Orchard Road ShowR.I.P. Radio
Posted on September 17, 2021
The movie “Contact” was both good – and bad, but most of it was good. I especially liked the opening scene where Radio and TV signals were travelling out into outer space – to be heard by aliens I suppose. They were from every decade since radio was invented – but more so commercial radio.
When I was a kid there still was music even on AM radio, but FM was where the cool kids hung out. AM had local news and I remember listening to WHO from Des Moines and “The Farm Report” and WSM and The Grande Ol’ Opry. FM had “album rock” which was great.
I know FM was still good through the 80’s, but with syndication, talk radio and then even MTV switching to “reality shows”, that was it. Radio, and even TV as we knew it was strangled and left for dead. I think in the 90’s.
Luckily, College and some PBS stations kept a very thin candle burning.
From 2001 – 2016 I relived what was the absolute last gasp of my personal radio romance. It was fun and I’m so thankful I squeezed every last drop out of my Ham Radio hobby.
YouTube and Satellite Radio is excellent for finding new music and internet “radio” has way more selection than AM or FM, but there was that indescribable “charm”.
Anyway, tomorrow – or Sunday – I have another photo shoot lined up – the third in the 666 series. The theme is a Halloween inspired theme, where the spooky headstone is for Radio.
Death Whistle Express
Posted on September 16, 2021
I came across a video explaining and blowing an Aztec Death Whistle. If you want a Halloween Fright, there it is. It’s amazing. Search for it on YouTube.
Today’s song was written with the three trees I planted a few years back in my mind’s eye – and this year they have the best fall colors yet. Gorgeous.
I’m a sucker for fall colors – so much so, I subscribe to the Maine Foliage Report, which is sent via email starting September 15th and goes through part or all of October.
Fall colors are super in New England, but they only last 6 weeks max. Here we don’t have the overwhelming color, but what we do have lasts until Christmas. If you like pockets of awesome stretched out for months, Lamorinda is a great place.
The temperature was only 70 today. Just a perfect day. I see up in far Northern California and Oregon they expect an early Fall storm with (hopefully) a good soaking.
I can’t wait for the rain.
Lenore
Posted on September 13, 2021
Todays Imaginary Puppet Theatre’s (IPT) Show is an adaptation of Edgar Alan Poe’s “The Raven” – but it concentrates on his wife who died at age 24 of tuberculosis – (which is what his Mother also died of when he was only 2 years old). He references his wife using many different names throughout his work. It seems to have been a factor in driving him mad – leading to a very sad ending to his life. Its amazing he even lasted until he was 40. Many famous Rock stars seem to have made it only to age 27 . . . .
The song is a funeral dirge – since Poe wrote many stories and stories about the loss of his young wife.
You might now have figured out that my “Modus Operandi” is that the puppet theatre and everything in it is an Assemblage. And that then is a still life for my photography. Music just happens – sometimes they mesh, but to have a sound track seems to be a good thing, regardless of whether they mesh or not.
This is the Second in the 666 series – the second photo shoot and second song in 6 weeks . . .
Nevermore
Posted on September 11, 2021
I’ve been doing my usual annual reading of Edgar Allan Poe this (almost) Autumn, and I can see clearly that I identify much more with his poetry than his short stories. I love his poetry – its just so much easier to read and flows in a way where I can stay with it.
His short stories are awesome, but it requires that I double down and concentrate on / understand each sentence.
He did write using a device he called “Unity of Effect” – so that is what throws me – his “economy of words” almost ends up being encoded in a dialect of English I’m unfamiliar with. Of course, Reading Makes Perfect….. I think these short stories are so [eloquent, efficient, dense] that they end up cutting too close to the bone – where I feel I’m reading the ravings of a mad man. Therein lies the rub.
His poetry hits the mark for me because there is breathing room – you know the guy is mad (crazy?) but for some reason it never crosses that lunatic fringe line that I feel his stories do. I will re-read his short stories and see if I can better understand his approach.
He had a very sad life, but did create great works including (to my great surprise) scientific writing, including his take on The Big Bang Theory at a time when others were also just starting to write about it.
Anyway, Tomorrows (second) installment will be (loosely) based on Nevermore. I might even do two versions paying homage to The Raven.
Stay tuned.
