Tag Archives: music

Another happy Saturday at my desk!

August 22, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 2 Comments

It’s not really that extreme — I do get outside and take walks. Still get the laundry done and the house vacuumed. Still do yoga, wash my hair, eat meals and take care of 15 cats…

But all that stuff aside, I’m once again spending a whole lot of time at my DESK!!

Yay!

Oh, and speaking of cats — yesterday I lined up Rasha’s mom & her baby boy, Jude, to cat sit for us while I’m in North Carolina next month for James Tabor’s TRG conference! (1st century archeology pertaining to Jerusalem and the historical Jesus and John the Baptist.)

Now I’m just waiting to hear if one of my girlfriend’s in town can take me to & from the airport, or if I need to plan on Uber. But the trip is basically on my horizon for sure now and I can’t wait!

And speaking of James Tabor — tomorrow afternoon, Ross K. Nichol‘s private Yachad is having a Zoom meeting with James Tabor!! We’re all going to be discussing the various English translations of the Bible (Hebrew and New Testament). It should be so much fun, all together like that on Zoom!!

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Okay.

An important message from Phyllis Stein on Instagram.

Guitarist Richard Lloyd (one of the founding members of the seminal NYC band, Television, along with Richard Hell, Tom Verlaine, and Billy Ficca, back in 1974), has cancer.

You can donate to Richard Lloyd’s go fund me account HERE.

They are already closing in on $10K of their $40K goal!! Any amount helps!

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All right.

Look what we forgot yesterday!!

That’s right! It was Joe Strummer’s heavenly birthday!

Happy belated heavenly birthday, Joe Strummer!

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And look at this!

TODAY is Roland Orzabal’s 65th birthday!! Happy birthday, Roland!!

And here’s this, while we’re at it!! Tears For Fears! “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, from their hugely popular album Songs from the Big Chair, 1985!

And here’s a pop quiz for loyal readers of this lofty log!!

TRUE or FALSE:

Every time I hear the song “Everybody Wants to Rule the World”, I am instantly reminded of hanging out in the bar next door to the Museum of Modern Art in NYC in 1985, with my co-worker and best friend Valerie from Brooklyn, both of us smoking and drinking and laughing on our work-break! And then that song came on the bar’s radio…

If you replied TRUE, then you know me really, really well! Congratulations!! And– Yay!!

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And here’s something I don’t think we have EVER seen!!

NO!! Not Mick talking on a telephone!

KEITH, stubbing out a cigarette!!

Smoking, not smoking — all in the wink of an eye!

And here’s something I wish we could see ALL THE TIME!!

Keith drinking and smoking in his rented home in Bel Air (Los Angeles) back in 1970!! Yay!!!

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Oh, gang, here’s something that made me SO happy!

I checked in on the Facebook app on my phone last evening, and found this message from my long-time friend in NYC, the poet Iris N. Schwartz!!

(Honestly, it made me so happy. Especially since I have gotten a lot of not so great feedback on that same book, my upcoming novel, The Curse of Our Profound Disorder. Iris has a review copy.)

It kinda made my whole evening.

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Okay!!

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds played the Cabaret Vert Festival in France last night.

Prior to the show, from Bad Seed George Vjestica —

And as of right now, this is my FAVORITE photo of Nick Cave from Cabaret Vert !! (It was the first photo I saw posted last night!)

I’d recognize the bottom of that Gucci shoe anywhere!!

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds play Munich, Germany, tomorrow (Sunday, 8/23). Then they play Bonn, Germany, on Tuesday 8/25. Then Paris on August 28th!

And then the tour is OVER!! Buy tickets HERE!!

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And that is it for this sunny, happy Saturday in the Hinterlands.

I’m gonna put that editor’s cap back on now, and get down to editing that local writer’s new book.

Have a superb Saturday, wherever you are in the world, gang.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this.

Another HUGE hit from early 1985.

By this time, my guitar player and his wife (who were both from Buenos Aires, Argentina) had had their first baby, a girl. And one evening, while hanging out in their apartment in Brooklyn, this video came on MTV and he raised a glass to the TV set and dedicated this song to his brand new baby girl.

What a happy evening. I always think of that whenever I hear this song.

“I Want to Know What Love Is”, by Foreigner, 1985. Enjoy, gang.

How can it possibly be Friday again?!?!

August 21, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 2 Comments

Wow, that was a fast week.

And I got a TON of stuff done.

Yesterday was interesting. I did the book editing, and then stopped to attend that Indie Authors livestream — updates on promotion, platforms, eBooks, audiobooks.

I found it so joyless and felt so overloaded, that I was off of there in 20 minutes.

Things have just changed so much in the last few years, gang. Self-publishing used to be easy, quick, even fun. It’s none of those things anymore, so I have decided to just keep going my own way regarding publishing and not make myself completely INSANE over all this stuff!

And speaking of all that stuff–

Beginning this Sunday (8/23) and running until the following Sunday (8/30), the eBook edition of my experimental adult novel, The Guitar Hero Goes Home, will be on sale for 99 cents in Kindle Unlimited on Amazon.

