It was a pact Vic Chesnutt held with Kristin Hersh, his long-time friend and frequent tourmate: "Don’t suck, don’t die." The two prolific songwriters shared not only the stage, but struggles with major labels and with mental health. But, sadly, Chesnutt did die, from an overdose on Christmas 2009 at the age of 45.
Hersh commemorates this uniquely talented and troubled singer/songwriter in her new memoir, Don't Suck, Don't Die: Giving Up Vic Chesnutt, out now via University of Texas Press. She'll be reading from her latest work this Thursday, October 29th at Elliott Bay Book Company, followed by a chat with The Stranger's Arts Editor and Audioasis on KEXP fill-in DJ, Sean Nelson. She'll also be performing a solo set on Wednesday, October 28th at Nectar Lounge, with Jason Dodson of The Maldives. We asked Hersh to share five of her favorite Chesnutt songs, and while we're sure it must've been hard to choose from a discography rich with 17 full-length albums, as well as many side projects, these are the tracks she chose for KEXP listeners:
Any local bands want a free studio session? Converse, the iconic footwear of indie rockers, presents the Converse Rubber Tracks Pop-Up Studio. Last month, across the country, Converse offered free recording sessions to bands in legendary studios like Abbey Road Studios in London, England; Tuff Gong…
October 31st. It's a day for candy, costumes, and pumpkins, right? Well, if '80s slasher films have taught us anything, it's also a time for Satan to take your soul, or something, right? (Unless you're a virgin teen... isn't that how it works?) While the origins of Halloween have no definitive vers…
Draw on your black eyeliner, and get ready to get gloomy with KEXP as we team up with Jenny George, founder of Dancing on the Valentine, for a very special evening at the Tractor Tavern on Wednesday, October 28th with Dark Entries Goth Night.
East meets West with the Modern Sky Music Festival, a jam-packed one-day show happening this Sunday, October 11th at the Seattle Center Mural Amphitheater.
