radio stations I should send my cds to. He was incredibly chatty and quite honestly, the only person who made me nervous. We were seperated by huge bars and a series of locking electronic gates; I am most thankful for that. I am also thankful to the incredible staff who were gracious, totally on-the-ball and well-organized.
After the show, we were given a tour of the prison, which included a viewing of "Sparky" the retired electric chair, and a stop at the death chamber. Seeing these things on TV is one thing, viewing them up close is a whole other ball of wax. I have no idea how anyone could think the electric chair is a humane method of execution, but there is no doubt in my mind the United States Supreme Court needs to step in and ban it's use. The generator that produces the current is enormous and the "switch" is actually a very large lever akin to something the railroads might use to switch trains from one track to another. It looks like something out of Frankenstein.
I'm really not sure where I stand on the death penalty. While I was living in Maine, a 10-year old named Jeffrey Curley was murdered near my home. The details are much too grim to recount here, but suffice to say I was firmly on the side of the death penalty. A few years after Jeffrey's murder, I heard an interview with the victim's father in which he said that putting the murderers to death wouldn't bring back his son and he therefore didn't see the justice in it. I agree, but on the other hand, I doubt with every fiber of my being that rehabiliation (at least in this case) is possible. I also don't see how allowing them to live out their days in prison makes any sense.
And so, the conundrum.
One thing is for certain: I have a new outlook on music. I am grateful that I had the chance to reach so many people in such a positive way, but I am just as thrilled that I was able to walk out into the sunshine a free woman.
