This week: our Out In America correspondent Tom Papa sent us a summer report from the Jersey Shore, where he pondered the mysterious appeal of fudge and taffy, chatted with a retired NYC policeman named Pat, and fought for beach space with a large Italian family. Head to livefromhere.org to check out our special June 29 compilation featuring highlights from our warmups and encores!
Our comedian correspondent Tom Papa visits Portland, Oregon, where he encounters some yogurt-granola issues, meets a talkative gnome named Gus, gets a haircut at an old-fashioned barber shop, and experiences a little Pacific Northwest magic. (Originally from our June 23, 2018 broadcast.)
Download the Song of the Week, "And Just Like That” (originally from our June 23, 2018 broadcast) from Chris Thile and his fellow Punch Brothers.
This week: Tom Papa drives from New York City to Lenox, Massachusetts. But first, it’s off to NYC’s City Hall where he encounters a joyous cavalcade of soon-to-be-married couples.
Chris Thile’s Song of the Week from our June 15, 2019 season finale, “Breathe In.” The band: Chris Thile, I’m With Her (Sarah Jarosz, Aoife O’Donovan, and Sara Watkins), Mike Elizondo, Jeff Babko, Chris Eldridge, Alex Hargreaves, and Ted Poor. — Lyrics: Sing we now our mid-year hymn Breathe in love Breathe in Shush your mind with oxygen Breathe in love Breathe in You need this Amen Rest thy voice click-off thy pen Breathe in love Pluck not thy weary mandolin Breathe in love Breathe in You need this Amen Take thy summer medicine Breathe in love With one foot in the looney bin Breathe in love And when Fall asks you where you’ve been You can breathe out Again So breathe in love Breathe in You need this Amen
Chris Thile's Song of the Week, "Lightning Man," from our June 8, 2019 show. The band: Sara Watkins, Mike Elizondo, Eric Doob, Brittany Haas, Shaun Martin, Noam Pikelny, and Bryan Sutton. — Lyrics: Morse has chained the lightningThe rumors are trueAll this dashing and dotting’s gonna bring the world home to youAnd tell you what it is or what it might beSo drink today’s coffee with tomorrow’s news...There’s no more elsewhereEverywhere is hereWith an o-perator, tap-tapping our hope and fearSpeculation and excitementThe clock hands froze the miles disappearedWhen Morse chained the lightningMorse has chained the lightningBehold these tyrantsAssassins and thievesHaters of light, lawAnd libertyThen behold Morse’s lightningNipping at their heelsFixing to strike them in the middle of the battlefieldWhere they left America dyingOf the great divide in what she thinks and feelsBefore Morse chained the lightning
This week: our comedian correspondent Tom Papa lands in Washington D.C. in the middle of a spring heat wave, cools off with a classic ice cream treat, joins a class trip that’s visiting the Jefferson Memorial, and encounters a potential spy near the Lincoln Memorial reflecting pool. Tom’s book Your Dad Stole My Rake is available in paperback now. Find his tour dates and more at tompapa.com.
Chris Thile's Song of the Week, "Failure Isn’t Forever," from our June 1, 2019 show. The band: Madison Cunningham, Mike Elizondo, Marcus Gilmore, Brittany Haas, Shaun Martin, and Ryan Scott. — Lyrics: In a sunburnt parkEating greenhouse tomatoesI warm to my workAs worse comes to worstSinging heave ho‘Cause failure isn’t foreverOh failures aren’t foreverUnless they never try to do betterWe’ve left too big a markCasted too long a shadowBut failure won’t be foreverOh failures aren’t foreverUnless they never try to do betterWe’re gonna need some believersTo believe that failure isn’t foreverIt’s just a point in time to get betterWe welcome the darkThat pours through unlit windowsAs worst recedes to worseAnd we warm to the workSinging heave hoFailure isn’t foreverOh failures aren’t foreverUnless they never try to do betterWe’re gonna need some believersTo believe that failure isn’t foreverIt’s just a point in time to get better
Tom Papa heads to St. Louis, fights off a spring allergy attack, laments the addictive nature of phones and social media, and attends a Cardinals game with an amorous fan named Val. Find Tom’s tour dates at tompapa.com.
