Open

Live Music

Being a new parent and home owner I end up missing (and don't have the time for) a lot of music shows. Domestication has it's benefits, but it comes with a price.

Fortunately, I made this show. The last night Dave Johnson played at the Java Hut he deviated from playing with his band to using his electric guitar to lay warm ambient layers of sound mesmerizing everyone in the audience. People listening were hooked enough that when he would stop a "song" the room just didn't feel right. In a matter of minutes, Dave had brought back a feeling, that had been previously pioneered by the Tangerine Dream during the 1970's, and gave it to those consumed in conversation and listening.

The Java Hut had a knack for musically mining the town of Worcester and hauling gems onto its stage on a consist basis. This night Dave played for my first exhibit at the Hut called 3. Dave and his wife are the elements in the group called Against The Green.

Annie and the Cowboy

The row of syrups in the top left are called Monin syrups. The problem with Dunkin' Donuts is they are too cheap to stock their shelves with the good stuff. Even Starbucks doesn't have that caliber syrup. But the Java Hut did.

Here are two stars that served up excellent espresso drinks and meals. I was really impressed when the Cowboy handed me a foamy hot espresso that was from a HAND PUMPED Rancilio espresso machine.

Rice School

I've always had trouble reading. That is until I found blogs to my liking and books within my interests. I'd say Sarah Hatter's blog is one of the better well written blogs I've found in the past few years. I'm almost done with 'On Photography' by Susan Sontag, and although it is written in a linear format, she still packs a punch with references from the early phases of photography to now. Turning the perspective of the medium every chapter as each generation casts it's vote on what is beautiful.

I didn't notice this the first 8 times I saw this pic, but there is a small and ominous 'no trespassing' sign on the brick school.

Plant behind roman shades

Window

Taken from the parking lot across from the new court house on Main Street.

Homeless

This man is persistent and he has faith. I've taken this exit (I think it's 12) off 290E several times and I've seen homeless people and signs telling commuters not to give money to homeless people. Eventually those signs are torn down and homeless people return to beg. This gentleman's sign says, "HOMELESS PLEASE HELP FOR ... GOD BLESS YOU. THANKS".

It seems fitting that someone has placed a Martin Luther King Jr. sticker on the left.

Hours

It's important to separate man-hours from dog-hours, clock-hours, or computer-hours.
This was seen across the street from the new court house on Main street.

at&t

Light inside the boat at Vernon Street Hotel

Dave Johnson invited me to an open mic in Vernon Street hotel a few months ago. I showed up after a company party and ordered a really really bad beer. I thought ordering Sam Adams on tap was fool proof. Well I was the fool after Dave told me they don't regularly clean the tap lines. They exchanged my rotten beer for a bottled Killians and proceeded to walk into a ship.

It wasn't a spaceship (although I kinda wish it was), but a wooden ship forged to the side of the hotel. The person who hosted the open mic called himself Angry Dick, but I'll refer to him as Rich. Mr. Rich told me the ship was one of the first places in Worcester used to book meetings, shows, and other events.

In the ship, each booth had the light seen in the picture and the booths are separated by curved slabs of wood. The entire area smelled like old beer and wood.

Unlike the open mike's I was used to at the Java Hut (20-30 people itching to get on stage), this open mike had 4 people play total. Rich, some other dude, dave, and penny. These performances were tossed into youtube somewhere, but I couldn't find them.

Max (1/?)

Having one child and the potential complications that go along with graduating that child into an unpredictable world in a predictable space takes more effort than I anticipated. I figured raising and living with my child would be difficult but rewarding. In reality the difficulty comes from me stretching to understand pain expressed in a quiet but far reaching cry. Interpreting not only my child, but my wife as she passed through moments of what seems to be unending undulating pain in the delivery room.

When my wife, Alyssa, had contractions she would squeeze my hand to have something tangible and physical to hold helping her to endure the internal pain of active labor. I was fortunate enough to see a chart of each contraction that would spike when Alyssa's contraction peaked in intensity (Alyssa would clench my fist during this period) and flatten out when the contraction neared it's end, tying me in a profound way to the initial and painful sacrifice necessary for birth. I mistakenly figured the times between contractions were times for Alyssa to rest free of discomfort.

When Max was born, I looked forward to performing an amazing rite -- watching a child clench it's fist on my finger. The feeling is always surprising to me because I get to understand the contrast between soft fresh skin and the force coming from a newborn's hand over an inch of space.

ojos (8/9)

We were waiting for our quesedillas, fries, and burrito at Tortilla Sams and I took a couple shots while we sat by the window.

This photo stood out and made me think of perceived reality, dreams, and dream recorders.

Penny's last dream:

"
I was applying for a job at building 19 and as part of the interview i had to eat an entire tub of sour cream. i woke up soooo nauseas.
"

Java Hut

I've heard from Dave Johnson that the Java Hut is gone. It was a great place to get hand pumped espresso and meet the most creative people in the area. I've seen several shows + there was just show much art flowing off their stage and sticking to the walls that it's sad to see it go. I'll be checking my archives for photo's I've taken of the Hut and sticking them here soon.

I've posted the Java Hut flyers I could find here.

The Johnsons are leaving town (1/9)

I had the honor of spending time with the Johnsons last Saturday. They are my artsy buddies from the central mass area. Dave is on the left, Penny's in the back and I'm on the right. Without them, I wouldn't have known about these musicians:

- Glen Hansard + Marketa Irglova's and their movie ONCE.
- Elliot Smith.
- Paul McCartney's solo work.
- Sigur Ros.
- Camera Obscura.
- Joe Renzoni.
- Bright Eyes.

There are several other bands+musicians+poets+amazing people (i.e. Chris Altman, Tim Scott, Eric & Hilary L'Esperance, Chrissy, Brian, Raven) they've connected me to and they'll all have special places in my life thanks to Dave and Penny.

The campfires, the sage, the open mikes, the music shows, the galleries, the home brew, the parties, the weird videos, the cookouts, the camping, and all the other good times were all because of you. These next few posts are from one of the last few times I'll be with them while they are in the area. : (

These two are really into listening and making music. Along the right side of this page you'll see 3 of Dave's songs. Buy 'em if you like 'em!

Mouth of the can

Looks like the liquid came out of the can!

yellow berry

In a boat room.

I spent a couple hours visiting Worcester's Vernon St. Motel in a place used for functions, Wednesday night open mike's, and critiques for songwriters. The place is made from the hull of a mahogany boat with little circular lights all along the walls. I asked my friends Dave and Penny to look at each other during these shots.

Archive: Java hut Coffee House exhibit

This is from my March 07 exhibit in Worcester, Ma. It was a great night just because I got to put my ideas on the wall of a stellar and creative local coffee house. The exhibit was a photoshopped collage of images I'd taken during the first months with my SLR camera. Most of the images were taken on the west coast in Washington state. The top left, top right, and middle right images were sold! The other 5 images are in my basement.

Spiral Branch