May 2025

well………. it begins………

We released Elderberry Wine <333333 more soon hehe

We also played Colbert and ya’ll…. I was sick as a fucking DOG when we recorded this (we taped it on May 1st which is how most of the band was in Winston-Salem playing with MJ Lenderman on the night it came out).

I had a cold AND allergies AND was on my fuckingggggg period when we recorded that bitch…. and considering all that I think it turned out a-okay!

That shit was nerve wracking tho tell you what….. especially cause that song is so much more reserved than our other shit it was daunting to not be able to like totally let loose on something. I love Colbert too so I was like …. hello king!!!!!! starstruck

The filming of the Elderberry music video was so fucking epic………. It’s at the bar that my dad’s been frequenting for like 30 years. They were so hospitable to us <3

We had an open bar tab for everyone at the shoot when it started at 10am and by 12 pm everyone was fucking SMASHEDDDDDD. We worked until like 9pm that day so it was a very long very drunk day.

Special shout out to John who was in the video and unfortunately passed away on May 12th, I’m so glad his memory will live on in this video. Alan and Xandy especially were chilling with John and playing cards the day of the video shoot and he was just like an immediate homies. <3 Pour one out for him ya’ll!

also gotta shout out the Grimsley hat which I have had FOREVER but has been making the rounds in my wardrobe recently…. here is a picture of me wearing it when I was a freshman in highschool….. why do I look exactly the fuckin same…… also yes that is a blackberry phone…. and Sperry’s on my gd feet hahah<3

Ummmmm I got two clothing items this month, both when I visited NYC at the store Lara Koleji <3

This bangin ass Diesel button up (the epaulets!!!). I’m obsessed with the Pegasus print on the back too.

I also got these Vivienne Westwood sunnies. I only got one other pair of sunglasses and they don’t go with most stuff I got cause they’re brown tinted and I dont hardly ever wear brown. This pair is like army green… which is kinda a neutral… idk I feel llike they’ll go with everything I need em to

Here’s my psychical media haul for the month

I actually got Run Lola Run last month, but I didn’t feel like retaking the pic so there she is again.

Charlies Angels… classic.

Green Room and Grudge are both scary movies. I think i’ve seen Green Room but it’s been a minute and I have a terrible memory so it’ll kinda be like watching it for the first time when I throw it in the player.

Already been reading and loving Double Bird!

A few pages into Barry Hannah’s Geronimo Rex, too early to say how he ranks among my other fave southern writers.

I haven’t read the Shirley Jackson but I love her so I’ll probably love it but we’ll see!

In other news I went to Stud Country Line Dancing in NYC this month and was obsesssssed with the cutie community they have there. If ur gay as hell and love country music and are interested in line dancing I highly recommend you check it out! They have classes/dancing in a few cities, I know SF, LA, NYC and Nashville for sure.

It’s intimidating at first but very forgiving so even if u don’t got experience dancing I still recommend.

new tummy tattttt by @yourmomhatesyourtattoos

got a new webcam…. photo shoot tyme

Cd haulllllll!! Got these at Static Age in Asheville and Play It Again in Valdese, NC ff exit 111.

Earth, Pavement, Uncle Tupelo, Red House Painters, and some mysterious Yo La Tengo CD im not sure exactly what it is…. excited to find out. I hope its a live bootleg or somn.

I think that’s p much it for now!! Thanks for all the support on the new song. The one coming out next is one of my faves I’ve ever written. I’ll see ya there if ur holdin’ on.

May Movies/TV/Books

The Faculty (1998) - 10/10 - late 90’s/early 2000’s gemmmmm of a monster of the week type movie. I can’t believe it took me this long to see it . Fucking alllll star cast including lesbo QUEEN Clea DuVall, Jon Stewart, Frodo and Usher so randomly??? If you like Buffy (like I do<3) this will be a home run for you.

Sinners (2025) - 9/10 - holding one point hostage for recency bias, and the fact that the mixing in the theater made it so I just straight up couldn’t hear 25% of the dialogue but FUCK this movie was good. Me and some friends saw it in the Paris Theatre in Manhattan when I was visiting NYC this month, and they had the air conditioning dialed up to 10000000000000% it was freezing freezing cold. I saw Sofia Coppola in the lobby though which starstruck me to helllllll.

This movie was my favorite thing I’ve seen in theaters in YEARS despite the fact that I saw it in a refrigerator. I honestly can’t believe all that it managed to do…. it made me care deeply for like 15 different characters in the space of like 40 minutes. It was devastating, it was funny, it was horny, it was scary, it was moving and it was fucking heartfelt. It just achieved this unbelievable balance on so many fronts.

If you’ve been wishy washy on seeing it forreal pull the trigger and goooooooo. The less you know the better the experience I think!!!!

Barfly (1987) - 5/10 - My mom suggested I watch this after we filmed the Elderberry Wine music video cause it has a similar vibe.

I thought the movie was fine enough, but since it was based on Bukowski and he wrote the script it gave me visceral flashblacks to my Bukowski phase which is not the most pleasant part of my reading journey to go back to. Plus when I heard obvious lines from Bukowski poems in casual conversational context it made me cringeeeee for whatever reason. Just makes me think of what like overly poetic lit major philosophy minor edge lord boys would say to me at parties in college.

