GO SEE MORE OF MY AUSTIN PSYCH FEST PHOTOS ON CONSEQUENCE OF SOUND & READ A RAD REVIEW!

Yee haw! I finished last FRIDAY'S Austin Psych Fest photos today, but will put them up in the (later) morning, since I am now LOOPY with eyestrain and happiness about how they turned out. While I enjoy a fermented beverage and sleep for a few hours, please to enjoy this mega-sweet review on Consequence of Sound from my Florida pal David von Bader while viewing some nice shots I contributed (and one from more Florida friends, Rock Cousteau)! Click the link RIGHT HERE! Thank you!

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AUSTIN PSYCH FEST 2013, DAY ONE, PART ONE: GARY WAR, BASS DRUM OF DEATH, THE BESNARD LAKES, & VIETNAM!

Back home in Seattle after my trippy trip down to Austin, Texas to attend the amazing Austin Psych Fest 2013! All in all, I photographed 25 bands, ate chicken in a waffle (twice), survived a downpour which resulted in a (temporary) field of clay soup, procured another drawing of a dog in a party hat for Miss Ten, made many new friends, saw old friends, and, as I fully expected, saw and heard a stunning and diverse musical lineup that was pretty much MADE FOR ME. I wish I had been triplets so I could've seen all the bands on all three stages, I truly do, for I am only one of me and couldn't be everywhere and I know I missed some insanely good performances. What I can tell you is that the 25 I saw were all fantastic. When does that happen, folks, huh??? JOY! (As always, click on the photos to enlarge and go to Flickr for more!)

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PHOTOS: RAIN PARADE @ AUSTIN PSYCH FEST KICK-OFF PARTY, RED 7, AUSTIN, TEXAS 4/25/13

Today I bring you the last photo set from the Kick-Off Party at Red 7 for Austin Psych Fest 2013...ladies and gentlemen, it's Rain Parade! Once members of the 1980s "Paisley Underground" scene in Los Angeles, they recently reunited after decades and lemme tell ya, they sounded like they never quit for a minute. As much as I dug the music, I appreciated even more how delighted they seemed at the enthusiastic crowd at Red 7, and how happy they seemed to just be playing together again. Awesome, guys.

Click on the photos to enlarge and go RIGHT HERE to Flickr to see more! Later, groovers!

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PHOTOS: FAIRFIELD PARLOUR (W. PETER DALTREY), ALLAH-LAS @ AUSTIN PSYCH FEST KICK-OFF PARTY, RED 7, AUSTIN, TEXAS 4/25/13

How can one be both incredibly busy and incredibly slow? By one being ME, that's how! Anyway, a long, fabulous day of music and photographing music at Austin Psych Fest 2013 was had by ME yesterday, and I'm working as hard as I can to get the evidence up and processed! Today, two more bands from Thursday night's Kick-Off Party at Red 7: Fairfield Parlour, performing with Peter Daltrey of the legendary UK psychedelic band Kaleidoscope, and L.A.'s coolest pop-psych-folk boss combo, Allah-Las. Crowds loved both bands -- lots of smiles and cheers! Click on the photos to enlarge and go to the Flickr sets for more! Back with more pixel fun tomorrow (and for MANY more days)!

(Fairfield Parlour Flickr set)

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PHOTOS: CHATHAM RISE, AUSTIN PSYCH FEST KICK-OFF PARTY, RED 7, AUSTIN, TEXAS 4/25/13, PART ONE

Wow! Hit the ground running at the fab Austin Psych Fest happening RIGHT NOW in (where else) Austin, Texas! We got to the kick-off parties in downtown Austin last night just in time to see a handful of bands at Red 7, but MAN! All great! I am rushing to get out the door now to get to the fest today, but here's a few photos of Minneapolis shoegaze trippers Chatham Rise, who played a strong, well-received set. Click HERE for more on Flickr! Be back soon with MORE MORE MORE!

