(upbeat music) (soothing music) -[Jeni] I moved a lot.

I've been a lot of places, but music has kind of always been a part of whatever I've done in some small way.

As a recording artist, it sometimes stresses people out because they're like, well, "we thought you were blues or we thought you were roots or what is this?"

And I just thought I thought this song was funny.

And so I wrote it.

(laughing) I grew up in the 70s and vinyl was a part of our lives.

Bob Marley, Bob Dylan, Van Morrison, but Whitney Houston, Ani DiFranco really sort of broke me out of this idea of what a woman had to be in music.

(gentle music) ♪ On a loading dock in just another town ♪ -[Jeni] So music was always there.

It just wasn't something I did as a profession.

It was just something I really loved.

(groovy music) ♪ You got me feeling out of control.

♪ ♪ Mhm ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ One whisper and I'm blushing, ♪ Your voice is rushing straight to my soul.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ You got me acting a fool ♪ ♪ It's true.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And I don't mind that ♪ ♪ I get giddy cuz I get ♪ ♪ to spend some time with you.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ With each mile that I'm getting closer.

♪ ♪ Baby get ready cuz I'm coming over.

♪ ♪ I wanna feel your touch all over.

♪ ♪ When I get back to you.

♪ ♪ Yeah.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ When I get back to you.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ You got me flying like a kite in a breeze.

♪ ♪ Yeah.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ You've got me soaring ♪ ♪ and I'm pouring my heart out, ♪ ♪ I'm weak in the knees.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Well I used to be steady, ♪ ♪ I used to be smooth.

♪ ♪ Yeah.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And now I'm singing silly songs in my car ♪ ♪ while I'm dreaming about you.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ With each mile that I'm getting closer.

♪ ♪ Baby get ready cuz I'm coming over.

♪ ♪ I wanna feel your touch all over ♪ ♪ when I get back to you.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ When I get back to you, yeah.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ You got me spinning, losing my grip.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ One whisper and I'm burning ♪ ♪ from my toes to my fingertips.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ You got me laughing like a, laughing like ♪ ♪ a girl in school.

♪ ♪ Hey, yeah.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And I can't help that I keep smiling cuz ♪ ♪ I know, I know I get to be with you.

♪ ♪ Yeah.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ With each smile that I'm getting closer.

♪ ♪ Baby, get ready cuz I'm coming over.

♪ ♪ Oh, I wanna feel your touch all over ♪ ♪ when I get back to you, yeah.

♪ ♪ When I get back to you.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Yeah.

When I get back.

♪ ♪ When I get back to you.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ When I get back.

♪ ♪ When I get back to you.

♪ ♪ Yeah.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ When I get back.

♪ ♪ When I get back to you.

♪ ♪ Yeah.

All right.

♪ ♪ When I get back.

♪ ♪ When I get back to you.

♪ ♪ Oh, darling.

♪ ♪ When I get back.

♪ ♪ When I get back to you.

♪ ♪ Oh, baby, when I get back.

♪ ♪ When I get back to you.

♪ ♪ I need you, darling.

♪ ♪ When I get back.

♪ ♪ When I get back to you.

♪ ♪ Yeah.

Now, when I get back.

♪ ♪ When I get back to you.

♪ ♪ old girl rest ♪ ♪ let your eyes lay low.

♪ ♪ Life will keep on moving.

♪ ♪ ♪ (applause) (cheering) I started doing music full-time in my 40s.

This is crazy!

(cheering) (applause) - A lot happened.

Life happens for everybody.

(upbeat music) I'm grateful for all of it.

But there were some tough times.

I knew that Avey Grouws Band was looking at coming to an end.

(gentle music) At the same time, my marriage of 27 years was coming to an end.

We were empty nesting already, so the kids were leaving to their lives and there were a lot of moments of fear, stress, anxiety.

But in that, there were also moments this could become something really beautiful here.

It was a matter of thinking these things are happening.

(guitar music) So what do I want to do?

(guitar music) I could have gone anywhere and I ended up here in Omaha.

I sometimes think that I was waiting for this era of my life.

♪ I've been wearing ♪ ♪ these tears like a coat, dragging your love ♪ ♪ around my ♪ ♪ throat.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ They ask me if I'm fine, I say, hell yes, ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ but I'm a mess.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ But I want to see you happy.

♪ ♪ I want to set you free.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ You said "I love you first" ♪ ♪ with a beggar's stare.

♪ ♪ Hungry for my heart ♪ ♪ even though I wasn't there.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ But a serial lover gets off on the dance.

♪ ♪ I was just a victim of your circumstance ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I want to see you happy.

