It's OK Not to Know

Plus New York City, NJ and Greensboro, NC Shows

For weeks, panic has taunted me like a cranky toddler on the verge of a tantrum. I couldn’t settle it down no matter what I tried. I knew what was causing it, knew it wasn’t helping me get anything done, knew it was making me lose sleep. I knew how to temporarily soothe it (play music, talk to supportive friends, disconnect from reality). But none of those things were making it go away.

Finally, in a yoga class this morning, I tried to just breathe and let my body move. I tried to stop “fixing the problem”. When I slow down enough to notice what’s going on under the surface, I often get downloads: clarity about what I need to do. This morning I heard: “It’s ok not to know”. All I have to do is move towards the people and the ideas and the situations that feel right. I can’t even tell you what a huge relief this was. I’m not supposed to have the answer alone. None of us is. That’s something we need to figure out together, collectively, in real time.

Join me and the inimitable Rachel Sage at the legendary Bitter End in NYC this week. We’ll share a show and do some collaborating along with her band, The Sequins! GET TICKETS:

This past Saturday Mike and I went to the Hands Off rally in Raleigh. It was powerful: people from all walks of life, a variety of political viewpoints, and an overall feeling of just wanting to practice and protect human decency.

We noticed a group across the street from where the main rally was centered. Mostly older white men and a few women dressed in motorcycle gear. At first we thought they were counter-protesters. A friend we had driven there with had been targeted by hate groups in the past. We were wary but Mike and our friend moved closer to hear. I stayed back. After a few moments Mike waved me over. It was a group of Combat Vets holding a vigil for service members who had perished. They were there as part of Hands Off because of the damage the administration is doing to Vets’ services. We stood with some of them for the rest of the rally. I joked with one guy about how, according to the media there were only about 80 people there. (It looked to us to be at least 4,000). The whole experience moved me. If you were at a rally maybe you felt it too. Five million people did this this weekend. That’s real. That’s power. This is what democracy looks like.

Would I consciously choose to be living through a moment like this? No.

But guess what? I am. I’m here and so are you. And this is 1000% a choose-your-own-adventure moment. I want to go on the adventure that looks like people of good conscience figuring stuff out together, having faith in our collective creativity, and most importantly trusting my gut about what does and doesn’t feel right.

GREENSBORO! Join me and Doug Davis for a co-bill at everyone’s favorite little listening room, The Flat Iron, April 19th. Early 5 pm show! I’ll play solo, Doug will have a band and I’ll join them for one or two.

4/10 The Bitter End, NYC - Neo-Folk Extravangaza w/Rachael Sage

4/13 Rosie’s Cafe, Brick, NJ - Seating is limited & will sell out. RSVP to get your spot/info.

4/19 The Flat Iron, Greensboro, NC

5/2 Trinity House Theatre, Livonia, MI*

5/3 WFMT Folkstage, Chicago, IL*

5/4 Bishop Hill Creative Commons, Bishop Hill, IL*

5/7 Cafe Carpe, Ft. Atkinson, WI - supporting Richard Shindell

5/8 Cafe Carpe, Ft Atkinson, WI - supporting Richard Shindell

5/9 The Stellar Cellar, Effingham, IL - ticket link coming soon

5/10 Bluff View Concerts, La Crosse, WI

5/17 The ArtsCenter, Carrboro, NC

*co-bills with Jenny Reynolds