A country music band in New Orleans is taking a different approach to performing while also promoting mental health awareness among veterans.
Vet Jams plays shows across bars in the New Orleans area, melding their love for country into open dialogue with audience members about mental health struggles and the importance of seeking help through therapy.
Jason Davey, leader of Vet Jams, served in the Marine Corps and was deployed to Iraq in 2003. He knows his band has a different approach to playing live than most, but he’s fine with that.
“I literally get on the microphone and say it’s okay to go to therapy,” Davey said. “And people will turn around from the bar. It’s weird. Right? And it’s not a normal thing. But that’s kind of the idea.”
Overcoming Personal Tragedies
The death of his brother propelled Davey into military service.
“My brother actually signed up before me. He was a few years older, and unfortunately, he passed away,” Davey said. “So, we had the full 21-gun salute. And after his funeral, I just kind of got it in my head that I wanted to finish his enlistment. So, I signed up so I could finish what he started.”
Following his service, Davey married, and the couple started a family, planting roots in New Orleans. Years passed before another tragedy struck.
“I lost my wife about four years ago now, and I started my therapy journey before she passed away. And it just kind of made me realize how important it is,” Davey said. “And there are just a lot of people in the military that don’t seek that avenue. It’s this kind of social stigma that really exists in the military.”
Veterans Finding Connection Through Music
While therapy was a saving grace for Davey, building connections with fellow veterans who shared similar experiences also helped. He could talk to them about sensitive topics that even close family members didn’t know about.
“I’ve never told my wife anything about being in Iraq, but you will tell a complete stranger sitting at the bar stool next to you everything about it,” Davey said. “There’s just a certain rapport and trust that you have with somebody else that’s been through the same thing.”
Talking to other veterans led Davey to Chet Pierson, who served in the Army. Both veterans realized they loved music and could play instruments. Three years ago, they developed Vet Jams.
“Me and Jason Davey, we were sitting right here, talking about mental health. He’s like, I play guitar. I play harmonica,” Pierson said. “He’s like, I got a great idea. Let’s form a band and start talking about mental health for veterans,” Pierson said.
Band Promotes Suicide Awareness
Pierson, an Operation Desert Storm veteran, discovered he had post-traumatic stress disorder in 1992. Both he and Davey realized that when it comes to therapy for veterans, it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. Vet Jams works to meet veterans wherever they are in their mental health journeys.
Pierson pointed to the eye-opening statistics of 22 veterans and a 6,000 per year suicide rate that held steady for two decades. In recent years, while the rate has dipped slightly, recent data showed that from 2022 to 2023 the rate of veteran suicides ticked down a fraction, from 17.6 per day to 17.5.
“And more veterans kill themselves than we have in combat,” Pierson said. “You know, that’s a staggering number.”
While Davey and Pierson make up the core of the band, Vet Jams’ lineup isn’t set in stone. The duo welcomes veterans from around New Orleans to play with them, featuring a rotating unit of 20 musicians who have jammed with the band in recent years.
Performing the music they’re passionate about and sharing stories with veterans has made an impact.
“Togetherness can save lives. Music saves lives. Camaraderie saves lives,” Pierson said.
Vet Jams plays for free and has exciting aspirations for the future, like performing at New Orleans ’ famous Jazz & Heritage Festival someday. Upcoming shows are listed on the band’s website.
