today’s audio is “baghdad to the bayou”, a song i wrote with rachel maddow in 2010.
here are the things i have done instead of writing this pod:
put away the guest bed in the studio
took carl for a walk
packed for a project i leave for on friday
packed for a gig on thursday
(its tuesday)
swept the studio
rerouted several amps and pedal boards in the studio
untangled a huge pile of mic stands
reorganized them
(this pile has been this way for at least the last 2 years)
skimmed the new york times
answered unimportant emails
checked my bank balances, even though i checked them this AM
made very specific day and time plans for several months from now. dog walks. casual music meetups.
scheduled a co-write
started to watch a short film about geese but got distracted
asked the internet, are libras procrastinators?
as the internet told me when i just searched for it, libras are known procrastinators. and friends, it is libra season! my time to shine. the glorious build up to october 15, a birthday i share with the rapper ginuwine, the philosopher nietzsche, sarah fergie ferguson duchess of york, oriole great jim palmer, filmmaker mira nair, british/baltimorean actor dominic west, musician tito jackson, and yes, my dog, carl richard marx.
this is my kind of company. random. genius. a little edgy. are we mean or are we honest? we are libras!
i recently saw this list on instagram, from astrologer influencer chani nicholas:
except for the outfit part, i. have. been. read. and the way i deal with the outfit part is by owning so few clothes, i cannot make choices. there is one option. this is my strategy for my refrigerator too. do not give yourself choices, otherwise you will never choose! libra season!
the internet has also confirmed for me that, as a libra, i do not like unnecessary pressure, or other people’s time frames.
hold on! a friend just texted to ask me if i know rachel maddow, because she is going to be seeing her tonite. so now i am going to go down a rabbit hole looking for pictures of me and maddow together (gosh i am finding so many, and i am pleased to see that i don’t even remember some of the events pictured) maybe the music for this episode should be the song i wrote with maddow? be right back.
today’s audio is “baghdad to the bayou”, a song i /
ok! i’m back. what was i saying? oh yes! the internet confirmed for me that i like to make my own decisions in my own time. i am easily distractable. i am a procrastinator. want to hire me?
what was i saying? ah yes! its libra season. otherwise known as fall. as a libra, i do like the multiple meanings of a word. so of course “fall” refers to our current autumnal season, but “fall” is also a verb. in the months of september, october, and november, i resolve to more often trip unexpectedly and regularly collapse into bed. i shall in all ways strive to get closer to the ground, like a leaf.
BTW I LOVE THE OXFORD COMMA!
“fall” is also the name of a large piece of fake hair you blend into your real hair for glamorous effect. you might think that i have never worn a fall, but you are incorrect. i did a cameo in a movie last year where the hair and makeup ladies hooked me up with a super rad hairstyle that included a fall to augment my usual pompador. i can’t tell you more about the movie until next month when it will have premiered at some cool festivals. you’ll have to wait to see the fall.
i also can’t tell you about a lot of things i have been up to. i know the point of this pod is to tell you things i am up to, but right now i can’t. this is what it is to be an artist in 2024 - you are expected to keep people abreast of your happenings.
speaking of breasts, no never mind.
while keeping people abreast of your goings-on, you are also expected to hold on to your goings-on in order to give them the maximum impact when you do tell people what you are even doing, but really it’s what you did many months or years ago.
here’s a thing that i “just” did. my song “born to hum” has “just” (ha!) been used in a hallmark channel show called “the chicken sisters”. they asked me 6 months ago for permission to use a song i wrote 25 years ago. but i couldn’t tell you until the episode came out last week.
confusing. like libras.
we seem so available, and then we disappear. it’s because we are scared of limits and doors closing and final answers. we like options, options feel safe. the more options the more safety. bring me options in life. but not in my wardrobe or refrigerator.
i also saw someone online describe libras as “the least dramatic, most dramatic person”. that’s me!
speaking of, i’m going to wrap this exercise up with a reminder to come to some anti-holiday shows this winter. dec 3 in chicago, dec 7 in northampton, dec 19 in boston, dec 21 in new york. maddeningly some of these cities have tickets on sale, some are dragging their feet to even list the show. please please mark your calendars, tell friends, and please come. no matter what the ticket link says i will be there.
it will no longer be libra season, but we can still have fun together!
xo erin
¡ME GUSTA! : SOME OF MY FAVORITE THINGS!
my friend chicago artist steve slagg has released his third album, “i don’t want to get adjusted to this world”. i’m so happy and proud for him. and… the record is incredibly beautiful and deep. i’d say that even if i didn’t sing on it. but you don’t have to take my word for it. chicago’s iconic WBEZ featured steve this week. have a listen.
a heart-tugging true story of love across international borders.
a close read of the text that is kate middleton’s cancer narrative.
pennies are useless.
a dictionary of baseball slang.
why do people act so crazy at yellowstone national park?
a F1 driver drove a car MADE OUT OF LEGOS!
the studio where i made “we will become like birds” burned down 💔
was lincoln gay? let’s find out!
my favorite band EVER has reunited and they are… strangely inert.
UPCOMING SHOWS
now - June 2026 - Fredericksburg VA
Fredericksburg Area Museum
Out And About: The Walk-in Closet
VISIT
Sep 22-Dec 1, 2024 - Northampton MA
6 Week Songwriting Class - In Person or Hybrid via Zoom
INFO & REGISTRATION
Nov 22-24, 2024 - Portland ME
Speaking and Performing at NERFA
INFO & REGISTRATION
November 23, 2024 - Portland ME
Chocolate Church with Patty Larkin
Save The Date! Tix Onsale Soon!
December 3, 2024 - Chicago IL
F*CK THAT! Anti-Holiday Spectacular @ SPACE
TICKETS
December 7, 2024 - Northampton MA
F*CK THAT! Anti-Holiday Spectacular @ Iron Horse
TICKETS
December 19, 2024 - Boston MA
F*CK THAT! Anti-Holiday Spectacular @ Club Passim
TICKETS
December 21, 2024 - Brooklyn NY
F*CK THAT! Anti-Holiday Spectacular @ Jalopy Theatre
Save The Date! Tix Onsale Soon!
Reminder, Erin does not appear in productions of Miss You Like Hell
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