Field Guide: Talking With John Darnielle About….Everything

Q&As can sometimes feel like a second fiddle to a feature. Done well, though—especially with the right subject pairing—they’re an art form. 

I think this conversation between writer Shelbi Polk and musician John Darnielle qualifies for that category. The prolific Mountain Goats frontman (and Durham resident) just published a new book, This Year: 365 Songs Annotated: A Book of Days, and a new studio album, Through This Fire Across from Peter Balkan. (Plot twist: the book has 366 songs.) 

Shelbi’s interview touches on autofiction, writing as correction, identity, spirituality, and, believe it or not, mixed-use residential housing. Here’s Darnielle on collective action: 

“It’s beautiful to see Durham affirming that it is who we say it is. It’s a place where we’re trying our best to come together to protect our people. The privilege to see that and to be part of that in whatever small way. We need to keep that carrying forward, to protect every disenfranchised class, you know, from immigrants to trans people to whoever else you can name, who’s on the receiving end of abuse from this administration. Like anybody else, once I get started about this, there’s so much to say. The backwards gift of this is you’re learning what your politics are right now.” 

We have a new issue on stands next Wednesday; make sure to pick up a copy. Thanks for reading!

SOL House Wines owner Jess Moffitt. Read the story about the new natural wine bar here. Photo courtesy of Downtown Durham, Inc.

Here are some ideas of things to do this week, including an ongoing holiday sketch show, a play about Arthur Miller and the Red Scare, and a dance party. 

And you still have time to go to the last night of artist Taylor Mac’s performance at Duke Arts, Holiday Sauce, which seems like a good option for anyone who doesn’t have a cookie-cutter family, or who has some melancholy and mixed feelings. Here is our interview with Mac. 

There’s a new natural wine bar in Brightleaf Square, SOL House Wines, and owner Jess Moffitt welcomes guests to BYO food. Read about it here. 

I’m looking forward to going to go see Hamnet (and bawl) in theaters next week. Here’s Glenn McDonald’s rundown on that movie, as well as some other holiday fare. And here’s an excerpt from Alice Gerrard’s new book, Custom Made Woman, focusing on her formative collaboration with Hazel Dickens. 

ICYMI: A new Lunch Money. Katharine Whalen (formerly of the Squirrel Nut Zippers) has two new albums out. Behind the scenes at Emanuel Food Pantry.

Part of South of the Border (the roadside attraction) is up for sale. The Old Wimpy’s in Durham—a charming and tiny space—is getting a second (or third, or fourth) life as a seafood shack, Jean’s by the Sea. I lost the thread on Stranger Things, but if you’re watching, here are some fun local easter eggs. This is cool: Theatre Raleigh opened an adjacent cafe in its space called The Green Room. (Though nothing can replace Durham’s Green Room!) An in-depth guide for holiday events around Apex, Cary, and Morrisville, and a Christmas pop-up bar in Cary. 

— Sarah Edwards —
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