11.17 A wknd w/ Junebug
The artist on bowling, botanical gardens and her Sunday-night show at Arlene's Grocery
First, allow us to take a moment to appreciate the fact that this newsletter is currently being composed at a cruising altitude of… actually the little screen doesn’t tell us that. But we are indeed cruising over what appears to be Minneapolis (or something in the middleish?) at the moment. And sure, it’s pretty easy to take a lot of stuff for granted, but man… wifi in the sky?! MARVEL!
And, ya know what, while we’re at it…
Planes? MARVEL!
The internet? MARVEL!
Biscoff? MAR—
Well, maybe not a marvel, but truly one hell of a cookie. This tray table is totally covered in crumbs.
Anyway! Flying is time that I (Sam) usually reserve for getting a little drunk while watching Mamma Mia and crying, so let’s get on with this SETLIST before I commence the traditional Abba-soundtracked sobfest, shall we?!
HAPPY FRIDAY TO ALL WHO CELEBRATE! Happy to report that your plans for the weekend have officially arrived via Junebug—whose excellent six-track EP My Therapist Told Me is OUT NOW!
🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉
As this is NYC, a good chunk of us are probably paying a licensed professional to listen to our problems, but despite its title, the new record from Junebug—that’s Carolyn Fahrner, btw—isn’t a compilation of wise words, comforting reminders and reality checks courtesy of an emotionally intelligent individual who says “and how does that make you feel” a whole lot.
Rather, the artist’s EP is both a reference to and result of the vital act—and deep, dark art—of self-analysis. An exercise in and exploration of therapizing—and in some cases, over-therapizing—herself. A product of turning over every single emotional rock and working to understand, and accept, not just what she found— but also what she didn’t.
On the EP, Carolyn says:
“I wrote My Therapist Told Me over the course of 3 years of my life across numerous apartments and throughout changes in my life. When piecing together this EP, it became clear this EP was mostly one of reflection on a consistent feeling of pathologizing myself - as if I could be my own therapist. At a certain point, I think I found it humorous that I was trying so hard to understand my own thoughts when in fact there was nothing to understand. Influenced by artists like Christian Lee Hutson and Andy Shauf, I wanted the listener to have the experience of being told a story, but hearing from different perspectives along the way. These songs are both methods of introspection and a demonstration of how much I've grown as a songwriter and musician since the previous EP. I'm grateful to Allen Tate who helped breath life into these songs through production, instrumentation, engineering, and mixing. My hope is that this EP finds those who relate to the feeling of over-pathologizing oneself, and the simultaneous endeavor of radical acceptance of where you are now.”
Personal faves ‘round these parts are probably “Mary” (I don’t know how I got lost in these sick hypotheticals / Making me think what is fucked is acceptable”) and “Therapy” (“But fuck there’s a parasite eating away from the inside of me / Asking me over and over is this who you wanna be” ) but please do yourself a favor and go listen to the entire beauty (!!!!) of an EP ASAP. Word on the street is it’ll make you cry *almost* as much as Mamma Mia.
THEN! Don’t miss your opp to catch Junebug liiiiive THIS SUNDAY at Arlene’s Grocery with Gemma Laurence, Raising Daughters and Nectarine Girl.
As for the rest of the weekend, Carolyn has got you covered. Here’s hopin’ you have a reallyreallyreally good one <3
[BUT FIRST: PRESS PLAY]
FRIDAY
My approach to this weekend itinerary is more of a second person explanation of a weekend in my life. I hope you enjoy it - and take what resonates.
HAPPY FRIDAY!!! I assume you’ve made it through your work week. You awake to the sounds of Brooklyn - hopefully at an unreasonably late hour if you were not working. If I’m not working, I’m probably running errands or wasting my entire day at the DMV finally getting my learners permit. Assuming you're sleep deprived and spend the day inside, you actually begin your weekend on a friday night. You feel like going for a nice meal, so you head to Win Son - despite the long wait on a Friday night - and have a nice meal. I recommend the pork buns! After a nice meal, you head to Tradesman for a few drinks. It’s a nice local spot - you’ve probably been there too many times. Finally, you head to Ornithology to watch some jazz and observe the crowd.
SATURDAY
You’ve made it to Saturday finally! You coerce your friends to accompany youtube to Tina’s Place. You spend too long deciding on what to order…
If you somehow have the energy, you decide to take an adventure during the day and head all the way out to Coney Island - another great people watching location. Most likely, you’ve ended up on Coney Island because you’ve been coerced by your brother to go and ride some roller coasters. You ride the Thunderbolt, the Wonder Wheel, and eat a hot dog, before a long commute back to Bushwick.
After taking a nap, you somehow rally and end up at The Gutter. You grab a number - you have to pick a number to wait for a bowling alley - and after a long wait and a few drinks, you finally get to bowl.
SUNDAY
The weekend is soon coming to a close, but not without a Lower East Side trip. Since it’s 2pm and you still haven’t eaten, you stop at North Dumpling for some cheap food. After wandering around for a good hour, you eventually decide to go for a wander up to 6BC Botanical Garden. Finally, you end up at Arlene’s Grocery at 7pm to see Gemma Laurence, Raising Daughters, Nectarine Girl, and Junebug!!!
Itinerary above written + submitted by Junebug. Follow the band at @junebug.mp3, buy music on Bandcamp and add the songs to your Spotify playlists!
Feature image provided by the artist.
MORNING ANNOUNCEMENTS
In sweet, sweet fundraising news—two updates!
After BANDSKETBALL—the first inaugural band vs. band music tournament and music fest in October—we were stoked to donate $745 to Willie Mae Rock Camp! Thanks to everyone who came out and participated! We’re already planning next year’s…
ALSO! Last week’s TURKEY SLAMDOWN brought in $3,000 (!!!!!) for Make the Road NY. Best bands, best vibes, best times. One again, huuuuge thank you to everyone who played/participated/partied—and especially to My Son the Doctor for organizing.
THAT’S THE POWER OF COMMUNITY IN ACTION BABY! YEEHAW!
Heads up that due to the holiday, there will (probably) be no SETLIST next Friday due to important obligations such as kicking it with loved ones sans laptop + deciding which of these turkeys to adopt. In the spirit of being thankful — THANK YOU SO MUCH for subscribing and supporting and being part of the glorious little NYC music scene we are all so lucky to call home. YOU ARE THE BEST AND DON’T YOU FORGET IT! Happy holidays <3
RELEASE RADAR
New(ish) stuff from local (+ occasionally, once-local) artists we love, listed in no order whatsoever:
"Popcorn Ceiling” // BRODEO
“Not This Time” // Kristin Flammio & The Pretty Bitchin’
“Cruel Summer” cover // New Myths
“Toy” // Shred Flintstone
“Saint Sardine” video // Tea Eater
IT’S HAPPENIN’
12/5 STRONG LITTLE SONGS ft.Sam Zalta, Taylor Yancey (of Mary Shelley), Redbud and our co-host Arlo Indigo benefitting Toys for Tots - BYOB and donation-based - DM 4 address!
12/6 HOLIDAY BASH + SOCK DRIVE ft. Mary Shelley (single release!), Wetsuit, Redbud, BRODEO, Go Home @ Our Wicked Lady - Tix here
12/8: HOLIDAY BASH 2 + SOCK DRIVE ft. Jelly Kelly, SKORTS, Wakelee, Tennis Courts, Redbud @ Arlene’s Grocery - Tix here
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