Hello Friends & Neighbors,
So I just got word that my sister, Madison Lynn McEvilly, is on her rolling bus, heading to the heart of my dear Chicago. My nerves are buzzing, rattling in their excitement. And not only for the show tomorrow, but to see my sis, who I haven’t seen since October when I played at the Trumbullplex in Detroit.
Anyways, in a way of celebrating I wanted to (re)share the haunting recording of the Tattle Tale‘s song “Glass Vase Cello Case” that Sister Lynn and I did in March of 2011. A good queer will recognize the song from the movie But I’m a Cheerleader, but when Sister Lynn and I performed our version during Camp Trans 2010 the song took on new meanings. Marked by the emotionality of the moment, the struggle and pain I personally was dealing with, this song became something riveted to my soul.
The call out of “are you still breathing?” wasn’t rhetorical, but desperately sincere.
In March of 2011, Sister Lynn was in Chicago on a visit. At the time I was working on my Cover of the Month project, so naturally I asked if she wanted to record something together. We fell upon the song that held that personal and particular indelible sadness for the both of us. We shut ourselves up in my spare room and recorded the sorrowful and aching version you’ll hear below.
It’s a haunting song, no doubt; in one way, because of the wobbly-but-melodic waver of the singing saw, played by Sister Lynn. But in another, because of the non-musical, static ambiance that shuffles indifferently throughout the background of the song. If you listen closely you can hear Miss Jami Sailor and Lynne Monsoon, the authors of the zines Your Secretary and Butch nor Femme, respectively, talking in the background–as well as yours truly futilely trying to light a cigarette.
Anyways, I hope you enjoy–and I’ll see you tomorrow.
Trust & Solidarity
