PHOTOGRAPHY FILM MUSIC - Lobo Jones Photography - The Photographs of Eric Van't Zelfden

PHOTOS: LOST SOULS OF MUSEE MECANIQUE

2012-01-10T16:41:00.000-05:00

Amidst the tourist traps of San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf lies a place of magic. Musee Mechanique is the final resting place of over 300 vintage parlor, casino, and carnival games. I was most fascinated by a small collection of coin operated fortune machines. Featuring frighteningly life like sculptures, I found these pieces at once charming, creepy, wistful, sad, and ultimately haunting. If you get the chance, please visit this amazing place.

Continue here for a few more photographs from Musee Mechanique...

NEWS: GASLIGHT/SPRINGSTEEN PHOTOGRAPH IN ROLLING STONE

2012-01-06T11:44:00.000-05:00

Yesterday I got a late X-mas gift and a great start to the new year. My photo of The Gaslight Anthem's Brian Fallon and Bruce Springsteen performing at the band's December Convention Hall show ran in Rolling Stone magazine's Random Notes section. It's totally cool to have a photograph in a magazine that I grew up reading and to be one step closer to the Bieber!

For the photog nerds out there, here's a little info behind the shot. When Springsteen came out a wall of iPhones went up and to be honest, as I was on the floor in the crowd, I was lucky to get a shot. But there was thought put in. I fought the urge to just shoot Springsteen as it was the Gaslight Anthem's show. I decided to throw Springsteen out of focus just slightly so as to draw more attention to Gaslight's Brian Fallon.

There are two outtakes from this angle. In this frame however, I think you can see the passion in Fallon's face as he's lost in his song and a slight look of pride from Springsteen for the next generation of the Jersey Shore Sound. I honestly don't know why Rolling Stone chose the image, but that was my thinking in originally running it here.

PHOTOS: LOS ANGELES TO SAN FRANCISCO - AUGUST 2011

2012-01-04T12:00:00.000-05:00

This past August we took a trip up the 101 from Los Angeles to San Francisco with my sister and her friend. Guess I never posted any of the photos, well here they are.

More photos on Flickr...

MUSIC: MY EIGHT FAVORITE ALBUMS OF 2011

2011-12-27T23:58:00.001-05:00

It's that time of year where every music mag and blog puts out their "best of" lists. Well I don't know if these are the "best" but they sure have been logging in some serious time on my ipod. Here's my eight favorite albums of 2011:

Dave Hause - Resolutions
The Loved Ones frontman comes into his own with an album full of instantly accessible melodies, top notch songwriting, and lyrics that'll stick with you. If anything can be considered "best" this is pretty damn close.

Horrible Crowes - Elsie
The Gaslight Anthem's frontman Brian Fallon joins forces with guitarist Ian Perkins and turns out a fantastic album of "night music"- slow burners, moody ballads, and dark soul. It's not on the album but they also do a transformative cover of that Katy Perry song "Teenage Dream."

Tom Waits - Bad As Me
Tom Waits returns with his tightest album in years. Everything you would come to expect from the man with consistent greatness. Get the deluxe edition CD for some great bonus tracks.

Kurt Vile - Smoke Ring For My Halo
Hadn't heard of Kurt Vile until catching his instore performance at Generation Records. Bought the rest of his catalog that day.

Wanda Jackson - The Party Ain't Over
Jack White helps remind the world of the living legend with just as much energy, charisma, and bite as when she started the party back in '56.

Frank Turner - England Keep My Bones
Turner's English roots are finally fully embraced. Another great record from the hardest working man in music.

Fucked Up - David Comes To Life
If this record doesn't make you want to smash your TV with a baseball bat and go outside and do something, you have no soul. And seriously why don't I just move to Canada, it's a magical land of sweet beautiful dark haired punk rock girls, hockey and FUBAR!!!!!

MUSIC: NICK CURRAN & THE LOWLIFES

2011-12-27T23:50:00.000-05:00

This record is actually from 2010 but my Spanish rockabilly brother Martin Calvino just told me about it so I guess it can't make the 2011 favorites list but who cares? This could be so bad, so so bad but it's not, it's fuckin awesome front to back. It's like Screamin' Jay Hawkins banged Little Richard and popped out a demon child of Rock & Roll, go get it now.

VIDEO: THE BOUNCING SOULS - LIVE AT GENERATION RECORDS - RECORD STORE DAY 2009 FULL PERFORMANCE

2011-12-21T11:21:00.000-05:00

The Bouncing Souls - Live At Generation Records Full Performance from Eric Van't Zelfden on Vimeo.

Here's a little holiday treat. A couple of years back, The Bouncing Souls played a special acoustic set at Generation Records in NYC as part of Record Store Day 2009. Matt from Generations asked if we could shoot the performance in the hopes of cutting a promo clip for a future vinyl release.

With no lights, tough angles, and a basement so hot we back focus issues on the close-up cam, my friend Randy and I shot the entire hour and a half performance.

The promo clips came together and the vinyl only album The Bouncing Souls: Live At Generation Records was released on Record Store Day 2011.

But I always thought, though rough in form, the full cut of the performance captured that something special that so many people love about The Bouncing Souls. So with that in mind, here it is. Enjoy.

You can pick up the 11-song The Bouncing Souls: Live At Generation Records on limited edition red vinyl here.

PHOTO: THANKS SIDE ONE DUMMY!

2011-12-21T09:30:00.002-05:00

A little while back SideOneDummy asked to use some of my Horrible Crowes photos to decorate their offices. Got this sweet care package from them the other day. Thanks guys!

PHOTO: THE GASLIGHT ANTHEM AT ASBURY PARK CONVENTION HALL

2011-12-10T03:20:00.081-05:00

Fans of The Gaslight Anthem got an extra special gift this holiday season at the band's annual end of the year show. "Have I not been good enough to you this year? Huh? Well maybe this will make up for it..." singer Brian Fallon teased before calling hometown hero Bruce Springsteen to the stage. As the crowd erupted and a wall of iPhones flickered to life, The Boss and band tore through "American Slang" from the 2010 album of the same name. With Asbury Park's Convention Hall literally decked with holiday cheer, The Gaslight Anthem turned out a fantastic set of old favorites and classic cover songs.

I don't know why but the whole night I had Bob Gruen's photos of The Clash running through my mind. Similar to that band, Gaslight is a group comprised of four distinct yet complimentary personalities each with a unique visual style. More than once I saw traces of rock & roll's past when framing up the band, most notably bassist Alex Levine, equal parts Paul Simonon and a young Jerry Only.

There's alot more photos than this but Blogger is being finicky so to check out them all out head over to the Flickr gallery below.

PHOTO GALLERY: The Gaslight Anthem at Convention Hall - Asbury Park, NJ 12/9/11

CAMERA NERD NEWS: JONATHAN YI'S CANON C300 TEST VIDEO

2011-11-30T11:52:00.000-05:00

Canon EOS C300 = Awesome from Jonathan Yi on Vimeo.

This post is totally for my fellow camera nerds, but Canon Rumors has featured Johnathan Yi's test video for Canon's new RED market intruding C300. Outfitted with either Canon EF or Cine PL mounts, the C300's Super 35 equivalent CMOS sensor will shoot 1080p with 8bit compression and an upgraded 4:2:2 color space. Issues common to HD-SLRs such as aliasing and jello effect have been addressed as well. And with an ISO range of 320 to 20,000 who needs lights!

Let's be honest, no one really likes the RED - the people who own one will sing it's virtues but really only as justification for dropping $50K on a camera more finicky than your grandma. Canon's C300 probably won't change their minds but from the looks of it, this new camera is gonna give RED a run for their money.

Kudos to Johnathan Yi's hipster filled yet still enjoyable send-up of stuffy test videos, even if Canon didn't like it.

NEW PRINTS: "ROCK & ROLL GOLD" & "LUCKY DICE" - NOW AVAILABLE

2011-11-18T10:31:00.000-05:00

Today is the last day of New Print Week and to round things out we have a double header. "Rock & Roll Gold" and "Lucky Dice" were both shot digitally and are each presented as a Digital C-Print on Kodak Professional Endura Supra Lustre Paper. These First Edition prints are limited to five (5) pieces each and includes a Signed & Numbered Certificate of Authenticity. Each 8x12 inch print is only $20 and includes free domestic shipping.

"Rock & Roll Gold" - 8x12 inch First Edition Print - $20 with Free Domestic Shipping.

"Lucky Dice" - 8x12 inch First Edition Print - $20 with Free Domestic Shipping.

NEW PRINT: "LIFE GUARDS" - NOW AVAILABLE IN THE PRINT SHOP

2011-11-17T07:34:00.000-05:00

"Life Guards" is today's new print. Originally shot on Kodak Porta 400 NC Color film, it is presented as a Digital C-Print on Kodak Professional Endura Supra Lustre Paper. Each First Edition print is limited to five (5) pieces and includes a Signed & Numbered Certificate of Authenticity. An 8x12 inch print is only $20 and includes free domestic shipping.

"Life Guards" - 8x12 inch First Edition Print - $20 with Free Domestic Shipping.

NEW PRINT: "TRAIN 13" - AVAILABLE NOW IN THE PRINT SHOP

2011-11-16T07:49:00.000-05:00

"Train 13" is today's new print. Originally shot on Kodak P3200 TMAX B&W film, it is presented as a Digital C-Print on Kodak Professional Endura Supra Lustre Paper. Each First Edition print is limited to five (5) pieces and includes a Signed & Numbered Certificate of Authenticity. An 8x12 inch print is only $20 and includes free domestic shipping.

"Train 13" - 8x12 inch First Edition Print - $20 with Free Domestic Shipping.

NEW PRINT: "CONEY ISLAND" - NOW AVAILABLE IN THE PRINT SHOP

2011-11-15T07:34:00.000-05:00

"Coney Island" is today's new print. Originally shot on Ilford Delta 400 B&W film, it is presented as a Digital C-Print on Kodak Professional Endura Supra Lustre Paper. Each First Edition print is limited to five (5) pieces and includes a Signed & Numbered Certificate of Authenticity. An 8x12 inch print is only $20 and includes free domestic shipping.

"Coney Island" - 8x12 inch First Edition Print - $20 with Free Domestic Shipping.

PHOTOS: FRANK TURNER @ GENERATION RECORDS 11/3/11

2011-11-14T16:58:00.002-05:00

A little while back Frank Turner returned to Generation Records for another intimate live acoustic performance. Anyone who follows this blog knows how much I dig this artist and if you haven't checked his stuff yet, it's your loss buddy. Frank's latest album "England Keep My Bones" is available now and our UK friends will be able to grab the new odds & ends collection "The Second Three Years" on Nov. 21st. Enjoy the pics.

For even more pics from Frank Turner at Generation Records head over to the Flickr account.

NEW PRINT: "SKY SWINGS" - NOW AVAILABLE IN THE PRINT SHOP

2011-11-14T07:30:00.000-05:00

Everyday this week, I'm releasing a new print for sale in the Lobo Jones Photography Print Shop on Etsy. Each First Edition print is limited to five (5) pieces and includes a Signed & Numbered Certificate of Authenticity.

"Sky Swings" was originally shot on Ilford Delta 400 B&W film and is presented as a Digital C-Print on Kodak Professional Endura Supra Lustre Paper. Each 8x12 inch print is only $20 and includes free domestic shipping.

"Sky Swings" - 8x12 inch First Edition Print - $20 with Free Domestic Shipping.

PHOTOS: "HALFWAY THERE" - NYC MARATHON, BEDFORD STUYVESANT

2011-11-09T15:28:00.002-05:00

Every year in the beginning of November, the NYC Marathon passes in front of my house. I usually grab whatever rolls of B&W I have on hand and head downstairs to shoot the day's events. I love the interaction between the runners and our neighborhood, there is an amazing electricity that pulses through the crowd as they are genuinely pumped to cheer on the marathon's participants.

I've started collecting these photographs, shot on Bedford Ave between Lafayette and Willoughby, for an ongoing project I'm calling Halfway There. This is by no means complete and will evolve over time, some photos will come and some will go. In the meantime, here are some selections and if you would like to see some more you will find a link at the bottom of the page.

Click any of the photographs above for a slideshow including more photos from Halfway There or click here for the Flickr gallery direct link.

NEWS: STRUMMERVILLE'S JOE STRUMMER X-MAS CARD

2011-11-08T11:16:00.000-05:00

To all our UK friends out there: Strummerville, the memorial charity foundation started by the family & friends of Joe Strummer, has just released an amazing unreleased photograph by Bob Gruen as a limited edition Christmas card. Taken in New York, the photograph shows Strummer giving money to a homeless man. "I never saw Joe pass a needy or homeless person without giving them something," notes the longtime Clash photographer.

It is in this spirit of community and charity that Strummerville was started. The charity is committed to "supporting aspiring musicians and helping projects that help change the world through music." Strummerville has many services focused on supporting independent music from showcasing unsigned bands on their website, to providing rehearsal and songwriting spaces, to a gig and tour bus available for loan. The charity has also strove to enrich the global community through music by opening a music education room at Tilinanu Orphanage in Milawi and a community FM radio station at Rinse Academy in East London.

You can order six cards for £10.00 through the Strummerville store and learn more about the foundation by heading over to Strummerville here.

Strummerville a film by Don Letts from Strummerville on Vimeo.

LISTEN/MUSIC: Marvin Berry & The New Sound

2011-11-04T10:52:00.003-04:00

It's a been a quite a while since the last posting here. When the semester at NYU starts up in the fall you can pretty much consider me down for the count. But with things winding down now what better way to get back into things than with some new music.

Last week I got to catch Danzig's Halloween show at Hammerstein Ballroom. At one point, a kid came flying out of the pit into me and when he turned to apologize I realized it was my old friend Joe Porter. I used to work with Joe almost eight years back in the record store. Joe was always in the store buying music and I think Tommy figured since he was around so much, he might as well work for us.

Joe was one of the best characters to ever walk through those doors. Every day brought a new ridiculous story from traveling with the Jim Rose Circus, to being accosted by a hobo in the Philadelphia train yard, to cleaning out fungus infested swimming pools for his Dad's plumbing business. Shortly after becoming an official employee Joe wore a sharp pinstripe suit, thick rimmed glasses and a fake beard then shopped around the store incognito. When he revealed his true identity at the cash register it was one of the truest moments of absurd genius.

He moved to Brooklyn around 2002 and we've bumped into each other from time, even though we live only a few blocks from each other. In reconnecting since the Danzig show, Joe turned me onto his new band Marvin Berry & The New Sound. It's a brilliant blend of Op Ivy, surf rock, and Mitch Ryder. One listen and the songs will be bouncing around your head all day. And how can you not love the Back To The Future reference.

Joe's always been a good kid with a song in his heart and a smile on his face. Rock some of his new band's tunes and you'll quickly find a smile on yours too.

Howling at the Highway by MarvinBerryandtheNewSound

Many Roads to Follow (P. Collins) by MarvinBerryandtheNewSound

Space Age by MarvinBerryandtheNewSound

No More Hell by MarvinBerryandtheNewSound

Marvin Berry and The New Sound have an upcoming show:

Friday, Nov. 11th
9pm
Lone Wolf
1089 Broadway
Brooklyn, NY

NOTE: That's not my photo above, but it is a great one!

PHOTOS: OBEY REVOLUTIONS @ JONATHAN LEVINE GALLERY

2011-10-11T13:17:00.000-04:00

A little while back, OBEY Clothing blog ran my Asbury Park Photo Series as lead in promo for Shepard Fairey's Revolutions show at the Jonathan Levine Gallery in Asbury Park. They also asked me to cover the opening, after party, and multiple installations Fairey had put up around the city and last week ran a post with some photos from the shoot.

