MSM 90s: Come to My Window, Cissy Guin
8/28/26
By Monica Collier
Muscle Shoals Meets concerts have become part of my family's summer tradition. Each spring, my son, Jared, and I look forward to Russell Mefford and the Fiddleworms/MSM team unveiling the theme for the annual summer charity show. We’re both huge fans of 1990s music so this year’s Mixtape Week was like heaven on earth.
No two ways about it, friends, MSM events are just cool. Listen, the Shoals is chock full of stars and that makes for great live music. We've got all kinds of stars walking shoulder-to-shoulder with us, friends. I’m here to tell you, though, some of the biggest rockstars shine even when they aren’t in the spotlight. Case in point: Alyssa Ashley-Guin … Cissy. Y’all! Cissy Guin was born a dang rockstar.
One of my favorite parts of Muscle Shoals Meets is always when Cissy commands the stage. Cissy emerging from the shadows of her amazingly supportive percussive role on stage usually happens pretty early on in the show. This year, she was third in the lineup and the crowd was just getting settled into the party.
When Cissy takes the spotlight, y'all, it's always show-stopping. This time, though, before launching into Melissa Etheridge’s 1993 hit, “Come to My Window,” Cissy took the microphone and gave us one of the most sincere feel-good moments of the night. Cissy shared with us her thoughts on how Russell and Allison Mefford, along with their sons, make the world a much better place. We all nodded and clapped in enthusiastic agreement. So true, Cissy. Thank you for making that statement on behalf of all of us. We sure love those Meffords.
Thinking back to Cissy’s rendition of this Grammy-winning song makes me think about how her voice was completely perfect that night at Renaissance Shoals. She was dressed in all black, she had her acoustic guitar and Cissy’s gravelly vocals were warm and inviting in a very emotional way that added so much depth to the song’s lyrics. Her's is a voice I drink in and I will never get my fill.
It's so funny how at the end of the night, my favorite post-MSM concert conversation is one about surprising moments. Usually, those surprising performances are the ones that really stick with me. I love the MSM moments where Shoals artists make me feel something new for a song I really don’t like at all. That’s what Cissy did for me with “Come to My Window.” Y’all. I ain’t gonna lie; I hate this song, but I LOVED Cissy’s version. Cissy has this innate rockstar magic that transforms everything she touches into pure coolness. Wow. Just wow.
Oh, hey, BTW … MSM photographer extraordinaire, Devona Hawkins, took so many great photos of Cissy. I know, not surprising, right? I seriously had a very difficult time choosing one to post with this journal entry. I ended up choosing one that shows a lot of the stage because I had some short girl challenges that night. I love how both David Mackay and Steve Vickery played bass on this one. How great was it having David back, friends?
Stay tuned. More to come.
Dig Worms.
