I’m finally home. Thanksgiving was wonderful and exhausting. I wish my family was closer.
Speaking of warm, welcoming spaces, I attended Vienna Teng and Alex Wong’s “Multitudes” retreat a few weeks ago, and I’m still recovering. Recovering in the sense that I’m returning to the real world, integrating those experiences into my life and self. It was an extraordinary event.
I’ve been a fan of Vienna’s music for decades. I listened to Waking Hour and Warm Strangers over and over in those early years, and some of her songs can still make me cry. She played great covers, too — childhood favorites like Annie’s song, and new ones like Leaving Atlanta (which is so sweetly eviscerating). I also found other artists through her, not least of which was Alex.
Damn, I really need to do a music post.
Anyway, my friend Ibis invited me to the retreat, and I was happy to accept — I always enjoy spending time with Ibis, and this was an event for music and joy and connection. Vienna and Alex are themselves quite multifaceted, committed to activism and authenticity that they carry into and beyond their music. The gathering sounded enticingly complex, and was. Musical performance, much of it spontaneous and participatory, varied, often gorgeous. Collaborative songwriting, elaborate dinner experiences, hot tub chaos. Time and space and conversation.
10/10 would fly to Tennessee to be with a multitude of warm strangers again.