I just got home from tour with The New Pornographers on the West Coast. It was a haul and a half and FOUR of my close touring companions came down with Covid. Who still cares about people getting Covid? Me. You will say I am shocked that no one is wearing masks ANYWHERE because I am ignorant or stupid or worse. Maybe I’m just selfish? I think about the tools I need to do my job (not to mention make my heart pump and breathe oxygen!) first and foremost, the number one thing I can’t do without are my two pink, squishy lungs. Hands down. No contest. You know what’s really crazy? Every single one of
Somehow I still haven't had covid (that I know of). I'm not sure if it's because I'm serious about masking or that I live in the woods and don't have to be around crowds of people very often. However, last week I had to fly to the east coast for work, and I was very disheartened to see people on the plane coughing and sneezing (sans mask) like it was no big deal. On the flight home, I sat next to a woman who is undergoing chemotherapy, and was flying home to Anchorage after getting treatment in Seattle. She really didn't have a choice about being on that flight, and it made me wish that we all cared a little bit more about each other. Maybe the guy hacking up a lung behind us didn't feel like he needed a mask for his own safety, but I wish he could recognize that maybe he needs one for someone else's safety. I guess that's asking too much of us human assholes though.
I'm with you, Neko. Right at the beginning, before testing & vaccines, I came down with a case of what turned out to be COVID. I didn't die but I came pretty close. Ever hear about 'falls in the home'? I was so weak that my legs kept giving out & I would crash down & hit my head on the floor, the chair or the bookcase. Anyone who lacks the imagination to grok that this disease has killed over a million Americans--& could therefore kill YOU--is no better than a child. The only thing stupider than not being being careful is not getting vaccinated--and the people who somehow believe that the MIRACULOUS VACCINE against the DEADLY PANDEMIC --developed at warp speed, with our tax dollars, by scientists who devote their lives to saving the lives of others--is somehow a fraud & a poison.
Thank you, Neko! I’m sad this is how your tour ended.
I’m so tired of people coughing when I’m at a public service desk and they apologize for their bad cough but won’t put on a mask that’s within arm’s reach of them. I will be one of the last people wearing a mask because I want to protect my parents, my family, my friends, and myself. Still have a cough from Covid three months ago.
That needed to be said, Neko. I was at the San Francisco concerts (wonderful, by the way!) and I was one of a small group of maybe ten percent of the people there who masked up. I am healthy, I have had COVID before with just minor symptoms, but I am 71 and no one knows how they are going to be affected by a new infection. You have a career to protect. I certainly understand if you postpone your upcoming concerts like the one in my home city of Pittsburgh that I was going to attend. Be safe out there.
Ah bummer. So sorry to hear that your touring companions came down with the 'vid. I've been wearing a mask when seeing shows lately and bring along a stainless steel straw so I can still drink with a mask on. Remember Reno? With the smokey skies? I flew down from Seattle and wore my mask there too. I'm on your side and wish all the best for your squishy lungs. There can't be any "Deep Red Bells" without them. Be well, Marco in Seattle.
A straw! You just solved one of my worries (taking off mask to drink in public) I have not seen this (not seen much masking either) and didn't think of it, a perfect solution. Where do you get stainless steel straws? These simple tips should be on a page somewhere. Sad that they're not due to lack of interest. But thank you for sharing it here!
Covid is the only time I ever really felt my mortality. I found a makeshift will on a notecard in my Covid-den. I became delirious and fearful. My heart felt like a cold rock. I don’t understand why people think this is a simple illness.
It's pretty fucked! The pandemic is worse than ever and everybody's just going la-la-la-I-can't-hear-you. A virus doesn't care if you can hear it or not, y'all.
Authentic passion is in short supply these days. It’s exhilarating to hear the real thing. Learning to walk upright. Next giving a shit. Heartfelt. Thank you 🙏
Thank you Neko for still caring. I haven't caught it yet because I'm hard-core about not leaving my apartment, and when I do I wear an N95 mask. My immune system is compromised and I already have a host of chronic health problems, who knows what havoc covid would wreak on my body. It's absolutely shocking how most people don't seem to take this seriously in any way, I just don't understand having so little concern about other people.
I hear this Neko, my wife's hearing was damaged from Covid she had surgery I had it once and was very unwell, yet here it is all you are over reacting! I am far from perfect but at this time of life it could be a killer for me. So whatever you do we are with you dear artist, shaman of the woods and great soul. Create a patreon for recording I'm in! or livestream from the Lung. Or sing for the birds on clear cold nights. Love you anyhoo
Your post is timely, and clearly I need this wake-up call.
I feel foolish.
My husband I are both HIV positive (healthy and undetectable), flew from our home in Guadalajara to Seattle to Reykjavik WITHOUT MASKS and will return via the same route tomorrow.
1% of plane passengers were wearing masks, and I’ve seen ONE person wearing a mask during the week we’ve been in Iceland.
We’ll be wearing KN95 masks for the entirety of the trip home.
