Afternoon Meltdown
A mixtape for your 3PM dance break.
Greetings From Off the Grid
I deleted my Instagram, and I’m sorry to report that life is better on the other side. I’m on my phone less in general, but more importantly:
I’m reading on the train more.
I don’t mindlessly reach for my phone while watching movies and miss key plot points.
Even basic interactions with friends feel more meaningful.
My world is smaller, but life is richer. I don’t miss it even a tiny bit.
Some folks kindly asked that I share some of my film photos in the newsletter, and I’m happy to oblige. Hope your spring is filled with moments of peace, fresh air, and sidewalk chalk.
In other news, I was lucky enough to chat with my buddy Mark Dowling on his podcast First Album Ever. We discuss Goo Goo Dolls’s Dizzy Up the Girl, and you can bet your ass I have thoughts AND feelings about it. I could have talked to Mark for hours about this band and record. If you want to hear me speak on it some more, literally ask me anytime.
I’m making a rare appearance at The Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre on Tuesday, May 6th, for Harold Night Time Machine. I am going to perform a perfect pattern game. Hope some of y’all can make it.
Lastly, Kristin and I will be heading to Japan for 2 weeks this month, so I’ll be taking a tiny hiatus from making mixtapes. I’ll be back in July with something special, so you won’t have to miss me too long! Hope you’re ready for a bunch of photos like the below but actually from Japan.
But right here right now we have a mixtape collaboration with one of the best hangs on the planet, Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell. We had a hoot with this one, and I hope you’ll find some time to cut a rug.
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And hey, if you like it, why not share the mix or this newsletter with a friend?
Afternoon Meltdown
Created in collaboration with Hilary Fitzgerald Campbell for your 3PM dance break.
A few words from Hilary:
*****
Two years ago I started to share my afternoon meltdowns, AKA my 3PM Dance Breaks online because I was like maybe more people should be doing this too or maybe people are already doing this and we should talk about it?? What is a 3 PM Dance Break you ask?? IT'S A BREAK AT 3 PM WHERE YOU DANCE!!!!
It's funny how now, two years later, very often I get stopped by people saying "Are you that cartoonist who dances?" Yes. Yes I am. And I'm VERY FINE with people calling me that!!! I think dancing in the middle of the day in your office, on your roof, in the street, through the G train is one of the greatest things you can do for yourself. Also for a stranger. In the small town that I grew up in in California, there was a woman in town who was famously known as the jogging dancer. She was always on a jog/dance around town, with her headphones and cassette player, bringing joy to herself and everyone who passed by. I was charmed by her at a young age, and will probably think of her til the day I die. She must have felt so good all the time??? She was a complete inspiration (wow I'm getting very sincere right now!!). But SERIOUSLY, as someone who has been a freelancer for ten years, I'm always fighting an afternoon-life-crisis and after trying so many different tips and tricks (COFFEE) I've found the best thing that perks me up both mentally and physically is a mini dance session to some good friggin tunes. Songs that make you wanna sing your heart out. Beats that make you wanna shake your booty in broad daylight. Something that slaps, honey!! And the songs on this mixtape DE-LI-VER.
There's so many types of music that get my feet feeling reeeaal fancy. I think so often the concept of "dance music" is extremely limited. Dance music doesn't only mean EDM. It doesn't only mean pop or R&B. It means... well, anything!!! I have a dream of opening a bar in Brooklyn that plays stuff I actually want to dance to. But until then, I'll have to settle with this mixtape and my living room (not mad about it!). The collection we have here is a real soup of it all, folks. Maybe some of these songs don't initially mean LET'S DANCE to you (like Angie McMahon's Slow Mover) and for that exact reason, I think you should dance to them. Perhaps some of these songs you've already danced to this weekend (Wet Leg's Wet Dream) or you used to dance to them, secretly as a kid--on nights when you were like "I am so interesting and no one seems to know it" (Tom Petty's Don't Come Around Here No More). Maybe these songs are completely new to you, in which case I am jealous because it's so exciting to hear a song you're about to fall in love with. No matter what, to quote Lee Ann Womack, I hope you dance.
*****
Love you all. Hope you enjoy!
Join Me: All Dogs @ TV Eye, Friday, June 27th, 7pm
Philly rock band All Dogs released a great record 10 years ago and toured and that’s about the end of their story. They’re playing some shows soon, and I’m excited to see them again. For reference, the first time I saw them was at Glasslands (defunct) with Cayetana (defunct) on tour to support Waxahatchee (not defunct), who had just released Cerulean Salt (da funk). I saw them a second time at Silent Barn (defunct).
They rule. TV Eye is a great venue. I hope they both stay around a while.
RIYL: Waxahatchee, Cayetana, the return of good things.
Check out All Dogs play "Say" at Silent Barn in 2015.
Some Other Things That Hilary Loves
(that you might love too!)
Tough Enuff - Ok I just found this dude through my brother-in-law, and though I have not actually attended this car meet up in Austin, I am obsessed with everything they're doing. My Mommas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Drive Teslas t-shirt arrives this week!!!!
One Sec App - This app kicks me out of all social media and I'm eternally grateful for it, my god.
Night Owl - A new DVD/VHS store has opened in Williamsburg and it's completely perfect! I recently canceled all of my streaming services because I am so over the bullshit and the tactics and I'm so happy to return to my DVDs. I can't believe I ever thought I needed anything else!
Learning how to paint with gouache - It's a lot harder than I anticipated but I'm having fun! I've always used watercolors and I figured, gouache is just heavy watercolor. True? SORT OF, YES BUT NOT REALLY! Learning a new art is fascinating, humbling, and invigorating. AI will never take the feeling of painting away from us.
Bakeri - Anywhere you can order toast and hang near flowers is the place to be!!
Raised by Ghosts - I just finished this new graphic memoir from Briana Loewinsohn and would you believe its the book version of Made You A Mixtape? A MUST READ.
Cowgirl string lights - I just put these up in my office!!!
Sitting in the sun - What can i say!! it's the thing to do!!!
It Should Happen To You - Just revisited this RIOT of a film from 1954, a film I could only describe as the original Kardashians. If you haven't seen, it's quite the romp!!
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