#359: Will Oldham (Bonnie "Prince" Billy)

Bodysurfing, Superiority Burger, Seeing Maria McKee Live, and more.

Perfectly Imperfect is a newsletter offering “A Taste of Someone’s Taste” from guests like Charli XCX, John Cale, Ayo Edebiri, Michael Imperioli, Lena Dunham, Mac Demarco, Dasha Nekrasova, Tim Heidecker, Rayne Fisher-Quann, Mel Ottenberg, Chloe Cherry, Matty Matheson, Anna Delvey, The Dare, Caroline Calloway, Snail Mail, and more. Check out our full archive here.

Cool people like cool things, which is why we asked Will Oldham to share a taste of his taste on Perfectly Imperfect.

Will Oldham is a legendary Louisville, Kentucky based singer-songwriter and actor perhaps best known as Bonnie “Prince” Billy. As a musician he’s made bonafide alt-country classics such as I See A Darkness and Master and Everyone, incredible (but slept-on) music as Palace Music, and multiple collaborations with Matt Sweeney as the duo Superwolf. He’s also starred in some iconic films such as Kelly Reichardt’s Old Joy, a personal favorite of mine, and done mushrooms with Caveh Zahedi (PI #106) for his seminal Tripping With Caveh film. Will is back with a quiet & intimate solo record titled Keeping Secrets Will Destroy You, it’s his first in four years and one that already feels really special. Lucky for us, Will is here to tell us what he’s been into.

Without further ado

Will Oldham (instagram, twitter)

💰Superiority Burger

Superiority Burger is a restaurant in NYC right across the street from Thompson Square Park and the creative force behind the foodstuffs served there is Brooks Headly, who can feed you nutritiously but seems to thrive on super-charging your sweet tooth like really nobody's business.  for NY, it's affordable, but you should go with a little extra money so that you may try everything on the menu.  it's pretty fairly completely vegetarian and even heaps vegan. it's a big reality in a tiny universe.

🐕 Maria McKee live

I don't know if she sings out in public much but if she does you  should go and witness it.  a remarkable lyricist and most of all someone who will join forces with you (the audience) to make you and her one in song, your identity becomes the song, shared with her.  the recordings are strong but even looking for live performances on youtube are shed and holders above anything from a recording studio.it's like (and I'm not saying it is, just saying it's like) she can't wait to leave her body and leap up and out into musical existence.

🌋 The Cry of Jazz

jazz has come a long way to go nowhere.  this short film talks music in the way I wish we could all talk music.  the word 'jazz' sweeps under the rug everything the music was, is, and ought to be (as far as one can tell from witnessing this piece of film).

🌊 Bodysurfing

get in the ocean where and when there are waves and improvise.  your pains will go away, physical and existential.  if the surf is high, wear fins.

Bonus recommendation from Will for paid subs below! 😃 Hint: it’s a really special folk music compilation.