We Are Upstate NY with Music Glitterati Kate Pierson

In a town known for its mother lode of music glitterati, Kate Pierson truly stands out.

The vivacious redhead best known for her work with new wave/art pop legends the B-52s arrived in Woodstock in the mid-1980s. And some of her band’s finest works, including the classic album Cosmic Thing and its Top 10 singles, “Love Shack” and “Roam,” were penned and recorded here at legendary Dreamland Studios.  

Pierson is also known for her nearly quarter-century as proprietor, along with her wife Monica, of Kate’s Lazy Meadow. This funky, boutique motel complex, launched on a whim, played a key role in pioneering the now ubiquitous Airstream lodging and glamping trends.

While she may roam far and wide on tours, Kate is a very much a homebody. She loves nothing more than gardening, swimming, and trekking through the woods with her wife and their beloved German shepherd, Loki. Kate is also fiercely devoted to civic engagement. If there is a local charity or cause in need of some celebrity juice, from the local Pride Parade to the animal charity Paws Unlimited, she will be there using her powerful voice to raise awareness and much-needed funds.

While the B-52s are still very much a going concern, Kate has also crafted a busy solo career. Her debut album, 2015’s Guitars and Microphones, delighted critics and fans alike.  In 2024, she released another acclaimed collection, Radios and Rainbows. This 12-song disc covers the stylistic waterfront, from dance jams like “Take Me Back to the Party” to political anthems like “Dream On” to introspective entries like “The Beauty of It All.”  And as if that wasn’t enough, music-lovers can now take a step back and enjoy the new 9 LP/8 CD boxed set from Rhino Records, including all of the B-52s’ Warner Brothers albums.  

If you don’t see Kate around town, you can catch her when the B-52s take to the road for some select dates with DEVO this fall.  In the meantime, check out the below to learn more about how this wannabe folkie became a new wave icon and her love of the quiet life in the Hudson Valley.

INSIDE+OUT: You’re a Jersey Girl who came to fame when your band, the B-52s, formed in Athens, Georgia, in the mid-1970s.  What were your early years like? Was it true your first musical dream was to be a folk singer?

Kate Pierson: I was very informed by the folk music scene, which was the popular music when I was in junior high school. I started a folk/protest band in high school called the Sun Donuts.  We wrote our own music and played at a few little places.  That’s what informed me politically, folk music. I don’t know how else I would’ve known so much about the civil rights movement and various incidents without the anthemic songs of Bob Dylan, Pete Seeger, Phil Ochs, Buffy Sainte-Marie, Odetta, and the like.

I grew up in northern New Jersey, close to New York City. My friend Gretchen and I would take the bus to Greenwich Village and hang out, buy crazy earrings, and listen to people singing in coffeehouses and Washington Square Park. I even brought my guitar once and tried to audition at a folk club, but I was too nervous, so I didn’t get the gig. That could’ve been my path if I had persisted and not gone to college. Instead, I went a different way and wound up at Boston University. 

How does the Athens music scene you came of age in resemble that of Woodstock and the Hudson Valley?

Today, Athens is like Woodstock, a small town with a vital music scene.  When I was in college, there was no music scene. It was a farmer’s town with a seed store, a feed store, a farmer’s hardware store, and no place for us to play.  We had to make our own fun, so that’s when we started the B-52s. That’s why we played house parties and then went to New York City to pursue our dreams.  Woodstock, on the other hand, has always been a music town, at least since the ’60s. And it has been an arts colony since the early 1900s, when Byrdcliffe was established. 

What inspired your move to the Hudson Valley? Was it for the lifestyle, the great musicians, and the recording studios here?

The B-52s got this big, beautiful house together in Lake Mahopac in Westchester County. We did that because it was near our manager at the time, but it was a bit like The Shining (laughs).  If we had known about Woodstock at the time, how it really was, we would’ve gotten a place here.  We had thought it was just a bunch of old hippies, which was great because I’m an old hippie!  What finally drew me here was my friend Laura Levine, the rock photographer.  After our guitarist, Ricky Wilson, passed, she invited Keith Strickland and me to stay. Keith and I were both looking to leave the city, and we both found places in 1986/87. For a while, I had a place in both New York City and here, then I built a house and moved up here permanently in 2000. What drew me here was the music scene and the mountains.

Your band, the B-52s, did a Farewell Tour in 2023, but continues to perform occasional residencies in Las Vegas.  What is the current status of the band and your fellow musicians?  What can fans expect in the new 9 LP/8 CD boxed set just issued on Rhino Records for Pride Month?  Is it also true that a documentary and oral history are in the works?

