The Mountain Goats & John Vanderslice, “Emerging”
What is it with trans people and the Mountain Goats? I don’t know, but I’m along for the ride. This track, off of a sci-fi-concept-album-turned-EP collaboration between John Darnielle and John Vanderslice, speaks to Avery’s younger self growing up in the pines: lonely, monstrous, searching for a home where that monstrosity will be embraced instead of scorned.
The Regrettes, “A Living Human Girl”
If “Emerging” is for Avery back then, “A Living Human Girl” is for June now. Avery’s former best friend grew up in the same small town, feeling just as trapped as Avery did. Unlike Avery, June didn’t have the chance to leave. I like to think of her as turning her rebellion inward, cutting punk-feminist zines in her bedroom, listening to bands like Bikini Kill and Paramore. This song, released in the year Pineys is set, continues that tradition.
The Shins, “Spilt Needles”
Wincing the Night Away’s themes of insomnia and surreal instrumentations lend themselves perfectly to Avery and June’s nighttime quest to save their town from the Jersey Devil. This track was one of my first themes for Pineys back when I wrote the first draft in college, and it’s stuck with me as a guidepost whenever I’m losing sight of the story’s soul.
Marideth Sisco and Blackberry Winter, “Fair and Tender Ladies”
South Jersey’s rural culture recalls that of Appalachia, and that includes bluegrass and country folk music. You can still hear classics like this at Albert Hall in Waretown, where I like to imagine Avery’s mother still likes to spend a warm Saturday night, listening to the cicadas and the tree frogs beyond the banjo’s tune, keeping the old piney spirit alive even as (in her mind) her child has abandoned it.
The Front Bottoms, “Rhode Island”
I can’t resist putting a New Jersey band on the board here. Like the Mountain Goats, the Front Bottoms have a knack for connecting with put-upon transsexuals with a folk-punk streak. “Rhode Island” tells of missed connections in close quarters, friends who give you shit just for the fun of it. It’s the kind of relationship Avery and June used to have, and one they might have again - if they can just make it through the night.
A Crowdfunding Update!
If you somehow don’t know already, last week we reached our goal for the Pineys teaser crowdfund. This means we’ll be able to bring the world of Pineys to life for the first time later this summer, which means you’re that much closer to finally seeing what all this has been about.
Pineys is the biggest and most ambitious project I’ve ever undertaken, and we’re far from the finish line. Your help is more crucial than ever. We’re still raising funds to reach a stretch goal to increase pay for our crew. If you haven’t made your pledge yet, you have just over a week to do so! Get in on the ground floor of Pineys and catch all the behind-the-scenes action (and more!) as we create the teaser and march onward toward production of the full feature.
Until next time, pineys!
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