The First High Note
This is my way of ending the week and easing into the weekend
I’m going to try this new thing where I send out a shorter Friday newsletter that’s just random stuff I’m interested in. It feels like a nice little thing to do, right? I mean, if ten people read it then maybe I’ll reconsider, but I sort of like the very bloggy sort of “Here’s some cool stuff I like” posts. Nice and easy. I’m going to call it The High Note. Like going out on a high note, get it?
There’s a new single by Matt Kivel out that features Bonnie “Prince” Billy. Go buy it at Bandcamp or wherever you get your music from. I feel like I’m becoming the official historian on the Kivel brothers’ discography because I’ve been a fan of everything they’ve done since…a long time ago. Matt in particular has been a constant during the summertime since his last few albums have struck a balance between Brian Eno and Neil Young’s most stoned slow-jams. Just a lot of very great “Sitting around a campfire with your buddies, drinking beer and watching for shooting stars” sort of stuff. The new song is a little more upbeat and has Mr. Will Oldham himself singing along. The song will be on his upcoming album, Bend Reality, out in October.
When Rowing Blazers announced a few weeks (months? Who knows anymore?) they were doing a collab with Murray’s Toggery Shop. not only did I feel the need to cop something new in Nantucket Red, but I realized I needed to get back to Nantucket or at least the Cape this year. It’s been a bit, and I really miss doing it when the high season is over and places are less expensive to rent, the air is a bit cooler and I don’t have to deal with people from New York or Boston as much. I think I’m gonna do it this autumn, maybe October. And when I do, I’ll stop in and I’ll be able to get stuff from Michael Bastian’s spring/summer collection for Brooks Brothers because I got an e-mail that the two brands are teaming up. For now, it looks like the Brothers will just be sold at Murray’s, but I’m guessing (hoping) it’s really just the start of something. Like maybe a Nantucket Red Bengal stripe shirt, perhaps?
Finally, there’s going to be a pop-up at Gertie featuring Turkey & The Wolf from New Orleans. Here’s the thing: I’ve been to New Orleans so many times, and somehow, shockingly, I have never been to Turkey & The Wolf. This is basically a small crime on my part and I’m honestly not sure why I have kept screwing up and not going, but I have made the shop’s famous collard green melt and I keep swearing I’m going to try it there. Maybe I’ll schlep to Williamsburg and get it? Seems like a good plan before I have to wake up early and drive to Chicago the next morning.