Sun and Sound
Embracing the springtime and taking it all in
I am sitting on my porch in the middle of a giant beam of sunshine on a beautiful day in Chicago. I brought my cat, Jerry, to sit with me in the sun, but he’s a bit too eager to venture farther outside. I understand it, honestly. I just finished my coffee, and I thought: “hey…. I haven’t written in my substack in a while”. So here I am.
The last month of my life was inundated with some of the most impactful sets of music and art I have seen in my life. At Big Ears alone I saw Kali Malone play a late night pipe organ set in a cathedral, the Meridian Brothers (I love them so much), Ichiko Aoba with string quartet, Charlotte Adigery and Bolis Pupul. I got back to Chicago and Brandon Johnson won the mayoral election (!!!!!!!!!!). I then saw a piece called “Touch of Red” by Shamel Pitts at the MCA.
Side note: I am STILL thinking about that performance and I have a feeling I will be for a long time. I got out of the theater and started to tear up- I have never seen something so intentional, so intense, so FUN, so emotional, it was everything. This deserves another paragraph, another full entry, but I am leaving most of my reflections inside where they can permeate how I see the world.
That weekend was also Constellations 10 year anniversary party- Josephine Foster, Arto Lindsay!, Natural Information Society, CRAIG TABORN. Finom played a set and we were lucky enough to bring our OG drummer, Matt Carroll, in town to play. It felt very special. Like old times.
Sometimes I feel that it can be very difficult to take in that much art and information- I desperately want to be present with everything and my brain can only process so much. I felt grateful that I was in a place to soak everything in- I feel so inspired.
::RECS::
This beautiful record by Steve Gunn and David Moore. Was lucky enough to see some of their set at Big Ears as well
…..going outside….
If you’re in Chicago- this show at Constellation. My friends Quinn Tsan, Nolan Chin, and Zach Moore are all doing solo sets. I love them dearly and am so curious to hear what they each do.
Nicoise salad - it has changed my spring.
I am in Chicago for April and May and grateful to have the time to feel grounded and create things in my own space. Working on music/sound for two dance pieces. One is a piece with my dear friend Robyn Mineko Williams- It truly feels like the hugest honor to be welcomed into this project with her. Its a multi-faceted piece exploring her family’s Japanese-American history and themes of home, place, family, and time. You can read more about it here, and I definitely recommend you to stay updated with RMW’s IG and website. She just did an open rehearsal at the Chicago Cultural Center and it was so moving- I am very excited to see how this piece evolves and changes. The second dance piece is a collaboration with Finom and The Seldoms called Superbloom. Sima’s mother, Jackie Kazarian, is creating some really beautiful visual pieces for this as well. We are incorporating songs from our past records and reimagining them along with improvisation to create a full work. This piece will conclude with a full performance at the Harris Theater on June 1.
Upcoming Chicago shows:
April 30 - Hungry Brain - Improvised set with Tim Daisy, Josh Berman, and Erez Dessel
May 5 - solo set opening for Joe Henry at Old Town School of Folk Music
May 23 - Chicago Humanities Fest - Macie Stewart in conversation with Elif Batuman. playing an MS duo set with Dustin Laurenzi :)
May 27 - Constellation - Macie Stewart + Lia Kohl with Eliza Niemi and Dorothea Paas
June 1 - The Harris Theater - Superbloom - a collaboration with The Seldoms and Finom
EU/UK and other USA dates:
Touring with Kevin Morby and Julia Jacklin :’). Playing some tunes in Kevin’s band as well. Very excited.
I just revamped my website also: have a look!
thanks as always for reading-
M
jerry hive rise up