I don't suppose any Tāmaki Makaurau people are going to see Kristin Hersh at the Vic in Devonport tonight? I just got my ticket a few minutes ago. She's always worth seeing
https://www.thevic.co.nz/movie/kristin-hersh
I don't suppose any Tāmaki Makaurau people are going to see Kristin Hersh at the Vic in Devonport tonight? I just got my ticket a few minutes ago. She's always worth seeing
https://www.thevic.co.nz/movie/kristin-hersh
Friday at Last
It’s Friday. Finally!
We have yet another contractor coming today. The arrival window we booked opens at 8:00am. They texted us at 7:00am saying they were on their way. We assumed that meant that… ya know… they were on their way. Well its 8:02am now and they still haven’t arrived. So I guess they weren’t actually on the way.
Today is a monumentally huge day for the entertainment industry. Well… for my personal entertainment industry preferences. Alex Lifeson of Rush is releasing a new album today with his other band, Envy of None. Now while I will say that that sort of gothy/synthy/poppy vibe Envy of None gives off is not generally my personal bag, I did enjoy the first record and I have been enjoying the first three songs they snuck out from the second record even more. They are winning me over.
Along with that, there is a new Throwing Muses album out today. Technically there are two new Throwing Muses albums today, but only one is going to streaming services. I’m going to have to actually go somewhere and find a copy of the other one. Moonlight Concessions is the one you can stream. The singles they gave us ahead of time are seriously working for me. I haven’t started listening to the full album yet but I am really excited to give it a spin.
Even more important, Kristin Hersh sent out an email to her mailing list today (which I’ve been subscribed to for about as long as email lists have been a thing) and it lists some new tour dates. They are all in Europe, which is great for folks in Europe but not very helpful for me. There was some good news for those of us who live in the nazi states of america. Just read the last line on this screen shot from the email…
US DATES COMING SOON!!! Robert is excited. Robert’s wife is probably going to be slightly less excited, but my finger are crossed that she’ll be okay with going to another show with me.
On top of the musical gifts we get today, there is also a new episode of Yellowjackets where they actually talk about DATs. Digital Audio Tapes. I never owned a DAT player but somewhere around here I do have a couple of DAT tapes because I spent some time in a recording studio in 1993. There is also a new episode of Severance. I think that show might be losing me a little. I have found my attention drifting while watching the last two episodes. I am just thinking that we’re so deep into the black box that we’re never going to find out exactly what’s going on and maybe I am just trying to subconsciously protect myself from disappointment. I don’t know. The show is still good but I am getting worried.
The contractor is here. He rang the door bell at about 8:10 or so. Right when he was supposed to. That’s good news. Maybe we’ll get lucky and he’ll be finished before I start work.
Speaking of music, I started noodling out an idea for something for the Record Every Month challenge. I am thinking of continuing along with the acoustic 12-string stuff I was doing last month. I also got my 6-string acoustic guitar back from my singer, who borrowed it 10000 years ago. Right on queue, today’s That Pedal Show episode is talking about 12-string guitars and the guys are bitching about how difficult they are to play. Just like me!
Right then. Time to go and get ready to start my work day. Happy Friday, everyone. Enjoy the new music.
ADDENDUM: The Envy of None record was originally supposed to come out today, March 14, 2025. It did not though. The new release date is March 28, 2025. Bummer, dude.
There is a Rush 50th anniversary boxed set scheduled for release next week. I wonder if that’s why they pushed the EoN release? Who knows.
Muses
Throwing Muses stopped being a full time thing in… 1997? I think? Every few years they pop back up again with a new record and I go berserk for a while. For me there are two bands that I would take a bullet for. Rush is one, Throwing Muses is the other. It doesn’t make sense, it’s not rational. I don’t care. I’ve been obsessed for decades and there is nothing I can do about it.
There is a new album due to come out on March 14th. I am beside myself with anticipation. They’ve snuck out three of the songs already and I’m literally losing my mind over them. The last record they gave us came out in 2020 (Sun Racket) and it is fan-freakin-tastic. This new one… Moonlight Concessions… I cannot wait. I absolutely cannot wait.
