As an album it's a tough listen; a drunken, shambolic affair that was recorded with a pretty loose assembly of musicians in the wake of the deaths of two of Neil's close friends (one his guitarist, one his longtime roadie) from drug ODs.
But this version of "World On A String" comes from his super-underrated "Unplugged" album (1993) and there's enough distance between the original 1973 recording sessions and a 90s world that appreciated "Uncle Neil" as a grunge forebear to appreciate it for what it is: "I have fame, I have dough, I have a ranch, it don't matter, my friends are gone." Pure heartfelt lament.
I met Erin (@RIOTGRRRL) and Jake (@SLOWDAZZLE) last year after I started using PI.FYI—we organized a meetup before a Jonathan Richman show and immediately clicked over our shared taste in music and similar sensibilities. We started hanging out a lot and had some great times together. I’ve also gotten to know many of their friends, who are all really cool. Erin and Jake started dating a couple of months after the three of us became friends, but our group chat still pops off. Their friendship has meant a lot to me, especially since moving to NYC in 2023, and I really appreciate having them in my life.
Come hang with some PI.FYI folks at Franklin Park in Crown Heights in Brooklyn on 7/19 @ 6:30. riotgrrrl and slowdazzle will be there too! Link is the Partiful invited!
