So, Jersey girl and I have been in Maine.
All images are my own.
©2018
Month: July 2018
The Cascades
Reblogging this just because I miss my son today.
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
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.
Words and images are my own.
©2018
Runaway American Dream 