Jeff Elder Isn't Real is a Substack by writer and musician Jeff Elder, a place where the curtain is half open. Part memoir, part creative process, part cultural observation. Warm, honest, and a little strange. Just like life.

In this episode, Jeff reads his latest post, "McClure Park" — episode 14 of his ongoing memoir. It's about a neighborhood park that felt safe until it didn't, a knife at his throat, two terrified friends, and a split-second decision that changed everything. It's also about what that night taught him about himself — that when things got bad enough, something took over that he didn't know was in there. And how that survival instinct, and the low trust that followed, would shadow him through everything that came next.

Audio credits: Intro/Outro music: An Off Road Excursion by RFH

Subscribe to Jeff Elder Isn't Real on Substack for new posts every week, including audio versions of most every essay.

Jeff Elder Isn't Real is a Substack by writer and musician Jeff Elder, a place where the curtain is half open. Part memoir, part creative process, part cultural observation. Warm, honest, and a little strange. Just like life.In this episode, Jeff reads his latest post, "California and a Kitchen Table" — episode 13 of his ongoing memoir. It's about a road trip to California with a friend, learning to drive a stick shift in the middle of the desert on Route 66, falling in love with Las Vegas for the first time, running out of money in San Diego, making some questionable decisions, and coming home to find his dad sitting at the kitchen table with tears in his eyes. It's one of the most honest chapters yet — about being young, dumb, broke, and the kind of mistake that costs more than money.Audio credits:Intro music: Goodbye by RFHEnd music: The Ride by RFHSubscribe to Jeff Elder Isn't Real on Substack for new posts every week, including audio versions of most every essay.

Jeff Elder Isn't Real is a Substack by writer and musician Jeff Elder, a place where the curtain is half open. Part memoir, part creative process, part cultural observation. Warm, honest, and a little strange. Just like life.In this episode, Jeff reads his latest post, "Oak Lawn and a Floppy Disk," a chapter from his ongoing life story set in late 1980s Tulsa and Dallas. It's about helping a friend move to Dallas, hearing the right song in the right room for the first time, a late night walk through Oak Lawn's gay bar district, a mock Pet Shop Boys recording called "What Has Troy Done to Deserve This," and the moment a phone number written on a 3.5 inch floppy disk changed everything. Also featuring Joe Christ, Greg Ginn, JJ Fad, Duran Duran, and the early days of what would eventually become Red Red Groove.Note: If you’re listening to the audio version, I apologize in advance - we were having a bit of a rainstorm at the time of recording. So, you may notice a little extra “air” sound on this one lol - such is life. If it’s not the dogs, it’s the weather…Subscribe to Jeff Elder Isn't Real on Substack for new posts every week, including audio versions of most every essay.