There's a lot more photos that weren't used and I don't know folks, maybe Blogger doesn't want them to be seen because despite three hours of trying I can't get more than one photo to load properly in this post. But if you click the pic above you can check out everything from OBEY in Asbury Park or look for the direct links below.

Fairey's large scale installations were a personal highlight for me. The Asbury Lanes piece featuring the godfathers of punk is awesome and hopefully will last for a while. Paul Simonon now gazes out from a wall along the Casino carousel house, a rose/gun piece hides along Cookman, and the old Sixth Ave pavillion on the north end is plastered with multiple large scale LP inspired art. They stand as a reminder that no matter how much the re-developers try to homogenize the town as part of the newest addition to it's destination resort portfolio, Asbury's heart lies in the streets.

Follow the links below to check out everything from OBEY in Asbury Park:

PHOTOS: OBEY REVOLTUIONS @ ASBURY PARK - Full Flickr Gallery

OBEY CLOTHING: 10/5 Obey Asbury Aftermath - Blog Post

OBEY CLOTHING: 9/27 What Would The Boss Do? - Blog Post

NEW PRINTS: DARK ART FOR THE DARK HEART

2011-10-05T09:37:00.000-04:00

Three new prints are now available! They Walk By Night Production's The Feast, Lady In Red, and First Encounter have been resurrected from the grave and are now offered as limited edition 8x12 prints.

Created in collaboration with make-up/special effects artist Morgue Anne and inspired by the dimestore horror/pulp magazines of the 1960's, They Walk By Night Productions fused graphic violence with and edge of humor to create our own offerings of "dark art for the dark heart."

Sure to mortify your friends or party guests, it's the perfect Halloween treat.

PRINT INFO

- 8x12 Digital C-Print

- Kodak Professional Endura Supra Lustre Paper

- 1st Edition (5)

- Artist Certified

- Includes Signed & Numbered Certificate of Authenticity

- Free Domestic Shipping

Each order will also include a vintage TWBN promo pack. So if you've got a sweet tooth for the macabre head over to the Lobo Jones Photography Print Shop to order!

VIDEO: QUEEN HUSSY EPISODE ONE - PUSS N BOOTS

2011-10-04T16:52:00.000-04:00

The first episode of Pete Chatmon's new web comedy series Queen Hussy is now online and ready for your "interwebs enjoyment." Go check it out now on Youtube and then head over to the official Facebook page for everything Queen Hussy related.

NEWS: ASBURY PARK PHOTOGRAPHS ON OBEY BLOG

2011-09-28T09:49:00.001-04:00

This morning the OBEY Blog ran my Asbury Park Photo Series as a lead in to Shepard Fairey's new REVOLUTIONS show at Jonathan LeVine Gallery opening tomorrow night. The event is part of the All Tomorrow's Parties Festival running all this weekend in venues throughout Asbury Park. Following tomorrow night's opening reception, Fairey will head over to Asbury Lanes to rock the turntables with a special DJ set for the official afterparty.

Revolutions features over 80 pieces of Punk, Rock, New Wave, Jazz, and Hip Hop inspired artwork based on the 12" record cover format. A very limited quantity Album Cover Print Box sets will be available in person at the exhibit.

REVOLUTIONS: The Album Cover Art of Shepard Fairey
Presented by Jonathan LeVine Gallery

Opening Reception:
September 29th, 2011, 6-9pm

On Exhibition:
9/30/11 - 10/3/11

1200 Ocean Ave
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
For more information please contact Jonathan LeVine Gallery

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You can check out the OBEY Blog post with my photographs here.

Limited Edition 8x12 prints from the Asbury Park Photo Series are available for only $20 with free shipping in the new Lobo Jones Photography Print Shop on Etsy.

NEWS: THE PRINT SHOP IS OPEN!!

2011-09-12T08:50:00.000-04:00

So it's finally here. The new Lobo Jones Photography Print Shop is open! From here on out, The Print Shop will be the place to get all your favorite Lobo Jones Photography photos.

We're gonna start things off with my Asbury Park Photo Series. All photographs from the series are now available as 8x12 prints for only $20 including FREE shipping. Each photograph is printed on Kodak Professional Endura Supra Lustre Paper and includes a signed & numbered Certificate of Authenticity. These Asbury Park Photo Series Second Edition prints are limited to a short run of (25) pieces each. All prints are true photographic Digital C-Prints that will last for years, none of that inkjet business.

Each week, I'll add a new item to the store. Next on deck are the Asbury Park Postcard Series: Complete Collection sets - Eight postcards plus one limited edition signed & numbered unreleased postcard all for only $12 with Free shipping. So if you've admired the postcards but can't make it to Asbury, look for them here next week.

Until then, enjoy the prints, buy some up, and tell a friend. Thanks for your support!

Eric V.

The Lobo Jones Photography Print Shop: ALL 8x12 Prints Only $20 with FREE Shipping!!

PHOTOS: THE HORRIBLE CROWES @ BOWERY BALLROOM

2011-09-12T08:45:00.002-04:00

Given The Horrible Crowes frontman Brian Fallon's strong belief in the sanctity of the live performance, I almost feel guilty for posting these photos. The man is not naive, he's well aware we live in the Youtube age. Yet he confesses a yearning to go back, to when the only way to see your favorite artist was by standing in front of their stage.

In a short few years, Fallon has gained a reputation as a dynamic live performer and superb songwriter. His latest project, The Horrible Crowes, is a collaboration with guitarist Ian Perkins and will undoubtly only add that reputation. Their debut release Elsie is a fully realized album of moody and soulful "night music." Fallon's influences are again worn on his sleeve - the album has it's share of nods to Tom Waits, Van Morrison, and U2. But he takes the best parts of each of those acts and manages to form something new and exciting while at the same time familiar.

The band's performance this past Thursday at Bowery Ballroom was the first of only two US dates. I really don't want to give anything away for fear of ruining what the band may have in store for the lucky folks attending the LA show. I will say you are in for a treat. The band is tight, the music is right, and there's couple of choice covers to round out the night. Enjoy.

Check out more photos from: The Horrible Crowes @ Bowery Ballroom - NYC. 9/8/11.

9/11: TEN YEARS GONE

2011-09-11T19:15:00.000-04:00

This morning marked the tenth anniversary of the 2001 September 11th attacks on the United States. Ten years ago I was working at my old record store and had already left the house before anything had began. Shortly after arriving, my mom called to inform me that a plane had hit the Twin Towers. A few minutes later she would call back to say that another plane had hit. An hour later customers began to say one of the towers had collapsed. I called my mom for confirmation and she answered "they're both down now."

The narrative of 9/11 as delivered to the rest of the nation has been a compartmentalized and simplified version, one that far to many politicians and "filmmakers" have used to further their own agendas. Protesters from all ends of the spectrum and all corners of our country come here and shout their views from the sidewalks of Ground Zero. Images of the towers burning are shown in every documentary and every newsbite, from every angle and every slow-mo speed technology will allow.

But many people from this area lived those moments, whether from the streets below or from inside the actual towers. It's important to remember that they have a very specific and personal relationship with 9/11. It's one thing to see the morning's CNN news ticker reporting terrorism threats and quite another to drop down into the subway to head to work only a few moments later. New Yorkers live 9/11 everyday in a very real way. It doesn't make people from this city any better than the rest of the nation, but it does make them different.

For me, there is no better account of 9/11 and NYC as Steve Rosenbaum's 7 Days In September. It captures the heart of this areas people. One IMDB reviewer states "if you['re looking] for big drama shoots, you may be deceived. In addition, the terrible day counts for maybe one third of the time, the remaining addressing the later days. Finally, you don't see much but you hear a lot."

Rosenbaum forfeits scenes of destruction for scenes of humanity. 7 Days In September documents the people of NY in the moments after the attacks, from the everyday heros helping a stranger to safety to the triage stations setup along the Westside Highway to the candle light vigils in Union Square. It's NYC at its best and it's a film that transcends it's counterparts. There should be more films like it.

Also recommended is HERE IS NEW YORK: A Democracy of Photographs. "Anyone and everyone who has taken pictures relating to the tragedy was invited to submit their images to the gallery, where they were digitally scanned, printed and displayed on the walls alongside the work of top photojournalists and other professional photographers. All of the prints which HERE IS NEW YORK displayed were sold to the public for $25, regardless of their provenance. The net proceeds from the sale of these prints went to the Children's Aid Society WTC Relief Fund." The project has since raised over $850,000. While the gallery has since closed, the project continues through the group's online gallery and now out of print book.

A friend of mine recently worked on the documentary Rising: Rebuilding Ground Zero. The film captures the decade long process of bringing life back to the area where the Twin Towers once stood. The series is a first hand look at much work and attention has been paid to ensure that the victims and families effected by 9/11 have a memorial befitting their sacrifice.

Today, Paul Simon performed at the new 9/11 Memorial built upon former footprint of the Twin Towers. While scheduled to perform "Bridge Over Troubled Water" Simon instead chose to sing "The Sounds of Silence" acknowledging that while 9/11 is ten years gone, the pain and sorrow of that day is still very fresh.

VIDEO: QUEEN HUSSY TRAILER

2011-09-06T22:41:00.000-04:00

Do me a favor folks and check out the brand new trailer for Queen Hussy. My boy Pete Chatmon and his fine Double 7 team have been working hard all summer on this new comedy web series and today we get a first look at what they have in store for us. It's chock full of afros, jive, weed and nudity. So. Check. It. Out.

The first episode of Queen Hussy premieres October 2nd. Until then you can indulge in a slew of material from behind the scenes interviews and set photos to cast and crew character profiles over on the official Queen Hussy Facebook page.

Support independent film!!

MUSIC NEWS: NEW GASLIGHT ANTHEM SONG "BILOXI PARISH"

2011-08-08T09:23:00.000-04:00

Last week, a new The Gaslight Anthem song found it's way to Soundcloud. "Biloxi Parish" was performed a couple of times during the band's recent European dates. No word yet on if it's a contender for the next album.

the Gaslight Anthem - Biloxi Parish by user761012

The recording itself is sourced from an Australian radio show called Triple J. A bootleg is floating around featuring a large portion of the show and it's about an hours worth of FM Broadcasty goodness. What a band. Definitely, check this out below and enjoy.

The Gaslight Anthem: Metro Theatre - Sydney, Australia 5/23/11

FULL DOWNLOAD

Also the first single from the Brian Fallon/Ian Perkins project The Horrible Crowes is now available through all the various digi-retailers. If "Behold The Hurricane" is any indication, the full length album Elsie is gonna be fantastic.

Pre-order it now at SideOneDummy.

PHOTO CREDIT: © Ryan Russell

NEWS: SOHO PHOTO GALLERY UPDATE & THE LATEST

2011-08-05T14:15:00.002-04:00

The Soho Photo Gallery show was a lot of fun. Thanks to everyone that came out! It was really great to see people's reaction to THE FEAST which was overall very positive but alas haters, I did not get punched in the face. Maybe next time.

I've been working on some fun ways to round out the Asbury Park Postard Series project. Amongst other things and as mentioned before, I'm pulling together all the Asbury postcards into one set, adding a signed & numbered unreleased bonus postcard and calling the whole thing the Asbury Park Postcard Series: Complete Collection. It'll be available in our soon to be open Etsy store. Look for it late August/early September. Should be a cool way for those who can't make it down to Asbury to grab the postcards.

In the meantime, I'm out to LA next week for a visit with the sis and a little road trip up to San Fran. You hold my heart East Coast but man that West Coast is appealing.

Here's a link to a video of me being awkward and sweaty at the Soho Photo Gallery:

NOTE: I am not affiliated with any of the venues depicted in The Asbury Park Postcard Series.

NEWS: LATE ADDITION - THE FEAST @ SOHO PHOTO GALLERY 7/26

2011-07-25T10:10:00.000-04:00

As a last minute addition one of my most controversial pieces, THE FEAST, will be on view for two hours only (ha ha, it cannot be contained!!) at the Soho Photo Gallery on Tuesday July 26th, as part of the "One Night Floor Show" group exhibit.

Produced in 2007 for They Walk By Night Productions, THE FEAST was the cumulative effort of a collaboration between myself and make-up/special effects artist Morgue Anne. It has never been shown publicly though private reactions have ranged from awe to revulsion.

It serves as an homage to the dimestore horror/pulp magazines of the 1960’s. Fusing graphic violence with an edge of humor, THE FEAST was our offering of “dark art for the dark heart.”

So if you have the stomach, come down to the Soho Photo Gallery on Tuesday and see how many people punch me in the face.

"ONE NIGHT FLOOR SHOW"

Soho Photo Gallery

15 White Street

New York, NY 10013

6:30 PM

You can click the pic above to check out the uncensored version in it's full glory and if you would like to read more about They Walk By Night Productions check out it our here. Or head right to the pics and check out everything from They Walk By Night Productions.

NEWS: ASBURY PARK PHOTO SERIES @ SOHO PHOTO GALLERY 7/26

2011-07-18T11:26:00.003-04:00

Eight B&W selections from my 2009 photo series Asbury Park will be on view next Tuesday, July 26th as part of the Soho Photo Gallery's "One Night Floor Show" group exhibit. So if you're free stop by, say hello, and check out some cool photography. A small quantity of matted prints will be available for $65, so arrive early if you are interested.

"ONE NIGHT FLOOR SHOW"

Soho Photo Gallery

15 White Street

New York, NY 10013

6:30 PM

NEWS: ASBURY PARK POSTCARD SERIES - SET TWO NOW AVAILABLE

2011-07-08T10:51:00.002-04:00

So I know updates have been slow around here folks but it's not without good reason. I've been working hard. This Saturday marks the release of Set Two from The Asbury Park Postcards Series and will be available at both Asbury Galleria and Shelter Home in Asbury Park, NJ.

Set Two features four new images of iconic Asbury Park including The Stone Pony, The Baronet Theatre, The Convention Hall, and the Paramount Theater. So please go check out these two great shops and buy some postcards. Thanks for the support!

Asbury Galleria

Convention Hall Grand Arcade

Asbury Park, NJ 07712

732-775-4100

www.asburygalleria.com

Shelter Home

704 Cookman Avenue

Asbury Park, NJ 07712

(732)-774-7790

www.shelterhome.com

NOTE: I am not affiliated with any of the venues depicted in The Asbury Park Postcard Series.

VIDEO: FRANK TURNER LIVE AT LONDON'S BARFLY

2011-06-07T14:26:00.001-04:00

Frank Turner - Barfly 06/06/11 Part 1

Frank Turner's new album England Keep My Bones came out today. Go buy it. Dude is amazing. Don't believe me watch his full show from last night's gig in London above.

NOTE: I did not shoot this.

NEWS: ASBURY PARK POSTCARDS SERIES ONE NOW AVAILABLE AT SHELTERHOME & ASBURY GALLERIA

2011-06-02T14:26:00.007-04:00

I'm happy to announce that Set One of my Asbury Park Postcard Series is now available at TWO exclusive locations: ShelterHome and Asbury Galleria.

Located on Cookman Avenue in the heart of Asbury Park's downtown shopping district, ShelterHome strives to offer pieces for the home by designers who share the vision "that our lives are made richer by the beauty and whimsy in the objects of the day." All four postcards from Series One are now available at ShelterHome.

ShelterHome

704 Cookman Avenue

Asbury Park, NJ 07712

(732) 774-7790

www.shelterhome.com

Located in the Convention Hall Grand Arcade, Asbury Galleria has served has the unofficial historical society of Asbury Park for nearly six years. Steps from the beach, Asbury Galleria carries everything from fine art photographs and paintings to umbrellas and sunblock. It's the perfect place to take a break from the sun and learn about the history of Asbury Park.

