A few years ago, some friends of mine, weekend musicians, started jamming together and formed a cover band called the Porch Lights. To be honest, their big world tour is a bit slow in developing. Conquering the globe one backyard at a time, they haven’t quite made it outside of our neighborhood, but in every other respect they really do rock.

And I confess that I enjoy few things more than when their lead singer Jess—a soccer mom with two kids who lives around the corner—calls me on stage to help with the vocals. I can hardly describe the reality-bending change that comes upon me at these moments. You would think I was being pulled from the shower and thrust onto the stage of a late-night talk show, so Americans in their living rooms can finally learn what they have been missing.