today’s audio is a performance of my song “james” from new year’s eve 2005. i ripped it from a fan video on youtube, and frankly i don’t know if it was from 2004 into 2005, or the next year, 2005 into 2006. it’s not obvious from the upload date, since it only appeared on youtube *17* years ago. but it is so nice to be unsure. i don’t need this many memories and details in my head.
what matters is that julie wolf was killing it on the organ bass and neil clearly was laying it down on the drums. i loved this version of my band so much. we did a ton of traveling and singing together. some of my fave versions of songs we played are an EP i no longer have the rights for, “Live at KCRW”. look for it on your favorite pirate site.
per usual with these types of visual artifacts, all i could think as i watched the video in 2025 is how much i hated my body in 2005, and how i would (mostly) love to have that body now. aah the days of spry knees and loose pants. while i am proudly peri-crone, part of that is struggling with the very real consequences of time and biology on bodies. lets discuss on the next podcast maybe?
on my last episode, i made the rather careless and wounded claim that no one had ever written a song about me. the context for my disappointment and chagrin was not finding myself in a former lover’s latest work, after devoting an entire record to them.
just after the episode released, my pal, the epic-ly talented singer-songwriter steve slagg, reminded me that just that week, a LOT of people had written songs about me, including him. steve is also member of my weekly songwriting group, and our leader matt the electrician had been sending prompts for a few weeks now that were just names of people in the group: CASEY HOLFORD, REINA ROSE, MIRABELLE SKIPWORTH, KRIS DELMHORST, me.
so yes, technically, steve you are correct. there were maybe 8 new songs written about me a few weeks ago. but, as you admitted yourself, that is not quite what i was talking about when i expressed my longing to have a, ahem, genuine, unprompted song written about me.
this week, carl and i have a house-guest which pleases us both. carl loves it when people stay with us. if it was up to him, we would have an entire litter of people piled up in the house at all time. he is one of 9 boys so this makes sense. when we go for walks, he always stops and stares at family homes, mesmerized by their many cars, comings and goings, and brightly lit crowded living rooms that we can see on the street.
i like having house guests too, especially when it is my old-friend james. yes indeed, that james. james of “james”. i decided that since he was staying with us, and i am still perseverating on being the subject of songs, why not rope him in for a conversation about what is feels like to actually be the subject of one of my songs.
we’ll get to that conversation, after the break.
hey yall! spring is here and there’s plenty to announce!
i am so looking forward to spending memorial day in my home state of virginia. i’ll be at the virginia womens music festival on sunday may 25 and then leading a hiking concert in richmond on may 26. come join us.
heads up philadelphia! join me and a killer lineup of mainline stars as we celebrate the 20th anniversary of the legendary philly venue, The Point. friday June 26 at the gorgeous bryn mawr twilight series.
i’ve just announced a run of shows this fall with my dear friends welcome to night vale. this has become an annual ritual that shapes my year. this time i’ll be with them in texas, oklahoma, kansas, missouri, indiana, michigan, and canada. per usual, i will set aside a free pair of tickets to folks that are willing to come help sell merch. drop a line erin@erinmckeown.com and put your city’s name in the subject line. first come, first served. complete dates and venues up as always at erinmckeown.com/shows
there are just a few spots left for my one-day performance workshop april 26 in northampton MA. if you’re considering joining us, now’s the time to reserve your spot.
and don’t forget in 2026 to mark your calendars for the chicago premiere of my musical OUT HERE and join me on my 10 day trip around scotland.
thanks as always for listening!
¡ME GUSTA! : SOME OF MY FAVORITE THINGS!
james has a substack!
white lotus! teeth!
the peri-menopause essay is a literary culture trend i am here for!
a pod about the NC State quarterback of 1895, who was someone unexpected
i don’t want to brag but i will brag a little: broadway and TV star (and incredible melania-impersonator) laura benanti is a fan of mine. i fell in love with her work on “nashville” and her voice in her many broadway shows. imagine my surprise when i met her in 2018 to find out that *she* was a fan of *mine*. as a 19 year old, she had seen me play at a venue in vermont at a formative time in her proto-performing life. i inspired her to be a performer??? holy shit. well, she continues to inspire me with her epic one-woman show, and her brave, ballsy candor on the gay-ass podcast.
i will be first in line to see this short when it becomes a feature. seriously, check it out!
i love irish pubs. i love ireland. i am, however, a little suspicious of the exporting of irish pubs as a brand/commodity. what do you think?
do you know the history of the sports bra??
a comforting video of the restoration of an old painting using… LASERS!!!
my college pal, tony-award winner miriam silverman, was a on a sweet pod talking about acting. i just love how she thinks about her path and the business and her job in the process of new plays.
UPCOMING SHOWS
2025
now - June 2026 - Fredericksburg VA
Fredericksburg Area Museum
Out And About: The Walk-in Closet
VISIT
April 26, 2025 - Northampton MA
One Day Performance Workshop @ The Parlor Room
TICKETS & INFO
May 25, 2025 - Kents Store VA
Virginia Women’s Music Festival
TICKETS
May 26, 2025 - Richmond VA
Hike & Concert @ Bryan Park
TICKETS & INFO
June 27, 2025 - Bryn Mawr PA
The Point, 20th Anniv
TICKETS
October 22, 2025 - Austin TX
As The Weather with Welcome To Night Vale
TICKETS
October 23, 2025 - Dallas TX
As The Weather with Welcome To Night Vale
TICKETS
October 24, 2025 - Oklahoma City OK
As The Weather with Welcome To Night Vale
TICKETS
October 25, 2025 - Lawrence KS
As The Weather with Welcome To Night Vale
TICKETS
October 27, 2025 - St Louis MA
As The Weather with Welcome To Night Vale
TICKETS
October 28, 2025 - Indianapolis
As The Weather with Welcome To Night Vale
TICKETS
October 30, 2025 - Toronto ON
As The Weather with Welcome To Night Vale
TICKETS
October 31, 2025 - Detroit MI
As The Weather with Welcome To Night Vale
TICKETS
2026
April 10-May 10, 2026 - Chicago IL
World Premiere of OUT HERE @ Court Theatre
TICKETS & INFO
Aug 17-27 - Scotland
10 Day Tour of the Scottish Borderlands
TICKETS & INFO
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