All four postcards from Series One are now available at Asbury Galleria. Asbury Galleria is also featuring 8x12 prints of each of the images included in Series One as well as additional photographs from my Asbury Park series. Each limited edition photographic print ($65) features museum quality matting and is signed & numbered. A select few are available as framed ready to hang pieces ($125).

Asbury Galleria
Convention Hall Grand Arcade
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
732-775-4100
www.asburygalleria.com

So please go check out these two great places and buy some postcards! Series Two of my Asbury Park Postcard Series is just down the line and should be available in July. Thanks for your support.

NOTE: I am not affiliated with any of the venues depicted in The Asbury Park Postcard Series.

INTERVIEW: A CONVERSATION WITH PHOTOGRAPHER RYAN RUSSELL

2011-05-23T09:36:00.002-04:00

Having taken a brief vacation from the blogging world as of late, I return to all of you fine folks with an exclusive interview with Birmingham, AL rock photographer Ryan Russell.

Chances are if you've picked up an issue of SPIN, Rolling Stone, or Alternative Press in the last ten years you have seen a photograph taken by Ryan. He's toured with Death Cab for Cutie, Against Me, and Paramore. He had a volume of photographs in Tegan & Sara's book series On/In/At. And his latest endeavor Nervous Energies presents intimate performances by some of the best up and coming bands. Despite a hectic schedule of taking beautiful photographs, Ryan was recently kind enough to talk about his work, music, and burritos.

So what did the seven year old version of Ryan Russell want to be when he grew up?

7 year old Ryan wanted to be in a punk band believe it or not. I grew up in a very non-musical family but started watching MTV at a very early age and loved the Ramones. I have a picture of me from 1st grade with spiked hair, studded bracelet and chucks on while holding a big yellow paper guitar. It rules.

My interests in music now are greatly different from when I was growing up. 70's era Aerosmith was the band that opened me up to all kinds of music, from them I got into Led Zeppelin, The Rolling Stones, Jimi Hendrix, The New York Dolls, The Yardbirds and eventually traced back to the old blues greats of the 30's & 40's. The Clash provided a similar experience with a whole other part of music. What was your "gateway band?"

My gateway band was definitely Nirvana. The first album I ever bought (on cassette) in 1988 was Def Leppard Hysteria, I was 7. Between '88 and '92 I had barely any records that I remember, just stuff like Guns N Roses or Europe or whatever cheezy stuff that was popular on MTV at the time. But in '92, I heard Smelled Like Teen Spirit and loved it and that was the first record where I understood the concept of they have a specific release date and that's when you can go and buy it. My mom took me to Turtle's Record a local store in Birmingham that is now gone to buy it.

What aspects of the medium initially drew you to photography?

I dont really know the main aspect but my entry into photography was in 2000. I never had art classes or any sort of artistic aspirations growing up. I was always a computer/video game nerd. I started doing websites for people in 1998 and this local band who was signed to Century Media called Haste had seen a site and wanted one. I did their site from that point till they broke up but after a month or two, I was like there's tons of news and tours but no photos. So I bought a crappy camera and started shooting at their shows. Their album "When Reason Sleeps" has an uncredited photograph I shot in it and that was the first thing I ever had published. In the winter of 2001 I sent off a bunch of photos to Jones soda cuz I thought it would be cool to have a photo on a bottle. They ended up using 3 at once and another one a 4-pack box. The encouragement of these two instances definitely help motivate me to want to do more.

Were there certain photographers that inspired you at that time?

I really even to this day don't look at many photographer's work. William Eggleston, Charles Peterson, Glen E Friedman, Steven Shore and all the usual suspects like that have a great impact on me of course. I mean we all see photography everywhere so you're going to see images but I try for the most part not to look at a particular photographer's work. When you see something you like you can't help but be influenced by it and it becomes apart of what you do even if you dont mean to. I just don't want to come off as someone ripping off someone else's style. There was two photographs growing up that I always loved even today that stick out. The Nirvana photo of Kurt on the drum set in the Bleach era photos and the band practice photos of Rage Against The Machine in Evil Empire. Those two photographs are my favorite music photographs of all time. There's a million other photographs of older bands, the Johnny Cash bird photo for example that are way more famous and way more important in the scheme of music but the Nirvana/RATM photographs are the most important for me.

From your earliest work it's obvious that you have a natural eye for the medium, can you attribute your creative talents to anyone in your family?

Not at all. My aunt is a painter and an art teacher but as I said growing up I had no artistic ambitions so I didn't really know it was something I would pick up on. There may have been something embedded in a past relative that helped her and myself go the artistic route but it's not really documented in our family.

I worked in a independent record store for six years. Prior to that, I had never felt part of a particular group of people. It was there that I found many of my best friends, best described as "music kids" or those of us that seem to be driven by an appreciation of music of all genres. Some of us play it, some of us document it, and some of us listen to it. To this day when I meet other "music kids" it never ceases to amaze me how a common appreciation for a particular artist or album can turn someone from a stranger one minute to a friend the next. Has your experience with the music been similar?

It really has. You saying like how a record can turn a random person into a best friend and that's the best part about music. I have always been way more into music than art in general. People try and talk to me about photography and cameras and I am really not into it and don't know much about the technical side of all of it. I'd rather talk about music or hear what records someone recently bought.

Does a band's music factor into the whether you choose them as your subjects?

I'm sure it does, most of the times though the bands I photograph are either becuase I am a huge fan of their work or they are a huge fan of mine. I won't shoot bands I don't like unless they come to me and say hey we like your photographs we'd love to work with you.

So how do you adapt a situation where a subject is particularly difficult to work with?

I've definitely had a few. The thing to keep in mind is, regardless of the situation you're supposed to produce great work. People have this idea of being "professional" as being business like and that's true to some degree, but for me a lot of times professionalism is being able to take a situation that's not ideal and make it work without sacrificing respect for the artist or producing a bad image. I try to encourage burritos to make a bad situation better.

What have you found is the best way to provide a level of comfort to your subjects so as to capture them honestly?

I hope my demeanor alone accomplishes this. Bands realize quickly that I'm not the random photographer in it for the check or fake. I try and let them know we're the same and the same cheesy photos they hate, I hate and if they just trust me I'll give them something great.

Has an artist ever requested you hold back a photograph for personal or professional reasons?

Only once I can think of, I won't say who but it wasn't a photograph I would put up anyways. The shot was terrible on my part. They were mimicking something that made them look bad as a joke.

Do you prefer available natural light or will you supplement with artificial light?

Natural, 90% of all my photographs are using natural lighting. I'm terrible at setting up studio lighting. Unless you mean artificial lighting in places, I use a lot of "found" lighting at places. Very on the fly, very use as it is.

Whether you have photographed it or not, what is the best show you have ever been to?

February 2002 in Atlanta Georgia at the Cotton Club with Death Cab for Cutie. Death Cab is and always will be my favorite and most influential band. I consider the music the most important influence to my photography. The mindset and mood Death Cab has always put me in has been in ways no one ever has. I know it might be like oh you like Death Cab real cool since they're very well known today. I didn't know anyone in my city besides one girl (who i ended up dating haha) who even knew who Death Cab was back in 2000/2001 when I got into them. One of the greatest pleasures of my life has been able to work and tour a little with them. They deserve every ounce of good fortune they have earned.

Of all the times I've been punched in the face, more often than not it has been at a show by a smaller dude trying to prove himself to his friends. As a fellow big man do you share this ridiculous experience?

You know it's always been the girls. I hope it's because they are just stoked to having a tall sexy man next to them but that is not the case. Usually they are just overhyper.

Other than music what subject would we be surprised to learn you would like to photograph?

I don't really think anything, I love nature photographs. I think photography has been so generalized for people now that doing just one area and doing a completely separate one doesn't surprise anyone. Everyone thinks if you're good at shooting one thing you should be good at shooting all things.

What photographers do you currently admire?

Wedding photographers. That shit is insane and I don't see how they handle the stress. I have only shot 3 weddings, all of which were for band members and good lord it is way more stressful than anything else.

I was surprised to learn that legendary rock photographer Jim Marshall did not process and print his photos. Instead he saw himself as a "moment collector" and would turnover his film to a trusted team built around him that consisted of a separate editor, developer, and printer. Do you see you photographs through the entire post process?

I do now since I switched to digital. I shot only film till Jan 2010, I just got bored with it and thought I took it as far as I could so I bought a digital. I have loved it since after hating on it for years. Before I had my places in town I would drop film off and my lab techs who would change things if I needed them to. Now I have to photoshop some of my color images to match the quality of my film shots but I prefer it since I have total control.

Did you enjoy the dark room experience?

Hated it. I was terrible at it in college.

As a photographer what does your new project Nervous Energies provide you that your still photographs do not?

A release. It gives me something to do involving music instead of just photoshoots.

Do you feel it is a natural progression of your work?

Friends have said for years I should do music videos and films. I don't know, I can set up great shots but I am not sold on it being something I am really good at yet.

Ok hit me, top five albums of all time? Go.

1. Nirvana - Nevermind
Most influential record of my life

2. Death Cab for Cutie - The Photo Album
Favorite album from my favorite band

3. Green Day - Dookie
Even though I liked the Ramones at an early age I really didn't know about punk or indie labels (not that Dookie is on an indie) until this record. The first two Green Day records on lookout were the first indie records I bought

4. The Beatles - Magical Mystery Tour
My favorite Beatles record, everyone has to have one.

5. Michael Jackson - Thriller
Never, ever, ever trust someone who doesn't like at least one Michael Jackson song.

--

To view more of Ryan's photographs visit his website www.ryanrussell.net and to check out more videos from his Nervous Energies series head over to www.nervousenergies.com

You can also follow Ryan on Twitter by subscribing to @xryanrussellx

ALL PHOTOGRAPHS © 2011 RYAN RUSSELL
INTERVIEW © ERIC VAN'T ZELFDEN

NEWS: ASBURY PARK POSTCARDS SERIES RELEASE

2011-05-18T15:18:00.002-04:00

I'm to pumped to announce that I have recently completed work on a new postcard series featuring my photographs of Asbury Park. The postcards will be available beginning in June at many local businesses in Asbury Park. So please go check them out and visit the town that will always hold a special place in my heart.

For more information on The Asbury Park Postcard Series please contact:
lobojonesphoto@gmail.com

NOTE: I am not affiliated with any of the venues depicted in The Asbury Park Postcard Series.

PHOTOS: DAVE HAUSE AT ASBURY LANES 4/28/11

2011-05-04T22:05:00.001-04:00

These are a little overdue but here's some pics from Dave Hause's recent performance at The Asbury Lanes with Mikey Erg and Ian Graham from the band Cheap Girls.

I hadn't heard about Ian Graham or Cheap Girls before but wow Graham's performance was great and Cheap Girl's albums are even better. Check out two songs from them at the end of the post and go buy both their albums My Roaring 20's and Find Me A Drink Home now. Asbury favorite Mikey Erg followed with a collection of Ergs songs delivered via solo electric guitar and true to character repeatedly asked "What am I doing? Billy Bragg already did this and much better."

Despite the miserable weather, a full crowd made it down to the Lanes for Dave Hause. Rounded out by Pete Steinkopf on guitar, his sister on piano, and his best friend on drums, Hause delivered a great performance with a set drawing heavily from his solo record. The solo material easily worked in the live setting and the full band arrangements refreshed older songs "Come On Kid" and "Melanin" while newer tunes "Time Will Tell" and "Years From Now" had everyone singing along.

Hause voiced frustration with record label Paper & Plastick's long and continuing delay on delivering his new record to customers despite the fact it was "released" in February. Full disclosure, I ordered the record from Paper & Plastick back in February and have yet to receive it. When I contacted the label in March about the delay I received a response which curtly reminded me of the definition of a pre-order which now apparently includes when the pressing plant messes up, multiple times.

Anyway, it was good to know that Hause was aware of the situation and shared many of his fans feelings on the situation. In response, Hause has been selling vinyl copies of his new album with limited edition hand screened sleeves. If you're going to buy the album, I suggest grabbing one of these very cool records at the shows.

"Meet Me At The Lanes" was played in honor of its namesake and made for a memorable moment. Spotting a teenage fan in the crowd rocking a Replacements t-shirt Hause quipped "Wow if I was a girl you're age I would totally give you sex for wearing that shirt" and launched into a fantastic cover of "Can't Hardly Wait" featuring some help from Ian Graham and Mikey Erg. I'm not sure there could have been a better way to close the show.

Click any of the pics above to check the Flickr gallery or go there direct.

"Hey Hey I'm Worn Out" from the album My Roaring 20's by Cheap Girls

"Stop Now" from the album Find Me A Drink Home by Cheap Girls

"Can't Hardly Wait" by Mike McLaughlin.

PHOTOS: RECORD STORE DAY 2011 AT GENERATION RECORDS

2011-04-20T15:17:00.000-04:00

Miserable weather can't stop us record nerds! Generation Records hosted another great Record Store Day celebration this year with performances by Spa Castles, I Hate Our Freedom, The Jay Vons, and The Obits. I scored some sweet records including the Off! seven inch, The Bouncing Souls acoustic show, some Springsteen and Bob Dylan releases. No pics from the Obits set though as I got pulled to help film a video for them.

Click any of the photos above to check out everything from Record Store Day 2011 or head over to the Flickr gallery direct.

PHOTOS: TIM BARRY WITH JENNY OWEN YOUNGS AT MERCURY LOUNGE 4/18/11

2011-04-18T16:34:00.002-04:00

The first time I saw former Avail frontman Tim Barry as a solo performer was a couple of years ago when he opened for The Bouncing Souls as part of their first Home For The Holidays show. Accompanied by only his acoustic guitar, sister Caitlin on violin and guitarist Josh Small, Barry was initially met with indignation by the the crowd of "punks" filling the Stone Pony. However, by the time his performance was over Barry had not only won over the crowd but left them shouting calls for an encore. For me, it was and is still one of the best performances I have ever seen.

Saturday night's performance at the Mercury Lounge was even better. Were it any other artist the cynic in me would question Barry's unbridled passion, but it comes across so real and so genuine that I honestly believe it cannot be anything but. There are some shows that cannot be described in a review, you have to witness them. Tim Barry's show is one of them. Go see for yourself.

Tim Barry Tour Dates - Upcoming

April 22nd - Asbury Lanes. Asbury Park, NJ. 8:00pm
April 23rd - Golden West Cafe. Baltimore, MD. 10:00pm
April 29th - Broadways. Asheville, NC. 9:00pm
April 30th - The Milestone. Charlotte, NC. 7:00pm

MUSIC NEWS: JOEY RAMONE IS TEN YEARS GONE

2011-04-15T16:17:00.000-04:00

Ten years ago today we lost one of the purest hearts to ever walk this earth. I was working in the record store at the time and a customer came in and told us Joey Ramone died. We played The Ramones for the rest of the week.

I once heard that the Joey Ramone Place sign at 2nd St & Bowery is the most stolen street sign in all of NYC. I kinda love that.

VIDEO: 3 NEW CLIPS FROM THE BOUNCING SOULS PERFORMANCE AT GENERATION RECORDS ON RECORD STORE DAY 2009

2011-04-14T10:18:00.000-04:00

In celebration of the brand new Generation Records release The Bouncing Souls: Live At Generation Records, here's three video preview clips ("The Freaks, Nerds, & The Romantics," "Here We Go," "Night On Earth") from The Bouncing Souls' Record Store Day 2009 performance.

The Bouncing Souls: Live At Generation Records features eleven songs from The Bouncing Souls April 18th, 2009 performance for Record Store Day at Generation Records. The 12" vinyl record is part of Record Store Day's annual exclusive release series and has a limited run of 1,500 pieces. The Bouncing Souls: Live At Generation Records will be available on 4/16/11 in celebration of Record Store Day 2011. The performance has been remixed & mastered for the record release and sounds even better than the video audio. This is definitely a record you'll want to get your hands on.

