heart-meltiness

As you may know (hopefully not, because your life is so full of engaging real-world-type activities), I've been using my Facebook status to quiz people on their musical tastes. My most recent question was "What singer makes your heart most melty?" I got a lot of great responses... and still, I can't help but take this opportunity to spread the gospel of my own heart's reigning meltmasters.

Ultimate Queen of Meltiness: Billie Holiday


Of all the wondrously melty things about Billie's voice, my favorite is her phrasing. It's like nobody ever told her you're supposed to sing those specific notes in this very melody, as written, at the recommended time.

King of Meltiness: Ray Charles


Whereas Billie is melty in a roast-my-heart-on-a-skewer-like-a-marshmallow way, Ray is melty in a can-I-take-off-my-pants-now? way.

High Priestess of Meltiness: Nina Simone


A lot of people in this world don't love Nina Simone's voice. These must be the same people who think "Benjamin Button" was a brilliant film, and that Steven Colbert is actually a right-wing Republican. To these people I say: go back to your own planet.

Chief Ass-Kicker of Meltiness: Aretha Franklin


Aretha is like Michael Phelps. She is a freak of nature, born to excel at one craft, beyond the range of human capacity as it was previously understood. These people come from another planet also, but they can stay.

Meltiest Singer You Never Heard Of: Josh White


Josh White was popular from the 1930s through the early '50s, when he was blacklisted by the MacCarthyites for being a communist (which he wasn't, by the way. He was a civil rights activist. Oops!), which irreversibly damaged his career. His voice is, obviously, like warm honey being dripped into a clawfoot tub full of hot chocolate, velvet and kittens (we're talking supernatural kittens whose adorable fluffiness is not harmed by hot chocolate or honey).

Josh White
**Runners up, for those with too much time and an emusic account on their hands: Sam Cooke ("Peace in the Valley" with the Soul Stirrers), Snooks Eaglin ("Who's Loving You Tonight"), Pops Staples ("Down in Mississippi", from his 1990s album (produced by Bonnie Raitt and Jackson Browne... what?!)), Oliver Wood ("Chocolate on my Tongue"), Victoria Spivey ("Dope Head Blues"), Amos Lee ("Skipping Stones").

carman's country kitchen

When I lived in Eugene, my girlfriends and I used to frequent an establishment called Ruthie B's Tea House. Ruthie B's was not reasonably priced, but what it lacked in economy it made up for in magicalness. Upon arrival, every customer was shown to a room full of hats and feather boas, to don while brunching. The water had slices of various citrus fruits in it, and before you ordered, the waitresses would sprinkle your table with dried lavender, sing songs, and blow bubbles over you.

Ruthie B's is one of the only things I miss about Eugene that is not a person. Luckily, I found it's sister-restaurant right here in south Philadelphia.

Carman's Country Kitchen exclusively serves brunch, which means they are only open Friday-Monday from 10am-2pm. There are just four things on the menu, and the four things change every week. The decor is a quirky combination of whimsical and raunchy (mardi gras beads and kitschy cherub-statuettes hang out with teacups that have penises for handles). They brew pots of tea as well as coffee, warm the honey bear before they hand it to you, and set every table with hot sauce, heavy cream, and little pots of exotic jams. Carman, owner and sole chef, is a phenomenon, and her sense for flavor combinations (similarly quirky) is the final touch of magic.



That was peach and blueberry french toast, shrimp and grits, and the best thing I've ever had at Carman's: challah french toast with black-fig-and-chevre topping, fresh blackberries, figs, and candied pecans. Side of country sausage.

And no, I am not being paid (in food or money) for this post. I just can't help but share the glory of Carman's. It's on 11th and Wharton, and there is no sign on the place - just a red pickup truck parked outside, with a picture of Betty Boop and their slogan: "Carman's Country Kitchen: She put the cunt back into country".

things that make nine hour drives almost seem okay

Fields looking golden, and even a few changing leaves.



'This American Life' iPhone app. Pay $2.99, and then you have every episode of TAL ever aired, for free (thanks, Chris O'Brien, for this priceless tip). I HIGHLY recommend 'Act V'.