Legend (1985) - 1/10

This movie pissed me offffff!!!!!!!!!

The most beautiful set, practical effects and makeup completely wasted on a discombobulated mess of a story.

The worst I have ever seen Tom Cruise act. He’s literally a nightmare to watch in this.

It’s so gorgeous I’ll probably play it with the sound off on my TV but damn….. don’t try to follow the story in this fuckin shit!!!! No one’s motivations even slightly make sense…..

9/10 - Still reading this but so far really really enjoying it!!! Short story format is just so great for reading before bed.

This particular collection would be good for someone whose tastes lie at the intersection of Harry Crews and George Saunders (I’m the exact target audience)

Bud Smith is a Jersey boy tho instead of a Southern boy. It’s been refreshing to read accessible, funny/sad stories with a “southern sensibility” that are kinda from a different part of the country tho.

some of the cast from The Faculty^

Red Rocket - 5/10 - I’m starting to think I’m just not a huge Sean Baker fan outside of the Florida Project?

I thought the characterization in this movie was great, I particularly loved the story beats that the bastard main character shared with his unlucky neighbor who befriends him and drives him around town. Overall the story was good, and the main guy was a great actor…. but idk…. just left a bad taste in my mouth.

And to be clear it wasn’t cause I couldn’t handle the depiction of a shitty dude being shitty, it is something else. Do ya’ll have this issue with Sean Baker films??

I don’t think it’s even that I have trouble with the (kinda) exploitative nature of only making movies about sex workers and poor people… cause I’m glad movies are being made about people in these lifestyles and situations.

I think it’s just that when I watch a Sean Baker movie I can always feel his presence as a director orchestrating the whole thing maybe? Like I never feel fully immersed cause I’m just like “dang, this really feels like a movie about these people, not a true slice of life” idk

Pieces of April - 2003 - 1/10 - this movie was genuinely terrible. Saw a picture of Katie Holmes in the outfit she wears in this movie and I was like…. okay slayyyy. But literally other than that one aspect this movie sucks hehe.

Terrible dialogue, unfunny, and just weird.

The letterboxed reviews of this are all really positive so maybe i’m missing something….

There are much better movies about mother/daughter conflict

I’m No Longer Here (Ya no Estoy Aqui) (2019) - 7/10

This one was suggested to me by one of ya’ll!! Thank u!!!

This is a movie about the cumbia music/dance scene in Mexico and a slice of life of a Mexican immigrant in America. The movie takes place 50/50 in both countries.

One of the most beautifully shot movies i’ve ever seen….. there’s multiple jaw dropping shots…. especially the aerial shot towards the end of the movie.

Iconic mp3 player is a major character.

I’m realizing I really don’t know much at all about Mexican culture or experience. I’m so excited to tour there someday and hopefully learn more.

This movie was a great start into becoming more curious.

8/10 -

Was questioning whether to post about this one or not lol.

It’s nonfiction and highly researched written by two iconic ass women. A very informative look into a subculture (BDSM/kink etc) that I really didn’t know much about other than the pop culture representations that I’ve been told time and time again are highly inaccurate.

Mostly about the care and discussions that are crucial to have if you are to enter into a BDSM experience/friendship/relationship with someone.

There is a community for every fuckin thing ur into. Honestly therapeutic to read about freaky people being into freaky shit!

Music May 2025

I made both a monthly playlist as well as a 2025 master playlist! Sorry I use spotify… I am ashamed!!! But I’ve got playlists from friends that have since passed away on there that I’m scared to transfer for some reason. lol that’s my excuse…. I’m also gradually trying to make a playlist on Youtube for these but it’s kinda a time suck… I’ll just sit down and watch some movies and try to update it all.

Damn it’s been a chaotic ass listening month for me… if you can’t tell. I got a fuckin jonas brothers song on the playlist??? ok girl. As well as the Jet Set Radio soundtrack… so good for running though.

I’ve been bumping the new Bitchin’ Baja’s record with the Natural Information Society. Their whole discography rocks. I wish this was the music that was playing anytime I get a massage. It’s definitely a sound for that type of situation… but the best version of it. I saw them play a few years ago at the Pilot Light in Knoxville and it was the last time live music made me cry (actually not true I cried when Waxahatchee played “Much Ado About Nothing” at Hopscotch). But the Baja’s made me cry cause they were holding a single beautiful chord for like 5 minutes and then changed it to another somehow more beautiful chord…. I was MOVED.

The new Florry album is completely blowing my mind. Francie’s voice is wildly good on this new shit. Especially in their song “Pretty Eyes Lorraine”. Whole album fucking cooks tho.

Binch I love Toner. They’re a Wednesday tour van staple. We’ve played with them a few times too and they’re secret sweeties…. although you could be fooled by how like “idgaf” they look lol

I think I talked about the new Friendship music last month, but that record is out too and fucking rocks.

New Tracy Nelson record! We met Austin years ago when we played a Philly show with Tagabow and Hotline TNT and he was on second guitar.

Jake recorded this a billion years ago when we still lived in Haw Creek together so it’s kinda crazy to hear now. I sing on a bunch of these. “Just Shoot Me Now” is my faveeeeeey.

