2024 has become the year where my love for live music has returned.
I saw Pearl Jam for the fourth time (the first time being in 2000) and I feel like they have never sounded better.
I saw Bob Mould for the first time at one of his solo electric shows and it was amazing.
I also saw Billy Corgan for the first time and this one felt special. I am a big Smashing Pumpkins fan but never had the opportunity to see them live.
Billy played a few shows in Australia recently with an Australian band - The Delta Riggs backing him, and it was an interesting experiment. You could see they hadn’t played together for long, but that added to the excitement. The uniqueness of the event. They played a great setlist with a mix of Billy’s solo songs, some Smashing Pumpkins songs and some great covers. Ruth Etting’s - Shine On, Harvest Moon and INXS’ - Don’t Change being highlights for me.
I also revisited the R.E.M back catalogue. I had been a casual listener for a long time but something clicked this year and I haven’t stopped listening to them.
Bands I heard for the first time this year and really like are : Dead Pioneers, Painted Shield and The Scratch.
That Daisy Rickman album is no joke. Love it. I really want to listen to it driving in the desert or something. It’s definitely in my playlist based on Cormac McCarthy’s western novels.
It’s not an obvious fit, I admit. McCarthy was not particularly known for his Cornish sunflower-filled landscapes, yet there Bleujen an Howl is in the playlist. Her artwork may’ve inspired hearing her songs outside their setting. Great discovery.
I moved in with my partner, becoming a de facto step father to her daughter. The real highlight of this is that our kids — who got along well before — immediately got into a sibling routine that’s been fun to watch.
Then, on December 1st, my son began reading The Fellowship of the Ring. He’s yet to inquire about Morgoth, The Black Foe, the Istari, or the Númenóreans, but he’ll get there eventually.
Books: All Fours by Miranda July was riveting. I hadn’t even heard about it and picked it up at my MIL’s house after she was done with it. Then it felt like it was *everywhere.* James by Percival Everett was so well done. Also really enjoyed Three Skeins of Caledonia Blue, it was a sweet exploration of grief, life, being a woman in middle age and chasing beauty.
Theater: So glad I saw Lempicka and Swept Away before they closed. Lempicka was like if Cabaret and Sunday In the Park with George had a baby. And I’m usually not into jukebox musicals, but it really worked with the Avett Brothers. Two underrated shows that I wish could have stayed on Broadway longer.
Music: Of course AIEWSIWBA, especially Joan after reading the Deep Dive on here made me appreciate it more.
Psalm for the Wild-Built (novella): I read it with my eyes, Colin, as the reading gods intended. It’s been a while since a book made me weep joyously. You are in my universe, Becky Chambers, and I thank you.
The new Decemberists and Cure albums: thank you Colin for the corresponding live liner notes to the album, it was a treat beyond categorizing….and Joan in the Garden, Joan in the Garden!! The new Cure album harkens back to Disintegration days, yet still has something new and different…both albums are repeat in my collection.
Below and Levin reuniting (along with Val and Carey) to play 80s’ KC live…..seriously, I’m still buzzing.
And, another reunion……KMRIA tribute to Shane MacGowan and the Pogues…..go Ezra, go Chris, go Jenny! Can’t wait.
Johnny Franco for all that he does for us, local musicians. And, he does it with such creative flare and positivity.
Oysters……this year and every year, but special shot out to EaT in NE Portland.
My Strymon Big Sky pedal…..yes, you were expensive, but man do you shimmer with shoegazey exquisiteness.
One Week in January: such a beautiful book with a unique narrative. And, I got to gift an ever so slightly creepy children’s picture book to Carson Ellis at a Powell’s reading; Colin, one of the few that I have met that read it, confirmed its creepiness……alas, one of my favorite songwriters writes songs about ghost babies and agriculture & death, so it makes sense.
love the list. i'm excited to check out Starve Acre. Been getting into horror again recently thanks to a friend of mine being a horror writer - if you've got the space, check out Mary: An Awakening of Terror by Nat Cassidy (I know Powell's has had it on their staff pick list for a while). I'm looking forward to his third novel coming out in April!
things that kept me going in 2024:
AIEWSIWBA; getting a record player (thanks AIEWSIWBA preorder); finally reading Watership Down; reading James and The Trees by Percival Everett; moving/inadvertently adopting the neighborhood stray cat Wally.
So much to check out from this list! BTW, audiobooks totally count. It's the passage of information from one person to another. Anyone who says differently might want to explain how knowledge got handed down before writing.
2024... my own list is a long one, with a quite a few detours. But I'll try to keep this ultra short with just two mentions - a book (and the author who wrote it) - and a musician.