The only question left is, are they going to tour. The answer is yes, but as of right now the only shows they’ve announced are in Europe in May. I don’t think I can get to Europe to see them so I am going to have to just sit (im)patiently and wait to see if they announce North American shows. I need to see them. I NEED to see them. The last time I saw them was August 11, 2006 and if I don’t see them again I am going to mentally fall apart forever. No exaggeration at all. I will lose my skull.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/3515812218/in/album-72157617818549515
But wait, there’s more! Possibly… I don’t know for sure.
Remember that sad time in 1992 or so when Throwing Muses split in two? It was sad at the time but the end result was two bands who were operating on very similar release/tour schedules. We had Muses proper, and we also had Belly. Remember Belly? Gold record, huge hit single, grammy nominations, round the clock MTV airplay. Yeah, you remember. It was almost (not quite, but almost) like having two versions of one of my favorite bands operating at the same time.
Well it turns out Belly is coming back again this year as well. It’s the 30th anniversary of their second record (which should have been a gigantic hit but wasn’t) and they have announced that there will be live shows. We don’t know when or where yet. I never saw Belly live. Even when they got together for short stretches a few years ago, I still haven’t seen them. I saw Tanya Donnelly on her own shortly after they broke up, but I never saw Belly.
This is the year. I don’t know where, when, or how but I NEED it to happen.
I haven’t seen any Muses related artists live since October 6, 2007 when Jen and I experienced the magic of Kristin Hersh and Tanya Donnelly on the same bill at the Brattle Theater and they did a set together and it was amazing. Remember that day?
https://www.flickr.com/photos/robj_1971/3515979868/in/album-72157617820421549/
I need NEED both bands to announce Boston area shows and I need it to happen soon before I go insane and I also need them to be on consecutive days so that they both sit in with each other because that would be pretty much the only thing that could make me feel better as the United States descends into fascism.
Pretty please
Throwing Muses announce new album, share “Summer of Love”
https://www.brooklynvegan.com/throwing-muses-announce-new-album-share-summer-of-love/
As Close as I Get
This has been out for a few days now. It’s as close as I get to a religious experience.
A new Throwing Muses single.
Rejoice in it.
"Where do they learn to do that?"
Kristin Hersh reflects on an early encounter with Sinead O'Connor. A perceptive & loving essay of appreciation.
https://www.theguardian.com/music/2024/oct/29/kristin-hersh-on-meeting-sinead-o-connor
May I present
BEWITCHED RERUNS.
Your dust will never settle.
Thank you for going through the process with me.
#KristinHersh #BewitchedReruns #Drawing #Illustration #Design #Illustrator #NornCutson #Illustrator #ArtistsOnMastodon #ArtistsOfMastodon
#DigitalArt #MastoArts
Your dust will never settle.
#KristinHersh — BEWITCHED RERUNS
Kristin Hersh - Hips And Makers (1994)
There are very few records which consistently blow me away when I play them, but I've still never heard anything quite like this, before or since. The two companion EPs are astonishing too.
A welcome reissue with a bonus disc including the brilliant Your Ghost and Strings EP tracks, and we finally get the Strings version of The Key on CD.
"You don't inspire a metric ton of trust
Cos I'm on fire and so is all my stuff"
Late night headphones session, revisiting Kristin Hersh's first solo album, Hips & Makers, released January 1994. Hard to believe I've had this on my shelves for three decades now, I was still a student with long hair when I bought this...
When there is a Kristin Hersh interview, the answer is always yes. https://shows.acast.com/628eacd04a4aec0013fcdb67/episodes/episode-608-kristin-hersh-of-throwing-muses-and-50-foot-wave #KristinHersh #Prince #FuckinLegends
"Don't feel like work today
Hell, I won't go."
#KristinHersh - HOUDINI BLUES
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6OfnX5_rCk
#ThrowingMuses #ChainsChanged #KristinHersh #DavidNarcizo #TanyaDonelly #LeslieLangston #4AD #MyRecordCollection #Series #NornCutson #Illustration #Design #Illustrator #Art #Artist #AYearForArt #DigitalArt #ArtMatters #MixedMedia #MastoArt #MastoCreative #AVLArt #AVLArtists #AVLArts
http://www.norncutson.com/
I am always looking for Kristin Hersh & related recordings. You can find my list here ch33sl3y.wixsite.com/hershmuses If you do have anything I don't have please get in touch and I'll get back to you asap.
Also if anyone is sitting on any personal 10-4 sets they're willing to share I'd be very grateful.