“An American rock & roll legend, in the final year of his life, finally comes clean about sex, drugs, and rock & roll. Experimental Adult Fiction by Marilyn Jaye Lewis ‘As arousing as it is heartfelt, I can give no greater praise for Marilyn Jaye Lewis’s The Guitar Hero Goes Home than to say this is a book written by a wonderful writer at the height of her powers. Highly Recommended!’ — M. Christian, author of The Bachelor Machine“

This book is not erotica, but it has adult themes and is recommended for mature readers only. Thank you!!

And you can always read a free excerpt here on my blog.

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I did make good progress with editing the local writer’s book yesterday, but I think that trying to edit 30 pages a day is too much. I still need to getup from the desk and get outside and take walks! So now I’m aiming for 25 pages a day.

I don’t want to betray the writer’s privacy by saying anything here on the blog — I’ll certainly let you know where you can buy the book once it’s published — but for now I can only say that it is an INTENSE book. A memoir. It kind of takes a lot out of me, just editing it.

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If you are in the film industry in any way, you need to sign up for this great newsletter — if you haven’t already. It cuts to the chase, isn’t loaded with stuff you don’t care about, gives you updates on stuff you do care about, and it’s a quick read.

The Dailies (you can sign up at that link)

“5-minute newsletter that keeps film/tv professionals in the loop, every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.“

And most importantly — it doesn’t have a fucking phone APP that pings at you every 2 seconds…

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Okay!!

Here’s this!!

Something I could literally just look at all day and call it a complete life!!

Keith! Drinking coffee and smoking somewhere!!

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And here’s Jack Kerouac on the floor in NYC in 1959!!

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And here’s a lovely photo of George Harrison not smoking as he gets into a car somewhere — maybe 1969, early 1970s?

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And here’s some nice news about the late and absolutely great Shane MacGowan!!

(The Ogden Museum of Southern Art is in New Orleans.)

And while we’re at it, here’s this!! Shane and The Pogue’s version of “Dirty Old Town”!! From the phenomenal album Rum, Sodomy, and the Lash, 1985. I still play this song all the time, usually when I’m out driving alone in the middle of beautiful nowhere, and I always sing along!

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Okay!!

Bad Seed Jim Sclavunos was kind enough to help me study my French last night!!

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds will be at Cabaret Vert in France tonight! Buy tickets here!!

And Warren Ellis once again proves that he is a master at wearing the architecture of foreign cities!!

And in the event you suddenly feel like getting loaded and having a good time — Primal Scream, “Loaded” and having a good time!!

And even though there were TONS of photos and videos from the show in Lithuania the other night, here’s this instead!!

Just ‘cuz I fucking LOVE it!

Nick Cave seriously SMOKING onstage somewhere a long time ago…

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And that is it for today. I gotta get down to some editing here. It is a gorgeous day, once again, so I will probably head out for another one of those magical walks later, too.

And I leave you with some truly wonderful news, gang!!

A stray cat has had some adorable kittens — but NOT at my house!!

Here they are, outside my dining room window, but at the house next door! Yay!

Cute stray kittens but NOT at my house!!

Okay. Have a fantastic Friday wherever you are in the world, gang.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!!!

From that fabulous year of 1965!!

The Four Tops, “I Can’t Help Myself”!! Such a great song! Enjoy, gang.

Thank [insert whatever you believe in] It’s Friday!!

August 14, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 2 Comments

Yay!

I’ve already run some quick errands here in the village.

By 8:15AM, I was at the post office, signing for another Certified Letter from my first husband out in Seattle!! (Yes! More unexpected money!!) (So fucking nice.) (And as I was heading to the post office, it occurred to me that he and I haven’t actually seen each other since 1991. We email, we chat on the phone, but I haven’t actually seen him in 35 years. I’m wondering, at this point, if I ever will again…)

Anyway.

While in the post office, I also mailed something fun to Wayne. My second husband, still in NYC. Although, I kind of see Wayne about once a year. Still, while I was sorting everything out there with the post office clerk, I was quietly thinking: What’s wrong with this picture?

I’m all alone, in the middle of fucking nowhere Ohio, and I’m having these happy relationships with two ex-husbands who each live far away.

I don’t know. It just sort of seemed really weird.

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Well, yesterday I had another productive day — and this one included a lengthy chat with my best friend Valerie in Brooklyn!

We’re still trying to get ourselves organized to launch our Writers & Artists mini-podcast, but we’re getting there. She is basically back to normal after her 2 hand surgeries and she’s getting a few new paintings completed. So we’re getting there.

But mostly, I am trying to make some headway in getting 7 of my self-published titles ready to submit to audiobook producers. (I have to submit 2-3 pages of text with each book that will serve as sample scripts for narrator auditions– including script notes. So it’s not difficult work, but very time-consuming.)

And before I forget!!!!