♪ ♪ I want to set you free.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ But baby you should know ♪ ♪ you made a fool of me, yeah.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ We promised truth no matter the test.

♪ ♪ I hate to admit it now I'm just like the rest.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ But make no mistake I'll be just fine.

♪ ♪ If therapy don't help, then I've got wine.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And I wanna see you happy.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I want to set you free.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ But baby you should know.

♪ ♪ You made a fool of me, yeah.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ The whispers of the chorus in this tragedy.

♪ ♪ They think they know the story of you and me.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ They smile at my face while they stab my back.

♪ ♪ They congratulate you on another heroic attack ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ But I want to see you happy.

♪ ♪ I want to set you free.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ But baby you should know.

♪ ♪ You made a fool of me, yeah ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I ♪ ♪ want see you happy.

♪ ♪ I want to set you free.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh.

♪ ♪ But baby you should know.

♪ ♪ You made a fool of me, yeah.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Cuz I need to be happy.

♪ ♪ And I need to be set free.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ But baby you should know.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ You made a fool of me.

♪ ♪ ♪ -[Jeni] The performing piece was always something that was easy for me.

(soft music) What was harder was getting to a space where I realized if I really wanted to create, I had to be honest.

(gentle music) That's hard because it's not only being honest with people about what you're writing and sharing parts of your life, but learning to be honest with yourself.

And that is a that is a tricky thing.

(gentle music) It's vulnerability at its most basic level.

(gentle music) And when I sit down with the hoodie on to write, (gentle music) everything's fair game.

♪ I won't spend a rainy day, day, day, day.

♪ By the way, this book is filled with pages that aren't probably never going to be songs.

They're just things I wrote down.

(gentle music) ♪ Pictures in frames are all that ♪ ♪ remains of the life.

♪ I don't know, I just love the idea of like, like words being like graffiti of our heart.

♪ Though we weren't right, I'll see you ♪ Like the idea that like we.

We write things on a wall that sits inside and sometimes it comes out, but other times it's just.

It's just in there.

♪ Ohio, ♪ ♪ in these dreams of Ohio.

♪ I hear it, I know it's coming.

I have to get it out.

So I'll write about it.

And I usually don't want to get up until it's done.

(upbeat music) I know when a song is done, when I can't wait to play it for somebody.

(upbeat music) ♪ I'm tired of running up ♪ ♪ and down the same old hill.

♪ ♪ Who knew that ten years later I'd be here still.

♪ ♪ Waiting for my turn.

♪ ♪ Just taking my time.

♪ ♪ Knowing that eventually it will be mine.

♪ ♪ Running myself ragged.

Yeah.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Peter, Paul and Etta watching over me.

♪ ♪ two to guide my soul ♪ ♪ and a third to set me free.

♪ ♪ Mama always said I just gotta believe.

♪ ♪ But I believe I've got more work to do than I ♪ ♪ can achieve.

♪ ♪ Now running myself ragged.

♪ ♪ Yeah.

♪ ♪ I'm always under the gun.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ One step forward, two steps back, yeah.

♪ ♪ I'm always on the run.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I got my hands full, ♪ ♪ I'm up to my neck.

♪ ♪ Working every day for the next small check.

♪ ♪ One of these days I'm gonna take a break.

♪ ♪ Not sure how much more that I can take.

♪ ♪ Now I'm running myself ragged.

♪ ♪ Yeah.

♪ ♪ I'm always under the gun.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ One step forward, two steps back.

♪ ♪ Yeah.

I'm always on the run.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ One step forward.

♪ ♪ Two steps back.

Yeah.

♪ ♪ I'm always on the run.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Fast food, micro dates, ♪ ♪ Can't talk now I'm running late.

♪ ♪ I meant to call two days ago, ♪ ♪ man where does the time go.

♪ ♪ Fast food, micro dates, ♪ ♪ Can't talk now I'm running late.

♪ ♪ I meant to call a week ago, ♪ ♪ man where does the time go.

♪ ♪ Fast food, micro dates, ♪ ♪ Can't talk now I'm running late.

♪ ♪ I meant to call two weeks ago, ♪ ♪ man where does the time go.

♪ ♪ Living from a suitcase, ♪ ♪ laced up for the rat race.

♪ ♪ What day is it, ♪ ♪ I don't know, ♪ ♪ hurry up ♪ ♪ it's time to go.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Yeah, I'm running ragged.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh, I'm running ragged.

♪ ♪ Yeah.

♪ ♪ Oh, I'm running ragged ♪ ♪ Oh, yeah.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ One step forward.