For more info on The Bouncing Souls: Live At Generation Records vinyl release as well all the other Record Store Day releases and event Generation Records has planned head over to their site.

MUSIC NEWS: DAVE HAUSE PAYS HOMAGE TO MARTIN SCORCESE

2011-04-12T21:49:00.000-04:00

If you follow this blog then you are well aware that I have been hyping Dave Hause's new solo album Resolutions pretty much nonstop, with good reason because it's one of the best released this year so far.

In the first music video for Resolutions, Hause and director Jason Shevchuk pay homage to none other than Martin Scorsese, specifically Scorsese's 1968 short film The Big Shave. For the non film nerds out there, The Big Shave was Scorsese's comment on the Vietnam War and was produced as his final project while at NYU. It's said upon the film's screening, Scorsese was approached by a well known producer who would help Scorsese acquire funding for his first feature length film, Mean Streets.

The original version juxtaposes increasingly violent imagery with Bunny Berigan's song "I Can't Get Started" while The Hause/Shevchuk version features similar imagery set to Hause's "Time Will Tell." So what do you think is Hause commenting on?

MOVIE NEWS: FILMMAKER JAMES HENRY PROFILES FRANK TURNER

2011-04-04T12:30:00.001-04:00

Filmmaker James Henry's short film The Road profiling Frank Turner has been selected as the first film in the Short Stories film series sponsored by Relentless Energy Drinks.

It's a simple yet beautifully effective piece. Check it out.

You can listen to Frank Turner's new song "I Am Disappeared" from the new album "England Keep My Bones" due June 7th on Epitaph Records. You can also download the song here.

Frank Turner - I Am Disappeared by Epitaph Records

MUSIC NEWS: ROCK & ROLL HALL OF FAME FINALLY GETS ONE RIGHT

2011-03-30T10:58:00.001-04:00

Here's Tom Wait's finally being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. I guess since they let every other shitty performer in already, they can finally get to good ones like Tom Waits and Wanda Jackson.

PHOTOS: BLACK & WHITE ON FILM & DIGITAL

2011-03-29T12:30:00.003-04:00

Last month I enrolled in a B&W photography class at NYU's SCPS to brush up on my darkroom skills. The class ended up being cancelled before it even started due to low enrollment. The lone registrant? You guessed it me. So I got bumped into a digital B&W photography class. It's turned out to be very interesting. We've explored different methods of shooting in digital color and converting to black & white in post production as well as shooting black & white in camera via a monochrome picture profile.

I have to admit I was surprised by the quality of the digital black & white images both converted from camera or shot in monochrome. They do look great and I'm looking for to experimenting further. But to be honest, it seems much faster and easier to just shoot a black & white film stock that you are already familiar with. I will resist! Film for life!

The class has also forced me to shoot things I would normally have no interest in hence the bird pics above. What was really just an assignment to demonstrate shutter speed yielded some good photos. So which ones do you think were shot digitally?

PHOTOS: SUSHI NIGHT AT THE HOUSE

2011-03-28T10:36:00.001-04:00

Last week, we had a sushi making demo and tasting at our house. It was really really really good. Really good. Thanks to our awesome chefs!

Click any of the pics above to check out some more photos from the set or go right to the Flickr page.

BOSTON 2011: HIGH HOPES & GOOD INTENTIONS CAN'T REPLACE FILM

2011-03-25T12:42:00.001-04:00

I had big plans for our annual St. Patty's Day trip to Boston this year. I was super pumped to shoot the Dropkick Murphy's show at the House Of Blues. That fell apart at the last minute and so no dice on that one. Despite my friends complete hatred of having their picture's taken, I figured I'd class things up this year. I brought my Canon AE-1 and a roll of Tri-X along to capture all of our drunken belligerence in gloriously beautiful black & white.

But it might have been a good idea to make sure the film was engaged in the take up before snapping away. Probably would have been less of a shock when the film came back from the lab blank.... So what DO I have to share from my Boston trip? A couple of crappy pics from my phone, a twitter feed of drunken outbursts and a handful of stupidly wonderful stories to pass around the table. Here's a taste:

Shitfaced by 7:30pm Mike got kicked out of the House Of Blues for vomiting in the trashcan before the Dropkick Show even started. Our first day in Boston ends with a bang or a whimper...

Drinking starts at 11:00am the next day with microbrews across from Fenway Park where Vinny is chastised by the waitress for tricking her into serving him to 24oz glasses of beer so he can double fist. Jokes on him since the beer tastes like shit.

Mike and I are graced with Tommy's presence for gluten free dinner at PF Changs. Drunken Zombie Tommy mutters "Someone really needs to ride those dragons..." the whole night in reference to the 15ft tall dragon sculptures outside the restaurant.

Instead of going for prime rib at Durgin Park, I opt to eat french fries and consume abusive amounts of Magners at The Black Rose.

Also at the Black Rose, Tommy tears open his hand when he punches a pint glass into a thousand pieces. Instead of kicking us out, they bandage him up with gauze and hand him plastic cups of Guinness the rest of the night. An upgrade from our last visit to the Black Rose which resulted in us getting kicked out for holding a "Who's Cell Phone Breaks Into More Pieces When You Throw It Against The Wall?" contest.

For the first time in eight years I successfully order a drink by myself at LIR ending for now their entire waitstaff's boycott of me which have arose from belligerently yelling for more Guinness and then falling asleep on the bar, or so I'm told.

Mike helps me get totally annihilated on gluten free beer at The Otherside Cafe, before bowing out and sending Vinny over as a replacement. We meet up with Mike again at McDonald's where I try to steal and eat some fries.

I order and eat a B Good burger combo on the way back to the hotel before passing out on the floor with no rememberance of ever doing so when I awake the next morning. I'm told it was on a gluten free bun.

With my phone in hand the whole time, one button now allows me to embarrass myself on multiple platforms so most of this was documented on twitter and facebook in real time, fantastic. It was an interesting conversation at work on Monday.

While the shows have changed greatly from years past, The Dropkick Murphys are always a good time. It was nice to see how much they take care of their fans as their stage manager had bottles of water passed out by security multiple times to all the kids in the pit. Plus got to see Against Me! for the second time in one week, good deal.

I have no love in my heart for the House Of Blues venue chain however. When it was still The Avalon, the second floor mezzanine was a free area that anyone could gather in and get some air, be it for picking up merch, grabbing a drink at the bar, or watching the show from one of the limited views near the balcony. Since then House Of Blues has made the second floor mezzanine a paid ticket area. If your ticket is for that area you cannot move anywhere else, leaving some poor souls a showlong view of the third mezz overhang or the back of the heads of people lucky enough to hug the railing. Sure it gets another 500 people in the door but they don't actually get to see the show. Gotta get that money don't ya HOB.

Our Boston trips are more or less four days of alcohol fueled shenanigans but it always good times with good people. I don't get to see my Jersey family as much as I would like but when I do nothing has changed. We'll see what next year brings.

Also, Vinnie and Jeff missed Bruce Springsteen sitting in with the Dropkick Murphys because "we didn't need to stay for the encore."

PHOTOS: HOUSE KIDS PORTRAITS

2011-03-17T10:00:00.003-04:00

This past Sunday I rounded up the kids in our house for a portrait shoot. It's been awhile since I've set up lights and properly lit someone, usually I'm just using what ever available light there is. These came out pretty good. We're lucky to be in a place where all our neighbors are friends and we can all hang out from time to time.

I'm shipping up to Boston today for our annual St. Pattie's Day weekend trip. If all goes well, I should have some Dropkick Murphys photos next week. If all doesn't go well, then I'll have a bunch of photos of my drunk ass friends. We'll see what happens.

Click any of the pics above to check out some more or head over to the Flickr gallery.

NEWS: Please Support Japan Society's Earthquake Relief Fund

2011-03-16T12:34:00.000-04:00

"A mother tries to talk to her daughter, who has been isolated due to signs of radiation at a makeshift facility in Nihonmatsu, Japan, on March 14. The daughter is among people evacuated from the vicinity of Fukushima's damaged nuclear plants."

The above image is from a newly released series of photos from National Geographics coverage of the devastation in Japan. This image stopped me in my tracks. It's hard to process just how rough it is in Japan right now.

My experience with Japanese culture has been solely through who I describe to other people as "my crazy Japanese friend Randy." Born and raised in Japan, now living in NYC, I can tell you countless stories about us watching Japanese prank show videos on Youtube, listening to 14 year old girl Japanese pop stars, or being talked into all kinds of the things you should never do in public but Randy says "it's okay, in Japan this would be fine." I can tell you an equal amount of stories about how giving the Japanese people are, like all the times he's taken me for Japanese food or drinks and never let me pay for anything. If I've learned anything from the kid it's that they take care of their friends as if they were family.

The Japanese people are having a really tough time right now. Please send your prayers their way. If you have the means, please donate to the Japan Society's Earthquake Relief Fund:

Japan Society has created a disaster relief fund to aid victims of the Tohoku earthquake in Japan. Over the years, Japan Society has partnered with several Japanese and American non-profits working on the frontlines of disaster relief and recovery. 100% of your generous tax-deductible contributions will go to organization(s) that directly help victims recover from the devastating effects of the earthquake and tsunamis that struck Japan on March 11, 2011.

To make a donation please go to the Japan Society's Earthquake Relief Fund.

PHOTOS: Against Me! At The Mercury Lounge 3/12/11

2011-03-15T11:41:00.001-04:00

Against Me played a secret surprise show at NYC's Mercury Lounge on Saturday and I was lucky enough to be there. I haven't seen Against Me since their Searching For A Former Clarity tour, so I was looking forward to seeing how their show has progressed since those days. There are enough people debating over what Against Me was or has become since Reinventing Axl Rose. I'd rather focus on what Against Me is, an amazing live band that day in and day out turns in performances that leave even the naysayers in awe.

Saturday's show was a perfectly balanced set of favorites from the bands early full lengths like "Pints of Guinness..." "Walking Is Still Honest" and "Cliche Guevara" along with the more recent standouts "Thrash Unreal," "I Was A Teenage Anarchist," and "High Pressure Low." I was holding out for anything from Tom Gabel's highly underrated and in my opinion fucking awesome solo album Heart Burns, but alas no dice.

A decidedly older crowd, there was however no shortage of energy and that may be in large part be due to new drummer Jay Weinberg. Regardless of who his father is, Weinberg is a uniquely powerful and exciting drummer that is breath of fresh air for the band. Bassist Andrew Seward works the crowd like the band's personal cheerleader and guitarist James Bowman throws out blistering off the cuff fills like dinner mints.

On tour with the band was photographer Ryan Russell. If you haven't seen Russell's work check it out now. From what I've read Russel only shoots on film and that alone would make me a fan but Russell has a great eye and is pumping out beautiful images on a consistent basis. I'm looking forward to seeing what he captured of the performance.

All in all, it was a fucking amazing show and it definitely won't be such a long gap between the next time I catch an Against Me show.

Click any of the pics above to check out a slideshow or head over to the Flickr gallery direct.

MUSIC NEWS: Christopher Paul Stelling's "Flawless Executioner" Video

2011-03-11T11:34:00.000-05:00

Break Thru Radio has released a new video for Brooklyn folk wunderkind Christopher Paul Stelling's "Flawless Executioner" as part of their weekly segment Hear & There. "We ask a musician to perform their song in a creative location, even if it's outside of their element. What comes together is usually a rather unique live performance, especially the case with Christopher Paul Stelling." So, check out the video above to see Stelling perform to an audience of horses ha ha. Awesome.

BTR's mission to provide a venue for unsigned artists to be heard is a simple concept, though one seemingly abandoned by conventional radio. Through original streaming broadcasts and exclusive video performances, BTR really has something for everyone from rock, punk, and hip hop to country, folk, and comedy. They even have a mobile app for your iPhone. But where's the Android love guys?

They are fighting the good fight to keep radio alive while bringing it back to it's roots, so go check them out.

PHOTOS: Kurt Vile At Generation Records 3/8/11

2011-03-10T13:53:00.002-05:00

Generation Records was packed wall to wall on Tuesday night for Kurt Vile's acoustic instore appearance. I'd never heard of Kurt Vile before. And I'll be completely honest, when the first song started I wasn't sure if I could sit through the rest of the set. I know my tastes and can usually tell if I will enjoy something after about thirty seconds. But about midway through the show I started to really dig Kurt Vile. By the end of the show I was totally won over and had to get his latest record Smoke Ring For My Halo. And I'm glad I did.

I don't know how to adequately describe Vile's music, it's something like Bob Dylan meets Lou Reed meets Van Morrison's cover of "It's All Over Now Baby Blue," kinda. It is definitely mood music, you may need to be in a particular mood to enjoy it or be prepared to be put in a mood. Either way, it's fantastic. I know I say this about alot of stuff but it has been on endless repeat since I got it. So good.

Vile's appearance at Generation Records was part of a series of stripped down acoustic performances at independent record stores throughout NYC including Academy Records and Other Music.

Click any of the pics above to check out more pics from Kurt Vile at Generation Records or heading straight to the Flickr gallery.

Here's two selections from Kurt Vile's Smoke Ring For My Halo:

Baby's Arms

Runner Ups

UPDATE: I have bought the entire Kurt Vile catalog on iTunes. Guys a genius.

BOOK NEWS: Together Through Life: Patti Smith's "Just Kids"

2011-03-09T11:15:00.000-05:00

I recently finished Patti Smith's latest book Just Kids and all I can say is wow. This is a must read for anyone with aspirations in a creative field or even just an appreciation for art in any form. You don't have to know who Patti Smith or Robert Mapplethorpe is to enjoy this beautiful story of love, friendship, and creativity in 1970's New York.

In many ways it's comforting to read of an artists self doubt and perseverance to keep creating in spite of it. I won't try to describe the book any further, I could never do justice to Smith's poetic words. Read it, I honestly cannot recommend it enough.

ART NEWS: Hero Worship: Friedman, Rollins, & Fairey Join Forces.

2011-03-08T17:05:00.000-05:00

Last month in celebration of Henry Rollins 50th birthday, artist Shepard Fairey and photographer Glen E. Friedman teamed up with the musician for a special collaborative poster print. Based off of Friedman's 1981 classic photograph of an early Black Flag era Henry Rollins, Fairey created a limited run poster print that every Rollins/Friedman fan would be proud to have hanging on their wall, including yours truly.

I was one of the lucky 450 to get one and for now at least, it's closest thing I'll have to a Glen E. Friedman print. Friedman has long been one of my photographic heroes. In all honesty, longer than I thought. A couple of years ago I was working in a camera shop and after talking with one of my co-workers about music and showing her some of my photos, she mentioned "You would love Glen E. Friedman. Do you know him?" I said, "I don't think so." She said "I'll bring in some of his books, you gotta check them out."

A few days later when she plopped Friedman's book FUCK YOU HEROES down on the sales counter I realized, "Yeah, I know Glen E. Friedman." Many of his images were already hanging on my bedroom wall, ripped from magazines collected in my teenage years and tacked up with Scotch tape. Those same photos were the ones floating in the back of my mind when I started taking my own photos at shows.

That was the day I put a name to the person behind the lens. I was amazed to learn the images that had sparked my imagination were captured with little more than a simple manual Pentax KM-1000 and a speedlite. Not only that but Friedman started his publishing career at fourteen with the release of MY RULES one of the most successful zines of all time. He would go on to document not one but three of the most important cultural movements of the past thirty years.

Nowadays, Friedman tours his work in galleries around the world under the title FUCK YOU ALL. The show is comprised of photographs from all of Friedman's past work. Not included in the show is Friedman's current photographic endeavor, documenting his son's childhood. While Friedman's show FUCK YOU ALL is an exhibit of his work, it is more a challenge to the next generation of photographers. "This is my stuff, now show us what you've got" so to speak.

