Cicadas

On summer ending, watermelon with lime & a Beck cover.

“In astronomical terms, summer ends at the equinox — last day of summer is Monday, Sept. 22. But meteorologically, researchers and scientists typically use Sept. 1 for statistics and record-keeping”.

I visited a friend at his family’s farm in Wisconsin a few weeks ago. My friend lives in Brooklyn and grew up in Chicago and was commenting on how loud the sound of cicadas was on the farm. Which was funny because when I had arrived at the farm my first thought was how quiet the cicadas were in contrast to my neighborhood in Kansas City, where they are fucking deafening.

I don’t mind that deafening sound though, because thankfully, I love cicadas. They sound like humidity itself began making mad and chaotic music - providing us midwesterners with a blanket of white noise that soundtrack our summers. When I hear cicadas, I envision thousands of bugs playing broken violins in the trees beneath biblical clouds. When I hear cicadas, I hear home.

A few weeks ago I went for a walk and recorded some of the last cicadas of the season and put a lil cover of one of my favorite Beck songs He’s A Mighty Good Leader over it, beneath the paywall. I’ve loved this song a long time and love playing it - especially in its C# G# F C# G# C# tuning.

A little ode to the end of summer, which has been great. Happy unofficial first day of fall everyone, onwards xoxo.

A few other things: I am playing a show in San Diego at the end of this week. It is a 30th birthday party for the music box. Tickets to that here.

Also, I saw a very very good movie last week in theatres with my bandmate Cyrus - the 1994 french film Lovers On The Bridge, and I can’t get it off my mind. A cinematic feat that’s really stuck with me.

also also, a playlist of the songs I found myself listening to most this summer.

Turned To Dust - Bonnie Prince Billy

Heart Of Gold - Fiona Apple

Everything Is Peaceful Love - Bon Iver

Cinderella - Remi Wolf

Tailspin - Esther Rose

Me & Magdalena - The Monkees

Waiting On You - Reverend Baron

Elderberry Wine - Wednesday

Modern Girl - Sleater Kinney

You Got Time and I Got Money - Smerz

Losing You - Solange

Until The Dawn - The Fentones

Black River Swamp - Link Wray

Oranges - Alex G

Bird On A Swing - Cory Hanson