Eden or at least a Garden

Sunday night we followed our friends Wooden Finger down on an unknown venture to One to One Studios in Jackson. The night before they kept telling us how great this venue is and they aren’t oversellers. What amounts to an artist commune, an oasis in suburban sprawl, a time out of mind wilderness all rolled in to one incredible experience. The people were genuine, intelligent, and incredibly talented; the space was unlike any other; the stage was comprised of five circular platforms floating on light (see the photos…). The show was underadvertised and was a summer show in an otherwise empty college area, but the crowd was strong and energetic.

Before the show we walked through the complex-a front, professional gallery, a wooden-floored venue filled with couches, a back area with living quarters, artists studios, and a classroom, a courtyard with sculptures and found objects, Johnny Bertram (the manager of One to One) and his wife’s industrial loft-like apartment and music studio and an organic garden. This is one place that sounds great, but is much better than it sounds. We are already talking repeat performance. They said when hipster favorite No Age played here recently they didn’t want to leave either. Some places are just special. There isn’t any other way to describe it.

Our wanderings through Mississippi have been the highlight of the tour so far. Good luck, Georgia.