The next time you see the members of Jared and the Mill hanging out around town or before one of their upcoming gigs (like at next weekend's McDowell Mountain Music Festival), be sure to offer a handshake, a kind word, or maybe even a hug.
They definitely deserve it, since the local six-piece indie folk-rock band performed a magnanimous gesture over the weekend for a fan who is going through an extremely painful time in her life.
As the band reported on its Facebook page, Jared and the Mill crammed themselves and their instruments (including an upright bass, a couple guitars, and a banjo) into an Austin hospital room on Saturday, March 16, to play an impromptu show for fan Mason Enders.
The 18-year-old, who has been a follower and friend of the band since meeting its members at last year's SXSW, was one of 20 people injured in the fatal DUI-related car crash on March 13 that also killed three.
Enders was outside music venue The Mohawk when a vehicle allegedly driven by a drunk driver struck her and two dozen others. She was seriously injured as a result, suffering a cervical spine fracture, a broken nose and femur, a concussion, and other injuries.
According to media reports, Enders (a regular SXSW attendee) was speaking to a couple of Jared and the Mill performers before the crash occurred. She was rushed to St. David's Medical Center in Austin, where she has undergone surgery at least twice and is recovering.
After learning that Enders (understandably) wouldn't be able to attend either of Jared and the Mill's SXSW gigs, the band decided to help raise her spirits with a beside performance.
They posted the following on its Facebook page on Saturday.
Our friend Mason from Austin was one of the people hit by the car on Wednesday, luckily she came away alive. We went to St. David hospital today to play for her because she didn't get to come to our showcase last night! Thanks for being such an amazing young lady Mason!
The local musicians were more than willing to oblige any requests she had, such as one for the song "Just for Now," which you can see in the above video shot by the Austin American-Statesman.
Besides cheering up their fan, Jared and the Mill's unique concert has earned the band attention and kudos across the Internet and from the likes of Time and People.
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Not that such things matter to them, given the circumstances. As the band stated on their Facebook page recently:
We hear it all the time, but it's true, life is precious and we never know when our time comes. We are so thankful that our friend is safe and recovering. Thank you Mason for having us come play for you. You've been such an amazing friend and fan of ours and your support has really meant the world to us. Playing in a room so full of love and hope was inspiring to say the least. Overwhelmingly humbled. Our thoughts and prayers go out to everyone involved.
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