It looks like a bunch more people pre-ordered my new novel during the night! Thank you everybody!! (The Curse of Our Profound Disorder. Pre-order it here.)

So that was a nice thing to wake up to.

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Meanwhile…

Here’s this!

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And now I have sort of a ton of cool photos of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds from the Oya Festival in Oslo last night! It seemed like people started posting photos and videos the moment the show was over.

Here’s the set list!

These first five were posted by the same photographer, almost immediately:

And here’s two posted by Bad Seed Jim Sclavunos (Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds play Gothenburg, Sweden tonight):

And I loved this one!

After tonight’s show in Sweden, they play Finland on Sunday. You can buy tickets here!

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And I guess that’ll be it for now. I need to start focusing on some work here.

Enjoy your Friday, wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this.

You know, in September, there’s that big photo book coming out, and some sort of live event in London, to honor Nick’s wife, Susie Cave, on her 60th birthday.

And early this morning, I was thinking back to my own 60th birthday.

Even though the scam-demic was going on that year, I drove down to see my dad on my 60th birthday. The following day, July 23rd, was my dad’s 90th birthday.

My stepmom had died earlier that year, so he was a widower by then, but he did not have cancer yet. It was quiet, as birthdays go, but it was a good weekend.

And on my dad’s birthday, July 23rd, there was a streaming event online of Nick Cave’s solo concert at Alexandra Palace. Of course I watched it!! And it was the first time Nick publicly played the new song, “Euthanasia.”

That song meant a lot to me. So, this morning, as I was reliving all of that, I realized that Nick Cave was a big part of my own 60th birthday, too!

So, here’s this! From 2020.

“Euthanasia” – IDIOT PRAYER: Nick Cave Alone at Alexandra Palace. Enjoy, gang.

Life resumes!

August 12, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

First off, if you heard anything on the news about the really bad weather in Ohio yesterday — terrible thunderstorms, high winds, flooding — that was mostly in and around Columbus.

And it was really bad there.

But here in Crazeysburg, about an hour southeast of Columbus, we had our usual thunderstorms and some high winds. But no real damage. (Thank God.)

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Okay.

Today I am heading to town to run the errands.

First, I have to drop something off at Honda — a weird little meter thingie that one of the service guys accidentally left in my car last week.

(Yes! He left it in my brand new really fast Honda Accord that loudly alerts me when Sheriffs are lurking!!)

And since I will be in that neighborhood, I am halfway tempted to stop in at the home of one of my former caregiving clients. She and her husband got some really bad news a few days ago and I want to see how the wife is holding up.

I am going to wait until the last moment to see if I actually do that or not. I have such difficulties drawing boundaries around my own heart these days, but this would be visiting her as a friend, not as a professional caregiver. So we’ll see what my heart tells me when I leave the Honda dealership. (She lives 2 seconds from there.)

Then I will get the groceries, and then stop in at my favorite health & wellness store to buy my week’s supply of deliciously taste-tempting organic SNACKS(!!) and to say HI to my girlfriends there!

BTW, this was interesting. From yesterday. The Terry Naturally company makes top-of-the-line health supplements. This is from a podcast that the owner, Terry Lemerond, does for free.

What Causes Alzheimer’s disease? (51 mins):

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Okay.

On the Sealey Challenge front–

I’ve had to stop reading the “one poetry book a day” for now, because James Tabor announced to us (Tabor Research Group), that he wants us all to re-read The Jesus Discovery before we meet for our conference on September 25th.

It’s an incredible book. And it’s co-written by Simcha Jacobovici, whom I also adore.

It was actually through Simcha that I first found out about James Tabor and his archeological work in and around Jerusalem. I used to love Simcha’s TV show on the History Channel, “The Naked Archeologist” (trailer- 1 minute):

Anyway.

Since I am still reading John Cooper Clarke’s autobiography, I Wanna be Yours, (and I am almost done!! only 40 more pages to go!!), my eyes can only handle so much reading each evening.

So instead of poetry, I am back to focusing yet again on Early Christianity. (And this specific book is about the discovery & research of the Talpiot Tombs, just south of Jerusalem (around 2010). And the current research on the Talpiot Tombs is a lot of what our upcoming conference will be about.)

And speaking of Early Christianity!!

I was listening to yesterday’s episode of Bart Ehrman’s “Misquoting Jesus” podcast — which was very good, but then my eye caught sight of a podcast from last month that I hadn’t heard yet:

8 Bible Myths Many Christians Believe (43 minutes):

I have studied Biblical History (online) with Bart Ehrman for about 15 years. I find his work in Biblical research really fascinating. I have learned so much from him and the Biblical scholars I have been exposed to through him.

However, early in this particular podcast, he mentioned the Country singer-songwriter, Iris Dement — specifically her song from 1992, “Let the Mystery Be”.

WOW!!

I love that song — I love that whole album (Infamous Angel). It was one of the CDs that Wayne & I took with us on our honeymoon road trip out west in 1993.