April 2025

whats up bitches!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Hope ya’ll’re good….. it’s been a CWAZY month for Wednesday shit. Most of it ya’ll won’t see til next month… but tell u wut…. May is the month for some mother fucking ANSWERS

I have had the happiest month I have had in a long time thank FUCK <333

I got bought some shit this month unlike last month so here we go fellas and squirrels

I got these Chippewa Leather Steel toed engineer boots on Ebay<3 I wear them basically every day. They are a half size too big which is great cause my feet get all swollen in the summer. I have walked miles in these already. Read an interview with Michelle William’s on Blackbird Skyplane talking about the engineer boots she wears in the movie Blue Valentine….. and I was like bitch THOSE are the boots I have been searching for my entire life. I will wear them until I am buried.

I bought this GORGINA mesh shirt at NYC’s Venus in Tokyo, a shop my friend Al recommended I visit while I was up there to record for a certain Late Night Television program…!!!

The store features a bunch of indie designers… its fucking awesome. Go check em out if ur into small designers and 1 of 1 pieces !!

I’m going to wear the absolute shit out of this shirt…. it’s from a brand called Nausicaa.

I’m sugar free and discovered these recently: I’m crunchin on em like my life depends on it

Here are my physical music purchases for the month.

FINALLY got my fave ambient record ever: Kali Malone’s “The Sacrificial Code” on vinyl.

I’ve been on a George Jones kick so I got a collection of his songs on CD, as well as Richard and Linda Thompsons “I Want to See the Bright Lights Tonight” and a compilation of NC Old Time music I found at Mckay’s. I’ll probably put my fave tracks from it on next months music playlist once I hear em s’more.

Here’s a DVD haul!

Some classics I’ve seen, some I haven’t, and then some shit I haven’t seen and have never heard of but that I took a chance on!

I have already seen Cody Banks (what our song “Cody’s Only” is named after), Audition, Coraline, and Run Lola Run and can vouch for the quality of all four.

The other’s I haven’t seen and will probably review next month if I get to watching all of em.

<333333

⋆˚𖥔 ݁ ˖𓂃.☘︎ ݁˖ take care babies!!!! ⋆˚𖥔 ݁ ˖𓂃.☘︎ ݁˖

April Movies/TV/Books

I watched the new season of “Love on the Spectrum”. Such a sweet and uplifting show<33333 I love Georgie <3

I was averse to this show at first cause I thought it would be mad exploitative but they do this shit with so much fucking care… If you’re thinking about it I suggest giving it a try. Great for putting on in the background while you fold laundry and stuffs.

Also picked up Mary Miller’s book, who I met for the first time at the festival. I’m not quite finished with it yet but so far it’s many collected slice of life stories about various ex boyfriends in her life. I like the description she has of a roof outside of her kitchen window that is inaccessible and thus becomes a repository for random trash and bottles. I love taking pictures of random alcoves like that where trash gets collected.

If you would like to read about one of the ladiez from that show “Girls” but instead of NYC she’s dating in Mississippi you’d probably like this!

ummmm… what did I watch this month….

OH YEAH I FINALLY WATCHED THE CROW (1994) MOTHERFUCKERS

10/10…. gotta add it to my all time faves……. epic fucking movie. The hair/makeup/clothes plus the goth ass setting…… FUCK. Perfect and just what I motherfucking needed. Epic soundtrack featuring one of my favorite bands Medicine!! Brandon Lee unbearably hot mode

I watched this movie “Elsewhere” with my friend who loves Anna Kendrick cause it was a dollar at the thrift… it was one of her first movies. It was so bad. 1/10 so boring do not bother fr. The cover makes it look better than it is. Such a frustrating watch.

Reread my friends Ashleigh’s book of short stories after seeing her read at the Southwest Review festival I played in Dallas this month. I forgot how fucking good it is literally 10/10, not just cause shes a buddy of mine either.

Easy to read but characters that explode your heart. Plus if you see her read you can imagine the whole book in her strong north carolina accent (rarer and rarer to hear these days)!

If you love Harry Crews (like I do!) but would love a less misogynist approach ya oughta pick this up.

Music April 2025

As usual here’s the playlist! A little shorter this month than usual. I kinda got into the mode where I truly just wanted to listen to the same couple songs over and over.

As predicted it was a big month for Polvo, I listened to their album Cor-Crane Secret ova and ova. It’s my favorite of all the ones I listened to in their discography this month.

I also listened to this band Truman’s Water. Especially their first album , 1993’s “Spasm Smash Xxxodxox Ox & Ass”. It sounds like a Pavement, Pixies and a Swirlies song playing at the same time.

I was deeply stuck on this specific George Jones’s song. It has all the sadness of spring within it!

My favorite Friendship song is finally out!!!! I have been addicted to this song since i heard Dan play it solo on the MJ/Wednesday solo dates last December. “Who’s that shithead!!!!! in my living room???? Playing resident evil????”

New Colin Miller record out as well!!! He recorded the first MJ and Wednesday albums and also drums in MJ and the Wind. I love many songs on this record but I think “Thunder Road” is my fave

New Bleary Eyed single is fucking so sick…. some really exciting noises and sounds on this one. Gives me hope. Plus Alan is repping them in tshirt form in the press photos we took this month for the next Wednesday album….

Been jamming this when I need a pick-me-up… it was a weird month. The beginning was mad weird brain wise but by the end I am the happiest I’ve been in years…. funny!