We just did our sixth residency in Las Vegas this Spring, and it’s been great.  While we wouldn’t voluntarily go to Vegas for a vacation, it’s a great theater and hotel, and a magnet for all our friends and fans to come see us. We’re also going to be doing about a dozen shows this fall with DEVO. The band is still very much together.  We just performed at the Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary show and did a Jimmy Carter Tribute and one for our local hockey team, the Rock Lobsters, both in Athens.  We’ve also been performing at festivals like the Tecate Fest in Mexico City.

I’m also excited about the nine-album boxed set of all our Warner-Reprise albums that just came out on Rhino. It’s rainbow-colored in honor of Pride Month, and the tracks have all been remastered to have incredible sound quality.  As for the documentary, we’re well into the process, with Fred Armisen serving as executive producer.  There will be a companion lyric and picture book, from a deep dive into our archives.  And there’s always talk about a Broadway play, but you know how those things are, very stop-and-go.

You launched your solo career with the acclaimed 2015 album, Guitars and Microphones, and now have a brand new one, Radios and Rainbows.  Like much of your work, the new one is upbeat. Is it in some ways a reaction to the dark times we are living in?

It is a reaction to that, though I wrote a lot of it before we returned to the dark times with the recent election.  I think it’s a good antidote, though I didn’t write it to address it, except for “Dream On.”  That was partly inspired by the Edwin Starr song “War” and Patti Smith’s “People Have the Power.“  I’ve always been anti-war, pondering whether we could live in a world without war since I was a kid.  With all the wars going on now, it’s the darkest time, worse than the Vietnam Era.  I protested in the ’60s against the war and for civil rights. As in the ’60s, I think music can truly change things. It can give us a feeling of hope, joy, and possibility. 

The new album is a combination of dance-y anthems, party tunes, and some with political and very personal messages, many of which were created with collaborators like Sia and Jimmy Harry, best known for his work on Madonna’s Masterpiece and Pink’s Sober.  What is it about collaboration that makes it an essential part of your solo work?

I’ve always loved collaborating. When the B-52s got together, we wrote collectively, except for a few songs.  We write by jamming together. It’s a very collective experience, and I don’t know any other bands that write this way.  When I write now with collaborators, they usually provide the instrumental track, and I provide the melody, harmony, and lyrics. We will also write by jamming, just letting our collective unconscious unfold.  I wrote a lot of songs, but I had no plan to write songs like “Evil Love.“ I came in with the idea when I was working with Bleu (William McAuley) of writing a song about forgiveness. We experimented and jammed, and it turned into this tune. When I started working on my first album, Guitars and Microphones, I was working with Sia. Then, her career took off, and I began collaborating with others, and it always worked.  It was scary at first, but it was always a new experience, a thrill, and very productive.

Lately, I’ve been writing some songs all on my own about things that pop into my head.  I’m recording some of those; I’m going to record a Christmas album, and I have another whole album in demo form.  They’re interesting songs, very different from anything I’ve ever written.  That’s exciting for me that I have this new fountain of creativity.

In an album of bangers, none can top “Take Me Back to the Party,“ a co-write with Jimmy Harry.  Tell us about this track.

Jimmy Harry loves the B-52s, and this track certainly has that fun vibe. The title just popped into my head as a reaction to the music. When I wrote with Sia, she was swift. Do the demo and get it all done in one day.  It worked that way with everyone.  Grab the good melodies and fit the lyrics to them.  This song just came out like that, really fast.

You call “The Beauty of It All“ the most personal song you’ve written, one about your relationship with your wife, Monica. Tell us about this one.

I was in a relationship before Monica that was emotionally abusive, and she really helped me so much when I got out of it.  She helped empower me and helped me regain my strength.  The lyrics embody how she made me feel, that I could walk on air, walk on treetops – that as long as we’re together, we can conquer anything.  Monica is my true-life partner who helped me get out of this dark place and regain my strength.  And, oh yes, she’s also beautiful and talented!

“Pillow Queen“ is a sexy summer tune with elements of dub.  What was the inspiration for this track?

I wrote this with Tim Anderson while recording Guitars and Microphones. I don’t know why it didn’t get on that album, but I’m happy it didn’t, as I’m doing a remix and a video for it.  It’s just a fun song for summer. I love that it’s a different kind of musical genre — a little dub, a little electronic. And it was fun to write; it’s full of puns, and again, it just popped out in a few hours.