Chris Thile's Song of the Week, "Monette and the Milkman," from our May 25, 2019 show. The band: Rachael Price, Josh Dion, Chris Eldridge, Alan Hampton, Alex Hargreaves, and Gabriel Kahane. — Lyrics: “Monette”He whispers at the backdoor“This is just a trap yourLoving folks have setBut you don’t have to spring itGather up your things it’sTime you placed yourOwn bet”MonetteReplies “boy don’t I know itBut I’d be disowned ifI just up and leftIn the middle of the plan toRaise our family’s standingBy what man I wedMy mom and his are in the parlorTalking guest list dresses drinks and ringsMy father asked his then he asked my father no one’s bothered asking meSo MilkmanLover boyAdam whatcha afterA partnerOr a pretty toyAdam whatcha afterI’m almost scared ask ‘causeWhat if you’re too scared to ask me too and—“MonetteI’m after marrying a goddessGiving her just cause toBless the day we metYeah we’ll be in San DiegoSpreading avocadoOn our morningToast yet”MonetteReplies “well ain’t that niceBut dear a high societyGirl daren’t acceptWhy don’t you run along and partyWith those movie stars andGive them my regretsMy mom and his are in the parlorOn to what our children’s names should beMy father asked his then he asked my fatherAnd that’s quite enough for me”MilkmanLoverboy“Monette”His heart sinks as he whispers“Well I guess that’s it forThis huh please forgetThat I so misunderstood usAs my train rolls good-guy--Like into theSunset”MonetteReplies “Christ on a crackerHon, I’m kidding, packed, andNot a bit upsetBut since you couldn’t tell I’dChase your love to hell ifThat were where it ledSo MilkmanLover boyIt’s off to CaliforniaI’m your partnerYour my pretty toyAnd we’re off to California”
In a look back to our January 12 show, Tom Papa starts 2019 with a visit to wintry Kansas City, where he learns about a bit of family drama from a stranger in the hotel lobby and meets a jovial man named Big Daddy at a BBQ joint. Find Tom’s tour dates at tompapa.com.
Download Chris Thile's Song of the Week, "Fail Better (Three Advil and a Coffee)" — originally from our January 12, 2019 show. The band: Gaby Moreno, Mike Elizondo, Tyler Chester, Chris Eldridge, Alex Hargreaves, and Trevor Lawrence Jr. — Lyrics: Three Advil and a coffeeCould cure whatever ailed meIn my twenties:Sunlight loomed like a wall(On a late morning after)I woke up in a well(They threw me a ladder)I said “thank God for y’all(I thought I was a goner”)They said “we're happy to help (At least ‘til you’re older)Soon it won’t be last call(That’s leaving you hammered)It’ll be the plight of the world(And the vanity of your efforts)So keep your eye on the ball(Your mind over matter)And they’ll help find you a girl(Sooner or later)And when you fall down a well(She’ll throw you a ladder)And when the world goes to hell(You can crawl out together)Singing‘Darling you’re my AdvilDarling you’re my coffeeIn the bitter light of morningDarling you’re my AdvilDarling you’re my coffeeIn the bitter light of 2019Everybody trying to do the right thingIf only for their own’”So Darling be my AdvilDarling be my coffeeIn the bitter light of morningDarling be my AdvilDarling be my coffeeIn the bitter light of 2019Everybody’s trying to do the right thingWho knows? It might get done
Our comedian correspondent Tom Papa heads to New York City for some glorious fall weather, visits a Manhattan dog park, meets some colorful NYC characters, and gets a taste of Halloween in the Big Apple (originally from our October 27, 2018 episode). Find Tom’s tour dates at tompapa.com.
Download Chris Thile's Song of the Week, "There’s More to Death" — originally from our October 27, 2018 show. The band: Madison Cunningham, Mike Elizondo, Chris Eldridge, Alex Hargreaves, Dave Palmer, and Abe Rounds.
In a report originally from October 20, 2018, comedian Tom Papa visits Buffalo, New York to experience the city’s famous wings and talks bowling with an imposing but amiable bartender. Find Tom’s tour dates at tompapa.com.
Download Chris Thile's Song of the Week, "Laysong," originally from our October 20, 2018 show. The band: Aoife O'Donovan, Mike Elizondo, Chris Eldridge, Brittany Haas, Trevor Lawrence Jr., and Dave Palmer.
Our Out. In. America. correspondent Tom Papa visits Nashville, where he encounters the massive crowds in town for the NFL Draft, samples the “meat-and-three” lunch at Arnold’s Country Kitchen, and creates a temporary alter ego who hops aboard a tourist-laden pedal pub. Find Tom’s tour dates at tompapa.com.
Chris Thile's Song of the Week, "Sweet Chimera," from our April 27, 2019 show. The band: Sarah Jarosz, Mike Elizondo, Jeff Babko, Stuart Duncan, Chris Eldridge, and Trevor Lawrence Jr.
Chris Thile's Song of the Week, "Given Time," from our April 20, 2019 show, with lyrics by Josh Ritter. The band: Gaby Moreno, Jon Cowherd, Stuart Duncan, Chris Eldridge, Trevor Lawrence Jr., and Chris Morrissey.
Chris Thile's Song of the Week, "First Kiss," from our April 13, 2019 show, featuring Holly Laurent reading Jessica Greenbaum’s poem “I Love You More Than All the Windows in New York City.” The band: Madison Cunningham, Mike Elizondo, Chris Eldridge, Brittany Haas, Philip Krohnengold, and Ted Poor.