This label reissues a lot of cool shit

Finally… now that it’s getting warm out it’s time for that SHITTY (complimentary<3) pop country!!!!

Get me on a GD pontoon boat and blast this shit!!!!!!

March 2025

I didn’t buy much shit this month…. so I’m gonna talk about some of tried and true stuff

Skin care:

I use a lot of Korean Beauty stuff and very simple grandma skincare cause I got the worlds most sensitive skin

Mixoon Bean Oil Cleanser

Vanicream Face Wash

Vanicream Face Lotion

I did get a new toner (for the face not for the printer) tho that has been rocking my fockin world.

Here is my favorite place in the world:

Here is where I work…..

Is it a mess? Yes…..

But I get so much done here so deal with it!!!

As far as “stuff” goes…. I think thats the bulk of it.

gotta bunch of stuff in music and media sections this month tho so check em out!

March Movies/Books/TV

9/10 - Love, Liza

It’s hard not to love Phillip Seymour Hoffman… this was his first lead role in a film. He plays a gas sniffin’ widow. Kathy Bates in this movie too… and idk if this is a thing already but I’m joining her fan club which I am calling: the Kath-ter Baters.

Jim O’Rourke soundtrack…. I mean

It is very fucking good. Denny is one of my favorite supporting characters I’ve encountered in a really long time.

I’m starting to wonder how many movies PSH has with burning houses playing a character.

8/10 - First Reformed

Ethan Hawke is my MAN… he is my comfort actor. I will watch pretty much anything he’s in. I really loved First Reformed.

It does the religion —> suspense thing with a subtly that is missing from a lot of recent religious horror movies. I feel like a lot of christian imagery is pretty heavy handed recently… maybe i’m thinking of that new movie Heretic, although I haven’t seen it.

I called someone I knew who had also watched First Reformed to discuss it with them as soon as I finished it. I wanted to hear what they thought of the ending but I also needed to be pulled out of the reverie… cause this movie sucked me into it’s world.

I love the idea of a guy who works at a tourist trap church. And they delved into that character without a slightest hint of camp which I actually really appreciated. Nothing I love more than a slice of life.

7/10 - Blazing Saddles

This is our pedal steel player Xandy’s fave Mel Brooks movie and I had yet to see it so I thought I’d finally watch it since I found it on DVD.

Obviously the writing is incredible, the jokes definitely had me googling pop culture references constantly. I do enjoy watching a movie about two guys becoming buddies <3 Blazing Saddles trotting so Broke Back Mountain could gallop? Who’s to say?

The image that stuck with me the most is when they show that both the guy and the horse he rode in on have nooses around their necks at the public hanging.

Gene Wilder, another comfort actor of mine is always like seeing an old friend. I love Madalyn Kahn but I like her much more in “What’s Up Doc"?”, one of my favorite movies of all time.

I think Space Balls is still my favorite Mel Brooks…… I watched it 800 times as a kid and it left a forever impression.

1/10 - Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003)

I picked this up in a DVD haul I wrote about in January thinking it was the original… it was not. It was not good and I didn’t finish it. None of the actors were convincing Texans. Should I try the original or the 2013 next?

One redeeming thing though is that it had this guy Eric Balfour who I love from Six Feet Under and Buffy:

7/10 - Anora

Finally saw Anora! I watched it on a plane so my viewing experience wasn’t the best per se…. but idk I was just not that connected to it. I thought Mikey Madison was so good and a joy to watch as Anni the movie overall hm… wasnt my cup of tea for whatever reason. Maybe it’s cause I hated Vanya so fuckin much and didn’t connect with many of the other characters that dominated so much of the screen time.

I really wanna love this movie though so I’ll probably be rewatching it soon.

Anotha month of lotsa reading! One book I will not share because it kinda reveals too much about what I’ve been working on recently:)))))) But, here’s everything else I read this month. Lotsa graphic novels and comics this time

I read the first 3 issues of “Hyde Street”…. and I’m definitely gonna keep reading as they come out. It follows a group of poor souls who drag bastards to hell. All of the characters are given really compelling backstories, many unlike anything I’ve ever seen described in other stories. I always appreciate anything that innovates in a reliable format. I think the afterlife is a subject explored many places in media… but this approach is unlike any i’ve ever read. Really excited to keep following these characters.

My favorite thing I read this month was the first collection of “Harrow County” comics. Set in North Carolina (any wonder that I like it so much?) in the 1930’s it follows a young girl who is the reincarnation of a famous evil witch. The art is exactly the haunting griminess that I relate to and captures the disturbing feeling i’m always trying to describe.

I’ve been reading “Priestdaddy” and loooving it. Her internal monologue brings a similar comfort to me as Mary Karr’s does: clever, funny, zooming in on tiny moments that bear huge emotional significance. My favorite kind of memoir to read: an intimate look at a neurotic but loveable family.

Had someone in the comments recommend me “Squee!” a comic by Jhonen Vasquez so I picked up a collection! Jhonen also wrote Invader Zim and Johnny the Homicidal Maniac. I loved reading it soooo much and this is such a nostalgic kind of early internet influenced humor for me to revisit. There is also a really sweet and unfiltered way that both Jhonen and Roman Dirge (who wrote Lenore) talk to their readers in the prefaces of these books. I really appreciate their unpolished approaches… as a creator it is really comforting. The titular character Squee is Courage the Cowardly Dog if he was a little kid. A deeply troubled soul. The ending of his story is very cinematic I can’t believe he pulled it off in comic form.