I paused Bart’s podcast to re-listen to Iris Dement’s song, and so many wonderful memories flooded back.

On our road trip, Wayne & I made an overnight stop in Paragould, Arkansas, in order to visit some of his relatives who couldn’t make it to our wedding. And Paragould is where Iris Dement is from.

Anyway, here’s her wonderful song! (If you’ve never heard it, get ready to smile and clap your hands and snap your fingers!!)

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All righty!!

Well, here’s this!

Keith smoking!! In duplicate!! About 20 years ago!

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And here’s this!!

The Rolling Stones not smoking in a Hollywood tailor’s shop in 1964!!

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And here’s another bit of promotion from Johnny Depp’s new “Sauvage” campaign for Dior:

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And here’s this!!

From everybody’s day off in Oslo!!

I’m not actually sure why Warren Ellis feels the need to also play in a band, when he truly excels at just taking selfies!!

And here’s this, while we’re at it!! The Sex Pistols, 1977, “Holidays in the Sun”!!

And here’s Nick Cave, not smoking in a suit, while roaming around Oslo with his glasses, phone, watch, and a happy girl!!

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds play Oslo tomorrow night. Followed by shows in Sweden, and then Finland. You can buy tickets here!!

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And I think that’s it for now, because I want to head to town.

I have to say that I am in such a strange head space, now that I have the spectre of “jury duty” behind me. (I’m hoping I don’t get called up again before September is over, but I guess we shall see. But at least I know for sure it is over for right now.)

While I still have a few time-consuming things left on my To Do List here at my desk, I have made a lot of progress and I am starting to feel my mental space clearing, which means I can get down to work on the new memoir. (Joy: The Shortest Season, about my life in the 1970s.)

If you live in Europe, enjoy that Total Solar Eclipse today!!

Otherwise, have a wonder-filled Wednesday, wherever you are in the world!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this.

You know, when I take my magical walks here in the Hinterlands, I always sing this song to myself! Mostly because there are a lot of Rose of Sharon trees and shrubs in full bloom here in the village.

Iris Dement’s “Mama’s Opry”, 1992. From her album Infamous Angel — but this one has the lovely Emmylou Harris on supporting vocals!! Such a great song. Enjoy gang!!

“Mama’s Opry”

She grew up plain and simple in a farming town
Her daddy played the fiddle and used to do the calling when they had hoe-downs
She says the neighbors would come and they’d move all my grandma’s furniture ’round
And there’d be twenty or more there on the old wooden floor dancin’ to a country sound

The Carters and Jimmy Rodgers played her favorite songs
And on Saturday nights there was a radio show and she would sing along
And I’ll never forget her face when she revealed to me
That she’d dreamed about singing at The Grand Ol’ Opry

Her eyes, oh, how they sparkled when she sang those songs
While she was hanging the clothes on the line, I was a kid just a-hummin’ along
Well, I’d be playing in the grass, to her, what might’ve seemed, obliviously
But there ain’t no doubt about it, she sure made her mark on me

And she played old gospel records on the phonograph
She turned them up loud and we’d sing along, but those days have passed
Just now, that I am older, it occurs to me
That I was singing in the grandest opry

And we sang sweet Rose of Sharon, abide with me
‘Til I ride the gospel ship to heaven’s jubilee
And in that great triumphant morning my soul will be free
And my burdens will be lifted when my savior’s face I see

So I don’t want to get adjusted to this world below
But I know he’ll pilot me ’til it comes time to go
Oh, nothing on this earth is half as dear to me
As the sound of my mama’s opry

c – 1992, Iris Dement

Taking it a moment at a time here

August 10, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Or at least I’m trying to.

Having this jury duty thing hanging over my head for tomorrow has sent me right back into that terrible depression I was struggling with for most of this year before I finally retired from caregiving.

Obviously, I’m hoping that I won’t get assigned to a jury tomorrow and that it will be all over in one day. And even if I do get put on a jury, it’s not like how it was back in NYC, where there were high-profile murder cases that you could get stuck on for months.

Anyway. It’s more of a trigger — this feeling that my time (my life?) isn’t my own.

If I do get put on a jury, I will try to at least post updates to the blog in the evenings.

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Let’s move on to something happier!!

Marlon Richards turns 57 today!!

Keith had a total of 5 children — 2 sons and 3 daughters. But one of his sons with Anita Pallenberg, Tara Jo Jo Gunne, died back in 1976.

Out of all of his children, my guess is that Marlon, his first child, is the most well known, since Marlon famously went through it all with Keith.

Here’s one of my favorite photos of Keith with Marlon:

A more recent photo of them (and Marlon himself recently became a grandfather):

Happy Birthday Marlon Richards!!

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Okay.

Here’s this! The complete tour dates for the Hollywood Vampires (I think the Cardiff show just sold out):

Buy tickets HERE!!

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Yesterday (that lofty day wherein I was NOT depressed) was actually sort of magical.