Stopping in adorable towns along the way for yard sales and Flea Markets (note: this only works on weekend drives). Dig this $.50 find.

Brown sugar cinnamon Pop Tarts.

the art of tilke elkins

Yesterday I received a birthday gift from my dear friend Tilke Elkins.

Tilke is an extremely talented visual artist with whom I used to live, in Eugene, Oregon. Among many other accomplishments, she spent seven years creating a hand-painted, ad-free children's magazine called All Round, and designed both of my recent album covers ('Buoy' and the 'Beau' EP).

She also made all the art in my house, including this birthday gift.



And this painting of Jakes and Dustin, the main characters from 'All Round', playing hide & seek in a hayloft.


This is a print Tilke made in college, rediscovered at her parents house in Vermont, and gave me on a visit there earlier this summer.


This is Tilke's "color portrait" of me. It's supposed to be the colors of my essence, and I'm pretty sure she hit the nail on the head, there.


Here are a few issues of All Round magazine, which makes SUCH a great gift for kids and their parents, and of which you can order back issues here (click on "All Round" at the top right).


Tilke and her husband, Nick, also happen to design websites, including Tilke's website, which is definitely the most beautiful thing I've seen on the internet.

PS. Yes, I use old windows as picture frames.

best scrabble play of all time

That's right: triple J, double word. For a total of 121 points. It was beautiful. I get all misty-eyed just thinking about it.

gratitude and clarity

First of all, thank you. I got an overwhelming, beautiful and heartening response to my previous post. I couldn't ask for sweeter or more eloquent fans. I am moved right back atcha.

Secondly, I want to clarify that I am not thinking of quitting music or the music business. I decided to let you in on the worry and ambivalence that happens in the dark nights of my soul, in the interest of feeling less isolated in there. Thankfully, my mind is still functioning fairly reliably, is dimly but steadily lit, and always gets me to my gigs on time.

This is the greatest job I can imagine. I will probably never learn not to question everything I do, even the things that are clearly right and good. Luckily, this method breeds good songs, if not much comfort.

attack of the WTFs

I think it's time to admit something to you, friends and listeners-of-my-music. While it's true that I have a generally sunny disposition, I, too, am occasionally laid low by a sudden attack of the WTFs. They creep in at night, usually when I'm "hangry" (that familiar hybrid of 'hungry' and 'angry', articulated to me by the formidable Regan Kelly), and ask me, snarlingly, WTF I'm doing with my life.

I believe that everyone has a purpose. It's the thing you do best, and that best expresses who you are. It's not always what you feel like doing, or what most needs doing, it's what you feel compelled, or "called" to do, from somewhere deep inside.

Though I am guilty of a superficial ambition for fame and fortune, my actual purpose in is something deeper and lovelier. When I moved to Philadelphia in 2006 to make music full-time, after a soul-clarifying summer in San Francisco, I brought with me the following statement, written on a little green note card:

My purpose as a musician is to write and perform bravely, passionately, playfully, and honestly. By doing so, I intend to move people and open hearts.

In other words, I want to help people experience what Joseph Campbell calls "the rapture of being alive". This is my purpose in life, not just in music, but making music is an excellent way to get the job done (partly because music has always been the most reliable way for ME to experience said rapture). After four years and about 400 shows, that's still what I mean to do, every time I get on stage.

When I get an attack of the WTFs, they usually start with a superficial question. For instance: "Why didn't you play better, just now?" or, "Why aren't YOU headlining at that venue?" The question behind the question is this: "Are you really serving your purpose?" And the answer is, I don't know. My purpose is not something measurable, or even visible. It's about small changes that happen in people's hearts. I can't possibly know, unless you tell me.

So, I'm writing this post, with great reluctance and biting of nails, to ask for your help. If my music has moved you, I would like to hear about it. Your responses will not be published anywhere, and I don't need the details, unless you want to share them. Just send me an email, and tell me that you're there, you hear me, and it's working.