The book is "Cahokia Jazz". Its author is Francis Spufford who, I keep discovering, is one of the contemporary masters of the English language - and a rather remarkable storyteller. It's a detective story, a mystery, a complex epic alternate history deep-dive into racism, identity, evil, despair and, along the way, some continually surprising notes of transcendence, hope, and weirdness. Francis Spufford spins his words like I imagine a genius spider spins its webs, and... It's worth searching out, and making the time to read.
The musician is the chameleon-like Bill Frisell who, a few lifetimes ago, I thought was merely a brilliantly eclectic jazz guitarist. But he's much more than that, as I've been rediscovering, including his album The Intercontinentals, a series of collaborations with some rather remarkable guitarists and string musicians. But his musical waters have a habit of both running deep, and going off in a million hidden currents and riptides.
And...okay, I lied. A third mention for my list - another book book that I read almost 12-odd months ago, at the very beginning of this year and which, yes, I'm re-reading again, and discovering once more that, to my delight, it not merely holds up but feels new and gripping and (best of all) surprising each time. "The Stars did Wander Darkling" (by Colin Meloy). They say the Devil is in the details, but your book has some of the best and strangest ones I've read in a long time, Colin... Kind of like pausing on the doorstep, turning around, and staring at the penny sitting there, just in front of the door. And wondering who the hell might have put it there? And why...?
Thanks for your list, too. It's got some serious (and horizon-expanding) gems.
The things that got me through the year were taking my little to her first concerts, watching that same kid work hard and dominate her first season of competitive gymnastics (sstate champ!!), seeing my oldest perform in their first musical, and landing an amazing job that's finally taking us out of the heat of the desert! Plus some road trips and tons of live music.
Yes, the election was a bummer and the outlook for the Democratic Party seems bleak. But there still is a lot of love in the world. And music. And art. And nature. Being in the minority isn’t a bad thing if the minority includes Colin Meloy.
On the practical side, my turntable has been a bust this year. Does anyone have an idea as to what brand / model is displayed in the picture in this post? I figure if it’s good enough for Colin Meloy, then it likely is more than good enough for me.
2024 has become the year where my love for live music has returned.
I saw Pearl Jam for the fourth time (the first time being in 2000) and I feel like they have never sounded better.
I saw Bob Mould for the first time at one of his solo electric shows and it was amazing.
I also saw Billy Corgan for the first time and this one felt special. I am a big Smashing Pumpkins fan but never had the opportunity to see them live.
Billy played a few shows in Australia recently with an Australian band - The Delta Riggs backing him, and it was an interesting experiment. You could see they hadn’t played together for long, but that added to the excitement. The uniqueness of the event. They played a great setlist with a mix of Billy’s solo songs, some Smashing Pumpkins songs and some great covers. Ruth Etting’s - Shine On, Harvest Moon and INXS’ - Don’t Change being highlights for me.
I also revisited the R.E.M back catalogue. I had been a casual listener for a long time but something clicked this year and I haven’t stopped listening to them.
Bands I heard for the first time this year and really like are : Dead Pioneers, Painted Shield and The Scratch.
That Daisy Rickman album is no joke. Love it. I really want to listen to it driving in the desert or something. It’s definitely in my playlist based on Cormac McCarthy’s western novels.
Rickman + McCarthy! Wild!
It’s not an obvious fit, I admit. McCarthy was not particularly known for his Cornish sunflower-filled landscapes, yet there Bleujen an Howl is in the playlist. Her artwork may’ve inspired hearing her songs outside their setting. Great discovery.
I've watched so many episodes of Star Trek Lower Decks! They are a laugh and a half. (depending on your general knowledge of Star Trek overall)
I'm going to miss it so much!
I moved in with my partner, becoming a de facto step father to her daughter. The real highlight of this is that our kids — who got along well before — immediately got into a sibling routine that’s been fun to watch.
Then, on December 1st, my son began reading The Fellowship of the Ring. He’s yet to inquire about Morgoth, The Black Foe, the Istari, or the Númenóreans, but he’ll get there eventually.
My Lana del Ray Pandora playlist. Lots of great ladies that aren’t Taylor or Phoebe but they show up too.
Books: All Fours by Miranda July was riveting. I hadn’t even heard about it and picked it up at my MIL’s house after she was done with it. Then it felt like it was *everywhere.* James by Percival Everett was so well done. Also really enjoyed Three Skeins of Caledonia Blue, it was a sweet exploration of grief, life, being a woman in middle age and chasing beauty.
Theater: So glad I saw Lempicka and Swept Away before they closed. Lempicka was like if Cabaret and Sunday In the Park with George had a baby. And I’m usually not into jukebox musicals, but it really worked with the Avett Brothers. Two underrated shows that I wish could have stayed on Broadway longer.
Music: Of course AIEWSIWBA, especially Joan after reading the Deep Dive on here made me appreciate it more.
