look for the helpers
look for the kid at the bus stop
watch him reach out his hand
to help the old man who fell down
the road with the green house at the end
where the girl is knocking, hugging
a pot of cold soup for a friend
a love note that says
i hope it gets better
|||
There is so much bad news. It is easy to spiral into dread and hopelessness. But every day, I look for the helpers and that helps. Thanks Mr. Rogers! I look for the Portland coffeeshop owner who pledged to feed people free breakfast, and then the 11k people from all over the world who donated over $300,000 in fits and spurts of three or five or fifteen dollars. People are good. We have to choose to see that.
Inspired by this act of collective good, I decided to team up with a few fellow indie artists to raise money for Blanchet House, a community cafe that has been serving free hot meals since 1952. Since 42 million Americans lost their SNAP food benefits on November 1, they have had to turn people away.
Note: We began this fundraiser early last week, and yes (thank goodness!) SNAP benefits have been restored to Oregonians. And yes, people are still hungry. So, we persist.
If you want to be a helper and you like vinyl records too, you can enter to win a bundle of 5 vinyl records by myself, New Body Electric, Miranda Mallard, Mary Eliza, and Rachel Sumner. Each artist graciously donated a vinyl record and I thank them for that.
So far we’ve raised just $60 (because instagram loves to suppresses raffle and fundraiser posts), so I’d love your help to change that. It’s just five dollars per entry. All funds go to feed hungry people. Simply send your contribution here, write “SNAP” in the caption and I’ll add your name into to the raffle hat. Winner will be announced this Friday.
I feel like talking to you like a friend today; like we are catching up over coffee. It’s November. I have been wearing big cozy sweaters and writing songs and walking my dog and having friends over for dinner. I’ve been hosting shows and workshops over at Second Story Studios, the community music studio that my fiance and I started back in March. That’s most of my plan for this season and next, until I emerge from my creative wintering with a batch of new songs and the urge to hit the road again.
It has been so gratifying to spend my time and energy cultivating this community space that supports fellow artists and friends in our community. Less talking about myself and more talking about other musicians I adore and admire. It feels less self-involved. I’m sick of talking about myself. But, I guess that is what it takes. My DIY touring workshop started last Monday (and I forgot to email you about it), but you can still join and catch up on the recording of the first class if you want to! Stay tuned on future shows and workshops here.
On a more vulnerable note: I find myself dancing (or battling, maybe) with my own definition of success and what it means in an industry with no well-worn path for most of us. Over the years, the inner critic voice has gotten quieter, but envy still rears its ugly head and starts shouting at me once in a while. There is always a come down after a big album release. A yearning for it to be more than it is or was. So, I take a deep breath. I try remind myself that most of the ways that music impacts people are imperceptible to the artist themself. I have no idea where and how the music lands, and that is the strange beauty of it all. And the stack of boxes filled with vinyl records will hibernate with me until they make their way into peoples’ hands, one by one by one.
I do have a handful of shows coming up and I hope you might consider leaving the comfort of your homes to hear some music. I’ll be playing songs from The Color Green and some even greener.
Next Tuesday, November 18, I will be opening up for Leah Song of Rising Appalachia at the Old Church. Traditional folk music. Gorgeous venue. My dear friend Sam Weber joining me on guitar. Tickets.
Just after Thanksgiving, I’ll be playing at Mississippi Studios with Haley Johnson and the Apricots. It’s a pajama party!! You don’t even have to take your sweatpants off before you leave the house. This one will be also be duo with Sam Weber and I can’t wait to show off my new slippers! Black Friday. November 28th. Tickets.
Just for fun: I made “I cried at a Blair Borax concert! bumper stickers, because love making you cry!! In a good way, of course! They are $6 on my merch store or free with any order you make between now and December 21st. Thanks for crying! :’)
big hugs for strange times
—Blair
Ps. I am beginning the booking process for 2026. If you’d like me to come to your city, neighborhood bar, backyard, or living room, now is a great time to let me know! I can’t do this without you. <3