Regarding yesterday’s choice for the Sealey Challenge— I very suddenly got the impetus to check one of the bookshelves down in my family room for 2 chapbooks I knew I still had of Michael Perkins’ poetry.

Sure enough, I checked and they were still there, however, I was you know, yet again stunned to discover both books are over 20 years old…

And one of them, The Persistence of Desire, still had a handwritten note from Michael stuck to the front of it. The note was written on June 23, 2004. And Michael mentions that he had just spoken to Richard Kasak (!!) and Michael congratulated me that Neptune & Surf had just gotten picked up for a mass market edition by Barney Rosset over at Blue Moon Books!

Crimony! Talk about blast from the absolute past. Richard Kasak had been my primary publisher throughout most of my early career, and had also been my business partner in Marilyn’s Room, Inc. Richard’s been gone now for at least 10 years. And Barney Rosset is of course gone now, too.

And then I thought — uh, oh— and I googled Michael and sure enough, he passed away back in 2022:

“Michael Perkins of Glenford died at Archcare at Ferncliff in Rhinebeck, New York of complications from Parkinson’s Disease on February 10, 2022, at age 79.”

Rhinebeck, of all my favorite places!!

It was just too — I don’t know the right word, it was just a sort of very fragile feeling.

I read the chapbook, I Could Walk All Day, yesterday and will read The Persistence of Desire today. Beautiful poems. (He also wrote amazing erotic fiction, published by Richard Kasak,)

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All right.

From Ross K. Nichols’ Sunday School yesterday–

“According to one Gospel writer, Jesus twice pointed his listeners to the same five words—and on one occasion told them, ‘Go and learn what this means.'”

Jesus Said To Learn These Five Words (49 mins):

(HINT: “lovingkindness” is one of the words!)

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Moving on to Romania!!

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds played the Summer Well Festival. Here’s the set list from last night’s show!

Here’s Warren Ellis from before the show! Shiny, indeed!!

And a few photos of Nick Cave! (The show looked like a really intense one.)

Starting on Thursday, August 13th, Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds will play Norway, Sweden, and Finland. You can buy tickets here!!

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And now we have a really intense thunderstorm underway here in Crazeysburg.

Even though thunderstorms and high winds usually trigger my PTSD, it seems that, this time, the thunderstorm has actually sort of done the opposite and dispersed my feeling of intense depression. Interesting.

Well, at some point tomorrow I will check in and let you know if I’ll be posting to the blog or not.

Have a great Monday meanwhile, wherever you are in the world, gang.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let us close with this today!!

Jesus. When was the last time you heard THIS song??!!

Well, I heard it while making the bed this morning and listening to the Oldies FM Radio Station on my retro boombox!!

This song was a huge hit back when I was working at the General Electric factory. I was 19, and back in Ohio, living in a rooming house, after having lived briefly out in Ukiah, California… and dreaming of moving to NYC!

The Knack, “My Sharona”, from the album Get the Knack,1979!! Enjoy, gang.

Yeah, well, so guess what happened??

August 5, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 2 Comments

Does this give you a clue?? (1 min):

You perhaps recall that yesterday, I was heading into town to run my errands and thought that maybe I’d stop in at the Honda dealership and see if I could get a better rate on the final year of my current car lease —

OR —

Perhaps even trade in the current lease, on my beloved 2025 Honda Civic, for a new lease altogether…

Holy shit, gang.

I know I have said it here many times before — that the Honda dealership in town that I’ve used for the last 9 years is super nice.

But yesterday was off the charts.

Not only was the sales rep who greeted me super friendly, it turned out he and his little family had been my neighbors 9 years ago, when I briefly lived in town and rented a house from one of my friends. (I thought I was on my way back to NYC back then, but I wound up buying a house and staying out here.)

Anyway!

Within a nanosecond, they basically had me set up with a new 3-year lease on a brand new 2027 Honda Accord — it had 7 miles on it. Just came in from the factory, like, that moment.

Inside the car, it was a little overwhelming because it is like the car from the future. It does all kinds of shit that is, like, scary. And it even has a tiny red button at the top of the rearview mirror that calls 911 when you so much as tap it…

All kinds of stuff I don’t need but now it’s all mine for 3 years. And if you thought it was hard for me to drive less than 95 mph in the Honda Civic…

I don’t know — I guess re-watch this!

Shit. That new car goes fast.

And the most highly improbable part of it all? It will cost me less each month than the Honda Civic did. And it now includes all oil changes, tire rotations, new battery (if needed), and new windshield wipers when needed.

So I guess that’s a better monthly rate…

It felt like God and a whole big bunch of angels led me to that Honda dealership yesterday, gang. Wow.

I was kind of in shock all evening: I’ve got a brand new car. (This is actually the 5th brand new car I’ve gotten from Honda in the last 9 years…Kind of interesting when you consider how much I hate driving.)

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Okay.

Also yesterday, I thought I was starting a new habit of going to town on Tuesdays to do the grocery shopping–

But last evening, I finally got that call from the courthouse that my jury duty starts nextTuesday morning at 8:45AM.

