hello & welcome. this recording marks a record of the recent past when people could gather together by the hundreds. i also see it as a note from a future where people will gather & applaud again. the crisp percussive clatter of all those hands, people chatting to their friends or people they just met, going “woo,” singing along—it’s very surreal & nearly heartbreaking to hear now, the tapping dents & divots of rain against my bedroom window, skylit & glowing overcast tonight. it’s a sideways smile hearing so many people together but a smile nonetheless. & singing all in the first person! the first person plural? what should we call this? grammar has generously bent open for us to make room for something momentary we might call "the communal i.” —a line of people, their singing heads in the tungsten floating sweetly over their shoulders, shoulder to shoulder, singing stretched-out vowels in unison, affirming together our collective intent to try to be better to ourselves, to those we know, & to those we don’t know. thank you to anyone who came to these concerts! thank you to anyone listening now. we appreciate you all so much & look forward to playing music again for you soon. <& stay safe, much love.
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-evan stephens hall, 04.19.2020 (updated 10.2.2025)
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We'll be donating the proceeds of Elsewhere 3, 2, & 1 to organizations supporting victims of the genocide & ongoing apartheid in Palestine.
We'll split between:
Medical Aid for Palestinians:
A UK-based operation who support the efforts of healthcare workers & the protection of healthcare infrastructure in Palestine.
www.map.org.uk
Oxfam:
Another UK-based operation working to alleviate global poverty. They have a specific fundraising mission currently to help provide emergency food, clean water & hygiene kits to people in Gaza. They also rock because they have well-inventoried used book & record stores to help raise revenue. 2 birds, one phone.
https://www.oxfam.org.uk/oxfam-in-action/current-emergencies/gaza-crisis-appeal/
Gaza Skate team:
Because I have found their artful resistance very moving.
https://www.instagram.com/gaza_skate_team/?hl=en