how many emails have you gotten in the last 3 weeks cancelling an event you were looking forward to? bringing news that changes your financial situation? or announcing the closure of a beloved restaurant, venue, or yoga studio (RIP ashtanga yoga noho)? i dont know about you, but i have gotten a lot of those recently.
this is not one of those emails.
i’m fine. i plan on continuing to make music publicly in some form. who knows what that is yet? who knows what we will need or want as audiences? but i am fine and so far staying relatively positive. socially distant tennis with my neighbor helps a lot.
so! this is an email of essential cultural treats that have been helping me get through these uncertain days. i hope you enjoy them as much as i have.
we will see each other again (someday)!
x erin
¡ME GUSTA! : SOME OF MY FAVORITE THINGS
(PANDEMIC EDITION)
did you miss the live broadcast of my web series CABIN FEVER? not to worry, you can watch the entire episode on youtube or facebook. if you're looking for a bite-sized snack, check out this brand new poem and brand new song from the episode. as always, every one of the 9 (!) episodes is here in its entirety.
a poem about permission in a pandemic by western mass genius poet lenelle moïse.
our beloved new orleans is suffering (again) here's a twitter thread of ways you can help.
indie music legend thao (of the get down stay down) has a new album and just released this delightful and mind-bending video. i wish all my zoom calls were like this.
donald judd is possibly my favorite sculptural artist. i was counting the days until i could see his new MOMA retrospective. alas, this nytimes preview with lots of good pics will have to do.
want some drama in your infection pod or quarantined house? check it this do-it-yourself-at-home play by donnetta lavinia grays.
babe ruth caught (and beat) the 1918 flu (twice).
perhaps you have fond childhood memories of those magical beings called "sea monkeys"? i certainly do. check out this wild profile of the widow of their inventor. i recommend listening to the audio version.
i recently discovered the podcast "this is love" via their episode on the family dynamics of the wolves of yellowstone. i am officially obsessed now and am deep into the audio book the episode was based on. somebody make a musical of this please!!!
my pal and fenway park organist josh kantor does a live 7th inning stretch every day at 3p ET. tune in on facebook and make your requests.
fellow virginian pals david wax museum have a 1p ET weekday instagram live where they chat with other musicians and play songs. it's such a generous and lovely way to use their platform. yours truly will be joining them live on tuesday april 14.
i'm a monthly supporter of queer appalachia, a visionary hub for virtual and IRL activism around those of us LGBTQ folx that live in rural places (did you know that's the majority of us in the US?) they are having a telethon to end metronormativity on saturday april 25 at 9p ET on twitch. you might see your favorite transplanted southern queer on there if you tune in!