When I was younger Glen E. Friedman's photos helped inspire me to pick up a camera. Since then I've learned how to use it. But now it's Friedman's question "What The Fuck Have You Done?" that inspires me. I might know how to use a camera, but what the fuck am I gonna do with it?

That's a pretty hard question to ignore when Henry Rollins is screaming it from your living room wall. And I think its one I need to answer.

ART NEWS: Punk Planet's Dan Sinker Is @MayorEmanuel

2011-03-03T15:24:00.002-05:00

Last week The Atlantic revealed Dan Sinker, former editor of the seminal punk zine Punk Planet, to be the mastermind behind the genius "political satire meets Twitter" character @Mayor Emanuel. Many will remember Sinkers now defunct Punk Planet for it's in depth interviews, critical record reviews and intellectual feature articles exploring punk's role and responsibility in today's society. If perhaps you are not a Chicago resident or politics nerd like myself, it's possible that you may have missed the story of @MayorEmanuel.

Last September, White House Chief Of Staff Rahm Emanuel announced his leaving of the position to run for mayor of Chicago. Soon after a Twitter profile was created called @MayorEmanuel. @MayorEmanuel quickly racked up followers eager to devour every curse laden and sarcastic tweet the presumably fictitious Rahm Emanuel sent out to the world.

Followers were treated to an (albeit fake) behind the scenes look at politics today: from campaign stops to feeble minded interns and even airport pickups of Emanuel's Hollywood super-agent brother Ari Emanuel. Often times @MayorEmanuel would respond to news pundits, primary election results, and political opponents in real time. Slowly, @MayorEmanuel began to craft a multi-layered dynamic character that revealed a deep love of Chicago even if his sentiment was buried in f-bombs. By the time the real Rahm Emanuel won the mayors office, @MayorEmanuel followers had been taken on a comedic and at times emotional journey the likes of which Twitter had never seen before. The Atlantic's Alexis Madrigal summed it up as a "epic poem"via Twitter.

Head over to Madrigal's article on The Atlantic, it's a great read with highlights from the @MayorEmanuel Twitter feed. Or if you are interested in the entire story the @MayorEmanuel profile is still up and running.

And for those of us who were along for the ride, I would like say thank you to Dan Sinker. It was a good one.

PHOTO CREDIT: Copyright Daniel X. O'Neil.

MOVIE NEWS: Luke Matheny's Short Film "God Of Love" Wins An Oscar

2011-02-28T12:44:00.001-05:00

One of our Graduate students at NYU won an Oscar last night! Yes, an Oscar. That's pretty nuts. Luke Matheny's short film "God Of Love" won the Oscar for Best Short Film, Live Action.

I've only met the guy once, but it seems it couldn't have happened to a nicer person. Congratulations to Luke.

Check out his excellent romantic comedy short "God Of Love" on iTunes now for only $3.

ART NEWS: Civil Rights Photog Ernest Withers Was An FBI Informant

2011-02-18T23:25:00.000-05:00

A couple of weeks back we took a short trip up to Boston and while there caught an Ernest Withers exhibit at the Panopticon Gallery at The Hotel Commonwealth. From his early photographs of BB King and the Beale Street music scene, to his coverage of the Emmett Till murder case, to his intimate photos of Martin Luther King, Withers' work has long been synonymous with the American Civil Rights Movement. But last September, Memphis paper Commercial Appeal revealed something no one ever would have suspected - Ernest Withers was an FBI informant.

CNN's Soledad O'Brien utilizes this revelation as the basis for her new documentary "Pictures Don't Lie" premiering this Sunday, February 20th at 8pm. O'Brien's documentary primarily deals with the revelation's impact on Withers' family, friends, and his identification as a civil rights icon.

What remains unclear is why Withers cooperated with the FBI. Was he forced to or was it willingly done so? Some suggest that he may have in fact served as a double agent, feeding the FBI false or misleading information about his civil rights compatriots. Either way, it's a interesting development in our history.

Commercial Appeal has the full expose complete with FBI documents, interviews and other evidence posted in two parts. Click here for Part One, Part Two. And Huffington Post has an interview with Soledad O'Brien about her documentary.

PHOTO CREDIT: Copyright Ernest Withers.

ART NEWS: Craig Semetko's UNPOSED at Leica Gallery NYC

2011-02-15T13:46:00.000-05:00

Photographer Craig Semetko is currently featured at the Leica Gallery's NYC branch. Following in the tradition of Henri Cartier Bresson, Semetko captures honest and often times amusing images of humanity. "Basically, I’m trying to present the elements of an interesting story in a single frame. The viewer writes the story they see..." notes Semetko.

A comedy writer and performer in an earlier life, Semetko utilizes his comedic sensibilities in his photography often capturing the slight ironies of everyday life, "I often put myself in places where the odds of something odd happening are high."

The Leica Gallery "present pictures taken by international photographers using Leica cameras or which have received an award as part of a Leica cultural project." The New York City branch gallery is free to visit and features new exhibits every 2-3 months. Craig Semetko's fantastic UNPOSED runs until February 26th in celebration of his new book bearing the same title. Prints and signed copies of UNPOSED are available as well.

See more of Semetko's work on his personal website semetko.com

Leica Gallery in New York

670 Broadway / Suite 500
New York, NY 10012
Tel.: +1 (212) 777-3051
Fax: +1 (212) 777-6960
E-Mail: leicaphoto@aol.com

Opening hours:
Tuesday - Saturday 12.00 pm - 6.00 pm

PHOTO CREDIT: All images copyright of Craig Semetko.

If you were a pill, I'd take a handful at my will...

2011-02-14T11:00:00.001-05:00

PHOTOS: Fucked Up w/ Double Dagger at NYU's Not So Valentines Day

2011-02-13T15:30:00.002-05:00

Let me say, I have never seen so many rich preppy kids get so excited for a sweaty fat man with back hair. But that is what happened Friday night at NYU's Not So Valentine's Day Show.

So how did notorious punk/hardcore/indie band Fucked Up end up playing at NYU? As some of you know I work there. One of our student workers, David Miller, is on the committee for booking shows at NYU. Though a good six or seven years younger than me, we seem to be cut from the same cloth. David grew up in Florida going to shows, playing music, and buying obnoxious amounts of records & CDs. So when the opportunity came to book NYU's Valentine's Day show, David campaigned to get Fucked Up on the bill. Nice.

A couple of weeks before, he told me about Baltimore drum/bass/vocals supporting act Double Dagger and played me their latest record, More. I was instantly a fan and decided I had to check them out and see how their music translated in a live setting. Double Daggers did not disappoint. Introducing themselves with "Now that the kids have cleared the stage, we'll start the angry old bald man with beards portion of the show," Double Daggers tore through a dynamic set of DIY punk minimalism powered by fuzz drenched bass, pile driving drums and clever wordplay.

How can you not love lines like "Remember that night when my mouth forgot how to work / and you said we're most beautiful when we struggle / well, sometimes my life has more beauty than I can handle." This band is fucking awesome. Buy their records (Masks EP, More, Ragged Rubble, Double Dagger) and go see their show as soon as you can.

"The Lie / The Truth." from Double Dagger's MORE

"Vivre Sans Temps Mort." from Double Dagger's MORE

Fucked Up has long been praised for their genre bending concept albums and raucous live performances. If you haven't already seen this band, do so the next time they come to your town. And if you don't already own their albums, just go buy the whole catalog ok.

David was kind enough to put me and Matt Pullman from Generation Records on the guestlist and despite being the oldest people in the room, well in the audience at least, we were lucky to catch a great show. It was however a very strange feeling to be watching a hardcore show in a room I've sat in for department meetings. But watching NYU kids precariously learn how to stage dive and form a circle pit was even more hilariously weird.

No One and The Somebodies and DD/MM/YY also performed.

You can check out everything from NYU's Not So Valentine's Day Show by clicking the pics above or right here.

You can also just check out the individual bands on Flickr - Fucked Up, Double Dagger, and DD/MM/YY.

LISTEN/MUSIC: The True King Of Rock & Roll, Carl Perkins

2011-02-09T11:04:00.001-05:00

In recent weeks the rockabilly flame that burns in my heart has been set aflame once again. Two things have contributed to this - the new Wanda Jackson album and my Spanish friend Martin Calvino's recent feverish enthusiasm for all things rockabilly. It's inspired me to dig out my rockabilly records and fire up the old turntable. For me, when it comes to rockabilly Carl Perkins is hands down the greatest performer of all time. While Elvis Presley may go down in history as The King Of Rock & Roll, it's Carl Perkins that built the kingdom.

Carl Perkins was the total package. A fantastic lyricist with a brilliant knack for arrangements, Perkins packaged it all together with his virtuoso guitar playing. It was these talents that led him to sign with Sam Phillip's up and coming record label Sun Records in 1954. The successful single, "Movie Magg" backed with "Turn Around" was released on Philip's sister label Flip Records in 1955 to be followed by "Gone, Gone, Gone" backed with "Let The Jukebox Keep On Playing" on Sun Records proper the same year. But in 1956, Perkins wrote the song that would launch his career. Inspired by Perkins observation of a dancer scolding his girlfriend for stepping on his shoes, "Blue Suede Shoes" was released on January 1st, 1956 and would soon top the country western, r&b, and popular music charts simultaneously.

At the behest of Sam Phillips, Perkins agreed to allow Elvis Presley to record and release "Blue Suede Shoes." Following a March 21st, 1956 performance in Norfolk, VA Perkins was involved in a devastating accident when the band's car ran off the road, flipped, and settled upside down in about a foot of water. Perkins nearly drowned but was saved by his drummer. Perkins would remain unconscious for a day and suffered numerous internal injuries. It was from a hospital recovery ward that Perkins would watch Presley perform "Blue Suede Shoes" on Milton Berle's April 3, 1956 performance. Presley's version of the song would skyrocket.


Peter Van't Zelfden. Circa 1959.

The deal to give Presley the song would be a point of contention between Perkins and Phillips for many years. The car accident would keep Perkins from performing during the height of "Blue Suede Shoes" popularity. While Perkins enjoyed the financial rewards of the song, he felt at least some of the fame that Presley was enjoying would have belonged to him had Philips not argued to give the song away. Though Perkins would release albums worth of great songs over the years, many of them chart hits, he would always be one step behind Elvis.

If Perkins was indeed shorted the fame he rightfully deserved, there is one thing that history rightfully granted him - influence. Many consider Perkins to be the original rock & roll guitar god. The most prominent voices in the chorus praise of Carl Perkins are in fact guitar gods themselves. Eric Clapton, George Harrison, and Keith Richards all sight Perkins as inciting their passion for the instrument. But Perkins influence was limited to musicians. The photo to the right is not of Carl Perkins, but an 18 yr old version of my dad circa 1959. Notice his shirt and then look at Carl's in the photo above.

In 1985, many of Perkins greatest musical admirers got the chance to play tribute to their hero on Showtime's Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session. Filmed in London during the second wave of British rockabilly revivalism, the special included guests Eric Clapton, George Harrison, Ringo Star, Dave Edmunds, Lee Rocker of the Stray Cats and Roseanne Cash, the daughter of Perkin's lifelong friend Johnny Cash. Each artist joined Perkins for a performance of one of his songs. But the absolute highlight of the show is George Harrison.

George Harrison idolized Carl Perkins. The Beatles had been playing a version of Perkin's "Matchbox" since their formative days and would eventually release a studio version on their Long Tall Sally EP and Something New album. There were even rumors that in his teenage years, Harrison asked his friends to call him "Carl." So the schoolboy look of adoration that Harrison beams towards Perkins in the Showtime special is really no surprise. It's a boy meeting his hero.

One of the great moments in the show comes when all the performers commune for a guitar circle. Perkin's asks what to play and Harrison suggests the song "Glad All Over" by playing it's opening notes. Perkins claims to not recognize it, so Harrison sings the first verse before Perkins in recognition jumps into the song he wrote so many years ago.

By the end of the show, the audience can no longer contain themselves. Rockabilly is music to move to, it's not music you sit and observe. One fellow is so overcome he ventures out in front of the television cameras and breaks out dancing soon to be followed by the rest of the audience. Cynics would call the moment choreographed for television but it's obviously genuine. The guests are just as caught up in the moment as the audience is, you've never seen Eric Clapton smile so much.

Not included in the YouTube clip is one moment that caps the entire evening. After the performance of "Blue Suede Shoes" Perkins comes to the mic and with a lump in his throat expresses appreciation for the evening to the audience and fellow musicians. Harrison knows the show cannot end on this note and breaks into one more verse of "Blue Suede Shows" to bring the night to a jubilant ending.

Carl Perkins & Friends - Blue Suede Shoes: A Rockabilly Session is available on DVD through Amazon for $14. It is one hour of Rockabilly bliss and should be part of true rock & roll fans collection.

In 1998 German record label Bear Family Records released Carl Perkins: Up Through The Years 1954-1957. This remastered release is sourced from the original Sun Records master tapes and features all of Perkins hits but more importantly lesser known gems like "All Mama's Children," "Glad All Over," and "Your True Love." It is available on Amazon from time to time for $20-$25.

It does not however include the fantastic "Perkins' Wiggle." That track can be in it's best quality on Rhino's 1990 release Carl Perkins: The Original Sun Records Greatest Hits. It is worth the price of the CD alone.

And for the nerdiest of record nerds like myself, Bear Family Records offers two box sets chronicling pretty much everything Carl Perkins ever recorded. The Classic Carl Perkins box set covers the Sun Records years and Carl Perkins: Back On Top covers Perkins output during his Columbia and Mercury Records years. If you've got a few hundred bucks laying around pick these great collections up.

MUSIC NEWS: The First Great Album of 2011 - Dave Hause's Resolutions

2011-02-04T15:40:00.004-05:00

Dave Hause is a name you might recognize, but not exactly know why. Hause has been part of the Philly/NJ punk & hardcore scene since the early 90's first with Step Ahead, then with The Curse, then Paint It Black. Or you might know him as that guy who used to roadie for the Bouncing Souls. But most likely you've found yourself singing along to one of his songs as front man for The Loved Ones.

In 2009, Hause put The Loved Ones on hiatus and like many of his punk-gone-acoustic contemporaries hit the road with a fistful of stripped down songs and a Martin steel string. His new solo album Resolutions bares the fruits of that endeavor. And it's in this state that Hause, maybe for the first time, finds his own truly distinct voice.

While The Loved One always turned in strong albums, their influences were worn on their sleeve. In many ways, Resolutions presents Hause in his most comfortable, confident, and natural form. "Selfish Masquerade" and "Louisiana," two standout songs from The Loved Ones 2008 album Build & Burn, provided a first glimpse of what a Dave Hause solo record might hold in store. Hause follows in that vein for Resolutions and delivers ten fantastic songs dealing with the harsh realities of adulthood and dreams fallen short of, while simultaneously garnering offerings of faith & confidence to keep moving forward by.

Many of the songs on Resolutions will be familiar to those who caught Hause's appearances on the Revival Tour featuring Chuck Ragan and Tim Barry or while opening for Brian Fallon's solo performances. The previously sparse tour favorite "Melanin" has been given a rousing revision and follows opener "Time Will Tell," as much a one-two punch if there ever was one. "Come On Kid" has seen a transformation of sorts as well. Once a somber tinged plea to a friend from a not entirely-confident-himself Hause, "Come On Kid" is now a full on anthem of redemption on the horizon. "Pray For Tuscon" slows things down a bit accompanied only by a mournful pedal steel and brush of organ to great effect. The title track does not mince words or intentions for this record with Hause singing "... I want to shed my skin... we can't go on this way..." The first five songs on Resolutions will quickly rise to the top of the "most played" list in your iTunes library.