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MY THREE FAVORITE TRAVEL CONVERSATIONS THIS MORNING

#1: On the way to the airport:

Car Service Driver:

Me:

#2: In the security line:

Preschool-Age Boy: Mama! Mama! I gotta go pee! RIGHT NOW!! Mama!!

Mama, also pushing a stroller with two very fidgety toddler twins: Listen, Mister! You're gonna have to WAIT! You just pinch your ping-pong until we get out of this line!!!

#3: Middle-aged man and very elderly woman waiting at the gate:

M.A. Man: I like Alaska better than American.

V.E. Woman: Alpaca??

M.A. Man: A-LAS-KA. AIRLINES.

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HAROLD LLOYD''S "GIRL SHY" (1924)

I have been a huge fan of silent film legend Harold Lloyd since I was a young teenager, and saw "The World Of Harold Lloyd" compilation reruns on TV. To me, Harold was the Beatles of the silent era: for a time in the 1920s, he was the most-popular film star in the world, with his films out-grossing those of Charlie Chaplin and Buston Keaton combined. I found his movies to be funny, charming, clever, romantic, and optimistic, with the added bonus of unparalleled thrilling stuntwork that Lloyd did himself. I kinda had a crush on the guy, 50 years after his films were made, and can remember asking my Grandma Lizzie to tell me what she remembered about seeing his films (she was born in 1892, Lloyd in 1893). She was bemused that her granddaughter was asking about such ancient history. When I found out that he had died a few years before in 1971, I was a little crushed. I had hoped to write him a letter and tell him that his films were still beloved, and he was not forgotten.

Anyway, I encourage anyone who is a movie fan to wind up the way-back machine and enjoy my very-fave Harold Lloyd film of them all, 1924's "Girl Shy." A bonus for watching this copy is that you can learn Spanish from the extra subtitles! Click on the link below to go to the YouTube and please to enjoy!

"Girl Shy," 1924 (complete)

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BEYONCE SAYS "NO PHOTOGRAPHERS," BUT HERE'S MISS TEN'S ILLUSTRATION TO HELP!

Oh, dear. I guess music superstar Beyonce was truly upset by what she considered to be "unflattering" photos taken of her at Super Bowl 2013. If you might recall the brou-ha-ha of a couple months ago, Beyonce's publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, immediately sent out take-down notices to any and all news or wire services, online publications, and to photographers themselves upon seeing the pictures of the lovely Beyonce in full rockin'-out action, complete with wild faces and flexin' muscles. It's all part of a passionate performance, right? Well, not to Ms. Noel-Schure and her apparently very unhappy and very powerful client. Even image giant Getty pulled many of the photos, no doubt to appease the PR gods, lest they pull photographer access in a future revenge mode.

UH OH, Getty. Now look what Beyonce has done! The contract currently being distributed to promotors for Beyonce's next tour specifies that NO PROFESSIONAL PHOTOGRAPHERS will be allowed AT ALL for her entire 2013 world tour! Sorry, reviewers, sorry public, you are just going to have to make do with only the approved downloadable photos from Beyonce's public relations folks. And sorry, pro photogs, that's just one more time you won't be able to make the tiny amount of money you might -- might -- have made by taking photos of a popular performer, performing in public in a news-worthy way.

But Miss Ten and I want to help! My artistic daughter has kindly drawn this image of Beyonce, which is downloadable on Flickr and has a "attribution, non-derivative Creative Commons" license on it, which means any publication that might be in need of a photo of Beyonce may publish her drawing for free just by giving credit and not changing it!

We sincerely hope that this assists our media friends.

