Jackopierce at Highline Ballroom

Breaking up is hard to do. But staying together is nearly impossible. The average marriage lasts about six years, and 95% of new businesses fail within five years. Twenty years of anything, especially Jackopierce, an acoustic duo that got its start playing frat-parties in the late 80’s, is hard to believe. Add in the fact that Jack O’Neill and Cary Pierce did not speak for nearly five years before reuniting in 2002 makes twenty years a downright miracle.

In late 1997, after a decade-long run that produced six records (two for major label A&M), shows with the biggest acts of the day (Dave Matthews Band, Matchbox 20, Counting Crows, Sheryl Crow, etc), touring on three continents, in nine countries and 44 states, and nearly 500,000 records sold, Jack O’Neill and Cary Pierce decided to amicably go their separate ways.

Finally in the summer of 2002, their old manager, Brady Wood and his brother, Brandt, got together and started making the idea a reality.

After almost five years of not talking, Jack and Cary were about to get on the phone and discuss making up, making music, and making a lot of Jackopierce fans very happy. The shows were sold-out weeks in advance – with hundreds left in the streets with no tickets. Offers started pouring in and they took their show on the road once again. But this time it was just like their humble beginnings: no band, no bus, no crew – just two guys and two guitars – the way itused to be. And it was working.

Hopefully we’ll get another twenty years of one of America’s most-loved acoustic duos.