a few thoughts on ”sun in an empty room” by the weakerthans (and a cover video)

“The things we need to say
Have been said already anyway
By parallelograms of light
On walls that we repainted white”

I met my bandmates in a mid-sized midwestern city by going to an open-mic near the campus of the state school that essentially drives our local economy through some combination of football and healthcare. I learned how to share songs and listen well, talk too much and settle down, and make a few friends. Jason was the host at the time, never far from a glass of red wine, and traditionally starting off the night with some fingerpicked folk. He played a Weakerthans cover somewhat often which took me probably over a year to figure out wasn’t his own song. It was just a gorgeous song that he played beautifully.

I found other songs by The Weakerthans after I got used to them sounding closer to The Hold Steady than Sufjan Stevens, which is sort of how it sounded when Jason played them (again, beautifully). This one always struck me. At a time when I and my friends were orbiting around campus from dorm to apartment to duplex in all sorts of roommate arrangements, I found some peace in packing my things into boxes, knowing that everything that I had could be distilled into something concrete. And the rooms left behind were sad but lovely. I always imagined that I had to say goodbye to songs that were left in that room that never got written, but hoped that other people might move in, find them, write them, and bring them to the world.

The song shares a title with an Edward Hopper painting from 1963. It’s an oil painting of sunlight hitting the walls and floors after streaming through a window. There aren’t any characters or people in it, but the light fills up the space. It makes me feel like I’m in my early twenties, starting to think I could figure it out some day. Maybe I would have time once I moved into the next 9-12 month lease.

I’m sharing a cover of this song this week from my orange couch, but I also cut a video using Hopper’s artwork paired with the song. I hope it finds you well.

Sam + Hello Emerson

A post about our use of social media

tl;dr we’re using it more now 
(but you still don’t have to)

I’ve been spending a bit more time trying to find consistent ways to share meaningful things on social media in a way that isn’t toxic to me or the world at large. I have felt a smoothie-like combination self-conscious and foolish and excited and comforted during my little experiments over the past couple months, but I think I am finding a relatively healthy way forward. So far, this looks like…

1. Taking time lapses of my morning journals

(mostly posted to TikTok so far, but considering tossing those on Insta as well). I do this anyway, and I know it’s good for me, and strangers on TikTok are asking questions about it. I’m putting our music into the videos as I overdub some thoughts and answer people’s questions. It’s no more than a 40 second clip every day. I think it’s relatively healthy!

2. Taking nice photos at shows

I’ve been learning basic photography for about five years now, and I’m starting to be more comfortable taking photos at shows that I’m at. I share those with bands, then share those on social media. I feel like it helps me contribute to highlighting musicians who make great songs while also learning how to do new things. So… invite me to you shows in town? I’m loving hearing new bands right now.

3. Covering songs that I love

I’ve been recording at home more often, along with learning how to shoot and edit little videos. These are songs that I’ve held dear for a long time, or new songs from new discoveries. Especially when we’re playing with someone great, I aim to record a cover to act as a promotional thing for the show. But I also get to spend time doing my favorite thing, instead of spamming promo posts. It’s a win win. Those get posted in full on our YouTube page, and cut into little <60 second snippets for our IG and TikTok pages.

You can still access most things fully through our website and blog — I still aim to post everything at the website, then cut and scribble bits out to social media. However you’d like to stay in touch (or not) is fine by me. And I’m still shipping out free stickers to anyone who wants them. All links are at www.helloemerson.com/linktree.

We’ll have a new record come out in the Spring, so I think that this is time well spent. It’s like trying on a whole bunch of different pants to see what is the right combination of comfortable and functional while still feeling like me. I appreciate your patience and support.

Sam

PS…

So much thanks to Superviolet & Mukiss for putting out some of the best songs in the city

Like, for real. Have you listened to “Infinite Spring” by Superviolet? Have you listened to Mukiss’ new single “The Wildness”? We live in a remarkable place for songwriters to make great art. That all happened at my favorite show of the year at Rumba Cafe a few weeks or so ago. My god what a world of beautiful songs we live in.

Two shows next weekend, a November retreat, and a cover video

I am looking forward to teaching writing & songwriting at Words in the Hills 
(and you should come join me!)

Megan Bee has organized a three day writing retreat for creative writers across all genres and experience levels. I’ll be there leading a class on songwriting. There will be meals and lodging and hikes and yoga and everything you want in a fall weekend. I’m really looking forward to being there and spending some dedicated focused time with people who want to make things. You can find more information at their website and consider joining us!

I am looking forward to playing a trio show at the Vanderelli Room on Saturday 9/9

The 9/9 show is a benefit for the Bee Collective. We like them and met them at the Indie Go-Go fest organized by Left Out. I am looking forward to the show. Feel free to shoot us a message if you’re curious about what we’re playing that night. We hit the stage at 6:30, but the day will be happening for hours before that. Wish me luck as I get off at work and try to make it there in time for a 6:30 downbeat! Tickets here.

I am looking forward to playing a solo show at Double Happiness on Sunday 9/10

The solo show is with Melanie MacLaren and Coralilly — amazing songwriters both of them. Don’t miss out on that goodness. I recorded a cover of on of Melanie’s songs — you can find it in full on youtube. Tickets here.


