Europeans don’t say “woo”, but I do! I met Kristin Hersh!
I first saw Kristin Hersh in 1988, and I’ve seen every iteration of her music/performance since. I’ve seen her in Atlanta, in London… I traveled to a Throwing Muses gig in Cleveland once during college that was “canceled due to illness”. I think I just about cried. My ex-husband and I first connected over our love for her music. Our first “date” (as friends at that point) was a TM gig. I saw her perform when she was VERY pregnant in Atlanta in the late 80’s. I saw her while I was in grad school in Bloomington, Indiana performing with Andrew Bird and Howe Gelb. I went by myself to a WONDERFUL gig at the Orpheum in London in 2003. All the people around me thought it was so cool I’d seen her in America! I remember driving with my friend Melissa from Atlanta up to Oberlin in Northern Ohio singing “Walking in the Dark” at the top of our lungs over and over and over. I saw her do a very special gig last August at The Middle East in Cambridge. Her newer band, 50 Foot Wave, “opened” for Throwing Muses. In the middle was a delightful gang of kids who were remarkably skilled and entertaining. She’s been on constant rotation in the soundtrack of my life for 20 years now. Her ventures into new ensembles has made her continually interesting to me, and then of course there is her voice, her intensity, her lyrics… and her collaborators aren’t half bad either. She’s not known for being social. I’ve seen her leave after every show. I’m sure some rabid fans have met her, but I don’t force myself on musicians unless they present themselves as open to it. Last night, she announced that she’d be selling CDs from the stage. I finally met her. I got to actually talk to her. Then on the way out, I actually met and spoke with Bernard Georges, her longtime bass player for TM, 50FW, and for this version of her solo act. Both of them were a delight, normal, gracious, sweet, and silly. I know she isn’t the most famous person in the world, but she means more to me than most “real” famous people. What a great experience. I’m a happy fan girl!
I didn’t ask for an autograph. I was holding a set list, which is also not something I aimed to acquire. I usually leave them for the younger “collectors”. I was snapping a picture when a man on the stage asked if I’d like it. Noone was racing, so I accepted his kind offer! When she saw I was holding it, she offered to sign the back. Thanks, Kristin! She even drew a picture. I didn’t recognize it right away. I asked what it was. She said it was a guitar, but it was a mess up “Meat Puppets” guitar!
Here’s some video of great banter and “Gazebo Tree” I took at the gig:
Here’s the whole set of pictures from last night’s gig.
There are a million more things to say. Hell, I’m thinking of having Katy write up the whole thing, since she was coherent, and I was starstruck. Maybe there will be some guest blogging soon! Cool, cool, cool!