9/10 - Somebody Somewhere

This is one of the sweetest shows I’ve ever seen… and somehow also one of the funniest. Ultimate comfort watch even though it deals with a lot of real ass shit. It’s set in Manhattan, Kansas and follows a group of friends and family who live there and take care of each other. Fred Rococo is the most precious man on TV.

I also watched Succession finally…. it was incredible and flawless. It took me forever to sit down and watch it. I did it. That’s all ya need to know. I love cousin Greg OBVIOUSLY.

That’s all for March!!! Bye <3

Music March 2025

Here’s a playlist for this month, again, ordered by moment of discovery not any sort of cohesive listenability. I ain’t precious about that.

Really been enjoying Shizuka. She was buds with the Les Rallizes Dénudés ppl. “III” is like low-fi demoy ballads and “Heavenly Persona” is noiser. “Plan For Solitude” makes me feel like i’m watching that scene at the end of Train to Busan where the little girl is singing through tears in the tunnel after escaping from the zombies, unknowingly saving her own life.

I have a feeling that April will be a month devoted to the discography of the infamous North Carolina and Merge Records band Polvo. Strangely enough I haven’t had a devoted moment to them yet in my lifetime. It is time. This was a realization I had on March 30th, so I think I’ll have more to say about the music at the end of April. Just so strange I have yet to really dig into this band considering how much I love Sonic Youth and Swirlies…. which are built on very similar sonic foundations. I find music that uses more these more innovative and unconventional but vaguely gazey sounds much more inspiring than traditional shoegaze. At least shoegaze that really commits to the “rules” and precedent set by Slowdive and MBV etc.

I listened to an episode of this podcast HardLore that was inerviewing the guy Todd from Nails. Nails is known as a really accessible entry point into heavy-azz music, I suggest giving their classic “Unsilent Death” a listen if you’re curious. I’ve always been a fan of em, since Alan played me some of their songs in the tour van, and think they do a lot of really exciting shit. I think making accessible music in heavy genres is cool. My friend Will said Nails is a classic “door guy’s tshirt” band. We were wondering what other tshirts guys doing door at venues often wear to signal dominance, feel free to comment below.

Todd spoke a lot about other hardcore bands he came up playing with in the 90’s and I found a lot of fun songs going down that rabbit hole.

Carry On is a legendary band he was in… I didn’t know about it before the podcast. My relationship with hardcore music has been really funny. I find it in a lot of random places and have missed hearing many of the foundational bands and classics. So I’m circling back and doing recon a bit. I really loved listening to a bands adjacent to the early Carry On/Nails scene: Buried Alive (they’re from Buffalo!), Go It Alone (Vanocuver), and Terror (LA).

I’m honestly not a huge fan of the gang vocals in a lot of these songs… they harken back to my middle school days listening to A Day to Remember which I’m assuming was influenced by this stuff. I’ve been getting lots of inspiration from their energy though.

I love the Oklou album………

It’s the first collection of songs in a while that I would describe as “minimal” and “tasteful” that isn’t boring or tedious in anyway.

I appreciate her patience and long intros. Really builds the world before coming in with anything akin to a “hook”

In a similar but totally different vein I leave you with Michelle Mercure. “Ahead of her time” is a gross understatement. The sounds she gets out of her analog equipment are so fucking impressive.

The album below is a collection of her self produced and self released songs in the 80s

Movies/Books/Media February 2025

I have had so much more mental space for books this month!!! Feels good to get back in the saddle w that.

I’ve been doing research for some writing of my own and reading like 6 or 7 books at once.

“The Year of Magical Thinking” by Joan Didion has been my fave. It is a memoir about the aftermath of her life after her husband dies at the kitchen table, while their daughter is in a medically induced coma. Straight forward writing that I really appreciate. I love a book that is easy to read but that packs in lots and lots and lots of emotion. Joan and her husband are “intellectuals” for sure and some of their habits make me roll my eyes, but like I said the writing is just ⸜(｡˃ ᵕ ˂ )⸝♡ I’d give it an 8/10

I’ve also loved “Florida” by Lauren Groff and “Another Bullshit Night in Suck City” by Nick Flynn. I’m not as far into these yet so can’t say an overall review but love both of their writing. Florida is more about the dark and absurd shit that passes for mundane life in Florida. The Nick Flynn novel is a memoir about a guy who works in a homeless shelter, and who’s absent father ends up staying there. I’m also reading “Gig” which is a collections of interviews where people just talk about their jobs. I mainly like the really absurd ones but even the “normal” jobs have plenty of absurd aspects.

I’m not sure how it took me 28 years to find the Lenore comics by Roman Dirge…. but they tap into a viewpoint and tone I have always related to. Gives me the similar “seen” feeling I got from reading “Cruddy” by: Lynda Barry

The crazy part is that Roman Dirge just release his first Lenore comic in 6 years this week…. I had no idea that was happening when I ordered his first four collections of comics a few weeks ago. I feel like when that shit happens it means you’ve tapped in at just the right moment you needed to.

