Cubes. Hats. Dreams. 🌄
Baby, it's hot outside.
I'm covered in freckles and soaked in worry! I tingle with tension and quiver with unanswered questions! And why do I keep clicking on ads for infrared sauna blankets? What is happening to my molecular structure?
But let's move on. Pleasant diversions lie ahead ...
I LOVE THIS SHOW:
YELLOWSTONE
Right now you might be looking at this picture of Kevin Costner with a bored horse and thinking, Nope, this show is NOT for me.
But hear me out: YELLOWSTONE, a lesser-known series on the Paramount Network (and the Peacock streaming service) isn't what you might expect. I just started watching the first three seasons via Amazon, and I'm counting down 'til my kid goes to bed and I can ingest more tonight.
Set in Montana, the story follows big-time rancher John Dutton (Costner) and the rivalries he sparks amongst family members, government officials, and anyone else who crosses his path. It's bloody, soapy and scenic with an incredible ensemble cast--imagine if SUCCESSION or SONS OF ANARCHY took place in Big Sky Country or if Tony Soprano wore a 10-gallon hat. Don't you wanna see that show? I do.
I never expected a buncha bourbon-swilling cowhands to ease my quarantine blues, but here we are. Check it out. Let it simmer. By next week you'll be wearing chaps.
HEAR MY NEW MUSICÂ PLAYLIST.
On Spotify I've been compiling a playlist called "hi, i'm new here." This week's new tracks:Â
1. "Southern Belle," Palehound - Ellen Kempner offers her take on the Elliott Smith song. A 25th anniversary edition of Smith's self-titled record comes out Aug. 28.
2. "Put Me Under," Figueroa - This transcendent track from Amon Tobin comes from his record billed as "an electronic album made in the absence of instruments."
3. "It's Not Always Funny," Devendra Banhart - Devendra's new EP reminds me of how much I loved listening to his records 10-15 years ago. Now I'm back on the DB train.
4. "Take A Bow," Matt Berry - Yep, this is the same Matt Berry from TOAST OF LONDON, WHAT WE DO IN THE SHADOWS, etc. I adore him in all forms.
5. "Ferris Wheel," Sylvan Esso - Whenever live music comes back, I gotta see them again.Â
This made me cry:
THE SPEED CUBERS
This 40-minute documentary about the world's quickest Rubik's Cube solvers warmed my soul and made me sniffle. At the heart of the film is a sweet friendship between champion cubers Max Park and Feliks Zemdegs.Â
See it on Netflix.
FOLLOW HER ON INSTAGRAM:
@lydia_ricci
Artist Lydia Ricci makes tiny sculptures of everyday objects like telephones, mattresses, chairs and typewriters. Her posts bring me such joy--I mean, how can you not love this tiny cigarette machine and this mini escalator? I was inspired to make a little toilet because of her work.
AND YOU RECOMMEND ...
 This new Stooges live release, unearthed 50 years after it was recorded (via Paul H.) ... HOLLYWOOD PARK, the new memoir from musician Mikel Jollett about growing up in a cult (via Jerilyn) ...  LE CHALET, the captivating French horror/drama series on Netflix (via Melissa) ... "She Plays Bass" and other '90s-tinged songs by Beabadoobee (via Sean N.) ... And John S. was so inspired by this story about elderly people looking for pen pals that he started writing letters himself.
Stay in touch! If you email me at whitmath@gmail.com, please put your fave roller-skating song in the subject line. Love your forearms.
In a white room with black curtains,
Clarabell the Clown
HAVE YOU READ PANDEMIX?
The charity comics I co-edited is still available on Patreon for just 5 bucks! Grab it at patreon.com/pandemix.
“Art is for everybody."
- Keith Haring
Reach out! Find me on Twitter, Instagram and at whitmath@gmail.com.