Jack Johnson Practices What He Sings

By ALYSSA PATRICK
EISENHOWER HIGH SCHOOL
THE GORGE AMPHITHEATRE, George, Wash. — Through puffs of smoke — of both the cigarette as well as a more explicit variety — emanating from a man who was filling the space of six with his rather awe-inspiring swaying back and forth, and down a once grassy but now completely peopled hill was the barely-visible source of some beautiful lyrics.
Jack Johnson stood there playing his guitar in front of a darkened gorge, singing the songs I have so often sung in my car.
Needless to say, it is much more gratifying to sing along with his actual voice, though my friends may have preferred to hear him without my lovely accompaniment.
Unfortunately for the three of them, there are some artists who have put words together so beautifully that I cannot help but to utter them in my own voice as well, and Johnson is definitely one of those artists.
Though I was hundreds of feet away from him on Friday night, I felt closer when I was able to remember some lyrics that his sweetly nervous self forgot. He is an artist unlike many others. His face does not often appear on the cover of magazines, and his songs reflect the differences he is trying to make in the world.
It was immediately evident upon entering The Gorge Amphitheatre in George, Wash., that Johnson is an environmentalist. Special parking spaces were reserved for hybrid cars and carpools of four or more people. One couple even rode their bikes past us as we waited in an extremely long vehicle line.
Inside the actual venue, recycling bins accompanied every garbage can. The biggest pieces of evidence, however, were the members of Johnson’s “All At Once Campaign” who were dispersed throughout the amphitheatre. According to the pamphlets that these people were handing out, “All At Once” connects people with local non-profit groups, creating change through our actions, our voices and our choices.
These non-profit groups focus mainly on environmental concerns, such as clean water, land preservation, and environment education.
Johnson is a celebrity who truly practices what he preaches. (Or should I say, sings?) According to the same pamphlet, his latest album “Sleep Through The Static” was recorded using 100 percent solar energy and printed on 100 percent post-consumer waste recycled paper.
His humbleness and genuine concern for the causes and non-profits he supports radiated from his performance. He didn’t do much talking between songs unless it was to welcome and praise a couple members of the opening acts back on stage to sing with him. Though forgetting lyrics is usually something we would criticize an artist for, his comment of “you try and remember your lyrics in front of all of these cameras” was so sincerely stated that I truly believe he is a regular man who sometimes is intimidated by the limelight.
As I stood in the crowd, admiring the profoundness of his solo, acoustic encore performance of “All At Once,” I almost felt that just by being there, just by supporting this man in the purchase of his recycled CDs, just by being a fan, I too was a part of his gentle movement.