FORTH Edition!
FRIENDS!
This is the FORTH email. It's the last day of 2024. my god, it's full of stars...to quote the movie.
if you're getting this for the first time..well, sorry you missed the first three...! (let me know if you don't want 'em in your inbox!)
SO...WHAT IS AARON doing? HOW is Aaron doing?
I'm super enjoying keeping it chill before a busy 2025 after what was a pretty damn good 2024.
I saw Nosferatu this week and it's still living in my head. kinda kicked my ass.
Anyways...enough of my ramblings... SO, what's coming up this month?
Jan 3rd - I'm guesting on guitar with the mighty Black Night Crash at the Tractor Tavern. stacked bill. I'm going to shoegaze the hell out of the situation. Be warned. So much so that I put together a special pedal board for this..including a wah-wah pedal. God help me.
Jan 4th - Justin Townes Earle night at the Tractor Tavern - I love the late great JTE and am very very honored to sing two of his songs. two of my favorites.
Jan 17th - LONG DARK MOON returns with a slew of new songs at Conor Byrne. We're using this show as a chance to put some new music through its paces. it'll be a bit raw, probably messy. But we want to find out what these songs can do and the only way is to do it in person with you.
And then, FEB 13th....I am so excited for this event. Prior to the pandemic I produced these MusiCares benefits over 5 years, and then it just got to be a bit much. I'm feeling refreshed and inspired to do it again. And this year, it's going to be something special.
Check it out: KEXP and the Tractor Tavern present a special MusiCares benefit concert. Bringing together an incredible lineup of artists to support the health and well-being of musicians to play the songs of Jason Molina. This all-star event will feature some of Seattle's most beloved musicians, with proceeds going to MusiCares, a vital resource that provides assistance to music professionals in times of need.
Featuring:
David Bazan
Dean Johnson
King Youngblood
Star Anna
Julia Massey
Kathy Moore
Long Dark Moon
Cumulus
Annie J
Caitlin Sherman
Fredd Luongo
Low Hums
Mike Frazier
Barb Hunter
Original attachment included with this newsletter.
Ok, thanks for playing along and I hope this wasn't too annoying!!
If you've read this far...I invite you to write me a question and I'll try and answer it in my next email! I like questions!
Aaron
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https://www.instagram.com/aaronstarkey/
https://www.instagram.com/longdarkmoon/
OK! I received two questions from dedicated readers!
- "Do you like to eat dinner before, during or after you play a show? And do you have sort of a go-to for meal type on a show night, or just whatever you’re feeling that night?"
- "What’s your favorite way to prepare for a show? Like, do you have a solo ritual, quiet time, practice time or prefunk warm up vibes? Share a behind the scenes moment!"
I think I can answer both of these at once!
It..depends. If i'm singing, i hardly ever eat 4 hours before a show and if i do, it's something super chill and not much. AFTER the show, i'm very much interested in chowder or a burger from Hatties. Or if the show isn't in Ballard (which..um..weird?), then a street dog or tacos is the way to go. If however, i'm playing guitar, then i'm all in on a nice meal at least an hour before. Anything sooner, and I really won't eat much at all. When preparing for a show, my ritual is to change my guitar strings that morning. I like them to sit on the guitar for a while, I like to go through the different parts of the guitar and check things out..the bridge, nut, etc. stretch the strings. make sure i have my cords and pedals..."just" how i like 'em, etc. I find that to be grounding so that when I get to the show, I know that it's all ready to GO. I also try to spend 5-10 minutes warming up with my guitar if there is a green room. just to get my hands moving around on the neck. I also try to not talk too much before I play. I kinda like the isolation of it so that when I get up to play, I can feel the energy of the room for the first time. AFTER the show, I really need a good 20-30 minutes to chill out and get centered as I find I need that before I can really hang out or chat with folks. I wish I was more social in that regard, but experience has shown me that if I don't get that time then I tend to be a little out of it and it's hard to focus on what people are saying, etc.
You are getting this email because we have played music together...or you've come to a show...or we've done music business type before...or we're buddies...or you have expressed a deep, longing desire to stay connected to what I'm up to musically. #desire
if you don't want it...please reply back and you'll never get it again!