Like most of us, one of 2014’s highlights for Eldredge ATL November Guest Editor Keisha Jackson was Outkast’s much-anticipated 20th anniversary reunion world tour. Unlike most of us, however, as one of the featured vocalists on the tour, Jackson had an all-access pass to all the action. Technically speaking, she had 47 of them, one for each show on the tour. In an exclusive photo diary for Eldredge ATL readers, Jackson takes you on a guided tour from her unique vantage point.
Editor’s Note from November Eldredge ATL Guest Editor Keisha Jackson on how her long history with Big Boi and Andre 3000 resulted in being a part of one of 2014’s hottest world tours: “By 2000, I’d done session work on a few Dungeon Family songs and various LaFace Records projects. Then one day, I got THE call! I was asked if I had a passport and if I were available to leave for a six-week European tour in five days to promote Outkast’s new ‘Stankonia’ record. Yes and Yes! The level of artistic freedom we had on stage was unbelievable. After the first two shows, it was very clear that we were having an impact on the WORLD. It was mind blowing!”
“My backstage credentials. 47 Shows 41 Cities, 40 Festivals, 15 Countries.”“Five days off in Dublin, Ireland. A few of us took a walk in search of food. I think some went into a store so I sat waiting on this random pole. This was day #3 without my luggage. My bags didn’t make the connection and hadn’t been located … because the baggage handlers were on strike. I was over it! Didn’t know our road manager took this pic until later.”“Upon arriving in Dublin, I was asked to coach the Dublin Gospel Choir for a possible appearance on stage with us at Ireland’s Electric Picnic Festival. Plain and simple … if they had rhythm and could hold the notes, they were in. If not … NO WAY! They pulled it together rather nicely. Big and Dre enjoyed it. The song was ‘Bombs Over Baghdad’ … “Power, Music, Electric Revival.”“‘ALL IN’ Europe … city unknown.”“Wireless Festival, Birmingham, UK. We were the opening act. Prior to going on stage, we could hear THE Rolling Stones having a full-on rehearsal in the dressing room below. Song by song, I listened … and still couldn’t believe it. Completely ecstatic about seeing the show, I couldn’t wait to get off stage that night. LOL. We all watched (Big Boi and Andre included) from the center of the crowd at the soundboard. It was AMAZING! I took this selfie with some fans who felt exactly the way I did.”“They knew the lyrics, they knew the history…”“Live at the Wireless Festival in the UK. Captured by my good friend, supporter and soul music collector Andrew Bird. It was a gloomy day, but the energy was bananas!”“Witnessed a beautiful display of Korean tradition at the airport during a layover in Seoul.”“Contrast.”“Decided to shoot a video in ATL during a week off. Rest didn’t come easy. Had to utilize the few moments I had to ‘do me.’ I was trying to release a single before the tour ended. Crazy how I look so much like mom here.”“Less than a week before Coachella. This was one of the original set concepts (there were many) before they walked in and immediately ditched the triangle. Designs on paper weren’t translating well in real life. In the end, simple worked best.”“I arrived in Rotterdam, Netherlands for the North Sea Jazz Festival and was greeted by an artist who had an exhibition going on at the time. He created this for me. I was floored! Thank you Alexander Kok!!”“Outkast and Pharrell shared the same stage several times on the tour. This was taken backstage at the Open Air Festival in Switzerland. Pharrell knew and respected the history … and was in awe of the fact that the original players and performers ALL came together for the monumental 20 year event. ‘That never happens,’ he said.”“It’s only about 20 bucks #Yen”“Three days off at home. Debra Killings and I were called by Andre to record on a song he was producing for Aretha Franklin’s new record! It was a remake of Prince’s ‘Nothing Compares 2 U.’ I was STOKED!”“‘Hands up, Don’t shoot!’ We performed at the St. Louis Loufest a week or so after Mike Brown was murdered in nearby Ferguson. Big Boi and some of the band went to the shooting site after the show. I couldn’t do it.”“The energy at ‘AT LAST’ in Atlanta was 2nd to none! It’s was a 3-day hip-hop/funk family reunion! It was great to be home.”
Richard L. Eldredge is the founder and editor in chief of Eldredge ATL. As a reporter for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and Atlanta magazine, he has covered Atlanta since 1990.
Like most of us, one of 2014’s highlights for Eldredge ATL November Guest Editor Keisha Jackson was Outkast’s much-anticipated 20th anniversary reunion world tour. Unlike most of us, however, as one of the featured vocalists on the tour, Jackson had an all-access pass to all the action. Technically speaking, she had 47 of them, one for each show on the tour. In an exclusive photo diary for Eldredge ATL readers, Jackson takes you on a guided tour from her unique vantage point.