“Living in A Monet“ is the album’s sole cover song, reminiscent of my time in Athens with bass and harmony vocals from one of your Woodstock collaborators, Gail Ann Dorsey, David Bowie’s longtime collaborator. Why a cover?

That was written by my friend Cal Ellis. He’s a fantastic songwriter who never really pursued music as a career.  I had previously recorded this song, but I knew it had to be included on this album. It’s quite different from the songs I write, but it’s about coming of age, going to parties, and dancing – something that was very similar to my experiences in Athens during those idyllic times. I felt the lyrics were something I could really sing with conviction, that I lived it just as he had.  It’s funky as hell and I love it.

Social activism is the theme of the album’s title track and “Dream On.“  Do you think it’s time that artists like yourself start injecting more activist messages into their music, much like Lennon and Dylan, who are name-checked in the title track? 

I went into Dreamland Studios, where the B-52s recorded Cosmic Thing and Good Stuff, with three of our musicians (bassist Tracy Wormworth, drummer Sterling Campbell, keyboardist Ken Maiuri) to record some solo demos. After we recorded those tunes, we just started jamming, and the title and lyrics just poured out.  I do think it’s great to have political lyrics and ideas, but it’s not something you can plan ahead.  I’ve never paid so much attention to politics as I am now. During the Obama years, I didn’t feel I had to pay attention to the news as much, as things were running smoothly.  “Dream On“ emerged from the current anxiety about all the wars and other domestic and global issues.

You were also a part of high-profile collabs with Iggy Pop, Jack White, and R.E.M. on the tracks “Candy,“ a remake of Shocking Blue’s “Venus,” and “Shiny Happy People,” respectively. Is this something we can expect more of in the future – you guesting on other artists’ tunes?

I always love to do that. I just did something with Vanessa Briscoe Hay from Pylon. It’s a song called “Fix It,“ which I sing around the house all the time because Monica is always fixing things. I am also doing one with Armistead Wellford from Love Tractor, which, like Pylon, is another great band to come out of Athens, Georgia. Plus a few others, and hopefully more to come! 

I’d be remiss if I didn’t touch upon your time as the proprietress of your motel businesses with your artist wife, Monica Coleman, beginning with Kate’s Lazy Meadow Motel.  Why did you get into it? How did that business grow? And why did you decide to divest yourself from the original Kate’s Lazy Meadow Motel in 2022?

It wasn’t planned. One day, I was driving down the road from my studio to Phoenicia and passed by the Lazy Meadow, which had a “For Sale“ sign. I just stopped, drove in, and went down to the river.  I saw some hummingbirds, beautiful flowers, and immediately became enchanted with the land. I just thought it would be fun to buy it and fix it up, which I did beginning in 2001.

I didn’t realize how difficult it would be, so I turned to Monica, who was a friend at the time and owned the Woodstock Wool Company. I knew she had managed and refurbished that building and that she knew how to do this sort of thing.  She helped me renovate and decorate, and then she was the one who ran it as a business, setting up the payment system, deciding what we could charge, managing the housekeeping staff, and developing and overseeing the properties in general.   I decorated with help from our friends, Phillip, Scott, and Monica, and I purchased all the furnishings at local yard sales, flea markets, auctions, or while on tour. All in all, we had Lazy Meadow, Lazy Desert, Lazy Cabin, Lazy Lodge, and Lazy Shack.  But Lazy Meadow was what brought us together as a couple.

You were indeed a trendsetter in repurposing Airstreams as accommodations, a concept that corporate companies have since adopted. Did they exist there when you bought Lazy Meadow?

No, when I bought the property, it was just a motel, really more a place where the owner would invite friends to fish, and with a few temporary lodgers, like a friendly long-distance truck driver.  The Airstreams came later. It had hook-ups for trailers because the owner’s friends would come with their RVs.  The Airstreams were also on a whim!  I was driving one day and saw one for sale and bought it; then we started collecting them.  One was buried in the mud, and the owner said, “If you can haul it out, you can have it.“ So Monica put a chain on her monster truck, and she hauled it out!  Another was bought from a vampire trans witch collective!  Our friends Phillip Mayberry and Scott Walker did the renovation and decor for these and having them all in the meadow by the Esopus Creek was magical. But after several floods, we moved them to Landers, California. That’s when Monica and I started Kate’s Lazy Desert, another magical spot near Joshua Tree. Our vision wasn’t to franchise it; we loved it for the personal touch, as did the folks who visited.  But it was time for Monica to get back to her passions.  She’s a great potter, she makes jewelry, and she’s an incredible photographer.  I guess I roped her into it, and she was great at it. So we gradually sold all the properties except one, the Lazy Cabin on historic Mink Hollow Road in Woodstock. That will be on the market this summer. It’s hard to let them go, but they will be well loved by others. 