Oh well.

I might not get put on a jury. We’ll see. But if I am, at least I’m getting it over with (and I’ll get paid). But if I am on a jury, it will be really hard to post to the blog. We shall see how it goes.

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Okay.

Well.

Since I got held up at the Honda dealership for quite a while yesterday, it took me a lot longer to get my actual errands done and come back from town. So I didn’t have enough time to read an entire poetry book yesterday, but I did read half of it–

And in case I didn’t make it totally clear yesterday that I actually know both Madeline Artenberg and Iris N. Schwartz (authors of the above book from 2006)– well, I do. And not only that, Iris has been a close friend for a really long time.

But it’s been 20 years since I’d read this specific book. What a fucking delight. All those years of living in NYC and going to poetry readings to listen to Iris, in particular, read her poems — it all came back to me last night. She could really control a room with her poems.

She is such a great writer. Succinct, emotional, honest, funny.

She’s had a few poetry & fiction books out since 2006, and has a new chapbook coming out in October. I will keep you posted!!

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And speaking of the Sealey Poetry Challenge for the month of August (read one book of poetry a day) —

This poem was sent to me from a reader last night! (1 min 23 secs) (Thank you, Martha!!):

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All righty.

Here’s this!

The Rolling Stones in 1964, looking extremely well behaved!!

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And if looks like Johnny Depp is heading to Shanghai at any moment, getting ready to open his Art Exhibit there!

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And it looks like that first show in Croatia last night was awesome! Lots of videos of Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds making a lot of people happy!

I did not have enough time to save many photos yet, but here’s the set list:

And here’s a photo of Nick Cave that I liked!

Tonight’s show in Croatia is SOLD OUT. I should have more time today to hang out on Instagram and scroll through photos…

Meanwhile–

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds play Belgrade, Serbia, next — on Friday, August 7th. You can buy tickets here!

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And, during my illustrious dinner hours, I am currently watching the Joe Strummer documentary from 2008, “The Future Is Unwritten.” It is very good, but really intense.

Here’s the trailer:

And that is it for today!!

Have a wonder-filled Wednesday, wherever you are in the world, gang!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!

A real gem from Bill Wyman, and it is so fun to drive to!

“Drive My Car”, 2024. Enjoy, gang!!

A wonderful Saturday is upon us!

August 1, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Cloudy, grey, humid — but still! What a great day!

Before I forget — I will not be posting tomorrow, at least not in the morning, because I am indeed going to attend Sunday Mass at that convent hidden up in the hills! And I need to be at my girlfriend’s house over in town by 8:30AM.

I don’t know if I’ll be able to get any photos because I really don’t like having my phone with me in church, but we’ll see. The grounds are allegedly just beautiful, so I might want to try to get photos of that.

I did indeed tune into the the online Collapse Press poetry reading last night! It was really engaging. But it sure made me miss the poetry readings I used to attend all the time in NYC, before any of that kind of stuff was online.

Back when everything was more personal…

And then I remembered —

ME (remembering): “Oh wait. I was one of the pioneers in getting poetry and spoken word readings online!”

Marilyn’s Room, Inc. sometimes partnered with Broadcast.com and Psuedo.com back in the late 1990s in NYC, and I brought all kinds of writers and poets to be on the live broadcasts for the very first time! Back when all of that impersonal Internet stuff was brand new!

How quickly we forget…

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From Metrograph Weekend, an interview with Tsai Ming-liang!

His 1998 movie, The Hole, is now on 35mm and currently showing at Metrograph in NYC.

I love that movie!!! It’s sort of indescribable and it is so entertaining. (I love all his movies.)

One of my favorite scenes from the film:

The Hole by Tsai Ming-liang | Trailer HD:

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Okay.

Here’s this!!

Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers! Smoking in Amsterdam in 1977! I love that HAIR!!!

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And I absolutely loved this!

I thought I knew all of Ethan Russell’s photos of Keith from 1972! But this was a new one!

Keith smoking backstage in LA, on the 1972 Exile On Main St. Tour:

And here’s another one of Keith with Buddy Guy on his 90th birthday.

(Oh, and when I was at lunch with my “buddy” Steve yesterday, he told me that one of our mutual friends from high school will be in NYC with her husband in October to see the Buddy Guy 90th Birthday Bash at Radio City Music Hall!! Buy tickets here!)

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From Phyllis Stein.

A lovely photo of the late, great playwright Sam Shepard!

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And now let’s return to Brighton!!

First — today and tomorrow is the Nick Cave Cinema Takeover at Duke of York’s Picturehouse in Brighton! (It’s probably going on right now. Well, I’ll be, um, curious to see how people respond to some of these films, gang…)

And that random couple I started following around (via Instagram) on Thursday had some great photos from yesterday!!

And the HUGE surprise of the night was when Kylie Minogue joined Nick and the Bad Seeds onstage. There were literally TONS of videos and photos of that, but here are just a couple:

And here’s this, while we’re at it!! From way back in 1995!

Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds ft. Kylie Minogue – “Where The Wild Roses Grow“:

And a couple more photos from the concert last night:

It really looked like everyone had such a great time in Brighton the past couple of days. I had so much fun scrolling through all the videos and photos.

The tour resumes in Dresden, Germany on Sunday. You can buy tickets here!

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And I think that is it for now!! I gotta lot of work to tackle here at my desk today, so I’m gonna get started!

Enjoy your Saturday, wherever you are in the world, gang!!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!

From Brighton, last night!!

Where to begin?!?!

July 31, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Lots to post about this morning and so little time!

First–

Well, I was trying to collect whatever photos I could that people were posting from Brighton yesterday. Here are the 3 that I saved:

Then these 2 are from a couple whom I don’t know. First, she is posting a letter to the Red Hand Files inside the Resident Record Shop! Then they are out on Jubilee Street:

But then, when I got on Instagram this morning to look for more fan photos from Brighton– Lo! & behold!!

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds did a secret surprise 4-song concert from the rooftop up above the Resident Record Shop early this morning!

Details HERE at NME:

“Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds surprise Brighton fans with rooftop gig ahead of huge homecoming show

“Fucking Brighton!” declared Cave as they performed a stripped-back four-song impromptu set ahead of their gig at Preston Park …” – [by Andy Trendell]

The article (link above )includes some video footage of the impromptu concert.

And this from George Vjestica, after the quick surprise show:

From Jim Sclavunos, BEFORE the secret concert! Dropping hints!

And here’s a shot from the brief concert itself!

We’ll see how the rest of the day unfolds! The concert is tonight!

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And here’s this–

Apparently, Buddy Guy turned 90 yesterday!! Seems like there was a party and Keith was there!

And here’s this — Buddy Guy and the Rolling Stones share experiences about being onstage together (5 mins):

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And here’s the Clash in 1980!!

And here’s this! “Somebody Got Murdered,” 1980 — from their legendary album Sandinista!

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And here’s this!!

The Rolling Stones on Montauk in 1975! Just prior to their US Tour– and yes! Keith is smoking…

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Okay, so!

Debbie and I had a really great time at the Archive Lounge yesterday, even though the musicians who were scheduled to play, never showed up! But it gave us time to chat and just have some fun.

And, oddly enough, while we were sitting there, chatting and having some fun — the owner from the bookstore there at the Historic Arcade came into the lounge to speak to me!

You can imagine my shock — that he recognized me and that he even knew I was in the lounge.

Anyway, he did indeed offer me a book signing in September when my new novel comes out! And he went over all the various things they will do to publicize it. (There will be 2 other writers at the same book signing there at the store.)

He said that he didn’t actually like my book — much like my best friend Valerie in Brooklyn, he couldn’t finish it. However, he said that he knows he has customers who will want to read it, so YAY!! What a big-hearted guy!!

I will keep you posted…

My upcoming novel — I guess you either love it or , you know, it gives you nightmares… pre-order it here!!

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And now I need to take care of some stuff before I head out to have lunch with my buddy Steve!!

In case I gave you the wrong impression yesterday — that Bummies on Main is indeed a completely deserted restaurant out West somewhere…

This is how it looked inside at Christmas!

Bummies on Main, not deserted in Newark, Ohio

And that’s it for now.

It will be fun keeping up with all the photos and videos that get posted from Brighton today! And I’m also planning on tuning in to this later this evening (it’s online and it’s free!):

From Collapse Press-– a poetry reading!

“The Friday Collapse

The Friday Collapse is a bicoastal, virtual performance series with features and an open mic. It happens on the last Friday of the month, 6:30 PST and 9:30 EST. We run it on zoom and we usually stream it live on Facebook, too.

Hosted by Collapse Press, Paul Corman Roberts and E. Lynn Alexander, with poets, banter, and those talking squares we’ve all grown to love. Come hang out with us.”

Okay!

Have a fantastic Friday, wherever you are in the world!!

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this, shall we??

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds, “Jubilee Street,” LIVE in Copenhagen (2018)! Enjoy, gang.

Don’t let this idyllic scene fool you!!

July 29, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis 2 Comments

While it is indeed another LOVELY day here in the Hinterlands.

And while I do intend to do things like take yet another soul-enhancing walk, do yoga, chat with Valerie in Brooklyn, and go bowling with the cats…

I have a To Do list that now has 6 items on it, but each of those items will take a TON of time.

But you know what? I don’t mind at all!! Because now I literally have all the time in the world.

Oh, and guess what?

When I went to town yesterday, I stopped in at my favorite health & wellness store–

And while I was chatting there with my friend Debbie, we decided to meet up at the Historic Arcade tomorrow and go listen to the live acoustic music at the Archive Bottle Shop & Lounge!! Yay!!

I had such a nice time there last Thursday, but it’ll be so much nicer to have someone to go with!!

