While I was posting on social media about my upcoming California book tour dates, my head began to swim in an ocean of California songs: Katy Perry’s bouncy “California Gurls,” the driving “Los Angeles” by X, and the double dose of the Red Hot Chili Peppers’ “Californication” and “Dani California” (which I initially confused as the same song) all played in my head at once. As even more California songs continued to invade my psyche, I struggled to pick just one.
As I type this post, I’m in Palm Springs where it’s sunny and 105 degrees (it’s a dry heat). This feels like the perfect place to listen to these songs, and after a bit too much research, I’ve decided that this is the best California playlist. It leads with the Phantom Planet song from the O.C., and in addition to Rihanna and Katy, it’s got no shortage of songs that cater to my alt-rock sensibilities.
Speaking of alt-rock sensibilities… I’m hitting the road starting this Sunday in Oakland. I’m excited about my conversation partners at these upcoming book tour events, including Merrill Garbus, aka the amazing musician Tune-Yards, with whom I’ve worked for the past 13 years, James Spooner, who recently published the graphic memoir The High Desert: Black. Punk. Nowhere., and Dyana Williams, who co-founded Black Music Month in 1979 (!).
Sun 8/14 - Oakland, CA @ Bandcamp Oakland in conversation with Merrill Garbus (Tune-Yards) in person and live streamed event (5pm PT)
Thurs 8/18 - Los Angeles, CA @ the Artform Studio in conversation with James Spooner
Fri 8/19 - San Diego, CA @ Vinyl Junkies Record Shack in conversation with James Spooner
Weds 9/7 - London @ ICA in conversation with Nicolas-Tyrell Scott
Thurs 9/15 - Philadelphia, PA - Harriett’s Bookshop presents @ Milkcrate Cafe, in conversation with Dyana Williams
Thurs 9/22 - Lawrence, KS @ Kansas @ Lawrence Public Library in conversation with Brad Allen
Fri 9/23 - Iowa City, IA @ tba in conversation with James Spooner
Sat 9/24 - Champaign, IL @ Pygmalion Fest
Thu 9/29 - New Orleans, LA @ Ace Hotel in conversation with Ben Jaffe
Weds 10/12 - Tacoma, WA @ University of Puget Sound
Thurs 10/13 - Portland, OR @ LiveWire Radio (short segment / part of a ticketed radio broadcast)
Fri 10/14 - Portland, OR @ Powell’s Books (free event, come to this one)
Tue 10/25 - Chapel Hill, NC @ Flyleaf Books in conversation with John Darnielle
More events will be announced soon, including November 9 at one of my favorite places in all of NYC. Details and updates can be found HERE.
Life in the Sunshine with Three Heroic Single Mothers
Princeton, NJ’s weekly newspaper Town Topics published a thoughtful piece about my memoir entitled Life in the Sunshine with Three Heroic Single Mothers. Spoiler alert: The other two mothers are Barack Obama’s and Moby’s. [I think their site is down so please step into this time machine and scroll to p. 13]
I’ve done a lot of interviews and podcasts recently, including Blamo! With my friend and former IT guy, Jeremy, and How Long Gone, where the hosts admitted they hadn’t read my book and we just made fun of each other for an hour. It felt seriously great to have a non-serious conversation. Apparently it went so well that the beverage brand Recess shipped me a case of their delicious and ostensibly calming product. Here’s an outtake from my influencer photo shoot:
My memoir My Life in the Sunshine is out now. I’d love it if you picked up a copy at your local independent bookstore. It’s also available at all the big places, and for your Kindle as well. There’s an audiobook that I spent 20 hours of my life reading (it’ll only take 7 hours to listen).
I hope to see you this summer/fall.
Nabil Ayers / Brooklyn