Thank you SO much for this post - you are absolutely spot on and it can be so disheartening. But it's wonderful to read the comments of so many people here who agree with you! We just gotta keep on doing what we're doing to protect ourselves and each other.
Somehow I still haven't had covid (that I know of). I'm not sure if it's because I'm serious about masking or that I live in the woods and don't have to be around crowds of people very often. However, last week I had to fly to the east coast for work, and I was very disheartened to see people on the plane coughing and sneezing (sans mask) like it was no big deal. On the flight home, I sat next to a woman who is undergoing chemotherapy, and was flying home to Anchorage after getting treatment in Seattle. She really didn't have a choice about being on that flight, and it made me wish that we all cared a little bit more about each other. Maybe the guy hacking up a lung behind us didn't feel like he needed a mask for his own safety, but I wish he could recognize that maybe he needs one for someone else's safety. I guess that's asking too much of us human assholes though.
I'm with you, Neko. Right at the beginning, before testing & vaccines, I came down with a case of what turned out to be COVID. I didn't die but I came pretty close. Ever hear about 'falls in the home'? I was so weak that my legs kept giving out & I would crash down & hit my head on the floor, the chair or the bookcase. Anyone who lacks the imagination to grok that this disease has killed over a million Americans--& could therefore kill YOU--is no better than a child. The only thing stupider than not being being careful is not getting vaccinated--and the people who somehow believe that the MIRACULOUS VACCINE against the DEADLY PANDEMIC --developed at warp speed, with our tax dollars, by scientists who devote their lives to saving the lives of others--is somehow a fraud & a poison.
Thank you, Neko! I’m sad this is how your tour ended.
I’m so tired of people coughing when I’m at a public service desk and they apologize for their bad cough but won’t put on a mask that’s within arm’s reach of them. I will be one of the last people wearing a mask because I want to protect my parents, my family, my friends, and myself. Still have a cough from Covid three months ago.
That needed to be said, Neko. I was at the San Francisco concerts (wonderful, by the way!) and I was one of a small group of maybe ten percent of the people there who masked up. I am healthy, I have had COVID before with just minor symptoms, but I am 71 and no one knows how they are going to be affected by a new infection. You have a career to protect. I certainly understand if you postpone your upcoming concerts like the one in my home city of Pittsburgh that I was going to attend. Be safe out there.
Ah bummer. So sorry to hear that your touring companions came down with the 'vid. I've been wearing a mask when seeing shows lately and bring along a stainless steel straw so I can still drink with a mask on. Remember Reno? With the smokey skies? I flew down from Seattle and wore my mask there too. I'm on your side and wish all the best for your squishy lungs. There can't be any "Deep Red Bells" without them. Be well, Marco in Seattle.
A straw! You just solved one of my worries (taking off mask to drink in public) I have not seen this (not seen much masking either) and didn't think of it, a perfect solution. Where do you get stainless steel straws? These simple tips should be on a page somewhere. Sad that they're not due to lack of interest. But thank you for sharing it here!
Yes yes yes. Thank you. What people are risking is… everything.
Covid is the only time I ever really felt my mortality. I found a makeshift will on a notecard in my Covid-den. I became delirious and fearful. My heart felt like a cold rock. I don’t understand why people think this is a simple illness.
It's pretty fucked! The pandemic is worse than ever and everybody's just going la-la-la-I-can't-hear-you. A virus doesn't care if you can hear it or not, y'all.
Authentic passion is in short supply these days. It’s exhilarating to hear the real thing. Learning to walk upright. Next giving a shit. Heartfelt. Thank you 🙏
Feeling all of this.
Thank you Neko for still caring. I haven't caught it yet because I'm hard-core about not leaving my apartment, and when I do I wear an N95 mask. My immune system is compromised and I already have a host of chronic health problems, who knows what havoc covid would wreak on my body. It's absolutely shocking how most people don't seem to take this seriously in any way, I just don't understand having so little concern about other people.
I hear this Neko, my wife's hearing was damaged from Covid she had surgery I had it once and was very unwell, yet here it is all you are over reacting! I am far from perfect but at this time of life it could be a killer for me. So whatever you do we are with you dear artist, shaman of the woods and great soul. Create a patreon for recording I'm in! or livestream from the Lung. Or sing for the birds on clear cold nights. Love you anyhoo
Your post is timely, and clearly I need this wake-up call.
I feel foolish.
My husband I are both HIV positive (healthy and undetectable), flew from our home in Guadalajara to Seattle to Reykjavik WITHOUT MASKS and will return via the same route tomorrow.
1% of plane passengers were wearing masks, and I’ve seen ONE person wearing a mask during the week we’ve been in Iceland.
We’ll be wearing KN95 masks for the entirety of the trip home.
Thank you Neko.
Thank you SO much for this post - you are absolutely spot on and it can be so disheartening. But it's wonderful to read the comments of so many people here who agree with you! We just gotta keep on doing what we're doing to protect ourselves and each other.
AMEN, NEKO! A-fucking-men!
Yes I love the thought of it just being respectful of myself