Guided By Voices

When I have a bad day, Bob makes me feel better. Currently listening to "Same Place The Fly Got Smashed" and I feel better already. Lo-Fi for sure, but sometimes Lo-Fi genius is WAY better than Hi-Fi anything.

Appropriate. The right tool for the right time and the right sound and the right frame of mind.

Ever been to the Brooklyn Naval Yard's NYPD Tow Pound? I went twice today. Yep. Twice.

And it was completely and utterly MY FAULT.

New York City: when it works - like when you have a carbon monoxide leak, etc - it's fucking impressive. When it doesn't work - like when your car gets towed and you have to deal with slovenly city employees who would rather you just die than help you - it's a bureaucratic nightmare.

And it will fuck up your whole day.

At least it was ten degrees cooler today. At least it was a system with few rules, which after a while, surrenders your car to you, so you can illegally park again. At least my client didn't fire me for not showing up to work today.

Everything is fine. Everything is alright. Just like Pete's "kids."

Here's another take on the previously seen skirt and the grey wall. This is Sara Banks from Ontario. Make-up and hair and skirt by the aforementioned Meagan Marie.



We work well together under any circumstance.

Gotta go - Bob's singing about something like this:

"For Chrissakes, Charley
Send them your love
Pictures from happier times
When babies acted like babies
So did the grown-ups
The band played "We All Fall Down"
And some of us did..."

The opening stanza from "Skin Parade" - check it out.

There Is a Certain Grace in Self-Destruction

I was gonna title this one "When the Routine Bites Hard" but then I woulda lost my proverbial bet with Lauren...



Another shot of Angela Ryan. I really tried to do something different with her. And I think we did (thanks, Anna!).

Skirt stolen from Meagan Marie. Thanks, baby...

I leave you with this dose of brilliance. Criminally out-of-print...

"Terminal Island" by Falling james and The Leaving Trains.

"Because I've already drowned in your eyes
Always left behind
I was planted in a field of depression
Just keeping an eye on the crows

Hello runway coming down
We can't hide in the underground

I've always loved you from afar
Overseas floats China on a raft of air
Maybe we'll be here tomorrow
A terminal island always surrounds us

There was a dance floor on the navy base
A kick under the table and a brush against your arm
Grey ships, stretching steeples rising from the bay
There is a certain grace in self-destruction..."

The Last Joy Division Post For a While

I promise.

I saw "Control" this afternoon. I know the story. The cinematography is phenomenal.

When's the last time you saw a black and white film about Joy Division? When's the last time you saw a black and white film, period?

She's lost control again...



The wonderful Angela Ryan. Candid shot.

This weekend I had a couple of breakthroughs...

...or so we'll see.

I Put My Trust In You

Model: The ever and always wonderful Angela Ryan.
Make Up and Hair: Anna DeMeo.

'Nuff said...

Shit.

New Dawn Fades

I shared a few drinks tonight and stepped outside.

Thanks Chris, Cari, Tammy and Tim. And those dudes that had their asses kicked at pool at Fontana's.

Joy Division's "New Dawn Fades" has been going through my head all day and is playing on repeat right this second.

It is one of the best songs ever recorded, and my favorite Joy Division song - period.

Listen.

And really, it's just a song and has nothing to do with my state of mind.

Right.



Scar. I miss her. She doesn't come to NYC enough...

"A change of speed, a change of style.
A change of scene, with no regrets,
A chance to watch, admire the distance,
Still occupied, though you forget.
Different colours, different shades,
Over each, mistakes were made.
I took the blame.
Directionless so plain to see,
A loaded gun won't set you free.
So you say.

We'll share a drink and step outside,
An angry voice and one who cried,
We give you everything and more,
The strains too much, can't take much more.
Oh, I've walked on water, run through fire,
Can't seem to feel it anymore.
It was me, waiting for me,
Hoping for something more,
Me, seeing me this time, hoping for something else."

Fugitive

I was reminded of some things today:

I was reminded that people only remember the bad times, never the good times. I was reminded that some people are relentless despite the law. I was reminded that if you don't make square with people, no matter how bad times are, especially involving money, they will fuck you, insult you and generally try to make you feel poorly. They will bring up death and debt - all for the sake of guilt in an effort to make you do something you physically cannot. I was reminded that some people cannot separate the personal from the business, no matter how highly you will always think of them.

I was reminded that I am not always right.

I was reminded how scary it is to be without anything, temporary or not - terrifying. I was reminded that one's real friends understand and always offer support. I was reminded that you can never escape your ghosts.

I was reminded how people squander opportunity that you offer them. I was reminded of the unprofessionalism of "Internet Professionals" (x2). I was reminded how human beings always wait until the last minute for fucking everything. I was reminded how sticky this city is in the Summer. I was reminded that I have no idea what to do next.

I was reminded that I need to go back to work, and I mean my work. I was reminded how landlords tend to want their money by the 5th of the month. I was reminded how great my overpriced neighborhood was when the blue-haired girl at the wine shop told me where to get the two-for-one Camel Lights. I was reminded how I underestimate the Joy Division fans in my neighborhood (parents of babies and "New Dawn Fades"? I think not...) when I went to rent "Control" and all the copies were gone.

I was reminded how fragile life is when I found out that Jim Jones, the off-and-on again guitarist for Pere Ubu, passed away on February 18th from a heart attack. I was reminded of the weekend that Jim spent with me in 1999, driving me all around Cleveland showing me every place that touched Ubu and that Ubu touched so that I could photograph them all. I was reminded of the photo I took of Jim taking a photo of the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame, a place where I doubt Ubu is represented.

I was reminded how bad it is to fuck up your knees and your glasses in the same day - blind and crippled, but all worth it.

I was reminded how great a photographer my friend Lauren is when I saw her black and white photos of Presley Roan and Billy Zoom at The Cat's Cradle, just last week, with me standing right behind her.

I was reminded how great a photographer my friend Michael (see link to the right) is when he presented me a signed print of a hotel in Tunisia, for my living room wall. Much needed.

I was reminded that life repairs itself, one day at a time, with little setbacks and speed-bumps, which call out to us to be patient and just let it happen. Or make it happen. Or something. Or not.



I was reminded how much I love this shot of Joe Strummer and Mick Jones from The Clash and Allen Ginsberg. I miss Joe and Mr. Ginsberg, even though he was kinda mean to me once in Providence, Mr. Ginsberg, that is. Regardless, I wish I'd taken it even though it's not really my style, but man, look at Joe's face. I stoles it from da Interwebs via this wonderful blog from fellow Brooklyn resident Ted Barron.

While reading Ted's blog, I was reminded that I am a record geek at heart, or as my boy Toby (see link to the right) and I have always said - "record boys."

I was also reminded how much I love this shot of Naomi and my "rare" Blondie 12".



I did take this one.

Lightening Rain

Ever wake up and $4,000 is missing from your bank account...?

What???

Yep.

Motherfuckers. Illegal-ass motherfuckers.

And now I gotta go through my tax attorney to get it back - 3-5 business days no doubt...

Good thing I didn't spend all the cash I had in my wallet last night during the weekly billiards-fest...

...oh well, I'll just have a smoke with my girl and weather the time waiting...