If there is one slight misstep on Resolutions, it's "Prague (Revive Me)." "Prague" is in no way a bad song but a jarring transition to the second half of the album. Upon first listen it seems out of left field but repeat listening reveals it to be a deserved part of the album. In the tender "Heavy Heart," Hause revisits the roll of cornerman, providing a boost of confidence and reassurance to a timid friend. "Years From Now" speaks to the next generation of music kids coming up, asking them to carry the torch for the community while at the same time improving it. "Rankers & Rotters" is one last raucous song of identification and inclusion - this is who we are and this is for us. The album closes with "Meet Me At The Lanes," a heartfelt nod to the friends whom Hause has undoubtly learned from and been helped by, along the way.

Instantly accessible melodies combine with resonating lyrics to give you an album that will soon be counted as a favorite in your record collection. Dave Hause's Resolutions is a collection of superbly crafted songs by a songwriter in top form. The first listen will hit your ears, the second will hit your heart. Buy this album now, you'll be happy you did.

Resolutions is available direct through Paper & Plastick on limited edition vinyl in three variations, CD, and digital download as well as on iTunes.

Preview three tracks from the album below:

Resolutions - Dave Hause

C'mon Kid - Dave Hause

Years From Now - Dave Hause

As well as two excellent cover demos that didn't make the record:

When It Don't Come Easy (Patti Griffin) - Dave Hause demo

The Cheapest Key (Kathleen Edwards) - Dave Hause demo

PHOTO CREDIT: Jessie DeFlorio

PHOTOS: GFMF Profiles The Otherside Cafe & A Few New Pics

2011-02-01T11:13:00.003-05:00

The Otherside Cafe. Boston, MA - January 2011.

So it's been nearly a year since I adopted a gluten free lifestyle and short of a few "glutaminations," I've been feeling much better. My girlfriend has been awesome right from the beginning, she's helped me navigate through the world of sub-par gluten free products with homemade gluten free cooking that's better than dining out any day. I'm a lucky dude to have her and her support.

Along the way, she started documenting our gluten free adventures and more importantly her gluten free cooking skills on a blog called GFMF. Some of our more sly readers out there might figure out the true meaning behind the acronym but the worksafe version refers to Gluten Free Made Friendly.

A couple of weeks ago we made a trip up to Boston for an extended weekend. My annual St. Patties trip to Boston with the boys is a mess of drunken debauchery. This trip however was more low key, kind of a gluten free test run for the St. Patties trip. Go check out GFMF for Steph's profile of The Otherside Cafe, a gluten free friendly cafe/bar featuring gluten free beer and food. I'll definitely be heading back there in March.

Stephanie Brooks. Boston, MA - January 2011.

Boston Commons Skating Rink. Boston, MA - January 2011.

This Way To The Green Monster. Boston, MA - January 2011.

Fenway Park. Boston, MA - January 2011.

Pint of Guinness - The Black Rose. Boston, MA - January 2011.

For a few more recent pics click here to check out my Flickr Photostream.

MUSIC NEWS: The Dropkick Murphys, Brian Fallon, & The Bouncing Souls

2011-01-27T22:20:00.002-05:00

Every year my friends and I head up to Boston for St. Patties day. It is a three day shitshow of drunken revelry. Aside from consuming obnoxious amounts of Guinness, the main reason for the trip is to attend one or many of the Dropkick Murphys annual St. Patties day performances. Looks like this year we will have a little more to be excited for.

On March 1st, The Dropkick Murphys will release Going Out In Style, their first record in four years.

From kikaxemusic.com:

For Going Out In Style, Dropkick Murphys even enlisted the vocal talents of the legendary Bruce Springsteen — whom they first met at a DKM gig in New York and later collaborated with onstage at one of Springsteen's Boston shows. Springsteen swaps verses with [Ken] Casey for a spirited take on the old standard "Peg O' My Heart." "It has a classic old fifties rock and roll feel," says Casey. "Both of my grandmothers are named Peg. One grandmother, Peg Casey, is always saying, 'When are you going to do that song? Your grandfather always sang it to me!' The time signature changed, so hopefully they still appreciate it when they hear it."

The collaboration is a perfect intergenerational bridge for fans and band alike. Dropkick Murphys have always strongly resonated with audiences young and old due to their working class ethos and cathartic sonic revelry. "It links two generations," says Casey. "We're spanning a lot of years of music here, yet our songs share similar themes, stories, and values."

Rolling Stone interviewed bassist Ken Casey about the new album and his band's collaboration with the Boss:

"All we said was 'we thought it would be great to trade off on verses,'" Casey says. "You don't really give the Boss instructions."

Rolling Stone also has a preview of the new DKM track "Memorial Day."

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The Bouncing Souls have teamed up with Side One Dummy Records and screenprint designer El Jefe to release a 19x25 limited edition Misfit's inspired poster as part of the new "Artist On Artist Poster Series."

Future bands to be featured in the series include The Gaslight Anthem and Flogging Molly.

Side One Dummy will also feature The Bouncing Souls as part of it's Complete Control Sessions record release series. Each 10" record will feature a sleeve custom designed by El Jefe and exclusive recordings from the bands.

The El Jefe designed El Jefe print is available for pre-order now at the Side One Dummy Records store and El Jefe Design.com. Stay tuned here for more info on the Complete Control Sessions record release series.

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The Gaslight Anthem's frontman Brian Fallon revealed his new side project The Horrible Crowes on his personal blog, Cassettes In The Mailbox.

"Anyway, so here's the deal... the "night time music" is myself and Mr. Ian Perkins, and what we're doing is writing songs and making demos at the very moment. We hope to put out a full length record sometime this year, before it gets cold again, I don't know with whom, or when exactly it will come out. But the point is, it's coming out. We're calling ourselves The Horrible Crowes...

... Now how's this going to work with Gaslight, well it's easy, see, every time I write a creepy Tom Waits, Nick Cave, Mark Laneghan type song, I get an idea for a ripper which goes straight to Gaslight. So we're writing for both now, but Gaslight isn't planning on recording until the fall, for a 2012 release. Now I can't sit still so I'm doing this for fun, nothing more. We might do a few shows with the Crowes, maybe select cities in the US, Can, and Europe/UK, but not major touring like Gaslight does. This is my "for me" record, Gaslight is my baby, no mistake...

... I always said I never would do a "solo" record so that's why I found a partner in crime in Ian. So it's not going to be the acoustic Brian Fallon road show. There's organs, pianos, even (gasp) strings!!! There's drums, everything. So don't expect a folk record. Here's a good description, if Tom Waits, the National, the Afghan Whigs, Bon Iver, and Nick Cave made a band with Percy Sledge that'd be called The Horrible Crowes."

You can keep up with The Horrible Crowes by checking out their blog and Facebook page.

PHOTO CREDIT: All images included in this post belong to their rightful photographer but I don't know who you are. If any of these are your photo, please contact me and I will credit you or remove the image should you want.

PHOTOS: Wanda Jackson featuring Jack White & The Third Man House Band. Music Hall Of Williamsburg - Brooklyn, NY. 1/21/11.

2011-01-24T12:13:00.004-05:00

Last week, The Huffington Post made a list of fourteen must see concerts in NYC this weekend. Not included on the list was Wanda Jackson's appearance at the Music Hall Of Williamsburg in Brooklyn, pretty much proving why no one should be turning to The Huffington Post for music advice.

With a lifetime of performance under her belt, Wanda Jackson is charisma incarnate. Jack White isn't lacking in that department either and with both of them under one, the place was bursting at the seams. At 73, Jackson walks the stage with an undeniable command and ease. She has more presence than most artists half her age - except maybe for White, her musical compatriot this go around. Never over stepping his boundaries, White made sure everyone knew this was Jackson's show while carefully interspersing barnburning solos and conducting the tight as a whip Third Man House Band.

While the set heavily featured tracks from Jackson's new album The Party Aint Over, old favorites like "Mean Mean Man," "Fujiyama Mama," and "Let's Have A Party" were revamped to utilize the southern soul horns section and White's blistering guitar. Jackson's voice is a fiery and vibrant as ever, powering through the bombast of sound coming from behind her.

I've seen Wanda Jackson every time she has come to New York since 2002, usually surrounded by people much older than me. This time around however, it was a decidedly younger crowd in no small part due to White's association. Despite a series of excellent records in the past few years (Heart Trouble & I Remember Elvis) and a top notch live show, Jackson's audience has primarily consisted of die hard desciples and rockabilly revivalists. But White may have succeeded where others have not, capturing Wanda's talent in a fantastic album and exposing her to a wider more modern audience. Maybe this generation will pay the respect due to Wanda Jackson that the last seems to have forgotten to.

Wanda Jackson's The Party Ain't Over comes out tomorrow on CD & vinyl through Third Man Records, digital download on iTunes, and will Wanda be featured on Conan tomorrow night. Buy it now, you will love it.

Click the header pic above for a slideshow of more from Wanda Jackson at the Music Hall of Williamsburg or head to the full Flickr gallery here.

An extra special thanks to Wanda's publicist, Jon Henley, for reaching out and allowing me to shoot such an amazing show.

Also, check out Bowery Presents: The House List featuring a great review by Alena Kastin and one of my photos for the header.

And finally, even more pics are featured on the OBEY Clothing Blog so go check them out.

Here's a taste of what you missed.

NEWS: Congratulations T-Mobile!! You Just Lost A Customer.

2011-01-20T13:06:00.002-05:00

I vowed a long time ago to not use this blog as a venue for bitching. There are enough people on the internet complaining about stuff and I don't want to be one of them. Today, however I break that pledge, if just for a moment.

On Tuesday, January 18th T-Mobile announced a two day special promotion in which the HTC T-Mobile G2 smartphone could be yours for free, with a two year contract agreement. The tech blogs wet their pants and tons of customers screamed hallelujah for such an amazing deal. All except this guy. I would have been pumped for such an amazing deal too, had I not bought the exact phone from T-Mobile ten days earlier for $300.

A little over a week ago, with my previous cell phone malfunctioning I decided it was time to finally invest in a smartphone. I only had five months left on my current contract and while my experience with T-Mobile has been neither excellent or poor, merely average, and despite the additional costs bundled in, it seemed cheaper to stay with the company and purchase a new phone rather than switch providers. So I laid down my $300 and bought the G2.

Cut back to Tuesday's promotion announcement. Buried in the depths of T-Mobile's website is the fine print, which reveals that the promotion is essentially only available to new customers. Hey T-Mobile, how about a promotion that is available to your long time existing customers? I've had an account with the company for nearly ten years. In my time with the company I've had three phones, including the new G2. So it's not like I'm switching phones every other month. Here's a couple of promotions I've been lucky enough to have been offered over the years:

- A FREE phone! A two year old, obvious inventory surplus slider phone totally free, well kinda - with a 2 year contract extension & $18 upgrade fee.

- An special existing customers "upgrade discount" on a new phone - price based relative to how much of your existing service contract remains and the agreement of extending your contract yet another two years plus an $18 upgrade fee.

Three phone calls to T-Mobile (two service reps and one supervisor) and I'm no closer to recouping any of the $300. "We want to make sure that all of our members get the best discount afforded to them, but we are sorry you do not qualify for this promotion. You may return the phone for a refund as you fall within the 14 day "buyer's remorse" period, but there is a $10 fee and your recent 2 yr contract extension agreement cannot be changed," informed the supervisor.

"It's weird because if I go to my account right now and click upgrade, I can access the Free G2 promotion. It's actually the first phone that pops up in the list of phones to choose from. I'm actually on the order page and it says total cost due $50 (refundable with rebate) + $5 tax + $5 shipping + $18 upgrade fee. It looks like if I click order submit, I can get a Free G2 and there isn't any mention of not qualifying for the promotion," I said.

"Oh, well um, I don't know how you are seeing what you are describing because according to our records you should not qualify for any promotion let alone the G2 promotion. It may be a glitch in our system...." the supervisor continued.

"Yeah, I think I'm just gonna click submit and sell the phone on Ebay to try and get back a little of that $300. Thanks for your help tonight."

Um, sir, I don't think that..."

Hang up, click submit order. "We are sorry, your order cannot be completed at this moment for unknown reasons, please call T-Mobile Customer Service at...."

Right.

So once I am relinquished from my most recent two year contract, I think T-Mobile and I will be parting ways. If they are so bad, why have you stayed a customer for so long? The long and short of it is their service plans are cheaper than everyone else if you can stand the fact that pretty much every interaction with the company results in a two year contract extension. All in all, I'd like to think there is a company out there that values their EXISTING customers a little better than T-Mobile does. I don't know if there is but I think it's about time to find out.

NOTE: Aside from the drama with T-Mobile, the phone itself is great. I've never had a smart phone before so I don't really have any knowledge of how it stacks up against it's competitors, but the fact that I can find info about my gluten free situation instantly is fantastic. It should help me out in a lot of ways.

LISTEN/MUSIC: Brian Fallon's Lost Songs

2011-01-19T15:53:00.002-05:00

Beginning in December of 2008, The Gaslight Anthem's Brian Fallon posted a series of home/solo/cover recordings to his freshly minted personal MySpace page. "So I'm working on some acoustic songs with zero plans to make an actual record. I'd ideally like to have some songs up here for people to listen to, and maybe I'll make them downloadable, maybe not. We'll see what happens, I plan on recording while I'm home from tour during the winter. "

A cover version of Bruce Springsteen's "Backstreets"arrived first, but was shortly after pulled from the page when another alternate version of the song was featured in the Springsteen homage series, "Hanging Out On E-Street."

In continued tribute to his influences, Fallon would follow with a superb, spot on rendition of the Tom Waits penned "Cold Cold Ground." Swapping the bohemian sway of accordion prominent throughout Waits' version, Fallon tied his sparse rendition together with a soulful and swirling organ accompaniment.

But it was the third song in the MySpace postings that got people talking. Many Gaslight Anthem fans took "The Blues, Mary" as a preliminary sketch for the bands next album. The mournful tale of a street worn lovesick protagonist, it was however the first of three new original solo compositions Fallon would release.

"Italian Lightning" would showcase the artist's wordplay talents while covering such topics as political corruption, body image issues of the American female, and the ongoing decay of Asbury Park. With no answers of his own, the narrator laments on society's unwillingness or inability to to deal with such issues and as a result the probable scapegoat solution of "Italian Lighting" - the old school adage muttered when an inconvenient building would burn down only to find its owner shortly thereafter collecting insurance money.

Fallon would save his most personal solo song for last. Sung to a "red-shoed" sweetheart, "Tin Pan Alley" is as much a cautionary tale on the pitfalls of fame and fleeting celebrity as it is a reminder note to the artist himself and a need to stayed grounded to one's roots. Of all the solo songs it is the most fleshed out - with a simple drum pattern, backing vocals and melodic electric guitar fills.

In August of 2009, Fallon would close his MySpace page citing "Shut down the solo MySpace. There's too many folk singers these days. I'm here for the rock, folks." A year later, Fallon noted "I doubt I'd do an acoustic album or a "solo" album, but I would like to make a record people can listen to in the night time. I think I'd like to do that with a band name and some friends where we can dress like the Bad Seeds, in suits. Seriously."

While some of the solo songs would be performed a handful of times over a short solo tour, only "Tin Pan Alley" would see a physical release. Gospel Hymns, a split 7" record with Chuck Ragan was released on August 25th, 2009 through Side One Dummy Records. As for the rest of Brian Fallon's 2008/2009 "solo" songs, they remain unreleased.

Enjoy the listen.

Brian Fallon - "Cold Cold Ground (Tom Waits Cover)"

Brian Fallon - "The Blues, Mary"

FULL DOWNLOAD: Brian Fallon - Solo Recordings

Note: While "Tin Pan Alley" is included in this download, the Gospel Songs 7" is still available. So do the right thing, support good music, and put down the four bucks for this fine looking vinyl.

