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Wednesday, June 25, 2014

R.I.P. ELI WALLACH


The most hilarious utterance ever of "Buenos dias amigos!" HAD to have been that of Eli Wallach as the villainous Calvera in The Magnificent Seven (worthy Americanization/  remake of Kurasawa's classic film Seven Samurai.) Actor Eli Wallach passed away yesterday at age 98. Go to Retro Kimmer's obit here:LINK

(Wallach pic: photographer unknown)

Sunday, June 22, 2014

BEST ANIMALIER EVER: ROSA BONHEUR

 

 

Fine Art Animaliers Corner: the greatest of them all was Rosa Bonheur, with Landseer and Stubbs tying for second. These proto-photorealist paintings/studies date from the mid 19th century. Each animal has its own personality, there's no generic species for her. 

Her stunning masterpiece "The Horse Fair," over 16 feet wide by 8 feet high, resides in NYC at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. 

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

JAMES WILLIAMSON, LISA KEKAULA'S "I GOT A RIGHT" new single, video production in my studio!


You've heard the phrase "See Naples and die." Now it's see this video and die (meaning you'll have witnessed the best there is, not that you're going to expire.) Its video production was shot in my own photo studio, I came up with the concept along with its recording artist, brokered the cast of characters getting together, and I did the production stills for James Williamson and Lisa Kekaula's brand new single "I Got A Right." Check this out!




The single itself is teaser for Williamson's forthcoming solo release Re-Licked which features his previously unrecorded Iggy and The Stooges' rarities (i.e., what should have been the follow up to Raw Power) sung by today's most interesting and powerful vocalists. (For instance, Ms. Kekaula is indisputably volcanic.) Go to LINK for additional info and pre-ordering. Re-Licked is due out by autumn 2014 in cd, vinyl and download, with a Making of the Album dvd (by this video's director and cinematograher) and photo booklet (pics by me, essay by Jack Boulware) of all concerned with each format.

Lisa Kekaula

Dancer extraordinaire Cleo Vipers is from Milano not Napoli though, singer extraordinaire Lisa Kekaula is from Riverside CA when she's not touring Europe with The BellRays or Lisa and The Lips, uber-talented director Amy D'Allessandro is a fellow local equestrienne, impressive cinematographer James Stolz is from Germany when he's not in Hollywood, and guitar legend James Williamson, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee with his fellow Iggy And The Stooges plus former Standards/Technology vice-president of Sony Corporation as well, hails from Silicon Valley CA by way of Texas, Oklahoma and Dee-troit Michigan as my pal Mary, bassist of The Dogs pronounces it.  Me, I'm strictly local. 

Below, the actual foremost retro-Burlesque dancer in her entire field, Ms. Cleo Viper. When first contacted, she was touring Shanghai on her way to Australia and beyond.
 

The very top photograph features left to right: director Amy D'Allesandro, cinematographer James Stolz, Simone Marie Butler, bassist of Primal Scream and Re-Licked, James Williamson, Re-Licked guitarist/co-songwriter with Iggy Pop, Cleo Viper (see LINK,) Michael Urbano, drummer for Re-Licked, Smashmouth plus countless others, and still photographer yours truly. 

Today, the first day of the video's promotional release, Amy excitedly claimed, "That studio is still rockin' from our shoot. I can't get the song out of my head. I love it!!" Anyone reading this is destined to as well.

 
Last three photos of the production's mise-en-scene,(C) 2014 guest photographer Kurt Ingham.

Tuesday, June 17, 2014

LYNN CAREY SINGS !






Singer 
Lynn Carey recently made a rare local appearance belting out an emotional "Stand By Me" with Gary Cook's Band at Hollywood's Catalina Bar, 6.7.14. The occasion was a happy one: the 2014 alumni reunion of the Dick Grove School of Music, where Lynn studied sight-reading tablature quite some time after her pro career actually had started and thrived.