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Before I forget–

If you were among the many who were reading the Blue Moon edition of my 1999 book Neptune & Surf over at the Internet Archive and found it suddenly gone…

I’m not sure what happened there, but, wow, that specific edition is GONE from all over the Internet.

Overnight.

It could be that Hachette UK had it removed. However, they only own the digital rights to that edition. But anyway. You can either go to the Open Library — they still have it listed HERE.

Or you can read the Masquerade edition instead. It’s officially out of print and still available everywhere — including available to read for free at the Internet Archive.

Or, you know, you can BUY the eBook from Hachette UK and then I would ostensibly get royalties…

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Okay, here’s this!

From Dwight Yoakam! The next shows are —

Buy tickets HERE!!

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I loved this!

Not just the photo itself, but it also kind of supports what I said a while back, about how the “renovations” to my old tenement on E.12th Street actually ruined the fucking apartment….

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Apparently it was Alexandra Richards’ birthday yesterday!!

From Keith!

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And from Warren Ellis yesterday!! He’s holding out for a hero, for some reason!!

And speaking of seeing you Friday in Brighton….

Well, gone are the Woodstock days, for sure, gang (wherein everything imaginable happened and you were completely on your own) —

Here, instead, is the multi-page website that gives you all the info about the upcoming festivities at the Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ sold out homecoming in Brighton, but also all the things you can and cannot do or bring or have while you’re there!! And what you should expect to WEAR (weather-wise)!!

And, also, here’s this!

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And here’s this!!

It says it’s from July 18th, but not sure! Nick Cave!! Held aloft!!

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And I guess that is it.

I need to get that lovely walk happening, and then settle down and make a serious dent in that To Do list!! Oh, and this is what I’m currently watching on Britbox in the evenings: “Death Valley”. It’s a Welsh police procedural from 2025, and it is SO fun!!

Okay!

I hope you have a wonder-filled Wednesday, wherever you are in the world, gang.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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Let’s close with this!

From the driving-to-town playlist yesterday!!

It popped up as one of my “most listened to songs of 2025”??!! (I’m never gonna let go of my wee bonny girlhood in Cleveland, am I, gang?)

Paul Wilbur. “Hinei Ma Tov (Behold How Good)”. Enjoy, gang.

Sort of like vacation!

July 27, 2026 marilyn jaye lewis Leave a comment

Except that I’m getting a lot of work done…

And now the weather app is saying rain & thunderstorms tomorrow…

Hmmm… that makes 3 days in a row that it’s “tomorrow”.

I’m not complaining, though. It is another really pretty morning here in the Hinterlands!

And I had a great weekend, even though I stuck around the house and spent many hours on Zoom calls!

And I have a lot to get done here at my desk today, but I tell you, gang, I am learning so much about the small indie publishing houses that I thought had totally evaporated. (It turns out it’s just those pesky online algorithms that make them seem like they’ve evaporated!)

Anyway. I just love having all this TIME to get caught up on everything.

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Before I forget–

I’m excited about this, too.

One of my girlfriends in town told me recently about a convent she started going to for Mass and it sounds so cool. So we’re going to try to coordinate a time when I can go with her.

It’s up on a hill, totally hidden away in the woods! The nuns are self-sufficient and grow all their own food, and also have goats and cows for their dairy products. The convent is like a huge log cabin.

Here are a couple of photos from online.

Leading up to the convent:

Inside!

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Okay.

You might want to read this if you feel so inclined. (The upcoming WWIII “situation” is scripted. Hold onto your wee bonny hats, gang.)

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And here’s this!!

The Glimmer Twins not smoking!!

Yes, a few of the photos Keith posted yesterday for Mick’s 83rd birthday!

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And here’s this!

Mick smoking and John Lennon not smoking in LA in March, 1974!! (Photo by Ron Galella)

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And as we wait for Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ big homecoming bash in Brighton!! (Festivities begin on THURSDAY, finally!!) —

Here’s this! From my new favorite FB page!

Not smoking, Not happy about not smoking.

And here’s this!

Nick Cave not smoking while wielding a weapon in Amsterdam in 1988!!

And I loved this!!

He looks rested, doesn’t he??

And here’s this reminder!

And don’t forget this helpful stuff if you’ll be in Brighton!!

And all these movies, if you have nerves of steel!!

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And I’m thinking that is it for now!!

I’m gonna finish up the laundry here, take another lovely walk, and get down to work!!

And tomorrow, I’m actually gonna drive to town and get groceries. I haven’t driven to town (or anywhere) since Thursday. Wow. Will I even remember how to drive??

Enjoy your Monday, wherever you are in the world, gang.

Thanks for visiting.

I love you guys. See ya!

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I leave you with this!!

This great song popped up on my playlist this morning, even though I wasn’t driving. I was just sitting there…

A lot of interesting memories came rushing back… I just love this song.

Nick Cave & the Bad Seeds’ cover of “Something’s Gotten Hold of My Heart”, from their cover-album Kicking Against the Pricks, 1986! Enjoy, gang. I sure did.