♪ ♪ Two steps back.

♪ ♪ Yeah.

I'm always on the run.

♪ (silence) ♪ ♪ ♪ I can see you got your eyes on me from across the floor.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ You wanna come a little closer ♪ ♪ cuz you think you want a little more.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ But it's a minefield, baby ♪ ♪ in the space between you and me.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ You're just three steps away from ♪ ♪ heartbreak and misery.

♪ ♪ Well, step one.

♪ ♪ You hold me close.

♪ ♪ We fit like a glove.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Step two.

♪ ♪ You think you're special, ♪ ♪ you think you're in love.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Step three.

I break your heart ♪ ♪ and I bring you to your knees.

♪ ♪ So stay right there, ♪ ♪ three steps from heartbreak and misery.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Well, you're getting mighty close ♪ ♪ and I admit I'm worried for you.

♪ ♪ You think you got the upper hand ♪ ♪ and I'm sure you usually do.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ But you're dancing on the edge ♪ ♪ when it comes to a woman like me.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ You're just a three steps away from ♪ ♪ heartbreak and misery.

♪ ♪ Oh.

Step one.

♪ ♪ You hold me close, ♪ ♪ we fit like a glove.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Step two.

♪ ♪ You think you're special, ♪ ♪ you think you're in love.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Step three.

♪ ♪ I break your heart ♪ ♪ and I bring you to your knees.

♪ So stay right there, ♪ ♪ three steps from heartbreak and misery.

♪ ♪ Yeah.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Step one.

You hold me close, ♪ ♪ we fit like a glove.

♪ ♪ With step two ♪ ♪ You think you're special, ♪ ♪ You think you're in love.

♪ ♪ Oh.

Step three.

♪ ♪ I break your heart ♪ ♪ and I bring you to your knees.

♪ ♪ So stay right there, ♪ ♪ three steps from heartbreak and misery.

♪ ♪ Oh.

♪ ♪ Step one.

♪ ♪ You hold me close, ♪ ♪ we feel like a glove.

♪ ♪ Oh.

♪ ♪ Step two.

You think you're special, ♪ ♪ you think you're in love.

♪ ♪ Oh.

♪ ♪ Step three.

♪ ♪ I break your heart ♪ ♪ and I bring you to your knees.

♪ ♪ So stay right there, ♪ ♪ three steps from heartbreak and misery.

♪ ♪ Yeah.

♪ ♪ So stay right there ♪ ♪ three steps from heartbreak and misery.

♪ ♪ ♪ -[Jeni] I've played.

Giant stages.

(upbeat music) The Big Blues Bender in Las Vegas or the Adler Theater in Davenport.

(upbeat music) We forget when you are there live.

You're encompassed by a moment.

A moment that's never going to happen that way again.

- Thank you, thank you!

(clapping and cheering) I'm absolutely grateful I get to live this dream finally.

I waited my whole life to become a musician.

♪ Waiting for my turn, just taking my time... ♪ I dug it though.

What you did, I thought was really nice, like.

Going down to Nashville to record this album was incredible.

Casey Wasner is the producer for the album.

You go in and you sit down and you create this album together.

Getting to go through that process with my music was absolutely a dream.

♪ I'm sitting here staring ♪ ♪ at the clock on the wall.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Been staring for so long that the second ♪ ♪ hand has slowed to a crawl.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Calling on Saint Agatha ♪ ♪ and wishing I had more alcohol.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Now I'm just sitting here staring at the ♪ ♪ clock on the wall.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And oh, oh, oh.... ♪ ♪ Staring at the clock on the wall.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And I'm just wondering ♪ ♪ if maybe they got behind.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ Cuz if it were bad news, then surely they'd ♪ ♪ call by this time.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And all the pennies for my thoughts ♪ ♪ Can't pay the ransom ♪ ♪ on this worried mind.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And I'm just wondering ♪ ♪ if maybe they got behind.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And oh, oh, oh... ♪ ♪ I'm sure that they got behind.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And I'm still sitting here staring at the ♪ ♪ clock on the wall.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And at this point, hearing bad news is ♪ ♪ better than nothing at all.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And all the drama in my head has got me headed ♪ ♪ for my curtain call.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And I'm still sitting here staring at the ♪ ♪ clock on the wall.

♪ ♪ ♪ -[Announcer] Jam is funded in part by the Bill Harris and MarySue Hormel Harris Fund for the Presentation of Cultural Programming.

♪ Staring at the clock on the wall.

♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ And oh, oh, oh... ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I wish that they would call.

♪ ♪ ♪