Pearl Jam, Arcade Fire, The Avett Brothers, and Other Fantastic Escapes

On this trip, I’ve run in Oregon City, Beaverton, Portland, Joseph, Northbrook, and Milwaukee. No gravel. No bear shit. No acorns. No snake holes. No leaf duff. This translates
to moving faster, with ease, with a reduced threat of ankle sprains. Turn on the new Pearl Jam album “Lightning Bolt” or my go-to “Suburbs” by Arcade Fire and I’m on a roll. If I want to be transported, I hit up “The Carpetner” by The Avett Brothers because I saw them at Interlochen and ran to their album the rest of the summer. Running to them, even under gray skies, still absolutely makes me think of Michigan forests and fat, blue lakes. Since they’re actually from Asheville, their music helps remind me of my current home, too.

Frequently, I choose albums for their beat or for the location I’m in. In Oregon, I ran to The Decemberists because they’re a Portland band and to Death Cab for Cutie because their music sounds like Pacific Northwest rain. There is nothing, in fact, that sounds more like “home” to me than Death Cab for Cutie–in a sensory and narrative way, simultaneously. This week, I’ve been running to Pearl Jam because their album was released on Tuesday and I’ve been breathless for it for several years now. I’m happy to report that, so far, “Lightning Bolt” is hitting it out of the park. I haven’t been this excited about a PJ album since “Vs.” – which was, um, a long ass time ago.

I often wonder what other writers do when they’re overstimulated, overtired, and scraping by on reserves. What’s their go-to rescue remedy to keep a smile on their faces and keep in good graces with the public? No one teaches us these things. We have to live through the grump and learn, then come out on the other side and prevent it from happening next time. When I don’t have the mountains and Gus the Superdog for my daily respite, running and rockin’ out are my go-to for pushing through. Rock on!