Kristin Hersh is the heart of CASH Music. It started with an idea of hers, she helps guide the organization on our board, and her music serves as a pulse for our efforts. It is impossible for me to overstate how much she means to CASH and also to me personally. So I think it’s fitting that she be the first artist I talk about in my month-long series of daily posts.
CASH began with the first of Kristin’s Speedbath tracks, and at the time I barely knew her. We’re from the same part of the world so we had some friends in common, but that was about it. I knew a few Throwing Muses songs, but not more than three. Listening to ‘Slippershell’ for the first time it clicked. Here was this big sound full of guitar nuances against primal explosions. Right away I got it.
And that’s Kristin, to me. I get it, and I like to think that we understand each other. The way she thinks makes some kind of sense to me and I can hear it in her songs, just like she always understood what we’re building together with CASH — well before we had words on paper to explain it. What’s so great about Kristin Hersh — as an artist and as a person — is her perspective. She can see the world from another angle and manage to show that to you. It’s a rare quality in people, but she manages to do it with her songs, her words, and her guitar.
She and Billy have changed my life, changed my direction, and brought real meaning to my world. Simply put: CASH Music wouldn’t exist without them. And in an amazing act of support, Kristin has once again donated her time to support CASH. She’s given 5 pairs of tickets to a private studio concert for 10 as an entry in our raffle. (Location will be worked out between all the winners, and if anyone can’t make it they can grab a private feed/chat online.)
One last note. There are two things Kristin can do better than everyone on the planet: make spring rolls and play guitar. I’ll allow arguments about the former, but anyone arguing that there’s a better guitarist might have to fight me.
Kristin’s CASH fundraiser contribution
Kristin at CASH
50FOOTWAVE at CASH
kristinhersh.com
It’s hard for me to talk about Kristin without coming off like some fanatical stalker.
I first met her in the fall/winter of 85/86 (I think). Proximity and the quirky gestalt of College radio and the campus ratskeller are largely responsible for our unlikely crossing. As one of the 6 audience members at many a show, There was always a little one-on-one time with members of the Muses. Tanya was approachable and friendly, Leslie was quiet and introspective and David could be anybody’s friend. Kristin was an enigma. In the parlence of an immature 18 year old male, she seemed a little touched, a tourtured soul. As time marched on and our meetings became more frequented, we would not so much have conversations but share strange little observations of the Human condition. There wasn’t a lot of depth to those interactions. I’m not sure if it was because I was afraid to really know her or not. I like to think I came to understand her but can’t really be sure. what is certain is that Throwing Muses and Kristin were present with me at one of those rare landmark/pivotal points in one’s life.
So many years later, I must thank her as you do. Her music exisits as a soundtrack for over half of my life.
Perhaps CASH will be her greatest hit and lasting legacy.