hi world

what i’ve been listening to lately:

i’m choreographing a modern dance to Clock No Clock. I never got into NIS… until I suddenly did.

I love everything Black Brunswicker does, this is a 2019 recording that is “drone heavy and emphasizes her finger picking on the guitar” and that’s why we love it.

Shoutout to Sunstack Jones, who always create something sonically similar to bokeh, sparkling and hazy.

And pedal steel is still the music of my heart, and Barry does it best. A little over a year ago I was in Portland and was lucky enough to see his band play.

And good stuff from the Blank Tapes, one of my favorite releases from prolific homie Matt Adams – let’s face it, Connor “Catfish” Gallaher’s pedal steel all over it might have something to do with it. “LA Don’t Love Me” makes me weepy, although I think she does love me, still.

And my husband’s latest release, Making Up Rituals, is a mix of lovely raw instrumental recordings interspersed with songs with lyrics which are my favorites he’s ever written.

Listening to music has been utilitarian lately, as after my day job I teach twelve or thirteen various movement classes, so I listen to a lot of like, Mary Lattimore and Julianna Barwick and Laraaji for my chair yoga class, a lot of 60s pop for my kids’ dance classes, Cocteau Twins and Tori Amos for my contemporary dance class, and a fuck ton of classical piano for all the ballet. Number one, though, is Fat Coda Studio’s Drums for Modern Dance (Horton Technique), that I and most Horton devotees listen to regularly (I won’t go on a shpiel explaining the technique but it’s very cool and harsh and angular and yogic and deceptively difficult.) Here’s the album if you’re curious:

And I got to see two favorite artists perform recently, which is probably what inspired me to crack open the ol website once again. Two wonderful shows from Steve Gunn and Scott Hirsch, which inspired a re-listen to this:

So good to see favorites – listening to new things has been hard because of aforementioned utility and also the need for comfort. Both played VU covers too, and a highlight was pedal steel player Will Hansen joining Scott for his signature cover “So Far Away” and my favorite song of his, “The Sun Comes Up a Purple Diamond.” You can listen to my recordings here – SORRY about the chompers (me, my husband, the sound man).

Scott Hirsch at Mojave Gold, 2.8.26

Steve Gunn at Pappy and Harriet’s p.I, 1.24.26

Steve Gunn at Pappy and Harriet’s p.II, 1.24.26

I also saw Sam Blasucci play with his fabulous band recently – they were incredible, and having not kept up with Sam’s solo work much, I was blown away at his evolution as an artist. What talent.

anyway, everything is awful, so I’m especially grateful for art and spaces where we can remember that some humans are beautiful and create beautiful things, it isn’t all bad and ugly and cruel. thank you to artists and writers and movers and thinkers and my dogs. this was fun to write again and thank you for understanding that i have to focus on my own art right now but I am still here listening.