Daisy Rickman has strong Nico vibes, love it!
Psalm for the Wild-Built (novella): I read it with my eyes, Colin, as the reading gods intended. It’s been a while since a book made me weep joyously. You are in my universe, Becky Chambers, and I thank you.
The new Decemberists and Cure albums: thank you Colin for the corresponding live liner notes to the album, it was a treat beyond categorizing….and Joan in the Garden, Joan in the Garden!! The new Cure album harkens back to Disintegration days, yet still has something new and different…both albums are repeat in my collection.
Below and Levin reuniting (along with Val and Carey) to play 80s’ KC live…..seriously, I’m still buzzing.
And, another reunion……KMRIA tribute to Shane MacGowan and the Pogues…..go Ezra, go Chris, go Jenny! Can’t wait.
Johnny Franco for all that he does for us, local musicians. And, he does it with such creative flare and positivity.
Oysters……this year and every year, but special shot out to EaT in NE Portland.
My Strymon Big Sky pedal…..yes, you were expensive, but man do you shimmer with shoegazey exquisiteness.
One Week in January: such a beautiful book with a unique narrative. And, I got to gift an ever so slightly creepy children’s picture book to Carson Ellis at a Powell’s reading; Colin, one of the few that I have met that read it, confirmed its creepiness……alas, one of my favorite songwriters writes songs about ghost babies and agriculture & death, so it makes sense.
I really want to read Starve Acre, but I’m afraid it will wreck me. Most things do these days.
love the list. i'm excited to check out Starve Acre. Been getting into horror again recently thanks to a friend of mine being a horror writer - if you've got the space, check out Mary: An Awakening of Terror by Nat Cassidy (I know Powell's has had it on their staff pick list for a while). I'm looking forward to his third novel coming out in April!
things that kept me going in 2024:
AIEWSIWBA; getting a record player (thanks AIEWSIWBA preorder); finally reading Watership Down; reading James and The Trees by Percival Everett; moving/inadvertently adopting the neighborhood stray cat Wally.
So much to check out from this list! BTW, audiobooks totally count. It's the passage of information from one person to another. Anyone who says differently might want to explain how knowledge got handed down before writing.
A new Decemberists album was definitely a 2024 highlight for me :)
🙏
2024... my own list is a long one, with a quite a few detours. But I'll try to keep this ultra short with just two mentions - a book (and the author who wrote it) - and a musician.
The book is "Cahokia Jazz". Its author is Francis Spufford who, I keep discovering, is one of the contemporary masters of the English language - and a rather remarkable storyteller. It's a detective story, a mystery, a complex epic alternate history deep-dive into racism, identity, evil, despair and, along the way, some continually surprising notes of transcendence, hope, and weirdness. Francis Spufford spins his words like I imagine a genius spider spins its webs, and... It's worth searching out, and making the time to read.
The musician is the chameleon-like Bill Frisell who, a few lifetimes ago, I thought was merely a brilliantly eclectic jazz guitarist. But he's much more than that, as I've been rediscovering, including his album The Intercontinentals, a series of collaborations with some rather remarkable guitarists and string musicians. But his musical waters have a habit of both running deep, and going off in a million hidden currents and riptides.
And...okay, I lied. A third mention for my list - another book book that I read almost 12-odd months ago, at the very beginning of this year and which, yes, I'm re-reading again, and discovering once more that, to my delight, it not merely holds up but feels new and gripping and (best of all) surprising each time. "The Stars did Wander Darkling" (by Colin Meloy). They say the Devil is in the details, but your book has some of the best and strangest ones I've read in a long time, Colin... Kind of like pausing on the doorstep, turning around, and staring at the penny sitting there, just in front of the door. And wondering who the hell might have put it there? And why...?
Thanks for your list, too. It's got some serious (and horizon-expanding) gems.
The things that got me through the year were taking my little to her first concerts, watching that same kid work hard and dominate her first season of competitive gymnastics (sstate champ!!), seeing my oldest perform in their first musical, and landing an amazing job that's finally taking us out of the heat of the desert! Plus some road trips and tons of live music.
What game console do you play on?
I’m a ps5 guy myself
Same. If you ever need a fellow wanderer in the Lands Between, my tag is TNE889093.
Yes, the election was a bummer and the outlook for the Democratic Party seems bleak. But there still is a lot of love in the world. And music. And art. And nature. Being in the minority isn’t a bad thing if the minority includes Colin Meloy.
On the practical side, my turntable has been a bust this year. Does anyone have an idea as to what brand / model is displayed in the picture in this post? I figure if it’s good enough for Colin Meloy, then it likely is more than good enough for me.
It’s a Rega P3! I’ve had it for ages and it holds up like a champ
Thank you! It seems selfish to buy myself a present this time of year but I’m tempted.