Were you a misfit who followed your dreams to New York City back in the twentieth century when Manhattan rents were cheap and crime and creativity were rampant? Maybe you just imagined what it would be like. Based on her memoir, Girl To City follows singer-songwriter Amy Rigby's progression from Elton John fan in the Pittsburgh suburbs to late 70's Manhattan art student; from punk show habitué to fledgling musician to cult artist who caused a sensation with her album Diary Of A Mod Housewife. Each Wednesday, Amy will read a chapter and throw in some music and stories that didn't make it into the book.
August, 1996. The month everything went right.My first solo album. Modern dermatology. A kid who quotes Homer Simpson. The slow realization that the road goes on forever...Songs in this episode:Twenty Questions - Diary Of A Mod HousewifeDon't Know Nothin' - Faulkner, Dylan, Heinz & Me (that's Tony Gilkyson on guitar)Tomorrow's All We've Got - A One Way Ticket To My LifeOne Off - The Old Guys
1996. New York and Los Angeles. Letting go and finally getting somewhere...Songs in this episode:You're Getting Old - mid-90s demo, A One Way Ticket To My LifeDown Side Of Love - Diary Of A Mod HousewifeTime For Me To Come Down - Diary Of A Mod Housewife
Breaking up is hard to do. The beginnings of Diary Of A Mod Housewife. Temp jobs and uncomfortable elevator encounters.Songs included in this episode:When A Piece Of The Sky Falls - early 90s demo A One Way Ticket To My LifeAlways With Me - From the Shams QuiltThe Good Girls - Diary Of A Mod Housewife
The magic of three; life as a rock mom and the loud majesty of Urge Overkill and Big Muff distortion pedals...Songs in this episode:Down At The Texaco - early unreleased Shams demoAlmost Had Me Convinced - early 90s demo, A One Way Ticket To My LifeThat Tone Of Voice - Diary Of A Mod Housewife
Moving to Williamsburg, back when Brooklyn was...Brooklyn. A day job at Tudor City. The Shams make an album, and a video.Songs in this episode:All I Want original demo - A One Way Ticket To My LifeFarmer's Daughter - Shams rehearsal tape Dec. 1990Dressed To Kill - The Shams from Quilt, 1991
Adjusting to life post-October 1988. Harmonies and laughs with baby Hazel and the Shams; touring with the Indigo Girls, and an introduction to that sleepy backwater on the other side of the East River: Williamsburg, Brooklyn.Songs in this episode:Beauty Parlor Rag - the Shams, early demoIf I Had The Sense - the Shams live at Saint Marks Poetry ProjectThanks for listening! amyrigby.com
The last Last Roundup; birth of the Shams and life is a mother.Songs in this episode:Grow Up Daddy - the Shams early demoOnly A Dream - original demo - A One Way Ticket To My LifeOnly A Dream - the Shams, Quilt, 1991Little One - cassette demo Little One - the Shams unreleased, 1989
Making tracks in...Springfield, Missouri. A visit from a true inspiration. And "good evening, um, Ruston!"? Last Roundup on record and on tour.Songs in this episode: Just A Little Is Enough - Last Roundup, TwisterRebel Girl, Rebel Girl - Wreckless Eric & Amy Rigby, A Working MuseumFind me here: amyrigby.com
Saying "I do," and keeping on doing. Playing for some tough customers (my parents) and going solo at the long term temp job variety show.Songs in this episode:Beer & Kisses - from Diary Of A Mod HousewifeAt The Well - from Last Roundup/TwisterFile Clerk Blues - live on WRLT, 1996
Two girls, two guys, one upright bass, lap steel, three acoustic guitars, banjo, fiddle and a washboard in NYC and Nashville: getting good takes time. And love is a country compilation cassette.Songs in this episode:Playin' the Fool - Last Roundup, TwisterA Little Is Enough - recorded for this episodeThanks for listening! Questions and comments, drop me a line at amyrigby.com
It took a while, but in 1982-83 I finally started writing songs and playing music for real, although "real" is relative as the results were pretty primitive. But the energy and intent was there! The first version of Last Roundup; East Village sights and sounds, early demos.Songs included in this episode:Bargain Bin by Last Roundup - early demo (Dec 1982)Bordeline by Last Roundup - early demo (July 1982)You Don't Have To Worry - song demo cassette (1983?)Summer Of My Wasted Youth - Middlescence
Back in New York, 1982. Ladies love outlaws until they learn to love themselves. Working a day job and learning the importance of a good cast iron skillet. Discovering country music.Songs in this episode:The We That Never Was - rough demo, 2004?Like Jean Seberg In Breathless - written & recorded for this episode
Life as a London art student & music fan circa 1980-81, in a squat with punk legacy that included first rehearsals by the Raincoats. Fashion illustration attempts; encounters with a past love and a future one, Songs in this episode:Apple Green - 1991 demo A One Way Ticket To My LifeFour Years Ago - early demo (1983-4?) here
1980. He wore a tank top in winter and summer. But I loved him.Songs in this episode:Dark Angel - original demo version + The Shams from QuiltDon't Make Me Laugh (B. DeMain/A. Rigby) demo rough
1979: The Clash; a homemade club in lower Manhattan...and my first band.Songs in this episode:Slow Burner - The Old GuysIf You Won't Hang Around - The Sugar Tree (also 18 Again)Victory - Stare Kits live at Tier 3 1979Tycoon - Stare Kits live at Tier 3 1979
You never forget your first broken heart...or your first trip to England.Songs used in this episode:The Leader from The Sandinista! ProjectQuestions I Can't Answer sample from Faulkner, Dylan, Heinz & MeStratford on Avon
1977. Friends, family, fashion illustration and trying to figure out where I fit into it all. Oh, and the Sex Pistols are coming.Songs used in this episode:Yankee Wheels from The Stiff Generation & Faulkner, Dylan, Heinz & MeAlways With Me from Little Fugitive and the Shams' Quilt
Art school, black jeans from Trash & Vaudeville, and my first trip to the Bowery with a boy named Bob.Songs used in this episode:Bob live version from Faulkner, Dylan Heinz & Me + studio version The Old GuysDancing With Joey Ramone from Little Fugitive
Babysitting, booze and boys; tall boots and the majesty of rock. Amy ventures on her own to downtown Pittsburgh, falls in love and plans her trajectory to NYC.Songs used in this episode:Girls Got It Bad from Little FugitiveDirty Bridge (Elliot Easton/A. Rigby) from MiddlescenceQuestions/comments? email me here
In this first episode, Amy's teenage daughter poses a question that sends the songwriter and musician looking back towards her Catholic girlhood in 60s/70s Pittsburgh; early musical obsessions and attraction to New York City.Amy's songs used in this episodePlaying Pittsburgh from The Old GuysHousecleaning from A One Way Ticket To My LifeQuestions/comments? Find me here
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