Life, in its most fundamental rhythm, is a sequence of repetitions. There is a deep, primal satisfaction in this—the familiar cycle of the sun, the comfort of a routine, the predictable rhythm of an average day. This sense of knowing, of grounding, often acts as a necessary anchor in a chaotic world. Yet, as our modern culture has ramped up the gears of mass-production, that fine line between the familiar and the monotonous has all but dissolved. We are inundated with a sea of cheap sameness: products, services, ideas—all delivered to us at a relentless pace. In the wake of this cultural shift, and with the rapid, pervasive rise of artificial intelligence across all forms of media, the task of discerning the authentic from the algorithmic, the real from the fake, has become an exhausting, daily chore.
This is Real
This cultural backdrop is precisely what makes the arrival of “Tired” by Lewis Knudsen and Lainey Jean so impactful. Dropped quietly at the end of September, it is a distinctly REAL piece of music that cuts through the noise. It doesn’t scream for attention with flashy production or rely on viral trends; instead, it offers a moment of genuine, empathetic resonance.
Lewis Knudsen, a respected musician from the Illinois Quad Cities, has been honing his craft for years. His songwriting is consistently rooted in his own sincere life experiences, a biographical honesty that elevates his work beyond mere pop craft. While the material is deeply personal, he has a gift for crafting songs in a way that allows listeners to instantly find themselves within the lyrics, nodding their head in recognition of universal truths. It’s the kind of music that feels less like performance and more like shared conversation.
Partnering with him on this track is Lainey Jean, a relative newcomer from Rock Island, Illinois, whose passion for music deepened during the quiet, isolating moments of the COVID-19 pandemic. She has been actively performing and releasing music since 2024, and this collaboration proves she is an artist with a promising trajectory.
Cutting Through the Noise
The song “Tired” is, oddly enough, profoundly comforting. The title speaks directly to a collective fatigue. We are all worn down by the perpetual white noise of modern existence: the endless scroll of social media, the aggressive push of digital marketing, the dizzying, corrosive churn of pop culture and political vitriol. It’s an exhaustion that seeps into every facet of life. Sometimes, the weariness is the sheer volume of products relentlessly hawked to us; other times, it’s the superficiality of fake or forced interactions with people we see every day. The song captures this feeling of being constantly “on” and utterly drained by the effort.
Knudsen and Jean bring a beautiful, complementary contrast to the track. They both possess distinct voices—Knudsen’s perhaps offering a grounded, seasoned weariness, and Jean’s providing a brighter, more hopeful texture. Their vocal blend is superb, creating a soundscape where hope is delicately wrapped in the honest acknowledgment of everyday exhaustion. It’s not a song about giving up; it’s a song that says, “I see you, and it’s okay to feel this way.”
Like a Silent Prayer
Musically, the song is subtly arresting. Knudsen’s production choices are masterful in their restraint. I am particularly taken by how the repetitive, grounded verses—which musically mirror the monotony they describe—are broken by a stunning, cathartic flourish. The end of the verses is punctuated by a string of cello-like ascending notes. It’s a sonic signature that acts like a gasp of air or a moment of release, an aural representation of birds being set free to the sky, like a brief, silent prayer. This subtle musical detail provides the emotional climax of the song, transforming the simple word “tired” into a moment of graceful surrender and renewal.
In a media landscape increasingly populated by the synthesized and the superficial, “Tired” is a necessary act of musical resistance. It is a genuine, human connection presented as a beautifully arranged duet. Let’s sincerely hope this is far from the last collaboration between Lewis Knudsen and Lainey Jean. They have found a powerful synergy, and their voices are precisely what is needed to cut through the din of our increasingly automated world.
What other artists do you think successfully capture this feeling of modern digital fatigue in their music?
Copper & Oak really fits what I love about playing live. It’s got that worn-in, wood-and-brick kind of look, shelves lined with more bourbons and craft beers than I could ever hope to try, and a staff that actually seems to enjoy the music instead of just tolerating it.
When I kicked into “Piano Man,” I had one of those classic musician moments: I reached for the harmonica that…was sitting at home on a different table entirely. I had forgotten it. But honestly, it didn’t throw things off. People were singing along, clapping, and the piano carried the song just fine on its own.
House Divided Brewery sits right in the middle of Ely, but it’s more than just a spot to grab a beer. Cal and Lisa, the owners, built the whole place around their split sports loyalties, and somehow that friendly rivalry ends up making the room feel even more welcoming. You can tell people come here to linger, not just to drink and leave.
It wasn’t a huge crowd, but the folks who were there were really with us. A few songs in, we launched into “Sweet Caroline,” and that’s when the singalong broke out. You never quite know if people are going to commit to the “so good, so good, so good” part, but they absolutely did. Those are the moments that remind us why we haul gear around on our weekends.
We’re an acoustic duo that plays the songs we grew up on: ’60s, ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s favorites that people actually know the words to. We keep the setup simple-guitar, piano, and two voices-and let the songs carry the weight.
Copper & Oak sits in the new Route 66 Plaza in historic downtown Lincoln, and it feels like it was put together by people who really care about what they pour. There are shelves of bourbon and whiskey behind the bar, over 21 craft beers on tap, and a speakeasy-style room that makes you want to stay for “just one more.”
When Cyndi Lauper took the stage at the Hollywood Bowl for “A GRAMMY Salute to Cyndi Lauper: Live From the Hollywood Bowl,” it was more than a concert. It felt like a homecoming that was decades in the making. Over two nights of performances, filmed for broadcast on October 5, 2025, the special marked both the close of her “Girls Just Wanna Have Fun” farewell tour and the prelude to her Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction later that year. It was a vibrant, emotional look back at one of pop music’s most fearless artists.
A Couple of Stories
This past Saturday we hauled the piano, guitar, and sax down to Central Blvd in Kewanee, IL, for a Hog Days Pre-Parade Celebration at a private home right on the route. It was one of those late-summer afternoons where the sun is warm but not punishing, and you can hear the buzz of the parade crowd starting to build in the distance.
One of the best surprises of the day was when local musician Marshall Jones jumped in with us. He came up to sing “It’s Probably Me” by Sting, and it instantly felt like we’d rehearsed it, even though we absolutely hadn’t. That’s the fun part of these neighborhood-style shows—someone you know from around town steps up and suddenly you’ve got a new version of the band for a song.
Bell & Field live performance at Edisons gastropub
A Culinary Delight
About Tom Campbell:
Ready to enhance your weekend with a memorable evening? On October 11, immerse yourself in the rich ambiance of the copper and oak bourbon and craft beer bar in Lincoln, IL, as you join us for an exhilarating night of live music and exquisite drinks, including selections of copper and oak bourbon and craft beer. The event kicks off at 5:00 PM and winds down by 7:00 PM, offering a perfect blend of charm and palate-pleasing experiences.
About Greg Percifield:
