Tuesday, March 29, 2011

The Final Outtake


From the K&R shoot.

This post is dedicated to:
A very good friend of mine who passed her driving test today.
My band members, Anne and Phil, who get my direction.
Brian, who needs to feel better. Quickly.
MCK, who constantly tells me what the fuck 'football" means.
My girl on her hard work and her shows this week.

And my old friend Bob, who I get to see tomorrow after 16 years...

And you don't think I like people?
I don't.
I just like THESE people.

Two heads are better than one...

Cover Star: K&R Outtake
Headlining Band: The Giraffes, RIP.

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

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Exhausted


"I'm not around that much
Running, exhausted and lost
If it could be undone
Will it have costed?
It's taught and lost...

Blowing away we stray, wilted
Insulted, at fault
What if the day had stayed in bed?
These baubles we've brought
At fault

After the bliss has long ended
This caution, this fault
Give me a breeze that's long-winded
Accosted, adult arrested"

Yeah. I'm ready...

Cover Star: K&R Outtake
Headlining Band: Mr. Grohl.

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

Done


K&R editorial is finished. Ten pages, credits, pull quotes, and font references.

As I told the publisher, "I aim to please."

Thanks to a fantastic team (Ryan! Sharm! Cristi!), a beautiful and patient model (Aliona @ FentonMoon), and a wonderful location (The Lafayette House).

An extra special thanks to CD for helping me decide on the final edit. To The Grifters, no less, and you almost knew every word. Like I've always told you, you have a great eye and spot-on sensibility. Kiss!

I couldn't be happier. Waiting for the crash...

AND, my tattoo itches like a motherfucker...

Cover Star: K&R Outtake
Headlining Band: The motherfucking Giraffes, RIP. Sonic Majesty, live.

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

Saturday, March 26, 2011

Upside Down and Empty...


Final edit for "Karin & Raoul" almost done. Need a couple of more eyes. As always.

Feeling tired, distant and removed. Spent some time today with someone I really care about and - I just wasn't there, completely. But she gets it, I hope.

Shot some photos of a great and beautiful friend this evening, which was easy and inspiring.

Sometimes it's hard just being yourself. Who is that? It changes every fucking day. But there is a kernel there, the last onion layer.

My tattoo itches.

Cover Star: K&R Selection Process
Headlining Band: My beloved The Grifters. Thank you Gregory. I miss you.
James M. Graham, Website
James M. Graham, Tumblr
James M. Graham, Monograph

Friday, March 25, 2011

Ain't I Right?


As the saying goes, "If it feels good to you, it must feel real good for you."

Choosing 10 of 80.

Gotta say, I was fucked from the start...

Cover Star: Outtake
Headlining Band: The Giraffes

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

Thursday, March 24, 2011

Welcome To My Life...


Radio London reminds you - go to the church of your choice...

Cover Star: Anyssa
Headlining Band: THE WHO

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

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Again and Again


K & R shoot is in 'the can.'

Long day. Long night.

Fantastic stuff.

Cover Star: Ryan, Aliona, & Sharmeen makin' it.
Headlining Band: Queens

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

Tuesday, March 15, 2011

Can't Pay Attention to the Sound of Anyone


Pre-produced a shoot today for Friday. MUA, Hair, Model from FentonMoon, a reluctant Stylist. And it fucking wore me out. Business as usual.

Location tomorrow. Thinking The Lafayette House, since I saw it firsthand when my buddy Christopher shot there two weeks - to the day - ago.

Karin & Raoul. Print and on-line. And a little video documentary.

Should be good. Should be better than good. Should be brilliant, considering the parties involved.

Will be.

Sometimes it's good to have people push you. Thanks, HK.

All shots will be Fuji Neopan 400, since they recently discontinued my FAVORITE film stock...so that will be a small challenge.

This shoot will be the 2nd best highlight of my week. Tomorrow is my #1 highlight...

...29 years.

Cover Star: Kayla
Headlining Band: The National, live on KEXP

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

Goodnight


My eyes hurt.
I'm tired.
Some extra special, not so used often, muscles are screaming.
Time for sleep...

Cover Star: SP
Headlining Band: Mr. Grohl

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

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Some Nights...


...you just want to kill yourself.

My enchiladas were just delivered to my door.

And I've got a lot of work to do.

Still.

C'est La Vie...

Cover Star: Juliet
Headlining Band: The fucking Twilight Singers

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

Noise!


Silence is overwhelming sometimes. Most of the time.

Predictable.

"I Wanna Be Your Dog" piano...
A gun. The ceiling on fire. Recurring themes.
All of this must have come from somewhere.

I love Iggy. My ceiling was on fire once. The "gun" - not so much. I shot my Dad in the head with a BB gun. I'd probably write about that if I had a band.

Oh, wait...
Chainsaw guitar. Starts off strong...

I hope we get it on. I'm ready...

Cover Star: Kimberly, who I miss...
Headlining Band: The fucking Twilight Singers

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

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Dark Circles Around Your Body


Once the feeling calls...
Scratch through the ceiling...
Now you're demonized...
Slips your aching heart...

I'm gonna write a bunch of songs about you.
Or take a bunch of pichers of you.

Probably the latter...

Cover Star: Jen
Headlining Band: The fucking Twilight Singers

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

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Come On Over...


"The sun's a strange light, nothing grows right anymore
Scars on every stalk
Whose mouth should I use to talk?
The force that marks the routine
Temperature whatever degrees create the bad thing
And lay our heads in it now

Now it's hard to punch the clock on the site where production stopped
I'm just a warehouse filled with junk
Some somethings for some someone's tacking
Time with tracking eye, tectonic shifts one nerve at a time
I lay my head in it

A hundred plans to fortify beige concrete goes on for miles
Hiding cities under it, fill my mouth with with non-mouth spit there was a light at
The window there was light under the door but it's not there anymore
Come on over, get your shoes on, get your feet on baby, come on over"

Seriously. If you want one of these shirts, ask me. $25.

Help build the cult...

T-shirt design by Sarah Gold and James Graham. On a bar napkin at Fontana's.

Management was present.

Cover Star: The Ass Kittens Limited Edition T-shirt
Headlining Band: Fugazi, who I detest for not being a band anymore.

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

Sunday, March 06, 2011

A Good Man Is So Hard To Find


Help me with my bloodcount.

You only have five more minutes...

Cover Star: Self Portrait, 2011.
Headlining Band: The Giraffes, RIP.

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

Saturday, March 05, 2011

Julie


I blew up your body, but you blew my mind!

I love you Smokey!

Toad Hall - my second home.

Inside joke, well played. If I do say so myself...

Cover Star: Julie
Headlining Band: Roxy Music

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

I Have an Audience With The Pope


And I'm saving the world at eight.
But is she says she needs me
If she says she needs me
Everybody's gonna have to wait...

Cover Star: Rachel
Headlining Band: Elbow

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

Friday, March 04, 2011

Pooh


Read this.
Read this again.
Read this often.
Read this to someone you love.
Trust me.

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

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

Tuesday, March 01, 2011

Find Her


I feel like I have...

Cover Star: Lady Jane, 2009.
Headlining Band: The Rolling Stones

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