After many months of online communication, dedicated members of the jewel@smoe.org mail list group found themselves meeting face-to-face in the historic Bearsville Theatre near Woodstock, New York. Aside from limited contact at local Jewel performances, most participants had never met before. Fans ranged in ages from 15-50, with diverse interests that seemed to include only one common focal point: Jewel and her music.
In light of today's high profile marketing of musical artists, the events that led to this unlikely rendevous are even more remarkable.
In response to a list members off-hand request, Jewel agreed to give a private concert for the list members. Through Hiranya, a Jewel management contact and sometimes participant in the list group discussions, Jewel made an early June post agreeing to do a private performance. The response from the list was phenomenal, with the event quickly being given the label "JewelStock" for its close proximity to the Woodstock community.
One of Hiranya's stipulations was that list members would handle most of the arrangements. List members in the Woodstock area stepped forward to do just that. Fans Mike Connell and Richard Chang coordinated communications with other list members across the country, with many of the arrangements handled by Lenedra Carroll, Jewel's mother and manager. Other members pitched in, establishing a web site for distributing information, designing event tee-shirts and buttons, and coordinating rides across the United States. The latter effort was cleverly dubbed "Angel Needs a Ride" after a popular Jewel song.
While this event started out as a private party and concert for the members of the list group and their guests, it soon evolved into a two night affair as a second concert was added, to be held for the benefit of the Bearsville Theatre operating budget.
The theatre venue was selected as it was being used for rehersals, and its close proximity to the studio Jewel was recording her followup album to "Pieces of You," which is quickly reaching platinum status. The Thursday night, July 18th concert was closed to the general public, and free to all list members who traveled to see Ms. Kilcher perform. Tickets for a second show on the following night was partially open to the public. All proceeds from the $15 ticket price went to benefit the Bearsville Theatre.
Fans traveled from across the United States, most carpooling, some from as far away as California. Jewel has a loyal and dedicated fan base, with as many as 450 routinely participating in discussion via the e-mail based discussion group. Much of the discussions concern Jewel's lyrics, show reviews and well-meant advice and banter between list members. Humor is a trademark of these fans. Universally, they have taken for themselves the moniker of "EveryDay Angels," a term taken from the Jewel song "I'm Sensitive."
"I'd rather see the world from another angle,A&M recording artist Patty Griffin opened for Jewel on Thursday night, followed by poetry readings and singing by Jewel. This was a hardcore group of Jewel fans, wanting to hear her lesser known live material, currently commercially unavailable. Appropriately, the one song neither requested nor sung was her current mega-hit single "Who Will Save Your Soul?" After the show, both artists met with the fans for autographs and pictures. After Jewel retired, list members continued socializing until the wee hours of the morning at various local parties.
We are EveryDay Angels,
Be careful with me 'cause I'd like to stay that way."
Live performances from both shows were taped for possible inclusion in Jewel's new album, which is scheduled for release in January of 1997.
