Tag Archives: music

LIVE

oh what a world

voice of an angel

The day after Mardi Gras was sedate as expected. The day was left open for chrisglass who had returned to St. Louis the day before but was shacked up in a hotel with his significant-elsewhere enjoying some quality time you can’t quite have when you’re on an air mattress at a friend’s house.

Sadly some things came up back home and Glass had to book out early so our planned evening of him joining us to see “Rufus Wainwright” turned into just us three.

This was our first concert at “The Pageant”, a new theater rehab project in “The University City Loop”. Within spitting distancconcert tickete of Washington University, (the ivy league of the midwest), “The Loop” is your typical bohemian hotspot turned Kentucky Fried Yup. It’s a LOT different now than I remember from college ten years ago – but the hood “has” kept some of it’s original charm. (Street musicians, good used record store, etc).

The venue is great. It’s laid out sort of like an oversized cabaret with cocktail tables and stools. The perfect, “snugly” venue to see a personable act like Wainright.

Rufus was personable and flaming as usual. We saw him a couple of years ago at a tinnier place where we damn near sat on the piano bench with him. Nonetheless – it was as if you’re campy friend from out of town was back and picked up the conversation right where you left off.

The show was great… I do have to confess though, while I “do” like his music – I’ve got about an hour and ten minute threshold and I did find myself starting to fidget by 90 minutes in. The two encores were worth it though – and his closing song, a sneak-peek of a new track he’s dedicated to the folks in SF getting married – was very touching.

Unlike so many concerts I go to these days, I didn’t feel like the old-fart in the crowd. The attendees ranged from emaciated emos to folks in their 50’s.

We left for home humming.. “Men reading fashion magazines…… Oh what a world…..”

Damn – I got that song in my head again! arrrgh.

I can’t blog right now – I have Rufus in my ears.

LIVE

rut

yawn

I think we’re getting into a night-time rut… MarioKartâ„¢ is the most potent video crack we’ve ever tasted.

Kevin and Chad have now played so much that they’ve beaten every race, unlocked every character and special course.

They’re now bored with the notoriously “shiny” Nintendo soundtrack so now they’ve taken to listening to CDs while playing – and have determined their own soundtracks for the different courses.

The Desert Theme Track: Pet Shop Boys – Home & Dry (remix)
The City Street Theme Track: L7 – Shitlist
The Bowser Castle Theme Track: Patti Smith – Rock n’ Roll Nigger
and so on….

knotty yawn

Our television isn’t big enough for all three of us to play effectively – and I suck compared to them – so I’ll busy myself elsewhere.

That cats seem to be developing a complex about the little attention monopolizing black box. One of them chewed through one of the controller’s cables the other day.

Leave it to the pets to come up with the most direct approach.

I just sigh a lot out-loud, take photos and have one-sided conversations… Damn you to hell Mario.

I’m bitching.. not blogging.

design, WORK

favors

suthukuzi, seen by suzy

Sunday was an exercise in distraction from what’s normally my coveted day of rest.

Got up early and ran to my dad’s house to put some software on his newly acquired G5. What was initially intended to be a 45 minute visit turned into two hours as I wrestled with drivers to make his scanner and printer work with Panther.

Returned home to pick up the boys and head to Sonic for a tasty brunch and then to Borders to replenish our readables at the house.

Got home in time for my ritual Sunday nap to be awoken later by a phone call from my mom’s friend Suzy Gorman who is undisputedly the top fashion photographer in St. Louis.

Apparently she had an emergency gig that a less reliable graphic designer had dropped the ball on. Not having anyone else to turn to, she called me in a panic.

She was leaving in 9 hours to deliver photos, CDs and press kits for her friend Suthukuzi Arozi, an African celebrity / singer who’s recently come to the US and is currently touring with The Lion King.

Feeling charitable, and a certain degree of mishpochah, I agreed to meet her at my office.

Suzy…. Half Chinese, half mixed anglo with long, straight jet black hair and a decidedly blue-collar sense of fashion. Mannerism? – Think Patti Smith.

album covers

She jumped from her vintage Suburban, materials in-hand, cursing the designer that had failed her.. Suzy’s got a mouth on her that would make the saltiest of sea dogs blush.

Between “cunt” “bitch” “fuck” – she was able to articulate the project and we got to work.

In the next four hours we cranked out a bio sheet, packaging and labeling for the stack of promotional CDs she had brought.

Between running prints we got a chance to shoot the shit, which was nice. We hadn’t really had any “hang out” time before.

By the time is was all said and done – I didn’t get my ass in bed till 2am. It’s o.k. though – because I got to cultivate a friendship with another unique person to add to my collection of strange friends.

Plus it’s reassuring professionally to have the city’s top fashion shooter owing me big time favors.

Between prints I showed her some of my photo work which she said she liked. (deeply flattering) – I explained most of my photos were for this trendy online journal thing which I don’t do.