“The Dream of the Gentle Flood”: Thomas Pynchon, Brian Wilson, Neil Young & Los Angeles
Listening to Simon Joyner and Tyler Wilcox’s recent conversation about Neil Young’s song “After the Gold Rush” for All One Song: A Neil Young Podcast, I recalled that I had written an interpretation of the same song in an unpublished essay exploring the recurrent imagined image of the flooding of Los Angeles in the work…
2026 Big Ears Festival, March 26-29, 2026
Over-use of the word “community” can quickly turn the most open-hearted music lover into a cynic, especially those wary of corporate appropriation at every turn. Yet it’s hard to describe the people who attend the annual Big Ears Festival in Knoxville, TN as anything but a community. Big Ears attendees can’t wait to tell you…
Interview with Eli Winter
Eli Winter’s A Trick of the Light was one of my favorite albums of last year. Winter’s previous work had demonstrated his artistry, virtuosity, and unique musical perspective, but the 2025 record advances Winter’s vision further. It’s a tour de force throughout as Winter presents a sweeping musical portrait of his regular band — Sam…
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