Jackson Free Press

After answering the same Craigslist post seeking musicians to play with in December 2011, Jacquelynn Pilcher and Clay Keith started dating and made their own band, Tightrope Escapade, by January.

"You rarely hear of any type of Craigslist story that ends well," she says, laughing.

Tightrope Escapade doesn't consider itself as a typical cover band. "What we do differently from a lot of the local bands that we've heard is that we actually write our own original songs," Pilcher says. "When we do cover music, we add our own style to it, and people don't even realize it's a cover song."

Tightrope Escapade's sound is sultry indie-folk with influence from Bon Iver, Dave Matthews, Fleetwood Mac and Red Hot Chili Peppers. Life adventures also influence the duo's music—as well as its name.

"Imagine you're walking through life on a tightrope, trying to balance and keep yourself on a straight path," Pilcher says. "Life then becomes your escapade."

Lead singer Pilcher, 24, and guitarist Keith, 28, have been involved with music since childhood, although Keith's first performance was with Pilcher. After singing at her baptism when she was 8, Pilcher began performing with her grandmother, Peggy, a gospel singer, in Alabama.

"I loved the way she touched people," Pilcher says. "I wanted to be a part of it."

The duo hopes to find time to work on an album between performing and caring for their 7-month-old daughter, Finley.

Tightrope Escapade performs at 8 p.m. Oct. 11 at Bonny Blair's Irish Pub (1149 Old Fannin Road, Brandon, 769-251-0692); 9 a.m. Oct. 12 at Clinton's Olde Towne Market; and at 6 p.m. Nov. 23 at Pelican Cove Grill (3999A Harborwalk Drive, Ridgeland, 601-605-1865). Visit tightropeescapade.tumblr.com, and find the band on Facebook.

Check out all of JFP's 2013 Artists to Watch here.