Lynn once garnered notoriety for both her full throttled blues rock in Mama Lion, and her portrait on its notorious LP cover "Preserve Wildlife - see LINK.  

She's since directed those famous chops to a variety of music styles, and none better serves her than jazz/soul standards, with a possible exception of Big Band to suit that Big Voice!

Below, ad hoc backup singers for John Cougar Mellencamp's "Ain't That America." 



PHOTO OPS:
  Lynn with her fellow classmates Terry Janow left and John Beres in the pic on the right; with her teacher Gleni Tai and L.A. Jazz choir friend Erin Maloney in front.

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

PUNK ROCK BOWLING, May 25, 26 2014, Las Vegas baby! at Blackstar Amplifiers/Swing House Studios Pool Party with THE DOGS et al

   

Yes, there really was bowling somewhere within the Punk Rock Bowling Music Festival in Las Vegas over May's Memorial Day Weekend. Above top left, the only British vintage punk band with all its original members, The Adicts in full flight; above right, Stephen Egerton in The Descendents, both from outdoor gig 5.25.14. Vegas remains sufficiently Sahara-like toasty to host such night gigs--it only dipped to 79F in the evening with daytime temps of 102F. Above left, Melony Felony of locals The Objex and above right, Detroit/L.A. legendary punk trio THE DOGS, both at the Blackstar Amplifiers/Swing House Studios annual Pool Party at the Plaza Hotel. Yes, one indeed could sit in the rooftop pool to enjoy same. Thankfully, no heat prostrations although the roadies striking the stage afterwards came close.

Punk Rock Bowling's genesis incubated with informal Lebowski-like bowling tourneys amongst punkers in Hollywood Calif. seven years ago when one got the lightbulb over the head to monetize same by moving it all to Vegas and charging for the music shows. Believe me, it makes for a strange visual mash-up of hardcore punk rockers roaming around throughout the glitzy kitsch of old town Vegas' bright lights, big city. See below. (The even kitschier Strip with the theme casino/hotels is elsewhere.)
 















Above, punks in the Freemont St. arcade spontaneously break into dancing to Chumbawamba's "Tubthumping (I Get Knocked Down)" along with the outside shill showgirls in a show of alternative music solidarity. Above right, assorted punks from The Adicts, The Descendents, DOA, TSOL, The Dwarves, The Dogs, The Objex, Shiny Toy Guns, Goldfinger and Old Man Markley pose before performing at Blackstar Amplifiers / Swing House Studios Pool Party.

Below, despite the extreme heat Loren, Mary and Tony-- THE DOGS --rampaging through their usual fast-paced set for the sweaty crowds. (History, The Dogs thereof, see LINK.)

 
 

The rest of afternoon enjoyed the chaos of The Pool Boys, a cast of rotating (or rather,  moshing) characters culled from The Adicts (Pete Dee and Monkey thereof seen below caparisoned with Silly String,) The Descendents, DOA, TSOL, The Dwarves, The Dogs, Shiny Toy Guns, Riverboat Gamblers, Goldfinger and Old Man Markley. The distaff estrogen was represented by local Melony Felony of The Objex (and how) plus Carah Faye of Shiny Toy Guns.
 
 


Punk classics blasted out included the Dead Boys' "Sonic Reducer," The Ramones' " The KKK Took My Baby Away" and The Adicts' "Viva La Revolution!" which inspired a total stage invasion of not just all its performers, but of all those in the audience nearest the stage.
 
The afternoon ended with Blackstar giving away free t-shirts and pro audio gear (thankfully the latter was not thrown to its recipients.) Below right, Tone Dog of THE DOGS with fellow drummer Sae Tatsuzawa, Loren of THE DOGS and Blackstar Amplifiers, Joel Richardson of Blackstar Amplifiers. At bottom, mangled set list and gig flyer.
 

Guest photographer Susan Phelps catches yours truly in action stage right, above. Sun hat essential in 102 F heat.

Pretties for you from Las Vegas, Weirdness Ground Zero...