Thinking About My Grandmother

Lessie Cameron Graham.

This ceramic dog planter sat on her mantelpiece in the dining room for as long as I can remember. Maybe someone gave it to her full of flowers when my Great Grandmother Ada passed away in 1971, I don't know. But when my father asked me if I wanted anything, this is what I asked for.

She would have never approved of this soundtrack, but I do...

She was heavy...even at 85 pounds.

I can see her in her kitchen right now, baking biscuits and telling me to be "good."

And it is breaking my heart.

I didn't cry when she died. She lived to be 94. That's badass. And the way she went out is legendary. I just tried to help my Dad, an only child, get through it.

But I'm crying now.

It's about time.

I miss her.

Cover Star: My Kitchen on President Street, 2011
Headlining Band: The Giraffes, RIP

James M. Graham, Website
James M. Graham, Tumblr
James M. Graham, Monograph

It's Really Difficult To Look Into The Lens End of a Camera and Find the Truth

"Music, did you say 'music'? Yeah, you know, it's funny. It's a lot like that. It's a lot like the distant chaos of an orchestra tuning up. And then somebody waves a magic wand. And all of those notes start to slide into place. And a grotesque, screetching cacophony becomes a single melody..."

Cover Star: Rachel, 2011
Headlining Band: The Giraffes (live), RIP

James M. Graham, Website
James M. Graham, Tumblr
James M. Graham, Monograph

The Right Direction

My neighbors hate me...

...I won't be here for much longer.

I want the best for me, just me and my kids...

Cover Star: Renee, 2006
Headlining Band: The Giraffes, RIP.

James M. Graham, Website
James M. Graham, Tumblr
James M. Graham, Monograph

Everyone's Scared

"When there ain't no whiskey left behind any door...."

And there's plenty of whiskey...

Cover Star: Tiana
Headlining Band: The Giraffes, RIP.

James M. Graham, Website
James M. Graham, Tumblr
James M. Graham, Monograph

I'm Such a Tease and You're Such a Flirt...

The ashes rise up and then fall back to the ground.
But the source of the ashes is still on fire.

One of the few songs on the new Radiohead album where you can actually hear the guitar. I do miss Mr. Greenwood's sonic histrionics, but if they are good with this - then so am I. There's not a band on the planet like this, kids. And they constantly amaze and most importantly, evolve.

Did we learn something today?

Cover Star: SP, 02-18-2011
Headlining Band: Radiohead. Today.

James M. Graham, Website
James M. Graham, Tumblr
James M. Graham, Monograph

You're In It Now...

Cover Star: Steffi @ APM
Headlining Band: Ms. Harvey

James M. Graham, Website
James M. Graham, Tumblr
James M. Graham, Monograph

Languid

Seeking nourishment.
Seeking solace.
Seeking feeling.
Seeking you...

Today, I spoiled myself
On all of the above.

One cannot lend a book. It has to be a gift.

Black out the windows, it's party time. Wait...is that someone on the phone?

Don't answer that...

Cover Star: Stacee - Seattle, 2007.
Headlining Band: The Twilight Singers

James M. Graham, Website
James M. Graham, Tumblr
James M. Graham, Monograph

Back When Blood Was Still All The Rage...

Just one cup would have them all plastered.

It's hardly enough to make a man stay...and most of the carpeting has rotted away.

But the beams in the ceiling seem ready for anything...

Eyes of mercy. Tenderly rubbed my face in hands stuffed in rubber gloves.

My hair is back in a hair band.

Cover Star: Rachel in The Chelsea Hotel, today...
Headlining Band: The fucking Giraffes, RIP.

James M. Graham, Website
James M. Graham, Tumblr
James M. Graham, Monograph

The Gift of Smiles

I saw:

A friend enjoy his 40th birthday
A bunch of his friends show up to celebrate said birthday
A cake and a custom tassel dance
A man who is, despite what he thinks, loved

The weight on my legs ended far too soon.

The walk to Chrystie Street was really, really tough.

Cover Star: Monroe @ Major, a 16" x 20" gift tonight.
Headlining Band: GBV, who apparently just won't quit...

James M. Graham, Website
James M. Graham, Tumblr
James M. Graham, Monograph

I Went Under

Too many days without sleep.
Too much shit to do.
Too much shit to worry about.
Too much cough syrup.

Too.
Much.

Let's simplify -

Fortune cookie says:
Rub head, sleep like rock.

It also says:
16, 47, 30, 51, 44, 14

I can hear that whistle blowin', those horns honkin', those kids screamin'.

Coffee in the mornin'...

Cover Star: Self-portrait, and it looks exactly like me
Headlining Band: Bobby Z.

James M. Graham, Website
James M. Graham, Tumblr
James M. Graham, Monograph

Edamame & Shumai

A perfectly delicious late night meal, especially shared with someone else...


"Municipal girl on the end of the line
Tell me my numbers
Send me some batteries
Stay out of sight, out of mind..."

Cover Star: Katy (Diptych)
Headlining Band: The Giraffes (live). RIP.

James M. Graham, Website
James M. Graham, Tumblr
James M. Graham, Monograph

When's The Last TIme You Cried At A Show?

I know the first and last time I did.

Ask me. It was tonight.

My schedule is off by a good 12 hours.

Shoot tomorrow at 3pm.

Then bliss.

You have no idea...

Cover Star: Sita and her camera
Headlining Band: The Giraffes. RIP.

James M. Graham, Website
James M. Graham, Tumblr
James M. Graham, Monograph

See-Saw, Chainsaw, I Think...

All alone, I can count the numbers adding up.
Twice in one day, I should be careful, no, I know
Sometimes it turns out wrong
Do I have to spell it out like curse words?

Twice in one week? Really, something should be done
You've been gone for so long

Go ahead, make my day shift...

Cover Star: Larry Brown, RIP
Headlining Band: My beloved The Grifters

James M. Graham, Website
James M. Graham, Tumblr
James M. Graham, Monograph

All the Hunger, And All The Pride...

Better mood. Much better mood. It's amazing, these "wednesday' shifts. The people that grab you and tell you 'yes...'

Help...

48 hours until the 'last' The Giraffes show.

And I know none of you give a fuck.

But I do.

Feelin' all punk rocky. And that's a really, really good thing...

Cover Star: Moi
Headlining Band: The Giraffes

James M. Graham, Website
James M. Graham, Tumblr
James M. Graham, Monograph

Fuck Everything

I'm in a bad mood. And a night out with friends didn't make me any more happier.

Whatever. Not their fault. Mine.

Bear with me. But for god's sake, listen to the fucking music.

It's the only thing that's getting me through this...

A salty salute. We live in the city. This town, my town, your town, MY TOWN, this town, this town is never going down...

Cover Star: Nothing
Headlining Band: The Giraffes

James M. Graham, Website
James M. Graham, Tumblr
James M. Graham, Monograph