Twitter- Follow Me...

Hey-
Ok, so I've been really getting into this new way of communicating with people called Twitter. I know that everybody is into Facebook right now and so am I BUT twittering is so easy to do from the road and I can access it and send messages from my phone while I'm walking through the airport or the woods or while I'm walking to the stage... from ANYWHERE! I send messages out continuously throughout the day and well into the night. I dig it.

If you're not familiar with Twitter- it is very easy to check out AND IT'S FREE! Just go to Twitter.com and click where it asks you to set up a new account. That part's real easy. Once you have your account set up just click on the "Find People" icon at the top of the page. My account is: jackingrammusic. Just type that in your search window and it will pop up. Click that you want to "follow" jackingrammusic and WE WILL BE CONNECTED! It's that simple! I should explain what being a "follower" means but I bet you already know... I've never really been a follower myself but I'm adapting to it very well... and, as you already know, I love to have followers so this part of it is going to work out nicely for all of us!

Here's the deal... I was watching Ellen on television (you must know that I'm a big fan of hers) and she was saying that she just found out about Twitter yesterday and signed up. She started with 9 followers yesterday and in one day already has 36,000! You might have read about Lance Armstrong and Barack Obama Tweeting (that's what it's called as an ACTION verb when you actually use Twitter to send a message!) from their various campaigns. They have 300,000 followers on Twitter!!!

I want to talk to you... but you need to sign up. I want to see how many people we can get going on this in the next few days. I have 312 people following me on Twitter as I write this this morning. I want to see how many people sign up by the end of the day. You sign up and if you know anybody that cares about what I'm up to then tell them about it and tell them to sign up too!

Unlike ALL of the other communication networks, Twitter is something that is real easy for me to do and I don't have to be sitting still to do it which makes it possible for me to stay in contact with everyone that follows me throughout the day.

Well, here we go.

KOKO...

Jack

What's in your ipod?

As a lot of you know, I do a ton of interviews to promote upcoming shows, records, whims and/or otherwise! It seems like every time and interview gets a bit stalled out the guy/girl asks me "so, what's in your ipod?". That question always seems to stump me as my ipod is not there at the moment and I can NEVER seem to remember EXACTLY what is the last thing I was playing on my ipod when I took my headphones off not to mention the fact that the actual answer to the question is that "everything I ever owned, bought, stole or was given to me is on that damn thing because I have one of the big ones with 1 million gigs on it" so... well, you get my point! My point is this- with a little time to think about it mixed with the fact that I am home today, I have my ipod right here in front of me and I would like to answer the question posed with just a little bit of truth and not JUST rely on names that, during an interview, I think will add some cachet to my status in this world!! :)

Here's a few that I've been listening to lately...

Mike Farris- Salvation In Lights

This thing is FANTASTIC! This guy used to be (may still be) the singer for a band called The Screaming Cheetah Wheelies. I don't know anything about that band or about Mike BUT... this gospel cd is enough to make you never say that you "hate gospel music" again!!!!

Jason Isbell- And The 400 Unit

I first saw Jason when he was playing guitar in The Drive By Truckers. He looked like somebody's younger brother that got to sit in with the band. I remember thinking to myself that he looked like some dude that just kissed somebody else's girlfriend because the girl was drunk and mistakenly thought that he was her girlfriend... you know... that guy!

TURNS OUT I WAS WRONG!!! This guy is a BAD ASS! His songs are knowing, solid, melodic, tight and the list could go on and on. Jason Isbell is not the guy I thought he was... and makes me re-think what I thought I was! (that's a long story anyway and I am in therapy!) Get this cd.



I am interested in what you are listening to! Who's your favorite singer? Is it Tim McGraw? Keith Urban? Todd Snider? Pat Green? Tom Waits? Who?????????

If you want to start a dialogue with me... tell me who your favorite singer is. Go to iplaycountrymusic@gmail.com and give me your thoughts. It's my email that I just set up this evening because I'm interested in who you dig. I'm a fan of music and I want to know.

I look forward to talking with you.

K-O-K-O

Jack

First Week Of Toby Tour

WOW! What a fantastic tour for us! We played in Asheville, North Carolina, Louisville, Kentucky and tonight in Pikeville, Kentucky. All three shows were sold out or close to it and all three nights Toby's audience acted like they were there to see the opener also... that's very nice of them and feels great! They stood for the hits and sang along with every song even if they didn't know the words ( you know how much I love that!!!!)!

It's been a good few weeks of touring for us... the shows in Texas were great, these shows were great, we have more TK shows coming up and the shows to start the year were a ton of fun... be careful here boys and girsl... I could get used to this!

I've been recording some songs for the cd that are really special to me... it's almost done. Should have some news on a release date soon.

Come see me out here.

Call your favorite radio station and tell em to play "That's A Man" or they're not one!!! (or woman if it's a girl that answers!!!!)!

KOKO...

Jack

That's A Man... The Linemen

Hey,

How bout that Super Bowl?!!!! Congratulations to our mighty friends in Pittsburgh!


I was watching the game and thinking about the linemen. I've been thinking about the linemen more than usual these days because of the new song I have out, "That's A Man". When people ask me what this song is about I tell them that it is about a lot of things but one theme that runs throughout this song is that it is talking about "the linemen"... the guys that do the dirty work in the trenches without any question and without any fan fare. They are the guys that provide the protection and make the holes so that the running back looks good, the quarterback looks like a genius and the wide receiver can have time to get open. I don't think a lineman has ever received the MVP award at the big game and they all know that it ain't ever gonna happen... and they don't care! They take pride in doing their job the right way because that's what they do.