So far I have the collections “Noogies” “Wedgies” “Cooties” and “Swirlies”. Excited to dig into the new stuff.

Movies

“Afterlife” by: Hirokazu Koreeda - 6/10

Milking Jake’s Criterion Collection subscription which I am still logged into :))))

In this movie, people in purgatory have to pick one memory from their life before passing on. I love the lady who collects the acorns and leaves.

Very calming but didn’t make me feel any strong emotion considering it’s subject matter.

It’s kinda nice how mundane they make the whole thing though, maybe death is just really like anything else.

I talk a little more about “Athens, GA Inside Out” in the “Podcasts” Section

“Drifter’s Sympathy” podcast - 10/10 -

listening through this for the second time. I think it is my favorite podcast of all time.

Emil Amos tells his personal history, which is especially visceral for me as a fellow North Carolinian who went to college in Asheville as he did.

Some of the most insane, dark, and entertain stories I have ever heard, all contained within one life.

Through Drifter’s Sympathy I heard about this documentary about the music scene in Athens, GA in the 80s. Here’s a link I found t stream it for free.

It’s most definitely one of my favorite rock docs I’ve ever seen. The filming style and format it gorgeous and the bands are so cool. Flat Duo Jets are from Chapel Hill, NC which is sick.

I loved this band Bar-B-Q Killers I found in this doc:

I played a lot of the hit indie card game Balatro to kill my brain

I also played Detention. It is an atmospheric horror game set in 1960s Taiwan

I watched (and adored) the 2018 limited series “Haunting of Hill House” based loosely off of Shirley Jackson’s 1959 novel which I read (and adored) a few months ago

The show started a little wobbly but once I got invested it was such a slay. The scares were good, acting was good, writing was god although I think they used metaphors like…. a little heavily. Especially in the childhood flashbacks.

It made me cry a few times. Both happy and sad tears.

It’s 10 episodes and then it has an end…. more shows like that plsssssss

9.5/10

I’ve been rewatching Buffy with a friend and you know thats a 10/10 for me every time yall

I’ve also gottan into a reality TV show for the first time in years. It’s called “Naked Attraction”. My friends Samuel and March insisted I watch season 2 episode 5 and from that episode I was addicted. The premise is that 1 guy/girl/theythemian gets to pick a date from 6 gradually revealed naked bodies……. and they show the full hog. It’s on HBO. Its addicting.

7/10

Thats all folks…. bye!!

Music February 2025

hello…. I have listened to more new music this month than I have in years.

This is of course because of my switch to exclusively surfing and discovering non-algorithimicly !! I didn’t realize how much of my distaste for new music recently has been because of the seeming tie it had to social capital.

Discovering music through the writings of people who deeply care about it instead of having it shoved down your throat by ads or constant self promotion (i get it tough, do ur thing) really lightens the experience.

I’ve been revisiting this 42 minute cover of Wichita Lineman recorded by Dick Slessig Combo (members of Matmos, Acetone and Radar Brothers). It sounds unapproachable but I swear too god it is just pure easy listening. When the “drop” happens at the 7 minute mark it is sooooo….. :) .

I believe I originally found out of the recording’s existence in this book about Acetone, one of my all time favorite bands. The book is called “Hadley Lee Lightcap”

Here’s one of my fave Acetone songs <3 “Stray (Demo)”

If some patron of the arts out there wants to buy me this vinyl record ………………………………………..

no pressure tho lol I should just buy it my damn SELF………………. but wouldn’t that be crazy and wouldn’t that person be my hero? FR dont do it…. but what if y’know

Here’s a link to a playlist of a bunch of songs I have collected from reading other blogs this month. Probably should’ve been better about keeping track of where I found everything to give cred, but all the blogs I read are credited on my “Resources” tab.

I am not super strict about how I order songs on playlists, although I respect the art. I just kept them in the order I found them.

Here are some highlights:

I needed this one. Gorgeousness

Another kinda chill one…

I think theres an I <3 Huckabees reference in this song?? Kewl

digging the shit out of this new Thou album

deeply heavy

Jane Remover is so cool wtfffff JR JRJRJRJR

Alan showed me this song on tour a million years ago but I’ve been obsessed with it since.

I think its so meditative

Hadn’t thought to look up a live version until this month, but holy shit….. wow

I think I prefer Bassvictim’s approach to this like 2010 style of EDM clubby music over Snow Strippers?

Very nostalgic to me tho I love where this puts my brain

been enjoying the shit out of this^

There is always more I’m listening to but here’s what stuck out <3 take care of yourselves out there fellas

February 2025

Hello Wedheads,

February has been a very strange and important month. I have spent soooooo much time alone. I have been working on some creative projects that I have been after the motivation to make for years. Finally rested enough to really focus on them. (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶) There is a lot I am excited about (˶˃ ᵕ ˂˶)

A few events of this month had left me feeling very exposed and uncomfortable with the state of my life... actually more just the public’s access to the state of my life. But I’ve processed a lot and I’m feeling good!

Some Wednesday band related news: Jake (You know him as MJ Lenderman) won’t be touring with us on lead guitar this album cycle. The man needs some rest. Or other friend (also named Jake) will be filling in. Everything is cool, I feel like this news was heavily dramatized for clicks on the music journalism sites. I get it… get your bag but damn also think about the people you’re talking about. Woof. No plans for me to go solo. Xandy, Alan and Ethan are still touring with Wednesday. That’s the transmission on that front for now.

