You can’t always get what you want

 

 

Strange humilities

 

time carves its grooves

in skin and stone

light falls more harshly

when too many days are gone

dry tears are the salt of this table

dry eyes that see

too clearly

through the blur of resignation

we are grains of grit

in a ceaseless wind

and time laughs at all our expectations

always leaving the party

before the end.

 

 

Words and image are my own.

 

 

©2018

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Wilderness

 

So, Jersey girl and I have been in Maine.

 

 

 

All images are my own.

 

©2018

The Cascades

Reblogging this just because I miss my son today.

Runaway American Dream

My son is currently visiting us from Melbourne and we’ve really been enjoying showing him around the county (it’s actually his third time here but there’s always more to see). He really seems to love the place (not to mention our proximity to both NYC and Philly).

Yesterday, he and I took a hike along the Columbia trail in High Bridge. I’d never done the walk in winter and was amazed by how different it all looked.

Several times along the way we came across little patches of wonder. I don’t think I ever realised before how beautiful mere frozen water could be.

The ice was very thick.

Words and images are my own.

©2018

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My father’s house

 

 

Parentless

 

And in that place

between sleeping and awake

I came upon my house

a roofless husk

sinking to its bones

and stared a long, long while

into its dark and glassless

eyes

 

I looked for you

out back

by the tumbled sheds

and red wheelbarrow

but you were years gone

the washing hung grey

and tattered on the line

It was an empty place now

the grass dead and bleached

white.

 

 

Words and image are my own.

 

©2018

Wild Pony

 

As I may previously have mentioned, We saw Southside Johnny and the Asbury Dukes this Saturday past. As I may also have mentioned, The Stone Pony has a strict ‘no cameras’ policy so I was unable to properly document what proved to be an absolutely fantastic show.

I did, however, have my trusty phone so here are a few brief impressions of the gig in low rez.

This band has been doing what they do for close to half a century and got their start in the same tiny Asbury Park club as Springsteen and the E Street Band. It was obvious that many at the gig were longtime fans who had shared a great deal of history with The Dukes.

The first act was Remember Jones, another Jersey band very reminiscent of the younger Dukes of yesteryear. They did covers and originals and absolutely nailed a cover of Queen’s Don’t stop me Now. It was good to see the Jersey soul sound was still alive and kicking and in good hands.

The weather was perfect and the bands were hot. What more could one need on a summer’s evening in Jersey?

Both of the above videos are from this gig. There was also a sizeable crowd listening for free from the Boardwalk, as you can see in the video below.

 

And if you want to see how the gig looked when photographed properly, shoot over to my friend Mark’s site here.

Mark scored a photographer’s pass to shoot the event and did a fantastic job as usual.

Gasoline

 

 

Last weekend we had the opportunity to see our good friends Amy and Karen Jones playing with their amazing band, The Beautiful Distortion on our home turf, as it were. The band hails from Bethlehem PA but on this occasion, they were playing at a two-day festival at the Red Mill in Clinton NJ, which is right next door to High Bridge.

Sadly, Amy fell ill, literally as the band was about to go on and had to sit the gig out with Jersey girl and I but the rest of the guys closed ranks and braved the ninety-degree heat to give a fantastic performance (despite being one vocalist down).

TBD have a great sound which centers on the three lead vocalists. Both Amy and Karen have tremendous voices which (as is often the case with siblings) harmonise beautifully. The other fronter, Dave Doll, has a very different but totally complimentary vocal style and the three voices together are really something to hear. Dave can also shred the frets like the pro he is.

The rest of the lineup is equally impressive with Chris Reagle on lead guitar, Jeremy Aguiar on bass, and Tim Harrell on drums. All are terrific, rock-solid musicians who have been playing around the Lehigh Valley area for years.

Sonically, they’re like a cross between Fleetwood Mac (they do a fantastic cover of the chain if you yell loud and long enough) and Dream Theater, if you can imagine such a beast. That really shouldn’t work but it just does.

The exciting thing for me was that, at this particular show, I was able to bring my camera along and get some shots of the guys in action (sadly sans Amy). The setting was a cool natural amphitheatre behind the famed Red Mill and I had a great time capturing their performance.

 

 

 

Karen has such an amazing voice, brilliantly supported by the rhythm section of Jeremy and Tim.

 

 

Jeremy and Karen doing the distortion walk.

 

Avengers movie freeze-frame moment.

 

 

It was hellishly hot but Dave still rocked ‘the suit’.

 

 

Chris takes the lead.

 

 

Dave rippin’ it up.

 

 

 

 

 

Words and images are my own.

 

©2018

 

 

 

Gentlemen take polaroids

 

So, I’ve started an Etsy shop selling prints of some of my better photographs. I have no idea if anyone will actually want them but it’s an attempt to do something creative for money for a change.

If anyone is interested in checking it out, I guess you can consider this a shameless plug. If you know anyone looking to fill some wall space who you think may be interested in what I do, feel free to point them in my direction.

I can be found here.

 

 

All images are my own.

 

©2018