We Live In Brooklyn, Baby
Returning for a Brooklyn event this Weds. 11/9
I launched my book on June 7 in Brooklyn. At the time, I had a total of nine book tour events on my schedule, and although I hoped to add more, that was the extent of my promotional cycle. Turns out I loved it, and as more opportunities arose, work travel also increased, allowing me to add events in places I hadn’t planned on visiting. Now I’m 25 events in, and there’s no end in sight. It’s progressed far beyond traditional book promotion: the more places I go, the more people I meet. Some are family, some are not, and sometimes it’s hard to tell the difference. Here’s a picture from a recent event in Chapel Hill, NC with the musician and author John Darnielle and Chi’Cas, the woman who sings “Everybody Loves the Sunshine.”
I’m back home in Brooklyn for a book event this Wednesday Nov. 9 at 6:30pm at the Center for Brooklyn History (fka the Brooklyn Historical Society) in conversation with Rebecca Carroll. Rebecca’s wonderful memoir Surviving the White Gaze is one of my favorites this year, and we’ve been messaging about how much our books and our lives have in common. Wednesday's event will be our first ever conversation. As a bonus, the event is in the stunning Othmer Library, where I used to show up at noon on a Saturday, press play on a Kraftwerk, Patti Labelle or Jawbox album—depending on which period of time I was trying to access—and write many of the chapters that became My Life in the Sunshine. I can’t wait to return. I recommend an early drink at Gage & Tollner beforehand. RSVP here.
Last stop of 2022: Helsinki, Finland on Dec. 3 for the We Jazz Festival where my uncle Alan Braufman will perform alongside Patricia Brennan and Tomas Nordmark, all of whom have released music on my record label Valley of Search. It’s sure to be a cold, dark night.
2023 is shaping up nicely with events in Newport Beach, Boise, and a week-long driving tour of the American south. Details and updates can always be found HERE.
I’m thrilled to reissue “Rise,” the fifth album by Bad Brains, the DC punk band whom I stand behind as one of the greatest of all time. The album hasn’t been available on vinyl since its original 1993 release, and now it’s back via my label, The Control Group. Here’s the video for the title track. It’s in record stores worldwide, and of course you can order directly from Bandcamp.
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 fall.
Nabil Ayers / Brooklyn