Here we are. It's a Saturday in June. I kept myself up too late last night to wake up at a respectable time today. It's hard to be young in this way; it's too easy to wake up at a dishonorable time. I hope to evolve enough to consistently wake up at a respectable time by the end of this decade, and ultimately wake by an impressive time somewhere in the next until I'm an old man who waits by the dawn's early light until the birds catch on to the start of the new day. Just then will I stick my tongue out at them and call them sleepyheads and part-timers and tell them they are too late and that I already got the worm. Some day.
Got a haircut at 10AM which leveled out my self esteem after squandering the morning with half-sleep. I bitched to my barber that I was tired and hungry, and he laughed, and I walked away with less hair, so I can't complain about the deal. In true 21st century fashion, I found a cafe-bar-hybrid to occupy while I made this website. I figured a coffee would be good to help me begin its creation and that I would require something punchier once I remembered I'm no good at these types of things. I was exactly correct. The black coffee was good, but the Mezcal was better. I asked the girl behind the bar if I could order one of their specialty drinks but change the liquor in it to Mezcal and she showed marked signs of excitement. “Absolutely, you can! I love Mezcal," she said as I returned the cocktail menu, as if I had just confessed to her that I grew up on the same street that she did. It's nice how something as simple and arbitrary as a common preference between us can make us feel safer in each other's company. I don't say any of this to mock her — actually the opposite. A lot of folks seem to be stunted in the ways of simple relations and expression. Myself included. After I finished the whole drink, she asked how it was, and I said ‘It was terrific. Thanks a lot.’
I've written more songs than I needed this month. Good problem to have. Usually, in times of creative abundance, the excess tunes just see themselves out. The good ones use their autonomy to develop and define themselves further until they've solidified their place at least for a time, while the weaker, without-a-country, unsure ones fall away like dogs on a voluntary walk to the pound. Except dogs don't do that. Hahahaha. I plan to play at least 4–5 of the new good ones at my shows next month. On July 11th, I am joined by my sister, Kayla Lunden, for a show at Heritage Hill in Pompey, New York. Kayla is the best songwriter and vocalist I know, and my all-time favorite company. We will sing some of Kayla's songs, new and old, as well as mine, do the sibling harmony thing, and likely substitute everything for Mezcal after. We are opening for good friends Isaac French + Mike Powell and the Echosound.
On July 21st I will open for Matt Maeson and Hazlett on Papermill Island for 95X's ‘Island Takeover’ summer concert series. I've never opened for a nationally touring act before or played for as many folks as Papermill Island gets, so I am excited and nervous. My plan is the same as always: do what I always do and have fun doing it. Except I may sit down this time. We'll see.
I'm thinking I'll use this to keep you in the loop and then for whatever else I feel like using it for. Lists, poems, rambles, drink orders, and other miscellaneous items that don't fit neatly elsewhere.
See you July 11,
Jon