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, "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.

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, "The New Wave Always Wins," a chapter from his ongoing life story covering the junior high and high school years, and how they shaped the person he was becoming. It's about navigating locker rooms with a secret you don't have words for yet, finding your flock in the smoke hole, a shaved head that announced a decision before he fully understood it, and the moment he decided the path everyone expected him to take wasn't his. Also, five dogs who have strong opinions about microphones.Subscribe to Jeff Elder Isn't Real on Substack for new posts every week, including audio versions of most every essay.Credits: Intro - The Victors by the University of Michigan BandEat 'Em Up by the Colorado State University Marching BandOutro - The Outsider by Jeff Elder