Jackass Flats | The Camel RVA | Music Photography

Jackass Flats!  What can I say about this band?  I freakin’ LOVE them.  I mean, come on!  How can you not?  A bluegrassy cover of Head Like a Hole.  Yes, please!  More, please!
This show was particularly exciting for me because it was a reunion with my best friend, Scott Lewis, who rejoined the band for the night.  Scott has been touring around the country with Big Daddy Love and it was so exciting to see him play again.

For those not yet in the know about Jackass Flats, it is a rip roaring, hard edge bluegrass type of thing.  Banjo, fiddle, upright bass, pedal steel, keys, drums and a few guitars make their sound a bit rockabilly, a bit bluegrass, a bit country & western and all around awesome.

To see all the pics from the show CLICK HERE

A Mr. Softee Dream

12/16/2012

You never can tell just how epic an evening will turn out to be until it is over and you are left feeling like you just woke up from a badass dream.  That was the eve that Katrina, Patrick and I had when we went out to see the Von Shakes gig at The Bitter End at the end of December.  Check out that show here..  cuz it was awesome.

The eve was pretty epic in itself with Santa Claus’ in various states of undress storming the stage for the last song of the show, the guys played great and the party continued at a bar around the corner.  Eventually it was time to play the ‘catch a taxi game.’  That night was not our night.  No one would stop for us and those that slowed down, quickly pulled away after hearing Kat say our destination. One of the rules of the NYC streets & trying to get back to Bushwick was never say your destination before your butt and all your belongings are firmly inside the cab. We were out there for quite some time and it was getting colder and it was starting to drizzle and get colder still and we were getting more and more dejected. I think we must have all looked quite forlorn when a Mr. Softee truck slowed and a friendly face popped out the window ‘Where y’all going?’

I figured it was worth an ask and hell, we could even be helpful on this bitter eve as the drunken folks spilled out of the bars.  Somehow we convinced him and all three of us were inside the back of a Mr. Softee truck heading through the West Village. It was either the start of a really bad movie or the best ride to Bushwick EVER.

IceCream John taught me how to make cones and add the sprinkles, it's all in the wrists, all in the wrists. I never graduated to milkshake making so we only sold cones. If someone asked for a milkshake they got a cone covered swirled by me then coated with sprinkles by Patrick with all our love and enthusiasm. Katrina was the money gal. She charged whatever bill they handed her. No change given. & not one complaint. We rallied crowds every time he stopped and everytime he started moving again, IceCream John blasted music for our epic dance parties in the back that had people on the streets craning their necks to peer in the windows. 

It may have taken over 2 ½ hours for a 35 min drive but it was the best ride ever.  We danced all the way to Brooklyn in the back of a Mr. Softee truck all the while serving ice cream to everyone.
In addition to his sainthood for driving our drunk asses home, IceCream John reached new heights of goodness as he felt that no one should go without so he would have us make mini cones for the homeless we passed. & with Katrina's 'no change' policy, he made a fortune. 

When Particles Collide | Fort Useless, NYC

My When Particles Collide weekend was non stop energy from the moment they tumbled out of their van and we rushed right to the roof.  I ignored their pleas of using the bathroom or even for a stop in the apt to freshen up and change and had them meet me in the elevator en route to the roof, the perfect light is but a quick window and we had to catch it.  They were amazing sports, changing clothes in the cold as I set everything up and it all came together just as the sky hit its most brilliant moments.  

They came back over the next day and we roamed around the neighborhood creating images.  Sasha Alcott (guitar, vocals) and Chris Viner (drums) are truly lovely people with endless energy. I met the explosive guitar/drum duo a few years ago at a show at Big Sky Works where they were opening to one of my favorite west coast bands, The Peculiar Pretzelman.  I was hooked with their first very dirty guitar chord.  They’ve got the pop punk, fast paced, rock out scene down and it is addictive.

