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Damian Tarnopolsky–“Chris Cornell” [The 2024 Short Story Advent Calendar #19] (2024)

December 19, 2024 by Paul Debraski

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 19, 2024] “Chris Cornell”

This year my wife ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my seventh time reading the Calendar–it’s a holiday tradition!  Here’s what H&O says about the calendar this year.

Ten years of stories! Yikes, where does the time go?
When the first Short Story Advent Calendar launched, in 2015, we frankly had no clue we’d still be sitting here today, continuing to offer up batches of tasty stories fresh from the oven. To celebrate this milestone, we’ve packed the 10th SSAC with a mix of new and familiar names—ideal company for those chilly winter nights ahead.

The author of this story was Damian Tarnopolsky.  Each day has an online component with the author with a brief (or in this case lengthy) interview.  This blurb starts things off:

It’s December 19. Damian Tarnopolsky, author of Every Night I Dream I’m a Monk, Every Night I Dream I’m a Monster, can solo just as well on an acoustic.

This story has an unusual title to be sure.  It’s even more unusual because Chris Cornell doesn’t really have anything to do with the bulk of the story.  He’s more for setting the story in time (the narrator was listening to Pearl Jam, Temple of the Dog and Nirvana on CD when the story takes place). Continue Reading »

Posted in Canadian Content, Christmas, Damian Tarnopolsky, Hingston & Olsen, Isaac Babel, Short Story, The Short Story Advent Calendar | Leave a Comment »

Alexandra Wuest–“The Exhibition” [The 2024 Short Story Advent Calendar #18] (2023)

December 18, 2024 by Paul Debraski

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 18, 2024] “The Exhibition”

This year my wife ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my seventh time reading the Calendar–it’s a holiday tradition!  Here’s what H&O says about the calendar this year.

Ten years of stories! Yikes, where does the time go?
When the first Short Story Advent Calendar launched, in 2015, we frankly had no clue we’d still be sitting here today, continuing to offer up batches of tasty stories fresh from the oven. To celebrate this milestone, we’ve packed the 10th SSAC with a mix of new and familiar names—ideal company for those chilly winter nights ahead.

The author of this story was Alexandra Wuest.  Each day has an online component with the author with a brief interview.  Her blurb says:

It’s December 18. Alexandra Wuest will take a paper map if you have one.

It’s not very often that this collection has an author I haven’t read before, but here’s one. Continue Reading »

Posted in Alexandra Wuest, Artists, Canadian Content, Christmas, Death, Hingston & Olsen, Mark Binelli, Short Story, The Short Story Advent Calendar | Leave a Comment »

Seth Fried–“You Again” [The 2024 Short Story Advent Calendar #17] (2021)

December 17, 2024 by Paul Debraski

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 17, 2024] “You Again”

This year my wife ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my seventh time reading the Calendar–it’s a holiday tradition!  Here’s what H&O says about the calendar this year.

Ten years of stories! Yikes, where does the time go?
When the first Short Story Advent Calendar launched, in 2015, we frankly had no clue we’d still be sitting here today, continuing to offer up batches of tasty stories fresh from the oven. To celebrate this milestone, we’ve packed the 10th SSAC with a mix of new and familiar names—ideal company for those chilly winter nights ahead.

The author of this story was Seth Fried.  Each day has an online component with the author with a brief interview.  And this one begins:

It’s December 17. Seth Fried, author of The Municipalists, left his tap shoes in the car.

This was a fun, really short story.  Felix has died and right after he dies he reappears as himself at a party some thirty years earlier.  The night he met his wife. Continue Reading »

Posted in Canadian Content, Christmas, Death, Ghosts, Hingston & Olsen, Mark Binelli, Seth Fried, Short Story, The Short Story Advent Calendar | Leave a Comment »

Jessica Westhead–“Conversation Over the Holidays” [The 2024 Short Story Advent Calendar #16] (2024)

December 16, 2024 by Paul Debraski

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 16, 2024] “Conversation Over the Holidays”

This year my wife ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my seventh time reading the Calendar–it’s a holiday tradition!  Here’s what H&O says about the calendar this year.

Ten years of stories! Yikes, where does the time go?
When the first Short Story Advent Calendar launched, in 2015, we frankly had no clue we’d still be sitting here today, continuing to offer up batches of tasty stories fresh from the oven. To celebrate this milestone, we’ve packed the 10th SSAC with a mix of new and familiar names—ideal company for those chilly winter nights ahead.

