talking harmonicas at the Best Video show

still basking in the party at Nicks last weekend…find more of Peter’s photos here

Oh to be back at Nick’s place – the first Brooklyn apartment lived in, in 1993, waiting to get my own place – now 2019 and sharing songs with friends – well – this was another off-the-charts special evening. Thank you to Amy Larimer, Rodrigo Alonzo, Dan Strauss for all the beautiful music – to friends who came and partook – and especially Nick for sharing his place!

I head to Brooklyn this weekend for a house party at Nick Leichter’s house, to celebrate Celestials – Nick, Amy Larimer, Rodrigo Alonzo, Dan Strauss, all old friends and collaborators for many years, will be singing with me. I look forward to seeing old friends! We’ll be singing songs from the album – including EG Blues – and Rod and Dan will be playing a few of their amazing tunes too.

Meanwhile the NYPD disciplinary trial of Daniel Panteleo, who killed Eric Garner in a chokehold, goes on at this time. Panteleo has been on desk duty for four years. The trial will determine whether he gets to keep his job or not. This makes for a heavy heart: such ongoing pain and injustice for Garner and his family – all going on in one of my hometowns, New York City.

Still feeling a bit dreamy about the Rose Street Celestials instant-orchestra party. Here’s a dreamy picture of Patricia and Nick before the show by Alec Julien.

A night to remember: I moved by the Vermont Celestials party. The Rose Street Artists’ Cooperative Gallery was cozy and festive, and it was totally amazing to hear the Celestials songs with Patricia Julien, Jom Hammack, Nicholas Leichter, Dani Hill, Gus Ziesing, and Ted Looby adding textures and layers and beautiful synchronicities and voices. So nice to see my Vermont people. Thank you all.

Today Celestials is released online. It’s right here!

It is also the birthday of my beloved aunt, Laura Louise Tietjen Wysong, born in 1951, who left us oh! too soon – this past August 13th. Aunt, sister, wife, writer, gift-giver, gardener, spirit-seeker, meditator, bold performer. Her strength and determination. Her earthy humor, her wit. Her rapier-sharp inquisitive mind. Her unfathomable empathy, generosity, compassion, beyond all. She is so missed! But her radiant presence is felt, everywhere. She is here.

A picture of gardener Laura, from sister Monica’s All Saints ancestor feast table. I hold Laura’s reflection in my mind.