Not One Bit Tired

There's a lot going on around here these days. Last night Kim, M (a co-worker) and I went to Hyperlink to see/hear Marionette, The Keyons, and The Rabbits play. Overall, the show was good (as I get older I like live music more- I think it's b/c I spend 40 hrs/week engulfed by work and 3.5 hrs. engulfed by feedback is a nice change). Marionette is the (self described) "high-maintenance rock band of Richmond" which means that these guys practice 3 days a week, and are very serious about making sure that all 3000 of their instruments are in perfect working order and that their sound is impeccable. For a band that hasn't taken nearly enough opportunities to cut their teeth, they sounded great last night. Although it's admittedly difficult for me to be at all objectivce (I'm crazy about at least two of the band members), I think they do a damn good version of the "I'm-a-sensitive-man-I'll-admit-to-liking-the-harmonies (and not only the theremin)-of-Pet- Sounds-and-I-hope-that-music-can-mean-something-more-than-all-of-this-version of rock and roll". There were a lot of highlights but the ones that stand out were the songs "The Siren" (Todd and Kevin's harmony in the outro!) and Marshall's sad Wilco, Songs Ohia tune where again, Kevin comes in like an angel.

Damn.

It also helped that the two bands that preceded them seemed as if they concentrate more on drinking than they do playing their noise machines.

FURTHER, my pal Christopher Wiedeman- a former classmate, assistant to my maintenance-man ass, and colleague, and I are in the throes of preparing for an installation that opens here in Richmond October 27 (6-8 pm). We're transforming a storage shed/garage that is slated for demolition in a few months. Indoors, Christopher is involved in a pretty complicated installation that involves his jack hammering a 6' hole into the floor of the structure, video and audio. I'll be wheat-pasting over 130 color photographs to the outside of the shed. We are both excited and terrified about what we're doing. I think there is a really healthy amount of knowing and complete ignorance in what each of us are doing. For me, this will be the first time that I've shown any of my work that looks a hell of a lot like what's featured here. Christopher went to school for philosophy so this will only be his second or third show- ever. And it's the first time he's ever used a jack hammer (elegant was my word of choice but then again I spend all day thinking about ART). We've set up a blog and I'll be posting images of the installation's progress. Check that out here and let me know what you think. If any of you have a chance to make it here for the opening, please come and know that there is room for you to sleep, food for you to eat, beer for you to drink.

My former student (and current friend), Ed is having an opening at the Allegany Arts Council in Cumberland, MD next Saturday and everyone in the tri-state region (and Georgia!) is excited. Ed was an English major at Frostburg State University who, by chance took a photo class, loved it and after graduating went to a special photo-tech school in Ohio for two years. I love Ed. When I was teaching, Ed was great at keeping me in check. Being a college "prof", it's so easy to be wishy-washy and to abuse your power. Ed was always honest and outspoken during class and would ( I think) inadvertently call me out on my discrepancies. Ed was also the total spazz student that couldn't sit still and would huff and puff through the 3+ hours of Tuesday night classes. Ed is thrilled about all of the people that will be coming together to see his work- I think he has his heart smack dab in the right place. The weekend is going to be intense- I haven't been to Frostburg since New Year's, and Todd and I are playing at the coffee shop where years ago we met (with Jon Felton and his Soulmobile), then there's Ed's show on Saturday and then (hopefully) another gig - or song or two- before the Lyric Fire and The Royal Army Recording Company. Frostburg fun.

Frostburg -my sweet- I miss you, and can't wait to walk your steep streets, hug your precious cargo, and wish I were one of your pigeons.

Finally, on the way home from work today I took a detour and explored the "light industrial" area that lies between Hermitage Road, Leigh Street, and I-95. It's a nasty area and I could write about if for days. But pictures will have to do...