The author of this story was Jessica Westhead.  Each day has an online component with the author with a brief interview.   Here’s today’s

It’s December 16. Jessica Westhead, author of Avalanche, knows a good crab dip when she sees it.

Continue Reading »

Posted in Canadian Content, Christmas, Hingston & Olsen, Jessica Westhead, Racism, Short Story, The Short Story Advent Calendar | Leave a Comment »

Strand of Oaks [Winter Classic X] (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, December 14, 2024)

December 15, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: December 14, 2024] Strand of Oaks [Winter Classic X]

I’ve seen Strand of Oaks five times now.  Three of these were Winter Classics.  I kind of assumed that I’d go to all of the Winter Classics (but I knew I wouldn’t make all of them).  However, I’m surprised that I haven’t seen one since Winter Classic V.

After a really fun opening set from Pat Finnerty and what was basically the rest of the Strand of Oaks band, they all came back, this time with Tim Showalter–and he received a very warm welcome.  I’m not sure how full the event was–the previous years he’s played two sold out nights at Johnny Brenda’s, but Union Transfer is much larger.

But the crowd was really into it, especially the guy a few people down from me who was jumping and pogoing through every song.

I can’t believe that it’s been five years since I last saw a Strand of Oaks show.  I really enjoyed his 2021 album In Heaven, but I didn’t enjoy the latest album Miracle Focus quite as much.  I didn’t really think this show would focus on that album–the Winter Classic is meant to be a fun night for Tim and the fans, and not a typical tour show).  But I was actually surprised how little he played from it, especially since his keyboard player was up front (and I felt a little too quiet).

Instead, he played six songs from In Heaven.  I was pretty pleased with the song selection, although there are a lot of older songs that I would have loved to hear too.

In between the In Heaven songs, he played Party at Monster Lake and Fantasy Wranglers from the new album and a great powerful version of Ruby.  At the end of Ruby he asked us if we’d mind if his friend Pat Finnerty played a fucking guitar solo and Pat did.  I had figured out that Pat was a remarkably talented musician from his improv set and from the solos he’d been playing, but for this solo, he played a really great solo that wasn’t obnoxiously showoffy or fancy, it was just grooving and rocking and the band was fully behind him. Continue Reading »

Posted in Pat Finnerty, Philadelphia, PA, Strand of Oaks, Union Transfer | Leave a Comment »

Baroness: Red & Blue (Kung Fu Necktie, Philadelphia, PA, December 15 & 16, 2024) [DID NOT ATTEND]

December 15, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[DID NOT ATTEND: December 15 & 16, 2024] Baroness

Three years ago, Baroness played three nights at Kung Fu Necktie.  I was able to get to one of the shows and it’s the only time I’ve seen them play.  This year, they announced that they were going to play all of their Red and Blue albums at Kung Fu Necktie.  The first show was announced, but I already had tickets to Strand of Oaks that night.

(Incidentally, it’s because of Strand of Oaks that I know Baroness at all)

Back in 2017 I saw Strand of Oaks play Union Transfer.  Toward the end of the set Tim Showalter called John Baizley on stage.  I didn’t know who he was but I was taken by his look (bald with a big beard) and his terrific voice (and guitar playing).  Turns out he’s the main force behind Baroness (he draws/paints all of the cover art, too).  I got into Baroness and wanted to see them live.

So I stuck with Strand of Oaks and them moments later they announced a SECOND show the following night.  And that night happened to be the night of our big cookie party, which meant that there was no way I was going to go.

I hoped hoped hoped that they’d announce a third night (like last time).  I even asked them on their IG account of they could add a third night (like last time) but it never happened.

This is something like the fifth time that I have NOT seen them for one reason or another.  I do hope to see them in a full sized venue some day.  We’ll see.

Posted in Baroness, John Baizley, Kung Fu Necktie, Philadelphia, PA | Leave a Comment »

Jacqueline Baker–“Down Burned Road” [The 2024 Short Story Advent Calendar #15] (YEAR)

December 15, 2024 by Paul Debraski

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 15, 2024] “Down Burned Road”

This year my wife ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my seventh time reading the Calendar–it’s a holiday tradition!  Here’s what H&O says about the calendar this year.

