On Sunday Oct. 7, Jim James kicked off “The Future is Voting Tour” with HeadCount, creating a “part concert, part town hall meeting” in the city of Austin, Texas.

“One of the best ways you can change the ways in this changing world is to get out and vote. So please, please do,” James said from the stage before his song “Over and Over.” “I don’t know about you but I want to see a return to love. I want to see a return to peace. I feel like there is so much hatred going on in the world. I feel like it is all of our job to somehow bring respect back to the dialogue, bring peace back to the dialogue. Because I really believe there is a way for people to talk honestly, hear each other out, look each other in the eye and see the human that is speaking.”

In addition to a 45-minute set by James, HeadCount welcomed Kam Franklin of The Suffers, Nick Sanborn of Sylvan Esso, and seven local candidates for office including Austin Mayor Steve Adler.

According to HeadCount 750 men and women attended the event, and issues discussed by candidates and musicians ranged from affordable housing to cannabis legalization.

For more information on The Future is Voting Tour click here.