When "American Idol" rock mama Crystal Bowersox performed Friday night at Austin's South By Southwest musicfest with special surprise guest John Popper, it was actually the first time they'd ever met in person. But you would've never guessed that judging from the instant rapport they shared onstage. These two truly seemed like they'd been performing as a duo--maybe as a comedy duo--for years.
The Idol and the Blues Traveler harp man struck up a friendship recently online, and when she invited him to wail on some harmonica during her SXSW showcase in the Driskill Hotel's Victorian Room, and he accepted, he was supposed to only play on one or two songs. But things went so swimmingly, Popper ended up sitting in on pretty much the entire set. And by the gig's end, he and Crystal were hugging, high-fiving, and even exchanging poop jokes between songs, like longtime BFFs.
"This girl is badass!" declared Popper, while Crystal said the excitement she felt standing next to John onstage reminded her of when she performed with Joe Cocker on the Season 9 "American Idol" finale. Yep, there was a total lovefest going on here.
I'll spare you the poop jokes, but check out these fast friends jamming on three tracks from Crystal's Farmer's Daughter album, with Crystal's husband Brian Walker joining in on the fun during a duet of their wedding song, "Mason."
This may be the start of a beautiful musical friendship...