Ten years of stories! Yikes, where does the time go?
When the first Short Story Advent Calendar launched, in 2015, we frankly had no clue we’d still be sitting here today, continuing to offer up batches of tasty stories fresh from the oven. To celebrate this milestone, we’ve packed the 10th SSAC with a mix of new and familiar names—ideal company for those chilly winter nights ahead.

The author of this story was Jacqueline Baker.  Each day has an online component with the author with a brief interview.

It’s December 15. Jacqueline Baker, author of The Broken Hours, has officially given up on Google Maps.

I’m not sure what it is about a story that makes me simply not enjoy it.  And I know it’s the case when it takes me a few days to finish even a short story. Continue Reading »

Posted in Bears, Canadian Content, Christmas, Hingston & Olsen, Jacqueline Baker, Marriage Trouble, Short Story, The Short Story Advent Calendar | Leave a Comment »

Karina Rykman (The Foundry, Philadelphia, PA, December 13, 2024)

December 14, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: December 13, 2024] Karina Rykman 

Last year, my wife and I saw Karina Rykman twice.  First as an opening act and then for our final show of 2023, as a headliner.

The show was great–loud and dancing and fun and everything you’d want in a jamband adjacent musician who totally kicks ass.

When she announced another Philly show this year (my second to last show of the year, but my wife’s final show of the year once again), I snatched up tickets immediately.

Karina is such a joy to see live.  Her band rocks and her choice of songs (both her own and covers) are designed for maximum fun (and chops).  And of course, she has a perpetual smile on her face–no one enjoys playing music as much as she does. Continue Reading »

Posted in Karina Rykman, Kiss, LCD Soundsystem, Marco Benevento, OutKast, Philadelphia, PA, Talking Heads, The Foundry, Wet Leg | Leave a Comment »

Pat Finnerty (Union Transfer, Philadelphia, PA, December 14, 2024) [STRAND OF OAKS]

December 14, 2024 by Paul Debraski

[ATTENDED: December 14, 2024] Pat Finnerty

Pat Finnerty opened for Strand of Oaks for the last three Winter Classics. And these three are the ones that I missed.

And now that I’ve seen him I’m even more bummed that I missed those three shows.  Because he was funny and he and his band were super talented.

Pat told us that he and his band (which was all of Strand of Oaks and his cousin Mike) were there to warm up Strand of Oaks and that this show was going to be all covers.

The house music was ZZ Top’s Legs and he said that they had to play the whole song if they had started it.  He won me over immediately by saying imagine going to your bandmates and saying hey, I’ve got a new song, it’s called Legs.  Band: What’s it about?

He then asked the keyboard player to learn the keyboard part so they could play Legs at the end of the set.

He also told us that he had cash and would give cash to anyone who earned it.  Last time, he saw some woman really dancing when he played a blues riff, she got $4.  At our show, a guy received $2. Continue Reading »

Posted in Pat Finnerty, Philadelphia, PA, Strand of Oaks, Union Transfer | Leave a Comment »

Adam O’Fallon Price–“The Lottery” [The 2024 Short Story Advent Calendar #14] (2024)

December 14, 2024 by Paul Debraski

SOUNDTRACK:

[READ: December 14, 2024] “The Lottery”

This year my wife ordered me The Short Story Advent Calendar.  This is my seventh time reading the Calendar–it’s a holiday tradition!  Here’s what H&O says about the calendar this year.

Ten years of stories! Yikes, where does the time go?
When the first Short Story Advent Calendar launched, in 2015, we frankly had no clue we’d still be sitting here today, continuing to offer up batches of tasty stories fresh from the oven. To celebrate this milestone, we’ve packed the 10th SSAC with a mix of new and familiar names—ideal company for those chilly winter nights ahead.

The author of this story was Adam O’Fallon Price.  Each day has an online component with the author with a brief interview.

It’s December 14. Adam O’Fallon Price, author of The Hotel Neversink, answered the skill-testing question with time to spare.

This was a story that when from big highs to dark lows pretty quickly.  As the story opens a recently married couple (Paul and Laura) has just won the lottery.  And we quickly learn how different the two are by what they decide to do with the winning ticket–not the money, the ticket. Continue Reading »

Posted in Adam O'Fallon Price, Canadian Content, Christmas, Hingston & Olsen, Lottery, Marriage Trouble, Short Story, The Short Story Advent Calendar | Leave a Comment »

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