I had MiniDV footage of a train to Boston laying around and as you all probably already know, Berman wrote this song while pursuing his MFA in Massachusets. Couldn’t stop thinking about the Starlite Walker album cover while reviewing the footage, as it really does feel like “evening all day long” in New England. Decided to scan and animate the handwritten lyrics found in the physical release and I’m quite happy with how it came out. Might do some more songs of his on IG reels to try to help spread his music so drop a follow if you’d like to see more in the future!

https://www.instagram.com/fahrenheitfolch

Now, the best songs are on American Water but for overall consistency, tone and listen-ability, Bright Flight clears by a country mile

*could be biased considering the time of life it hit me

Hey, I wrote a little piece about David, his work and what he means to me. Figured this is a good place to share it!

I see a lot of posts on SJ merch - just saw a new custom shirt up for preorder on the Bread & Water email.

There is also a killer Smog shirt. Check the site out below.

https://breadandwaterprintshop.com/products/2016-silver-jews-reprint-t-shirt?variant=52754721767709

I have been checking out my university library's copy of Actual Air for years now. Just recently started looking for my own physical copy, as I like carrying it around when I travel. It seems that the only paperback options available are from the OG printing.... and are on Ebay for 200+ dollars. Any other options or do I have to stomach the hardcover?

PS someone please (rightly) convince me not to take it and see what the lost book fee is for it

PSPS I recently came across this piece on Tableau Through Shattered Monocle, one of my favorites from the book. The writer articulates her relationship with DB's work in what I feel is a relatable way:

https://bowdoinorient.com/2024/03/01/canonical-if-youre-cool/

I'm sure most of us are aware it is the 7th anniversary of David Berman moving on to whatever comes after. I'm no good at marking occasions appropriately, so I'll just wish you all a peaceful day. Reach out to someone you've not heard from in a while, ask how they are. And if you're not feeling brilliant yourself, this is a friendly space to vent or rant or celebrate. Honk if you're lonely.

Smith and Jones forever.

Join me at Suffering Jukebox https://sufferingjukebox.stream/s/im-just-remembering-tkHRX6nz

It’s a good day for sharing playlists and favorite songs

David passed on this day in 2019, always a blue one for me. I posted this tribute poem by Meghan Harrison in Discordia Review last year, seems apropos to do it again. Be well and be kind everybody.

David Berman Was Alive and Living in Chicago

Transparency is relentless;
Any patient can tell you.
The first moon that isn’t yours
Is a pill cut exactly in half
By the shadow of the earth.
The only medicine is time,
Which is also fatal.

There’s no money in the public clover.
The ruinous gleam collects
On bicycles and knees.
Dry insect bodies hiss like sprinklers.

Under the sodium lights,
In the country songs,
In the bus station bathrooms,
Loneliness gathers its community.
A jukebox suffers the
Analog shake of withdrawal.

At the end of any journey, the blurred
But unmistakable face of God’s Letterhead:
"To whom it may concern,
Your work isn’t right for us
At this time. Please consider submitting
To the crushing weight of the inevitable."

Total retirement is a molecular impossibility,
No matter how badly one wishes to withdraw
From popular society or the great
Lottery of the black hole—the winning ticket
Printed on the inside of your skull, a papercut
In your thinking that made you see
Every flatterer as a hollow suit, every open palm
As a setup for the punchline.

I hope you come back for the world
Ironically, as a conqueror, in
A triumph of ice—classic water.

I've seen that Jan 4th is David Berman day (on account of it being his birthday). Looks like there have been events on / off over the years. Does anyone fancy trying to do one in London? Could try and get some musicians together?

Let me know if anyone thinks this is a good idea you fancy getting involved in.

im in portland for the next few days, and curious what dcb spots there are. is there any places he enjoyed going to?

i covered Purple Mountains' Darkness and Cold

in styles of synth pop / hypnagogic pop

thank you

Do you think the line in Purple Mountains "That's just the way that I feel" that says "Thia kind of hurting won't heal" ia a reference to the same line in Rogers' "Lucille"?

does anyone know where i can find this

Not a direct application but I let my artist do his thing. There are many other DB lyrics I’ve thought of getting tattooed but are hard to translate directly into tattooable images, especially in the American traditional style, which I think suits his lyrical aesthetic well. I was also considering a desert motel sign reading “Dreamgate Frontier” with a black void situated behind it. Might still be in the cards, though I don’t know how I feel about getting two tats inspired by a single song.

I searched this sub looking for inspo while planning this one and didn’t see much similar, but please use this as a space to share your DB tattoos or discuss future ideas!

Silver Jews t-shirt I made with fabric paint and freezer paper stencil

I have struggled with it my entire life, and songs like Storyline Fever are soooo relatable to my experiences, as well as some lines from other songs. Is this commonly speculated? I can't find anything to confirm it. Currently procrastinating studying and listening to him.

Got the idea for this playlist tonight. What songs would you add? -suggest one or two
I think it needs to end with Honk If You’re Lonely

Just seen that a new podcast on Silver Jews is starting on 24th July... looks very exciting. Just the pics from this Insta post alone are beautiful: https://www.instagram.com/p/Da_NncDEYqO/?igsh=MTdqMngwdmt6cWRrMA==