In many ways "That's A Man" is a song for "the lineman"! It's about getting up, going out and doing the right thing the right way because that's the way we do it.

So do me a favor... if you know anybody that fits the description of being a "lineman" then go up to them today and give them a hand... a handshake, a pat on the back, a attawaytogo. Look them (him or her) in the eye and say "Thanks."! Don't make too big a deal of it because they don't like all that fanfare! But I guarantee they'll appreciate it.

Do me another favor while you're at it... call up your favorite radio station and relay the message that you'd like to send one out to the people that just flat out get the job done... tell them to play "That's A Man" and tell them why!

That's it... That's A Man.

KOKO...

Jack

Happy, Happy...

Are you happy now?!!!!

It's January 14 and it's the New Year! Has anything changed? Have you broken your resolutions yet? Me too!!!

I tried not to cuss... then I hit my head on the cabinet trying to get a remote control for the Wii! done.
I tried not to eat fried food... then I got in the car heading to a gig with 4 hours to drive and I was starving and in a hurry AND a KFC was right there in the truck stop where I was getting gasoline! done.

2 for 2! That sounds good! I'll go with that...

When somebody asks me, "Hey Jack, how's your New Year going?" I'll just reply... great, I'm 2 for 2!!!!!!!!

Happy New Year Everybody! I'm batting 1000%! How bout you?!

Keep on keepin' on...

Jack

Hey... Are you Jack Ingram?...

So...

I told you about traveling without my ID or $$$$... which is a complete drag but doable.

So I finally got back to Austin after a long day of work that sent me through long security lines and shakedowns but after waiting on the runway 4 hours in Houston, Tx, of all places, for a de-icing of the wings I finally landed in Austin at 4:30 in the morning! Now the only thing to do was to get my truck out of parking and limp home. PARKING... you pay for that! I got to the desk to have the valet pull my car up and began to tell her my long tale of woe... she did not care! She looked at me and told me that she did not care if I knew my AMEX number by heart... she could not give me my car without a method of payment. I was at the end of my rope here... as I began to argue about how often I park there, etc... I heard a voice from behind me... "Hey man, are you Jack Ingram..." I turned around and said wearily, "Yes". This guy had a big smile on his face, the biggest smile at 4:30 AM I've ever seen outside of an after hours bar, and he stuck out his hand and said "My name is Rodney Dutton and I've been listening to your music for a long time... I really like what you do!... he then went on to say that he was sorry but that he had been eavesdropping on my conversation and couldn't help but hear that I didn't have a way to pay for my truck... he said "dude, let me pay for your parking!"!!!!!!!! I couldn't believe it... still can't really! He shoved $25 bucks down on the desk and told me not to worry about it. He shook my hand and walked away as I was telling him how grateful I was and what could I do and on and on and on...

Rodney Dutton is a good guy. If you see him on the street tell him I said thanks again. If you ever see somebody who needs a little something, something... give him a break. Merry Christmas, Happy New Year! See you out on the road. You can bet I'll have my ID and credit cards... don't rob me just know I got em!

Keep on keepin' on...

Jack

You Can Do It!

I had a show in Kansas City last week. It was a great event sponsored by a radio station (KFKF) where I was playing for a group of bus drivers just outside of the city who had won a contest. They collected the most amount of toys in one of the school buses and won a performance at their bus barn by me (what a prize! :)) It was a ton of fun... but I am getting ahead of myself...

My flight was supposed to leave Austin that morning at 5:45 AM so I could make the show on time. That means that I had to get to the airport by 4:45 AM which means that my alarm was set for 4 AM! That's early (used to be anyway).

I got up on time, had a 5 hour energy shot and made it out the door on time, made it to the airport with time to spare... forgot my wallet! Uh-Oh!!!!!! I immediately checked every place that I usually put my wallet- cup holder, side of door, back pocket, jacket pocket... No Luck! I checked my phone to check the time... no way I can go home and get back in time! I decided to forge ahead and see what happens (kind of like a career!!!)

I got to the Continental ticket counter and started my usual routine when I've done something really stupid... I eased up to the counter and when she asked how I was I replied by saying that I was fine but how was she?!!!! She said fine and I said good. She said may I help you and I said OH Yes! You can help me like you wouldn't believe!

Just then a young kid who looked like he just rolled out of high school and bed and was working in luggage approached me and started telling me what a huge fan he is of mine... I told him that I was a huge fan of his and he looked confused but smiled... the ticket agent said "should I know you?" and I said well, no but you would if you listened to Country music OR IF I HAD MY ID!!!!!!

She smiled and said that she intended to take care of both of those problems this morning... she would look me up on the internet and she would she what she could do to get me through security!!!! I said... YES!!!!!

To make a long story short... she had to mark up my boarding pass with enough red ink it made my failing English papers from High School look passable and sent me with the head of security off to the metal detectors. When I got there they searched me up and down and in between, asked me such probing questions as "who else lives in your house?" and "what kind of car do you drive?"!!!!! I passed! They let me through! I made it to Kansas City! I played some songs for the bus drivers (God Bless Bus Drivers! Especially ones that still love kids enough after driving them around all year while they yell, scream and make their lives crazy to fill a bus full of toys for them!!!!!). And made it to the toy drive on top of the Wal-Mart!

If you ever forget your ID and wallet and need to fly remember this story. It's going to take you a long time in Security and you have to be really nice to the ticket agent and everyone else. You don't need to be a recording artist or anything else... just keep your cool and remember who you live with. You can do it! You can fly! You just can't buy a $5 coke or $6 magazine!

Oh, by the way... I made it back home to Austin too... but that's a whole 'nother story... to be continued...

K-O-K-O...

Jack