LISTEN/MUSIC: Christopher Paul Stelling's American Gothic

2011-01-17T09:02:00.000-05:00

My thoughts on the Brooklyn music scene have been well documented here. While, there are a shit ton of bands, singers, and songwriters most of them aren't worth your time... well, okay they aren't worth my time. But every once in a while, amongst the dribble there's someone special that manages to shine through.

My buddy John Alberico (who shot the video above) told me about Christopher Paul Stelling almost a year ago but it wasn't until recently that I really listened to the music of CPS. There are times in music when you are lucky enough to catch an artist just before they take off, this is that time for CPS.

There are alot of "new folk/retro folk/ironic folk/i play acoustic so I'm serious" musicians walking the streets of Brooklyn these days, most of which carefully crafted their outfits in a Urban Outfitters dressing room while holding a copy of whatever Bob Dylan 180gram vinyl release was for sale that day.

Christopher Paul Stelling seems to be the real deal. Yes, he's got the beaten up moniker engraved guitar ala Woody Guthrie. But it doesn't appear to be part of a packaged image, more an instrument of trade or traveling companion.

A cursory listen of his music reveals a vividly haunting lyricist, an accomplished musician, and most of all a captivating performer. Paying homage to troubadours and storytellers of the past while at the same time immediate and refreshing, Stelling invites us into his rich world of American Gothic.

Decide for yourself. Give a listen to his music below and click BUY if you like them. For five dollars you can get twenty songs of "praise and scorn" from this talented storyteller. As it turns out, genuine artists still do live in Brooklyn.

LISTEN/MUSIC: More Previews From Social Distortion's New Album

2011-01-14T09:42:00.000-05:00

With the release of Social Distortion's new record Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes just around the corner on January 18th, here's two more tracks from the album to preview. Most will recognize "Diamond In The Rough" from Social D's live shows of the last couple years, while "Still Alive" is a deeper album cut.

Social Distortion - Diamond In The Rough

Social Distortion - Still Alive

The album marks a noticeable progression in Social Distortion's sound, incorporating even more elements of country, blues, and roots music. The instrumental "Road Zombie" and it's placement as an opener almost pays homage to the Social Distortion of the past suggesting "that is where we come from, but this is where we are going." Mike Ness has been lucky enough to find a true musical compatriot not once but twice in his career, first with Dennis Dannell and now with Johnny Wickersham. Their crafted, yet effortless feeling interplay shines throughout the album. Meanwhile, bassist Brent Harding and drummer David Hidalgo, Jr. weave in subtle fills at just the right moments. It may be one of the most "band" sounding albums Social Distortion has ever released.

If Social Distortion's early records focused on the pain of Ness' childhood, the most recent albums reveal Ness as an older, wiser, and more expansive songwriter enjoying the rewards of a loving and stable family life. The walls and protective barriers a younger Ness built around himself, have started to come down. There's breathing room now. Those wishing for a sequel to 1996's White Light White Heat White Trash will probably be left disappointed. But if taken as the next chapter in the narrative of Mike Ness as an artist and a person, the Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes album is much more interesting.

Social Disortion has become like the old friend you used to run with as a teenager. You might only see them once every couple of years. They might be a little different than you last remember, they might even surprise you a little. But there is still that special something that binds you together. And either way, it's always good catch up with them when they come around.

LISTEN/MUSIC: Wanda Jackson & Jack White Ready To Rock Brooklyn

2011-01-13T10:13:00.002-05:00

Wanda Jackson's new record The Party Ain't Over is about two weeks away. On Friday, January 21st Brooklyn's Music Hall Of Williamsburg will host a special record release show featuring Wanda Jackson backed by Jack White & The Third Man House Band. The show sold out in nearly an hour and the small handful of additional tour dates followed suit.

The hype for this show is huge. In the past, shooting a Wanda Jackson show was pretty easy but this time around with requests in to both the Jackson camp and Third Man Records I have yet to get a response. Maybe I'm not cool enough and it seems that many photographers are in the same boat. Most likely it's an attempt to maintain the unique atmosphere of the live event.

To my fellow record nerds, Third Man Records will release a 180 gram 12" vinyl version of the new album and pre-orders are being taken now. The first 1000 orders will receive a limited edition Hatch Show print and of those 1000 orders a select 100 will have randomly inserted limited edition fuschia colored LPs.

Hatch Show Prints is one of the oldest working print shops in the United States, they've been making prints advertising music shows since 1879 so it's no surprise Jack White has partnered with them to make this release even more special.

Wanda Jackson' latest single, a cover of Bob Dylan's Thunder On The Mountaintop, is available now for download at iTunes or AmazonMP3. Here's a preview:

Wanda Jackson - Thunder On The Mountaintop

UPDATE: Wanda Jackson has added an additional NYC tour date on February 24th at the Bowery Ballroom and tickets are onsale now. Jack White is not on the bill for this show. For more information check here or to buy tickets click here.

MOVIE NEWS: Is "Idiot With A Tripod" Oscar Worthy?

2011-01-12T09:56:00.003-05:00

So I don't know why but everyone and their mother has been sending me this video and raving. Maybe it's because I have a Canon 7D and maybe if I applied myself I could have made this instead of eating cookies and sitting on my couch during the X-mas blizzard. Maybe.

Either way, Roger Ebert seems to think this should be nominated for an Oscar. Should it? I don't know, but it's an homage by some intrepid Brooklyner to Russian director Dziga Vertov and his 1929 silent experimental documentary Man With A Movie Camera. Im not trying to tear down the dude's film, but Ebert's posting is pretty hilarious. ""What was the passage of time, start to finish? What did you eat, when did you sleep? How cold did he get?" As if the filming took place in Antarctica. Dude walked out of his apartment in Williamsburg, come on. Regardless, it's a good little film and while anyone could of done it, that guy did. I got no right gripe.

So in honor of today's snow day, check it out while I eat cookies and sit on my couch.

UPDATE: I am not eating cookies, sitting on my couch. Today is a work day after all. Here's a pic from out my window last night.

LISTEN/MUSIC: Frank Turner Rock & Roll EP

2011-01-11T12:00:00.001-05:00

I've said it before and I'll say it again. Frank Turner is fucking awesome, the video above being just one reason. He put out a new EP earlier this December called Rock & Roll and as usual it's great. The guy doesn't know how to write a bad song. So for less than the cost of a pint, head over to Itunes or your favorite download venue, lay down your five bucks and add five more songs to the repeating playlist stuck in your head.

Here's two tracks to preview:

Frank Turner - I Still Believe

Frank Turner - To Absent Friends

MUSIC NEWS: Lineup for Re-Scheduled Bouncing Souls H4TH Is Up

2011-01-11T10:03:00.003-05:00

The lineup for the rescheduled Bouncing Souls 4th Annual Home For The Holidays Show is up. There's some great bands scheduled and an amazing closing night featuring The Loved Ones and Chris Wollard & The Ship Thieves, nice.

Wednesday, February 9
w/ ANTI-FLAG, FULL SPEED AHEAD, and THE GREAT EXPLAINER

Thursday, February 10
w/ STRIKE ANYWHERE, THE MENZINGERS, and DIRTY TACTICS

Friday, February 11
w/ POLAR BEAR CLUB, LEMURIA, and TOP SOIL

Saturday, February 12
w/ THE LOVED ONES, CHRIS WOLLARD & THE SHIP THIEVES, and LANDMINES

Returned tickets for some of shows were put on sale to the lucky few who caught it. However, it looks like the re-scheduled nights 2,3, & 4 are all sold out.

It also looks like I won't be able to make the rescheduled show and may have lost out on the refund period so..... double bummer. Either way that's some good shows right there.

UPDATE: Because the whole Souls team is a class act, I got a refund on my tickets. This is the first time I've missed Home For The Holidays since the thing started. Bummer, but at least I'm not out the dough as well.

MOVIE NEWS: Mouth Babies Comes To Slamdance!

2011-01-07T10:20:00.002-05:00

Whatever you are thinking about right now, yes that's what this movie is about. My friend Lisa Duva and Katherine Nolfi's short film Mouth Babies is making it's world premiere at this year's Slamdance Festival. The effects were done by Morgue Anne from my old photography company They Walk By Night Productions.

If you happen to be in the Park City area check out a screening at:

Screening with The Beast Pageant

Jan 21 @ 3pm & Jan 24 @ 10pm

at Treasure Mountain Inn - Main Screening Room

TO PURCHASE TICKETS CLICK HERE!

For more info, including pics and official trailer, hit up the official Mouth Babies website and Facebook.

LISTEN/MUSIC: 2 New Social Distortion Songs - New Album Jan. 18th

2011-01-06T15:23:00.006-05:00

Social Distortion releases their seventh studio album Hard Times and Nursery Rhymes on January 18th, 2011.

Social D's last album Sex, Drugs, and Rock & Roll was released in 2004 which puts the band pretty much right on track for releasing new material every 7 years or so. If that strategy has proved anything it's concise albums with tight, catchy, road tested songs.

So what's Social D got in store for us this go round? Their latest single Machine Gun Blues is one indication. It's available on iTunes now but you can give it a preview here:

Social Distortion - Machine Gun Blues

Pretty much tried and true Social D, nothing wrong with that. But more shocking is California (Hustle & Flow) which reveals more than ever The Rolling Stones influence on Mike Ness. Not sure how I feel about this one, sounds like a Black Crowes outtake but points for branching out I guess.

Social Distortion - California (Hustle And Flow) by Epitaph Records

Also of note, Mike Ness steps into the role of Producer for the first time in his band's history and reveals a much slicker sound than any previous Social D album. Most will recognize "Road Zombie," "Diamond In The Rough," and "Bakersfield" from the bands live performances in recent years as well as "Can't Take It With You" complete with call and response soulful backup vocals. There's also a punked up cover of Hank Williams "Alone & Forsaken." Ness' and guitarist Johnny Two Bags country-fried influences are well apparent with no shortage of slow burning tales of heartbreak and pain to round out the album. All in all a new and interesting road for Social D to take that might have some long time fans scratching their heads.

The album is available January 18th in multiple versions: a limited edition double red vinyl release, a double black vinyl release, a regular edition CD and digi-download version, and a deluxe edition digi-download version via iTunes.

The deluxe iTunes release features 3 bonus tracks one of which is a tune called "I Can't Run No More." For many Social D fans it's something close to the holy grail, the song was performed only a few times on the bands 1997 tour and people have been begging for it to be released ever since. A live version has floated around for years but a studio version could very well make some people shit their pants, myself included.

So thanks Social D, I'll be buying your new record in triplicate - at least.

PHOTO CREDIT: I don't know who took the photo above but good job, that's a great pic. If it's yours and would like me to take it down just say so.

PHOTO CREDIT UPDATE: Wouldn't you know a photo as awesome as the one above would be taken by none other than Danny Clinch. I should've known.

MOVIE NEWS: Eight Films You Should See Now

2011-01-05T15:00:00.004-05:00

I return to the blogging world this week after a month long break in the real world. December brings utter chaos at work and in reward we get a week off from Dec. 23rd to Jan. 3rd. How did I spend my week's vacation? Stuck in a blizzard and watching movies, that's how.

Back in the day, Blockbuster had a membership program that cost $10.00 a month and got you one free classic catalog movie with every new release you rented and one free new release for every five rentals. Needless to say I had a membership and made good use of it.

At the end of a year of membership, I got an envelope from Blockbuster in the mail. Enclosed was a honorary lifetime no fee membership. The reason for such a generous gift from Blockbuster: I had rented 387 movies of the course of that previous year. Again, I am a movie nerd.

For a brief time this past week, I relived those glory days and watched movies nonstop. So here's eight films from the past year (in no particular order) you should see right now.

Winter's Bone - Is a tight, quiet neo noir thriller filled with equal parts suspense and dread. Director Debra Granik (Down To The Bone) brings you into the world of the Ozark Mountains, it's inhabitants, and the code they live by. Jennifer Lawrence carries the film with a nuanced and compelling breakout performance. I had no interest in this film when it came out but so many people recommended it, I couldn't resist any longer.

Black Swan - I'm an Aronofsky (Requiem For A Dream, The Wrestler) fan so I probably would have liked Black Swan either way but enough people can back me up in saying it's a great film. Weird, suspenseful, and sexy, once the film gets it's clutches in you, you only get pulled deeper in. Natalie Portman gives what may be one of her best performances and Aronofsky pulls off probably his tightest and most concise film. It's basically Polanski's Repulsion with ballet.

The Fighter - I honestly didn't have much interest in seeing this film. I'm not a fan of David O. Russel (I Heart Huckabess), Mark Wahlberg's acting as of late is closer to Andy Samberg's impression of him, and the movie doesn't cover Micky Ward's legendary fights against Arturo Gatti. My sister convinced me to go see the film and to my surprise, it was great. Christian Bale steals the show, but Mark Wahlberg and Amy Adams give great performances as well. Less of a Rocky story and more of a family drama. If you like boxing, Boston, and underdog stories this film is for you.

Blue Valentine - A simple, devastating film. This is pure cinema. Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams tell the story of one couples love affair, the beginnings and eventual ending - simultaneously. You fall in love with each of the characters, learn their individual shortcomings, and are heartbroken for both by the end of the film. A beautifully sad film and one of the best movies I've seen in a while. I could go on but it would be gushing.... I have a man crush on Ryan Gosling. There I said it. Deal with it.

Toy Story 3 - It's pretty rare that a sequel is better than it's predecessor but Toy Story 3 pulls it off. Hilarious for kids and adults.

Restrepo - It was about a week after seeing Restrepo that I was extremely disturbed by it. What upset me most is that I walked away feeling really nothing about the film. It wasn't until later that certain scenes would play back in my head: a nineteen year old soldier weeping and asking which comrade's body lay crumbled and lifeless under a tree, a squad leader informing his soldiers of a sister unit's nine casualty loss the previous night, two soldiers fist pumping and dancing to house music in a brief moment of release. News coverage of the Afghanistan war is nearly non existent these days, Restrepo reminds us our kids are still out there fighting and dying.

The Tillman Story - It's a shame that this film did not play to larger audiences, hopefully Netflix or On Demand will pick it up a more people will get a chance to view it. I left the theater enraged, saddened and numb. As the film argues, Tillman was not an American hero, just an American.

The Town - Ben Affleck's second directorial is a smart well paced crime thriller featuring a scene stealing Jeremy Renner, a spectacular car chase sequence, and an expectation defyingly good Blake Lively. Boston grit equal parts Mystic River and The Departed.

Many of these films have been reviewed at my friend Dustin Chang's Floating World. For reviews much more eloquent and insightful than my "it's awesome" accolades head over there and check his stuff out.

PHOTOS: Happy Holidays

2010-12-25T11:16:00.001-05:00

Home For The Holidays. Wayne, NJ - December 2010.

ART NEWS: Andy Levin's Coney Island

2010-12-01T15:29:00.001-05:00

I have a small obsession with typing random search terms into Google Images. It's a crap shoot but sometimes if you follow the bread crumb trail long enough you come up with something good. Such is the case with photographer Andy Levin's work on Coney Island.

The first time I visited Coney Island was with my family when I was maybe 8 or 9 years old. All I remember is that it was crazy busy and took a really long time to get there from New Jersey. Beyond that it's kind of a blur.

When I moved to Brooklyn, I started heading down to Coney Island more frequently. It reminded me alot of Asbury Park. Coney Island and Asbury Park have mirrored each other for many years. Both have combated decline in business, urban decay and eminent domain. They even share Tillie! So I guess it was a natural progression for me to take a shine to the place.

Andy Levin began visiting Coney Island in 1977 while in his late twenties. In between assignments for Life, National Geographic, and Time Magazines, Levin would use Coney Island as a personal space to practice his craft and sharpen his skills. Deferring to the tamer side of Coney Island, Levin captured the lighthearted simple pleasures of a day at the beach.

