Even an artist as big and popular as Jelly Roll has the odd show he would consider a flop. You can't please everyone.
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The event Jelly Roll attended wasn't the usual music-only kind of gig. He often mixes his performances up with a few talks. He has been known to do motivational speeches and storytelling throughout a show. This one in particular, held at Princeton University, was one of these talks with a few musical elements thrown in.
The show was organized by Chelsea Handler and was intended to be a mix of comedy and music. But, as Jelly Roll put it, the kids at Princeton had zero connection. He went on stage and bombed despite his best efforts.
"Chelsea Handler took me to Princeton once to speak to the student population. Jelly Roll and Chelsea Handler at Princeton. What a connectivity," he joked on Jimmy Kimmel Live. Princeton certainly isn't the kind of University Jelly Roll ever expected to attend growing up. And yet, here he was, dying on stage.
Jelly Rolls Show Just Isn't For Everyone
Jelly Roll tried his best during his show to get the young crowd going, but it just fell flat. "I'm not a comedian, but in y'all's world, you use the word 'bomb' a lot -- this is me bombing," he said, looking back on the worst show of his career. "I mean, dude, I was eating crow up there. Ice cold crow." Despite his usual stage presence, it fell on dead ears at Princeton.
So, he resorted to what he does best and pulled out his guitar. If all else fails, sing them a song. That's what he's known for, at least. "I was like, 'Bring the guitar, this'll win. Music always works," he thought.
But, there was nothing happening for Jelly Roll at this show, and even as he tried to get them going with a bit of music, there was no response. Even as he called for audience interaction, they gave him nothing.
"I had a part of the song where I go, 'If you've ever lost someone you love, just put your hands up, please sing this song with us.' Normally, everybody in the crowd here has lost somebody they love, and they connect and they put their hands up." Jelly Roll had tried one last-ditch effort, but to no avail.
"But this time? "Not a soul," he lamented. "There was zero connection there. It was literally the worst show of my career to date."
It makes me thank god I didn't go to a college as boring as Princeton seems. I thought college was supposed to be fun, but that place sounds like a morgue.