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FESTIVAL PREVIEW: AUSTIN PSYCH FEST, CARSON CREEK RANCH, AUSTIN, TEXAS, APRIL 26-28, 2013

For months now, I have been babbling like a STONE COLD LUNATIC to anyone who will listen to me about HOW VERY STOKED I AM to be going to Austin Psych Fest this year! For anyone who loves garage, punk, and psychedelic music, new and old, this festival is absolutely not to be missed -- the lineup is so unbelievably packed with amazing bands, I may get there and run in circles foaming at the mouth at so much greatness in one place! It's a dream gathering for me as both a music fan and music photographer, and I promise that I will be working my ass off this week to get you the best coverage I can. But I really want YOU to GO, too! If you have any way to get there, you will be amply rewarded with a beautiful new fest site at the gorgeous Carson Creek Ranch (only five minutes from Austin's Bergstrom International Airport), and mind-blowing performances. LOOK at this stack of talent!!!

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PHOTOS & SHOW REVIEW: THE INTELLIGENCE, DAYDREAM MACHINE, & PARTMAN PARTHORSE @ CHOP SUEY, SEATTLE 4/20/13

I went to bed last night smiling, I woke up smiling, and am still smiling many hours later. I may look like a DAMN FOOL, but that's what kind of night it was as The Intelligence, one of my very super-favorite bands of all time, played Seattle's Chop Suey club on a drizzly Saturday night. The last time I saw smartypants bandleader Lars Finberg, it was during our wild, weird, and wonderful Florida "Velvet Underground" show trip, where he performed with West Palm Beach's Cop City Chill Pillars. I was FIRED UP to hear Lars play his own songs again, because I like them all. That's really handy. The room was filled with friends, bands, friends in bands, friends who used to be in a band, bands that used to be friends, friends that I haven't met yet, and a few other people that smelled like the hot dog stand outside the club door. It was a happy, very Seattle, scene.

(The Intelligence, Chop Suey, Seattle 4/20/13)

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PHOTOS: FOUND VINTAGE SLIDES, 1950s ROADTRIP AND "MIKE'S PLACE"

Here's the last installment of the mid-century vintage transparencies I bought at a recent Seattle flea market (click to see the first, a California vacation, and the second, "On The Farm")! The final seven slides are marked "Mike's Place," and a couple others look like they were on the way to Mike's Place, or maybe The Farm, or maybe even California! We can probably never know. These, too, were in pretty rough shape, but I still find them pretty cool. Please to enjoy!

We saw this lady on The Farm. Now she is by The Ocean!

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MAYBE IT'S JUST ME, BUT I AM NOT REJOICING TONIGHT

I don't know.

Maybe it's just me.

Maybe it's just me that feels numb and depressed, even though one of the Boston Marathon bombing suspects is dead and can never hurt anyone again, and his brother/accomplice is in FBI custody.

Maybe it's just me that does find relief that these two can no longer terrorize an entire major U.S. metropolitan area, but cannot join in with the party-style cheers and smiles and chants of "USA USA USA."

Maybe it's just me that appreciates that Boston law enforcement admirably handled the manhunt with precision and restraint, but knows that the cheering residents of Watertown, MA. will probably go back to cursing them out for giving them speeding tickets in a month or so.

Maybe it's just me that suspects there is little joy in the households of all those families who must live with the still-fresh agony of knowing their loved ones experienced a monstrous death, or are now permanently and horribly disfigured or disabled.

Maybe it's just me that thinks about the black-hearted in the world who cheer at American tragedies, for they feel we don't care about them at best, and decimate them at worst.

Maybe it's just me that accepts that our government has done wrong, but also knows that there is no excuse for perpetuating evil on any side, for any reason, for any cause.

Maybe it's just me that thinks that we have a worldwide "perfect storm" situation that will cause more and more young men of any skin color or belief systen to be radicalized, and will strike out at us again, and again.

Maybe it's just me who knows that the NRA and the GOP must be clapping their hands, for a fearful society will buy more guns out of panic, and vote for those who will demonize all immigrants.

Maybe it's just me that can see both a sick, reprehensible sociopath in Dzhokhar Tsarnaev, and a face of a 19-year-old child who looks like he could be one of my son's friends.

I don't know.

I just know that I am sad.

