Former Times Demos

old songs with friends might cheer me up just a little bit

IT’S TOUGH OUT THERE RIGHT NOW.

Even though I knew it would be, living through what feels like the gutting of democracy as we know feels very painful to me. And one of the problems I’m particularly having is realizing no one is coming to save it. I keep waiting for some heroic emergence, and the people who tried to warn us, are like, ya that’s what we were talking about. So here it is.

What do we do? We are the resistance. We have to speak up, object and deflect. Small actions feel like not enough, but I am still trying to hold strong and learn as much as I can about what’s really happening out there. Thank goodness (again and again) for Heather Cox Richardson - I read her daily and reread it again, and Timothy Snyder from ‘Thinking About…’ , Pod Save America, and everyone out there trying to inform the public about the daily whiplash everyone is susceptible to. Who ARE they trying to help but themselves with all these unconstitutional, illegal measures with this coup on American Democracy.

I have felt consumed by the daily tragedies and it is hard to think about writing when this fight/flight/freeze process keeps on bubbling through the system, but I also know it is important to try and keep writing during these times. It can be regulating to the nervous system to engage in creative activities, no matter how hard it feels to start.

It’s also super important to get exercise and spend some time getting fresh air. I know it sounds lame, but it is super helpful. I’ve been playing a lot of tennis this year so far and hitting a ball repeatedly has done wonders for my mental health.

I hope we can all find ways to help each other through, and listen to each other when we are feeling upset and sad about what is happening. Educate each other on ways to help people still have rights, jobs and support. I am going to do my best.

Recently my dear friend and co-collaborator John Calvin Abney was cleaning out a drawer in his studio and found an old jump drive. It turned out to be some recordings we made at Folk Alliance International back in early 2016. That sure sounds like a lifetime ago! He mixed and mastered the tracks and sent them to me recently. I put them up on Bandcamp yesterday and named it Former Times Demos.

Former Times Demos, released on BandCamp this weekend, in honor of the Former Times.

These songs would end up on my release of that year ‘What She’s Got to Give’ but these are super stripped down versions of those songs, plus one other unreleased song called ‘Ann’s Boots.’ You can definitely hear the Gillian Welch/David Rawlings influence in our playing from that time, and I’m not even mad about it. It’s a treasure to work with John Calvin. Whenever we get a chance to work together, I am so much happier. One of my musical twins in this world, I love his songs and also what he contributes to my material.

Listening back to the tracks and Abney’s wonderful guitar playing are proving to be a balm to my soul. Check it out:

Thanks for reading and listening. Stay awake and hug a friend when you can. Drink a lot of water too. I love you.

xoxo megan