⠀⠀⠀⢸⣦⡀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⡄⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⢸⣏⠻⣶⣤⡶⢾⡿⠁⠀⢠⣄⡀⢀⣴⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⣀⣼⠷⠀⠀⠁⢀⣿⠃⠀⠀⢀⣿⣿⣿⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠴⣾⣯⣅⣀⠀⠀⠀⠈⢻⣦⡀⠒⠻⠿⣿⡿⠿⠓⠂⠀⠀⢀⡇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠉⢻⡇⣤⣾⣿⣷⣿⣿⣤⠀⠀⣿⠁⠀⠀⠀⢀⣴⣿⣿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠸⣿⡿⠏⠀⢀⠀⠀⠿⣶⣤⣤⣤⣄⣀⣴⣿⡿⢻⣿⡆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠟⠁⠀⢀⣼⠀⠀⠀⠹⣿⣟⠿⠿⠿⡿⠋⠀⠘⣿⣇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢳⣶⣶⣿⣿⣇⣀⠀⠀⠙⣿⣆⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠛⠿⣿⣦⣤⣀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⣹⣿⣿⣿⣿⠿⠋⠁⠀⣹⣿⠳⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢀⣠⣽⣿⡿⠟⠃ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⢰⠿⠛⠻⢿⡇⠀⠀⠀⣰⣿⠏⠀⠀⢀⠀⠀⠀⣾⣿⠟⠋⠁⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠋⠀⠀⣰⣿⣿⣾⣿⠿⢿⣷⣀⢀⣿⡇⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠋⠉⠁⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⢿⣿⣿⠇⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠙⢿⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀ ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠈⠀⠀⠀

I am continuing to love my tiny dumb phone and being off socials!!!!! More deets about it in last months post. It has really really changed my brain and has lessened a lot of my exhaustion from over stimulation.

Now for some faves:

My favorite tshirts this month are this Roman Dirge “You Smell Like Dookie” shirt and this thrashed Bart shirt I got in Japan. My Roman Dirge obsession really popped of this month. I’m reading his comics, and other collections, and now obviously I’m also investing in his tshirts. Roman… if you’re reading this out there…. lets do a merch collab id literally die.

Really haven’t been buying a ton of clothes this month which feels good.

Got some new things in the tech realm too. Got an Ipod classic modded with 1TB memory… tryna git all my bandcamp purchased mp3s on there and just keep it always plugged in ready to play out of my stereo.

I got a lil mouse to use to make some shit I’m working on on my computer more fun. It has a little penguin floating in some water on the bottom.

Also got this lil receipt camera. It creates prints instantly on heat sensitive receipt paper. Both the camera and the “film” are cheap af and the pictures look sick. Just google “receipt camera” and youll find it

this is what the photos look like <3

I made a switch from my big ass wallet to this little tin thing

It fits in my pocket and my previous wallet did not so thats been really sick

speaking of tins: I recently got this altoids tin pill box on etsy.

Size is perfect for traveling, it’s inconspicuous as fuck, and it smells minty :)

Last but not least I got this buffy poster on ebay to fill a gigantic space on my bedroom wall. She watches over me <3

Website Updates since last month:

In archive:

-Countrygazed Corner - archiving fan art !! Submit yours <3

-Tattoo tour - started to document my tattoos, I get a lot of questions about them and wanted to hype up the artists

-Merch archive - added to the archive

-Posted February Music and Media blogs

Contact/Ask

“Answering your Questions” section periodically during the month. Every couple days.

Merch:

-A few things still available from the last drop as well as sweatpants

-Merch commissions - there are a few commissions left available on the merch tab!! These are limited to sizes I don’t usually make: xxs, xs, 3x and larger. I will open up some (probably 10) commissions for other sizes in March.

Thanks for reading!! Have a good March! <3

General January 2025

The biggest most life altering fave I aquired this month is my transition from an iPhone to a slightly dumber and tiny tiny phone called the Unihertz Jelly Star <3 It has everything I need which made he switch a little less shocking. It’s got google maps, music streaming, a back and front facing camera and payments (so I can pay for trains and venmo ppl when I travel etc.) I’m not downloading any social apps on it at the moment other than youtube and tumblr.

It has incredibly reduced my screen time and made using social media not nearly as enjoyable/endorphin releasing. Hoping to avoid socials altogether and just read blogs and non-algorithm based stuff from now on! So far I am LOVING it and highly suggest.

People do get annoyed when you turn their group messages green, but honestly not being in 50000000 group messages has reduced my stress incredibly. I usually had anywhere from 100-300 unread messages on average.

so cute!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Here’s a link to where I got it if you’re interested! They also have a quiz on this site for what dumb phone would work for you/your wireless plan etc. I literally cannot suggest it enough.

I got the blue one <3

Been making the move to physical media over from streaming in general recently which has led to me adding many more VHS/DVDs/CDs and vinyls. Been really nice to dig for stuff out in public and look for steals. Makes listening/watching a much more enjoyable experience so far! Plus supporting local biz always feels really good.