Levin's yet to be published book "F Train To Coney Island" chronicles his work from this period. A preview "dummy version" of the book is available for viewing on his website. The New York Times blog LENS also features a few more photos.

PHOTO CREDIT: All photos copyright Andy Levin. Images via andylevin.com and NYT LENS.

LISTEN/MUSIC: Rancid's Life Won't Wait Sessions

2010-11-11T16:24:00.000-05:00

Every once in a while I fall into a Rancid phase. It comes and goes but while I'm in it, it's pretty much all Rancid, all the time. Now is one of those phases.

When Rancid's fourth studio album Life Won't Wait was released in 1998 it was panned as a failure, at least by those looking for And Out Come The Wolves Volume II. Had they looked a little deeper, they would find one of the most interesting, diverse, and entertaining albums Rancid would ever put out.

I'll admit when it first came out, I wasn't into Life Won't Wait. Despite the repeated praise from my friend Rob Ticho, I wasn't into it. Even after my guitar teacher Jay Forsythe regaled me with stories about Lars and Tim upon returning from tour with the Lordz Of Brooklyn in support of Rancid, I still wasn't into it. It wasn't until a few years later that I gave Life Won't Wait the listen it deserved and quickly began to realize how amazing an album it really was.

When time came for Rancid to begin recording for their follow up to And Out Come The Wolves, Tim Armstrong approached Vic Ruggiero and David Hillyard from The Slackers with a proposition to jam on something new. These sessions would produce early piano driven versions of "Hoover Street," "Who Would Of Thought," "Cash, Culture, And Violence," and "Backslide." Of the songs recorded about half would later make it onto the Life Won't Wait album. The song "Policeman" would be included on the first Give 'Em The Boot compilation and credited to The Silencers. At least six tracks remain unreleased. The most interesting of which are "The Last Mod" and "Express Yourself," in which Tim Armstrong tries his hand at rap over a reworking of Charles Wright & The Watts 103rd Street Rhythm Band's "Express Yourself."

Rancid - "Backslide"


Rancid - "Express Yourself"


Two versions of "Brad Logan" are included, a piano driven version with Tim on lead vocals and the version later released on Chef Aid: The South Park album featuring Lars on lead vocals. Also included are two versions of "Things To Come," the "Bloodclot" b-sides "Stop" & "Endrina" (which features one of the greatest guitar solo moments in Rancid history) and a sans guitar version of the album's closer "Coppers."

Rancid - "Endrina"


Rancid - "Coppers (Brooklyn Mix)"


FULL DOWNLOAD: Rancid - Life Won't Wait Sessions

Rancid - Life Won't Wait Sessions

01. Who Would Have Thought (Demo)
02. The Wolf (Demo)
03. Backslide (Demo)
04. Cash, Culture & Violence (Demo)
05. Things To Come (Demo)
06. Brad Logan (Demo)
07. Hoover Street (Demo)
08. The Last Mod (The Silencers)
09. Weep For America (The Silencers)
10. Policeman (The Silencers)
11. Candy WBD (The Silencers)
12. Express Yourself (The Silencers)
13. 21st Century (The Silencers)
14. 21st Century (The Silencers - Dub Version)
15. Brad Logan ( Chef Aid version)
16. Stop (Bloodclot B-Side)
17. Endrina (Bloodclot B-Side)
18. Cash, Culture And Violence (Bass Drop Mix)
19. Things To Come (Dance Hall Mix)
20. Coppers (Brooklyn Mix)

MOVIE REVIEW: Darkness - Asbury Park 2009 Performance World Premiere

2010-11-05T15:30:00.000-04:00

As part of DOC NYC's Documentary Film Festival, last night I got a chance to check out the world premiere of Bruce Springsteen & E-Street Band's 2009 performance of Darkness On The Edge Of Town from the upcoming Darkness boxset.

The film documents the band's 2009 performance at Asbury Park's Paramount Theatre. In an effort to "best capture the starkness of the original album" the performance was done without a live audience present. The result is an in your face, warts and all live rendering of the now classic 1978 album.

Director Thom Zimny, DOC NYC's Creative Director Thom Powers, and drummer Max Weinberg were on hand to talk about how the film and subsequent screening came about. For Zimny, the project spawned from an accidental moment in which the director found himself caught onstage during a band rehearsal. The intimacy and energy he felt on that stage sparked an idea for capturing the band up close, with the cameras onstage and among the performers. The typical Springsteen arena concert with a large audience would require the director to shoot from long distances with telephoto lenses. When Zimny approached Springsteen with his idea and his concerns in bringing it to light, it seems the musician was one step ahead and suggested performing the concert sans audience.

DOC NYC's Thom Powers, who also helped organize the Toronto International Film Festival, spoke of what led to last night's screening at NYC's historic Zeigfeld Theatre. After the Toronto premiere of Zimny's other Springsteen film, documenting the recording of the original Darkness album, the Springsteen camp invited a few people to see some additional footage featured in the upcoming boxset. One clip was from the 2009 Asbury Park performance. Powers was convinced that the 2009 performance needed a larger exhibition than just DVD, if even for one night. Much like Zimny, Powers approached the Springsteen camp with his idea and they quickly agreed.

Springsteen's live shows have well been known for the connection between the artist and his audience. The lack of an audience reveals, as Max Weinberg put it "even in rehearsal, this is no off switch with Bruce." Zimny's camera documents the raw power of Springsteen and his band. We see Max Weinberg read slight visual queues from Springsteen leading the way through the song, we see Clarence Clemons cheering Springsteen on through a guitar solo and we see Steven Van Zandt looking for just the right moment to pull off a soulful fill on his guitar.

As fantastic as the movie is, something must be said for the audio. It is amazing. And loud, very loud. Everything is captured in brilliant clarity, bringing the experience to an even higher level.

It's certainly not unusual to sing along to a live concert. And it's not unusual to sing along to a concert video in your home. But a movie theater has a different decorum. It provides the viewer an opportunity to just watch. While much of the Springsteen experience is participatory, just watching the band provides a different perspective, one Weinberg commented "I've never seen before, and one I think I need to see again. Most in the audience held their applause for the short pauses between each song but more than a few could not suppress the urge for a "Bruuuuce."

A short Q&A session followed with Zimny and Weinberg, in which the drummer revealed he fully intends to tour with the E-Street Band on the "sooner side of sooner or later," and that he usually gets Springsteen a "good book for Christmas." The drummer also spoke of the perspective the film gave him and how while in the midst of performance it's rare to hear the song as a whole. The film allowed Weinberg to watch he and his bandmates perform from the perspective of their audience and in nearly forty years of music it seems to be a rare treat for him.

DOC NYC is being presented in partnership with NYU-SCPS. For the past few months my friends Mark Parsia - who I owe an extra special thanks for an invite to the screening - and Mary Domowitz have been working hard to pull the festival's inaugural running together. The festival runs from Nov. 3-9 and features many wonderful films, panels and events throughout. For a full schedule check out DOC NYC. And also check out NYU-SCPS' Department of Film, Video, and Broadcasting - they have a great selection of courses!

ART NEWS: The Works Of Dan Witz

2010-11-02T16:11:00.000-04:00

This is a painting. Last week, Animal featured a selection of hyper-realistic mosh pit paintings by New York based artist Dan Witz.

While amazing, the mosh pit paintings only begin to crack the surface of this artist's considerable talent.

Witz began his career as a street artist with his 1979 series Birds. Witz painted over forty humming birds in Lower Manhattan but excluded the neighborhood of Soho, "... there was enough art there."

"Each bird took about 2 hours. It seems difficult to believe now but when cops or supers caught me I never got in trouble. In fact, usually when they saw I was painting a hummingbird they'd let me finish."

Witz has continued with various street based projects over the past twenty years. His 2009 series, Dark Doings, attempts to "exploit our collective tendency towards sleepwalking by inserting outrageous things right out there in plain view that are also practically invisible." Witz places ghostly images of humans and animals in the overlooked windows of Brooklyn and Los Angeles neighborhoods. He explores this idea further in the 2010 series, In Plain Sight.

But for me, it's Witz's painting series Nightscapes which is most captivating. Dark, lonely and beautiful, Witz "creates his pieces using a distinctive process; first by printing a digital photograph onto a canvas as an underpainting and then adding layers of oil paint and transparent glazes."

"In my lifetime there’s been a revolution in representational capabilites comparable to the invention of oil paint in the 15th century. The opportunities to push on to new forms today are just unbelievably exciting. To ignore them, from my point of view, would be a ridiculous waste. So photoshop and photography have become as important tools for me as paint and brushes. I don’t for a moment consider myself to be a photographer or a digital artist though: these are paintings; I’m definitely a painter."

SOURCES: Animal, Dan Witz, DFN Gallery.

LISTEN/MUSIC: The Misfits' "12 Hits From Hell"

2010-10-29T18:45:00.002-04:00

When it comes to putting together the perfect Halloween soundtrack, one really has to look no further than The Misfits. And who needs The Monster Mash anyway.

For your listening pleasure today and in honor of the Halloween holiday, we have a Misfits album that has been shelved for over 30 years - 12 Hits From Hell.

From wikipedia:

In August 1980 the Misfits recorded twelve songs at Master Sound Productions studios with the intention of releasing a full-length album. With the exception of "London Dungeon," all songs were recorded in one take. The band's lineup at this time included singerguitarist Bobby Steele, bassist Jerry Only, and drummer Arthur Googy. During the sessions Only was grooming his younger brother Doyle to join the band, and Doyle recorded his own guitar tracks and overdubs separately in addition to Steele's. The tracks were mixed in September, but in October Steele was ejected from the band in favor of Doyle and the planned album was scrapped. Glenn Danzig,

Five of the songs were released in 1981, with "London Dungeon", "Horror Hotel", and "Ghouls Night Out" being released as 3 Hits from Hell while the "Halloween" single included both "Halloween" and "Halloween II". The band used the remainder of the recordings as demos for their 1982 album Walk Among Us.

During the intervening years several of the tracks from the August 1980 sessions were released in various mixes on compilation albums: "Where Eagles Dare" and "Halloween" appeared on Legacy of Brutality (1985), "Night of the Living Dead", "Vampira", "Skulls" and "Astro Zombies" appeared on Misfits (1986), and "Horror Hotel", "Halloween", and "Halloween II" appeared on Collection II (1995). The Misfits box set (1996) contained the most complete collection of songs from these sessions, collecting the complete Legacy of Brutality, Misfits, and Collection II albums as well as a disc of unreleased studio recordings including the original mixes of "I Turned into a Martian", "Skulls", "Night of the Living Dead", "Astro Zombies", "Where Eagles Dare", "Violent World", and "Halloween II" from the 1980 sessions.

In 2001 Caroline Records announced that they would be releasing the complete 1980 sessions on October 31 under the title 12 Hits from Hell, including an alternate take of "London Dungeon", and sent promotional copies of the album to the band members. However, production was called off after Glenn Danzig and Jerry Only expressed concerns with the album's layout, packaging, liner notes, mixing, and mastering. All distribution copies of the album were destroyed, and only the promotional copies remain. Some copies did reach critics, however.

My friend Tim got one of those promotional copies and passed it along to me. Since then, 12 Hits From Hell has become my go to Misfits album. The recording quality tops everything else out there and performances are just as good.

12 Hits From Hell

Master Sound Productions - Franklin Square, NY 8/5/1980 - 9/5/1980.
Lineup: Glenn Danzig, Jerry Only, Bobby Steele, Arthur Googy. Additional Guitar: Doyle & Robbie Alter.

Skulls

Astro Zombies

FULL DOWNLOAD: The Misfits - 12 Hits From Hell

As an extra treat, check out the 1980 Glenn Danzig solo release single of "Who Killed Marilyn" backed with "Spook City." Both are versions different from and not included on The Misfits Box Set. And bundled with this is something called The Misfits Bible. It's basically a visual archive of everything Danzig sent out to members of the original Fiend Club including hand written letters, photos, and newsletters. For the true nerds out there.

DOWNLOAD: Glenn Danzig - "Who Killed Marilyn" & The Misfits Bible

For the record, Lobo Jones does not recognize any post-Danzig incarnations of The Misfits.

Happy Halloween, fiends.

PHOTO CREDIT: The header image is from Glen E. Friedman's book Fuck You Too.

TV NEWS: Help Bring "THE BRIDGE" To Your TV

2010-10-28T14:28:00.001-04:00

My boy Pete Chatmon (Premium, 761st) is making his play for television domination with his new series, THE BRIDGE. An ensemble drama about the pursuit of the American Dream, THE BRIDGE is set against the backdrop of a struggling club in Brooklyn, the series follows former drug-dealer Justin “Biz” Parker as he strives for legitimacy, all the while managing a staff more concerned with the next stage of their lives than the current success of his club. Think The Wire meets Entourage.

In addition to the weekly television episodes, the Bridge will also feature exclusive webisodes called The Velvet Rope - the first of which "Girls Night Out" is posted above.

Head over Welcome To The Bridge for more info on the show and it's creators!

ART NEWS: Support My Sister!!

2010-10-25T15:12:00.002-04:00

My sister has a couple of cool things going on so go check them out!

First up, is a t-shirt she drew up and is being released by OBEY. If you need a cool new shirt, why not get this one. Click the pic to head over to Metro Park and buy it today.

Next, is a limited edition print series called "Hooty Hoo." It was recently featured on the OBEY blog not too long ago and they are going fast so grab them while you can. Click the pic above to check out her store.

If you happen to be in the SoCal/Long Beach area on November 11th, check out my sis and a bunch of other great artists at the "You Can't Handle The Youth" art show. Click the pic below for more info.

And finally check out the KVZ KUSTOMS blog for all the latest KVZ kreations.

ART NEWS: Lyle Owerko's "The Boombox Project"

2010-10-22T12:12:00.001-04:00

Photographer Lyle Owerko's new exhibit at the Clic Gallery & Bookstore in NYC features some real blasts from the past.

The Boombox Project features photographs of boomboxes, jam boxes, and ghetto blasters from yesteryear.

The exhibit is an unexpected product of the photographer's personal obsession with the stereos. Many of those featured are from his personal collection.

From Lyle Owerko:

"It is a symbol of rebellion and a way to shout your message at the system. Turn up the volume on your boombox, whatever the size, and let the capstan wheels of the tape deck drive a favorite mixtape to life... as the defiant voice of punk rock legend, Joe Strummer sang "This is radio clash with audio ammunition...""

From Clic Gallery:

"Abrams Books is publishing THE BOOMBOX PROJECT: THE MACHINES, THE MUSIC, AND THE URBAN UNDERGROUND. Featuring an introduction by Spike Lee, this collection of archival photographs, Owerko's own images, and commentary on boombox culture by Fab 5 Freddy, Spike Lee, Kool Moe Dee, LL Cool J, Rosie Perez, DJ Spooky, Ad-Rock of the Beastie Boys and Pras of the Fugees, the book, like the photographs, is an extraordinary historical document."

The book is available at the gallery as well as on Amazon for a very reasonable price. The exhibit runs until December 5th.

Clic Gallery
255 Centre Street
New York, NY 10013
Daily 12 - 7 pm

NEW CAMERA: My Canon AE-1 Program

2010-10-22T10:56:00.000-04:00

Picked up this little guy with a 28mm f2.8 on Ebay for $115 the other day!

My Canon 7D and 1V are pretty big and obtrusive when you throw on the 24-70mm, and I'm already big enough. So I wanted to grab a compact 35mm SLR for some less conspicuous street shooting.

The Canon AE-1 PROGRAM was introduced in 1981 as an upgrade to the popular AE-1. It's about as simple as cameras get and was often the camera of choice for photography classes.