Don't miss this early show on Sunday, Sept. 10th

I’m at home with a guitar in my lap by my desk, learning a song called “Dissociating at a Tiki Bar in a Landlocked State” by Melanie MacLaren because it’s such a beauty of a song. I like songs that are little movies, taking you on a guided tour through a little scene, playing games with you to guess the story as it emerges from each little piece of the set. This is a gorgeous example of one.

I’ll post a cover on Monday. I’m doing this because I’m playing a solo opening solo set at Double Happiness on Sunday September 10th at 7pm. Coralily is also playing, fresh off their set at Nelsonville, so you’re really in for a treat of a three course meal.

It’s an early show. It’s a songwriter show. It’s everything you’d want. Tickets are linked at our website. I hope to see you there.

4-Track Cover | "Like the Wheel" by The Tallest Man on Earth

Summer is difficult for me for some reason. Something about all of the social activities and the long days make life feel impossible to keep up with. I am more of a fall and winter person. I am more comfortable in that slowness. Nevertheless, the garden grows and the outdoor shows keep humming along.

When I feel like this, songs are a source of comfort and strength. So, I recorded this version of one of my favorite Tallest Man on Earth songs. I remember learning this song early in my guitar-playing. It’s in an open D9 tuning (DADEAD) that I’ve since used to write about a third of my released songs. It’s special to me - both the tuning and this song in particular. Enjoy.

Also, we play Rumba Cafe in Columbus, Ohio this Wednesday night with Eliza Edens and October Ember. Come hang for beautiful songs. Grab tickets here to save a few bucks.

Best wishes to your summer,

Sam

Upcoming Shows

4-Track Cover | "Nowhere" by Charlotte Cornfield

I love Charlotte Cornfield. I found her first through her 2019 record The Shape of Your Name after discovering that Leif Vollbekk (who you should also listen to) played on the record. She paints scenes in her songs that feel so comfortable and lived in, with arrangements that seem to make room for the listener to fill in the details, rather than forcing the listener to see things exactly the way that the producer/songwriter/artist wants them to be seen. I love that. She made this record with Josh Kaufman of Bonny Light Horseman; it’s a match made in heaven. Apparently heaven is in Canada.

Anyway, I’m hoping and wishing for her to play Columbus because she puts out songs that hit me the same way that Ezra Furman’s songs hit me in middle school. The blissful and bewildering reaction of, “Oh my gosh… you can write a song like that? That’s allowed too?” Her songs put me back in that stage of wonder and lights a fire under my bum to get back to the drafting table.

Hope you enjoy this little bit from the record recorded with Dan, our percussionist and music director at the tail end of a band meeting a little while ago.

Our song found its way into a NYT bestseller!

Tl;dr — Our song, “Seat 16b” found its way into a NYT bestseller. I covered this Mountain Goats song in gratitude. Go read Maggie Smith’s new book.

I read Maggie Smith’s “You Could Make This Place Beautiful” about two weeks ago. I sat with it, and it sat with me. She’s a Columbus writer, and I’ve loved her writing for years. I got to meet her at the release show for our second record, just before covid hit.

In her new book, she mentions our song, “Seat 16b” as part of a playlist that her daughter made for her son of his favorite songs. I remember them all coming to an outside show post-covid, and talking to her son after. We played his favorite song last; what a relief that it was on the setlist at all!

Thanks, Maggie. Thanks for continuing to make space to keep writing, moving, and living. I’m flattered your son is a fan, and touched that your daughter put us on his playlist. And entirely humbled to find our band printed in such a gorgeous book.

I’d recommend buying a copy, or borrowing one from the library, reading it all, and finding us on page 297.

But Sam, why cover this Mountain Goats song?

In the book, she mentioned writing a tweet during the events of the book: “Photo essay that won't happen: Divorced woman drives her rumpled c. 2005 wedding dress across the country and takes photos of it in various locations. It's a metaphorical "Weekend at Bernie's" sans stapled-on toupee and sunglasses, because the dead thing is the marriage.”

John Darnielle of the Mountain Goats picked this up by tweeting, “this would be a song called "Picture of My Dress" imo.” Then, he wrote and recorded it.

So, two weeks ago, I sat in my orange chair, reading this amazing book by a favorite writer, learning that her writing inspired a favorite songwriter to write a song. I suppose inspiration is an endless cycle if we’re willing to kick the ball along when it comes to us.

Here’s to kicking it along.

4-Track Cover | "Hide" by The Cordial Sins

The Cordial Sins just put out their debut album called Small Talk.

It is good! I recorded a cover of one of the songs, called “Hide.” You can watch it below.

Support their crowdfunding campaign!

They are running a pre-order sale to press their new record on vinyl. I love pressing things on vinyl, and I’ve already made my pre-order. I think you should do that to. Click this link to learn more, or go to www.thecordialsins.com.

procrastination via birding

feeling terribly behind on mostly self-imposed deadlines and hoping to toss up a video on thursday -- all because i spent the weekend close to lake erie finding rare birds and taking snapshots of them.

so anyway here's a stern look from a gorgeous purple gallinule i met last weekend because after all it was indeed worth it.