Been shopping at Soul Relief and Buffalo Boogie (both in Greensboro) for music and Acme Comics downtown (Greensboro) and Mckays (Mebane) for movies and TV box sets.

Here’s a haul from January:

FINALLY watching Charmed (as a dedicated Buffy fan it’s very strange it has taken me this long) after picking up season one DVDs. I’m in episode 5?? So far incredible… loving it… everything I imagined and more.

Also got me a copy of Let The Right One In (2008) which is one of my 10/10s for sure. The little boy in this movie has been one of my fashion icons for years at this point. A highly functional dresser who does LOTS of outfit repeating (sustainable king)

I’ve never seen Social Misfits, bought it just from the cover. Ill watch and review in February’s run down.

Brick is a movie I watched with Jake a million years ago and completely forgot about which made me due for a rewatch. Baby Joseph Gordon Levitt.

Also got Heavy Metal Parking lot on VHS at Acme Comics in downtown Greensboro. A classic artifact!!!

I got a double feature of Ring and Ring 2 which I’ve never seen. I’ve seen the original Japanese version though.

Also got Texas Chainsaw after watching this review of Resident Evil 7

I am fucking obsessed with the way his guy edits himself into the games with a green screen

On to fave clothes of the month!!! I was in Japan (the best place for shopping of all time) and picked up a few things I’m in LOVE with

The “pussy” tank is so iconic… I got it as well so I can use it as a pattern make more shirts in this shape myself if I thrift some collared shirts. Its by the brand Mowalola and it’s still for sale I believe ! I got it at The Four-Eyed in Shinjuku. The stores website is reeeeeally cool! They sell all small independent designers.

The pink cashmere sweater is actually just from Freedom House Thrift in Greensboro… you know I got that shit so i feel like whats her name in “Paris, Texas”

The yellow sweatshirt I got at a random flea market I came across in Sagenjaya, Tokyo<3 It is American vintage…. so goofy to export it over here then just bring it right back. I also got these patches at Oi Raceway flea which I added to the sweatshirt <3

If anyone knows more historical info on these lmk in the contact box on my site!! I know they’re from Vietnam. Unsure of the time period.

I bought an expensive perfume for the first time in Japan…. a scent I loved so much I just couldn’t be away from it. I plan on only having one scent for cold months and one scent for warm months to keep consumption in check. Which I def gotta do with perfume because that is an expensive fucking hobby. This is the one I got :) Definitely only the kind of purchase you make once every couple of years. I’ve been using it most days for the last month and it hasn’t made a noticeable dent even slightly in the bottle.

The notes are:

Top: Plum, Cinnamon

Heart: Leather Accord, Violet

Base: Birch Woods, Patchouli, Vanilla

Alright bitches that’s all for now I think! byeee!!!

Movies/TV January 2025

Its been hard to read recently… my brain feels fuzzy. Mostly been reading manga.

I finished the first three volumes of Berserk by Kentaro Miura… they call it they best for a reason.

Of course some of the weird shit to be expected with anime/manga too ofc

I got the first 3 of the really big collections of this series for my birthday and Christmas… they r expensive as hell so I will probably wait til I can ask for them as gifts again to get he next volumes.

I also read a collection of the first three issues of Dragonball too which I got in the airport in Tokyo…. that series is very cute and funny but also jus a smidge too fucked up as far as it’s treatment of the young women in the story…. especially Bulma Jesus christ

As far as movies/TV I watched I’ll just do a very quick overview

Eyes Wide Shut dir Kubrick - 3/10 - Nicole Kidman hot af, movie looks GORGEOUS, underwhelmed by the story, HATE Mr. Cruise OBVIOUSLY

Possession dir Andrzej Zulawski - 8/10 - incredible acting, confusing as fuck, very blue looking, sampled in the next Wednesday album??????

The Audition - Takashi Miike - 10/10 - horrifying in all the right ways and for the right reasons. The office scenes are my favorite, they look so GOOD

Phantom Thread dir PT Anderson - 5/10 - Honestly not my fave of his…. but I love The Master and Magnolia a lot a lot. Clothes were gorgeous. Acting was great obviously… I mean it was what’s his name … he’s basically the goat of all time.

The Doom Generation dir. Gregg Araki - 3/10 - Honestly made me cringe quite a bit. Very edge lord stuff. I see why its iconic for sure though. Also points cause I realized that’s what Ben Kweller wrote “Wasted & Ready” about.

I watched that show BEEF a million years late - 5/10 - …. I thought it was fine, was entertaining for sure! The ending was extremely unsatisfying but all the acting was great

I guess I didn't watch much TV this month….

Music January 2025

Happy New Year lil bitchums

Given the state of he world recently I’ve mostly only been able to listen to noise/screamo/hardcore

A few other things thrown in there as well though

been listening to the new Wednesday album a lot too to approve the final mixes etc etc :)))

Got this on vinyl recently and when this song came on I was like damn okay!!!

Athens Legends… Jake showed me this album a while ago and I’ve recently been going back to it a lot

Is the guitar at the beginning very reminiscent of Feeble Little Horse? yes……. and?

A lot of really cool ideas in here

Greensboro hive RISE

Ethan told me about this band when I met up with him in Mebane to get my passport back

I’m regressing…….. let it happen. This was me and my sisters favorite band in middle school.

Been going back to this one recently…. really wanna cover this