This Week In Wilco, Etc. 2015 / August 11: Wilco plays Marymoor Park in Redmond, WA with Jenny Lewis opening. Bill Frisell is a guest on “Forget the Flowers” and stays on stage for the next song, “California Stars”, joined by Ben Gibbard, Jenny Lewis, Scott McCaughey, and Tristen Gaspadarek. This 31-song show is available on
I met Cynthia at a Kinks show in Chicago in 1979. I was 17, from the absolute sticks of Wisconsin, and very nervous to meet someone with her internationally infamous rock credentials. I was sure she’d at best ignore me. Yet when I was introduced she was warm and friendly and said, “If you like the Kinks, that’s good enough for me, kid!”
For a while I worked a part time job in an indie-type video store, and we had the Plaster Caster documentary available for rental. It was by turns hilarious, touching, poignant and relatable! It seemed like Cynthia marched to her own drummer, for sure, and she seemed full of energy. I distinctly remember on one of the extras you and Susie were in a back room discussing whether or not you were going to be one of her subjects. As I recall Susie was all for it! Spill the beans, Jeff!
Thanks for sharing that story Jeff. I’d never heard of her but I probably bought her a beer at lounge ax at some point in the early 90s. Fascinating story about her art. Kind of “stands out” to be a bit trite about it;)
Thanks for the post on Cynthia, ha ha that mushroom is awesome! Cynthia would love it. My sister in law was a close friend of Cynthia and I met her a few times at Lounge Ax and bumped into her at a Belle & Sebastian concert in 2017 at the Chi Theatre years and said hi. Her health was already starting to deteriorate. We also watered her plants once in her apartment when she was out of town, there were no casters at that time in her possession, but it was cool to be in the apartment where a lot of the castering happened and it was super cool apartment. RIP!
Read about her in Pamela des Barres book I’m With the Band. You’ve got to admit, she had some original artistic ideas, and the chutzpah to carry out those ideas! An original mind.
I met Cynthia at a Kinks show in Chicago in 1979. I was 17, from the absolute sticks of Wisconsin, and very nervous to meet someone with her internationally infamous rock credentials. I was sure she’d at best ignore me. Yet when I was introduced she was warm and friendly and said, “If you like the Kinks, that’s good enough for me, kid!”
For a while I worked a part time job in an indie-type video store, and we had the Plaster Caster documentary available for rental. It was by turns hilarious, touching, poignant and relatable! It seemed like Cynthia marched to her own drummer, for sure, and she seemed full of energy. I distinctly remember on one of the extras you and Susie were in a back room discussing whether or not you were going to be one of her subjects. As I recall Susie was all for it! Spill the beans, Jeff!
Were you a subject Cynthia’s plaster casting?
Asking for a friend
Thanks for sharing that story Jeff. I’d never heard of her but I probably bought her a beer at lounge ax at some point in the early 90s. Fascinating story about her art. Kind of “stands out” to be a bit trite about it;)
CAPTAIN! Yet another embedded solo album title - “PARASITIZED”
Thank for sharing your story, and your heartfelt thoughts about Cynthia. Every day’s a gift..
Thanks for the post on Cynthia, ha ha that mushroom is awesome! Cynthia would love it. My sister in law was a close friend of Cynthia and I met her a few times at Lounge Ax and bumped into her at a Belle & Sebastian concert in 2017 at the Chi Theatre years and said hi. Her health was already starting to deteriorate. We also watered her plants once in her apartment when she was out of town, there were no casters at that time in her possession, but it was cool to be in the apartment where a lot of the castering happened and it was super cool apartment. RIP!
That Tanglewood show in’08 was magic! See you in Cooperstown.
What a craft! We need more Joie de Vivre in this world. Sad for your loss of this friend . Can’t wait to see Wilco in New England
Read about her in Pamela des Barres book I’m With the Band. You’ve got to admit, she had some original artistic ideas, and the chutzpah to carry out those ideas! An original mind.
💜
Hey Cap - hope to get a check in when you are in our beautiful city of Cedar Rapids on Friday!
Cynthia Plaster Caster, RIP. She was a total rock star in her own right!
Keep her in your heart ❤️ 🍄
Iceland! Do we get first crack at tickets? 🤔
So sorry for your loss Jeff ❤️