After the photo creation afternoon they had a gig at Fort Useless.  Pretty cool space in Bushwick, Brooklyn.  From the beginning, Sashas guitar is turned all the way up and Chris hits the drums hard and fast.  They are rocking with short catchy songs that come at you hard and fast and YOU LIKE IT!  Sasha delivers each song with the fiercest of attitudes along with a quirkiness that leaves the crowd feeling like they were just hanging out with their most rocking best friend.  It is impossible to not get sucked into the sound.  They are working on a new album and some of my faves from the night will be on it!!

To see all the pics from the show CLICK HERE

Memories of Car

I’ve had Car for a long time.  Many miles, many adventures and many friends have been in her.  She is a scrapbook of adventures.   I love the bits about her that look like nothing (or even trash/junk) to the outside world….  The faded beaded necklace nestled in the brasilian friendship bracelets that I was always told to remove for state inspections, the bits of tape left on the drivers side window reminding me of the kindness of strangers, the devil in the corner of the windshield reminding me of another great road warrior BB from the HTFSUAA Tour (How To Fuck Shit Up Across America Tour), the EAA sticker & Jesus fish & velcro on the steering wheel all reminders of my dad.  Car lived and traveled hard and rode over anything and rarely let things slip all the way past 262 thou miles.

The tape story..  I had a job in a horrible neighborhood in Long Island City, NY.  I parked in one of those lots and went about my biz.   At around 9pm, I was wrapped and headed back to pick up Car from the lot and found the lot to be locked and closed!!!!  Here I was at night in a bad hood and there was Car locked on the other side of a huge gate!!  ahhhhh!!!  My cell phone was low and there were no taxi’s in site.  I walked over to Car as she had been moved and parked near the fence and I saw an envelope taped to the drivers side window.  On it was a note that said ‘Call Juan’ and a phone #.  I called (had just enough juice) and the most incredible lot attendant EVER said that he just had a feeling that I was a good person and he didn’t want me to be without Car so he directed me to the locked gate where a traffic cone was inside but within reach.  I pulled it towards the gate and flipped it over and found where he had left a key to the gate taped on the inside!!!  He said he trusted that I would lock everything up after I rescued Car!!  IN NYC!  SERIOUSLY!  Yes, that is the type of luck that Car brought on the road.

It was a bit of a shocker to realize that this journey was now over, even though she hadn’t technically ‘died’ on me. My awesome mechanic & friend, Kevin at the Honda Dealership in Mechanicsville, broke the news to me the day before Thanksgiving.  I had dropped her off to check on a strange noise and he called to tell me that Car wasn’t even safe enough for me to drive home.  Pretty much she had almost turned into the Flinestone car and I know I’m not in good enough shape for all that running.   She had made it through the time a tractor trailer took a corner too sharply and picked up Car and dragged her (with me inside) for 1/2 a block.  That was a pretty look on her.  And now with no obvious damage..  She was at the end.

I loved the odd bits of her too..  I don’t know why but my glove compartment was always filled with spoons.  For some inexplicable reason, I always picked up spoons at rest stops and this is where they lived.   I guess in case anyone had a yogurt emergency while traveling?  Not sure…but if you needed a spoon, Car had you covered.

Car had been violated 6 times before I decided not to replace the CD player anymore.  We traveled with the radio.  Almost every trip started and ended with a Jason Mraz song.  A totally random lil bit that reminded me of home and high school and got each journey off to a great start and brought me home safely.   I also caught children doodling on her quite often as well.  I guess she looked like a coloring book for keys.

I loved Car.  I lived Car.  Now I’ve got to say goodbye to Car.  Oh the good times that were had inside her.

Lobster is hard to eat while driving.   Gummy Bears are easier.

Car was always getting backstage.

You can’t see Car in the pic below cuz we were sitting on top of her.  These are my amazing friends from the Fiona Apple Crew who rescued Car after the oil cap had disappeared and she was dead upon arrival at the show (2005?).  They filled her up and fashioned a makeshift cap so Daisy, Melissa & I could get home.  Ray & Dan – love y’all.  and Gungi – the world still hurts from the loss of you.

Jeff might be one of the few people that I let actually drive Car.

and the best parallel parking job that I have ever done.

RIP Car.  You were loved mightily.  Thank you for all the journeys