Throughout your career, you have been deeply involved in charitable efforts, including advocacy for LGBTQ rights, AIDS Research, animal rights, and numerous local events in the Hudson Valley.  What are some of the issues and campaigns you are currently involved in? 

I  participated in the Hudson Valley Votes event with Natalie Merchant and several other notable artists and speakers. I’m also part of the Democracy Rocks! Concert on August 17th at the Colony Woodstock to support the Hurley/Ulster chapters of the pro-democracy/anti-oppression group, Indivisible. One thing I love about Woodstock is that it’s both rural and liberal, and that its residents are very well-informed politically.  They are not going to roll over and let bad stuff happen here.  I love living in a small town and the pride that comes with it.  I also loved our local Woodstock NY Pride events. There was an excellent turnout for the parade in Woodstock, followed by a big gathering at the Colony. They also had a pop-up piano bar, a Stonewall event sponsored by Queerly, at White Feather Farm in Saugerties. 

The B-52s were huge PETA supporters and participated in numerous events to support animal rights.  We did a huge Earth Day event at the Washington Monument and another where we opened for Paul McCartney.  Lately, I have focused on local charities. I recently worked with Paws Unlimited, a dog shelter that specializes in caring for senior dogs. I also did one for the Animal Emergency Fund, an auction of my stage clothes to benefit a charity that helps people pay their vet bills.

I’ve read that you and your wife, Monica, are both avid gardeners and dog lovers. So, what do you presently have growing in the garden this summer?

After we sold Lazy Meadow, we bought a house in Truro on Cape Cod, which we mainly use in the summer. As a result, we now have two gardens, and it’s tough to keep up with them. We’ve got rose campion, peonies, squash, peppers, arugula, and we can lots of our tomatoes. I’m recording, so I’m doing a little less of it this year.  One thing I’m over is digging a hole up here. Because every time I go to dig one, even for a small plant, I hit tons of rocks!

As for the dogs, we had three, but two of them passed away. Now we have Loki, a beautiful black German shepherd. Zeus was also a German shepherd, and Athena was a show dog, the fiercest of the bunch.  Dogs are wonderful companions. They connect you with nature.

Loki knows a lot of words and commands; we trained him very well with the help of Kyle Warren.  When you have a big dog, you have to train them. Loki is a good watchdog and very friendly. He loves to swim. And when we encountered a bear in the woods one day, he ran a little bit but then came back to protect us.

Who are some of your favorite local musical collaborators, and places to play and see music here?

I like what’s happening at The Local. They are bringing in some eclectic world music. What’s happening at the Bearsville Theater and the Colony is just great, too, along with the Woodstock Playhouse. I love WAMC, Radio Woodstock, WKZE, Radio Kingston, and all our local independent stations. Radio is what gave us our start, and I listen to it all the time.

One of my favorite things is being part of the holiday concerts at Levon’s Barn that Elizabeth Littleton and Amy Helm organize.  I regret the passing of Happy and Artie Traum, who were terrific keepers of the Woodstock flame. I love the music community here and can’t possibly name everyone who inspires me. I also love the Woodstock Film Festival, which is growing in prominence every year. 

What would be your dream gig? 

I would love for the B-52s to play the Glastonbury Festival. 

Who or what inspires you personally?

Well, to catch a cliché, it’s “Women Who Rock!”  Women like Patti Smith, Debbie Harry, and Crystal Waters, who, along with me and some other fabulous women, were featured in a recent W Magazine spread! They’re around my age, and they keep on trucking, making waves. They’re still cool, innovating, singing their hearts out, and have an edge. Of course, Joni Mitchell is one of my big idols, as is Mavis Staples. And the list goes on…

Tell us something about yourself that people might be surprised to know. 

I’m an avid, but amateur, birdwatcher. And a science nerd. And I also love reading. 

What is your favorite non-musical activity? 

I love swimming – just being around water. I often dream about swimming in some magical place.

Photos courtesy of Kate Pierson
Contributing writer Sal Cataldi is a musician, writer and former publicist living in Hudson Valley NY.

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