Matthew Story

@mattstorymusic

Prolific reposter. Local musician in SE Wisconsin. Ex-Ohioan. Educator. Dad. Bad Destiny 2 player. Reluctant Dungeon Master. Polyamorous. Bucks and Brewers fan. He/him.

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Matthew Story@mattstorymusic· 1d

Eclipse moon from last night.

Matthew Story@mattstorymusic· 1d

I finally figured out what I wanted to say about Dolly Parton.

I've spent a couple days trying to put a finger on why Dolly Parton's death affected me as it did, even though I didn't regularly listen to her. Tom Petty hurt because I always had him on the stereo. Dolly hurts for a different reason, and I think that reason is that she was everything I grew up believing America is supposed to be.

She was larger-than-life and loud but still simple and honest. She had no time for stuffy or arbitrary rules of decorum and taste, but was always kind and respectful in the most real and genuine ways. She was always true to her own roots but still embraced people different from her. She had a religion that led her to help people, but never to judge people. These are the things I grew up believing America is.

America today is increasingly run by men who were born wealthy and who became wealthier with luck and help, but who don't seem to ever have enough and who don't seem to believe their wealth comes with responsibility to others. Dolly, in contrast, was born into poverty, worked her way to wealth, and then decided she owed it to the world around her to spend her money helping people. Rich as she was, she could have been much richer if she'd wanted to be. The myth of meritocratic and benevolent wealth is rooted deep in the American identity, and Dolly lived that myth in real life.

The last 25 years or so have not been kind to my perception of America. For the most part, I no longer believe in the America my teachers taught me about when I was a kid. But that idealized America lived in at least one person. She spit in the eye of my cynicism.

I'll let others talk about how she was a historically brilliant songwriter, performer, and businesswoman. She was all those things. But to me, Dolly Parton was a shining American example. She embodied the possibility that America could actually actually become what it usually just pretends to be. That's what I'll miss, even more than "Jolene", "Eagle When She Flies", "I Will Always Love You", or "Here You Come Again".

Matthew Story@mattstorymusic· 3d

Tonight's walking music.

The complete trio collection, Linda Ronstadt, Emi Lou Harris, and Dolly Parton.

Matthew Story@mattstorymusic· 5d

Always

Matthew Story@mattstorymusic· 7d

Matthew Story@mattstorymusic· 9d

Onion headline: Area Man Accepts Burden of Being Only Person On Earth Who Understands How World Actually Works

Matthew Story@mattstorymusic· 14d

If you're in the northern IL area, I'm making two (rare!) appearances without the band in September.

Come see me play in September!

Monday, Sept. 7 (Labor Day) I'll be playing with the Chicago Songwriters Collective at the Fox Valley Folk Festival in Geneva, IL. The Collective plays from 11 to noon. Visit fvfs.org for more information.

Tuesday, Sept. 22 I'll be playing in the Hey Nonny Songwriting Contest at Hey Nonny in Arlington Heights, IL. Visit heynonny.com for more information.

Matthew Story@mattstorymusic· 27d

Meeting friends on my walk.

Matthew Story@mattstorymusic· Jul 12

He has decided he likes it. (You may notice the weights on the bottom--Laurence is a large cat.)

A cat tree with Laurence the cat curled up in the basket at the very top.

Close-up of curled-up Laurence at the top of the cat tree.

Matthew Story@mattstorymusic· Jul 6

Look at this goof.

Laurence the cat, laying on his side with his head almost upside-down.

Close-up on Laurence's upside-down face.

Matthew Story@mattstorymusic· Jul 5

Matthew Story@mattstorymusic· Jul 3

Matthew Story@mattstorymusic· Jun 28

My gluten-free, diabetic wife (who is wonderful and whom I love dearly) is gone tonight, and that means I made carbs and gluten for dinner. Pasta with parmesan mornay sauce and garlic bread.

A flange bowl full of pasta with a creamy sauce, with a toasted piece of bread on the side.

Matthew Story@mattstorymusic· Jun 27

I totally played at Summerfest, you guys.

Matthew Story@mattstorymusic· Jun 25

Getting to be at Summerfest before it opens will never stop feeling cool. And having my band's name on the chart next to Lisa Loeb and 10,000 Maniacs is pretty wild.

Matthew Story@mattstorymusic· Jun 21

Met this friend at a bar recently.

Light brown bully-type dog, looks like she's smiling.

Matthew Story@mattstorymusic· Jun 20

Re: Elon being a Nazi, it's important to remember that fascism is a particular thing, not a vague insult. We call Elon a fascist because he is one, not just because we don't like him.