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PHOTOS: BEACH DAY @ THE SUNSET TAVERN, SEATTLE, WA. 4/17/13

I was especially happy to head on over to the Sunset in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood last night to catch the very first Seattle appearance of my Florida friends, Beach Day! The trio (Kimmy Drake, guitar and vocals, Natalie Smallish, bass and vocals, and Skylar Black) is true to their name, combining the crunchy reverb, single-line guitar runs and thumping drums of classic surf rock with the sweet harmonies of early '60s girl groups, but with a modern garage edge. Think Gidget meets the Gories, or Lesley Gore kidnapped by the Black Lips. Take a listen to "Boys," their awesome latest single on Kanine Records:




Their first album on Kanine, Trip Trap Attack, is due out on June 18th, which you may order from Kanine, Amazon, or iTunes, and SHOULD DO SO, so your summer can be extra-mega-GOOD!

The band played a great set, and I really hope they can get back here soon! Here's some of the photos that I took, and you can see the full set on Flickr if you click RIGHT HERE! Click to enlarge and please to enjoy!

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NEW JOB OPENINGS! MEMBER OF UNITED STATES CONGRESS! APPLY NOW!

The United States of America*, a rapidly-growing country of approximately 314,914,040, of which  169,000,000 are registered voters, is seeking highly-motivated, intelligent, team-oriented men and women to serve their nation in the high-profile, full-time, voter-renewable capacity of Congressperson. These positions are based in Washington, D.C., a vibrant, fast-paced city known for its many vital American institutions and landmarks and Power-Broker Happy Hours. The job provides the following benefits:

• Annual salary of $174,200 (Majority and Minority Leaders receive $193,400; Speaker of the House receives $223,500) with an annual cost-of-living increase;
• Pension and other Retirement benefits;
• Health and Life Insurance benefits;
• A Members' Representational Allowance (MRA) for personnel, office, and mail allowances, with an average allowance per member per year of $1,353,205;
• Free federal building office space in Washington, D.C. and members' home states, ranging from 5000-8000 square feet, completely furnished, plus allowance for a Mobile Office Space;
• Innumerable other perks, such a designated parking, dedicated underlings, and good restaurant seating.

In order to form a more perfect union, qualified candidates will:

• Be able to read and write at a college level, be able to fully understand as well as draft complex legislative documents, and be able to speak at length about these documents;
• Keep current with ongoing State, National, and World news;
• Have a strong interest in protecting and providing for the overall well-being, safety, and human rights of all the citizens of their States, the Nation, and the World;
• Will be able to transition successfully between roles as a flexible member of a team and a dynamic, persuasive leader;
• Will be responsive to the issues and concerns of all of their constituents;
• Will conduct themselves in a manner befitting a representative of of the people and the trust those people place therein, including the ability to completely avoid sex scandals, party-line sheep voting, media blocking, the necessity to attend a rehab facility, bloated progress-retarding filibusters, and hostile, ignorant, sexist, racist, homophobic, or vulgar expressions;
• Will accept no illegal compensation of any kind, now or promised in the future, from powerful lobbyists, underhanded corporations, or deep-pocketed creepy campaign donors; must have unshakable and "un-buyable" personal integrity;
• Will tell the truth to the American people, even though it may be received poorly, be unpopular, or may cost the Congressperson a second term in office;
• Must be a person of determination, vision, strength and action in the face of endemic corruption and  extreme, constant political and personal pressure.

Interested candidates may visit your State's Republican, Democratic, or Independent headquarters to find out how to begin the process of rebuilding America's broken justice system. Apply today!

*The United States of America is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Ha ha, just kidding. Good luck, though!

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PHOTOS: FOUND VINTAGE SLIDES, 1950s "ON THE FARM"

Today I bring you a few more of the '50s vintage transparencies I got at a local flea market! The first installment was apparently a little trip to Southern California -- I'm really only guessing with the locale and the era here, because there was no information provided with the slides...other than this:

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