Fire Throwing Clowns
Posted on September 10, 2021
I can’t help myself – the news just keeps getting more Dada and Surreal. And funny as all hell – in a creepy Halloween sort of way.
There was a story of a woman in Arizona who quit her job to work on the Fraudit. She asked if The National Guard could protect them from Black Lives Matter snipers and Fire Throwing Clowns.
Since MAGA is just a new Doomsday Cult (they literally are drinking the Ivermectin Kool Aid as they did in Jonestown), and so I thought what if they were like The Jahovas Witnesses, going door to door with their version of The Watchtower – no words, but a “Big Book of Donald” coloring book.
When MAGAT "Patriots" call
Be sure to lock your door
Their shirts are Kolored brown
They look for Kindred Klowns
They come to spread the news
Red Gospel to the Blues
Space lasers from the Jews
They seem to be confused
Their sycophantic lust
The vaccine they don't trust
Ivermectin or bust
Makes their bodies rust
Chorus
When they knock your door
They you must ignore
Keep it locked real tight
Until they're out of sight
Halloween 666 Series, Part One
Posted on September 7, 2021
I will have a series of 6 Halloween Scenes, with 6 songs, and Its just over 6 weeks until Halloween.
Twelve String Autumn
Posted on September 4, 2021
I found more little hints of fall along my bike ride today. I also cut and painted what will become the Imaginary Puppet Theatre full moon with bats from a few blog posts ago. Big excitement here in Orinda this holiday weekend! Man, its so nice when you’re in your own world and loving it.
Today’s song is part of a love affair I’m having with my 12 String guitar because it somehow is lush like the Fall Colors.
I’ll do another photo shoot Sunday – it will be an early Halloween post, then I will probably do a Thanksgiving “pageant” set and finally Christmas. Stay tuned.
Fall Leaves
Posted on September 3, 2021
There is one time every year where the natural beauty is so great, I swear to God I almost believe in God (again).
You know what, nature’s beauty always reminds me that “God” got the big bang started that led to all this beauty. Beauty that man can’t create himself. It truly is other worldly.
Today’s song is more folksy, and I think more fitting for fall leaves. This fall weather and pageant has me in a great thankful mood to try to write some pretty songs.
Then I’m sure Halloween will have it’s usual effect on me.
For several years now, my absolute favorite holiday is Thanksgiving. We do give thanks, and yes, for family, friends, the bounty of the earth and whomever or whatever did create all of this. I’m sure it’s something no one on earth really truly knows, and you know what, I like a good mystery every now and then.
The Psychobilly Train
Posted on August 12, 2021
I’m really getting into Psychobilly and anything alto country, alt-americana. The more twisted, the better…
Pick Your Poison!
Posted on August 16, 2021
Today’s photo shoot is about choices we make in life – good or bad. We have a lot more control over what we do than we think – but sometimes its a windy path and a lot of hard work and patience – both seem to have withered with the advent of the Internet and its “always on” and “swipe left or right” instant gratification. At its worst – it encourages a dangerous “Groupthink” that can be downright deadly.
Witness the rise in Covid in Florida and other states (now leading the world) – and this shouldn’t even be happening – we have been blessed with having the vaccine since Spring. Other countries still don’t have it. I’ve been amazed at how people will give up their basic human instincts to stay alive based on something they read, saw or heard on the Internet. But also – how selfish some people are. If they contract a preventable disease that they could have prevented – fuck ’em, the planet needs fewer people. But they have relatives that probably wish they would have made better choices, and more importantly – these selfish bastards are preventing others from being able to go to the hospital – and causing undo stress on first line health care workers.
The Internet was NOT supposed to usher in American Idiocracy – but it has. Its most ironic that the Internet was conceived by people who thought it would make people smarter – not dumber.
Morbid, dark, American Gothic Humor is what keeps me sane regarding this situation . . . Watch the Mike Judge movie “Idiocracy” and also Google “The Church of The Subgenius”. You’ll thank me…
Category: Art, Assemblage, Biography, Camera, Country Gothic, Dada, Demo Tapes, Marionettes, Miniatures, Music, Photography, Social Commentary, Social Justice, Song, Surrealism Tagged: Alt-Americana, Camera, Death, Demo Tapes, Gothic, Marionettes, Music, Photography, Psychobilly, Puppets, Radio, Rockabilly
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