When You Are Gone, You Are Gone V

"Always talking but never laughing
The trail it was laid out
Your patterns were made out
Closing all of your portal doors
Now I couldn't see your face
But my thoughts were full of grace
For you

I'm hoping that
You're knowing that
Anything from now
Is better anyhow

I'm knowing that
You're hoping that
Everything from now
Is better anyhow

Crawling back to a brand new old shoe
I always cross the line I'm always losing time
Give me less than and nothing happens
A taste is all it takes
And my bridge will surely break
Again

I'm hoping that
You're knowing that
Anything from now
Is better anyhow

I'm knowing that
You're hoping that
Everything from now
Is better anyhow"

Cover Star: Naama
Headlining Band: Varnaline

www.jamesmgraham.net

When You Are Gone, You Are Gone IV

It's cold here in Brooklyn. And windy, too. Bone chilling, in fact. But I've got left-over Kinara in the fridge and the cat has been fed her Tiki Cat tuna and chicken bullshit. And thrown it up.

This is me thinking out loud:

- Hey! Photo Editor Guy from PASTE Magazine...write me back!
- Should I submit three photos to The Dirty Show?
- And what about The Anna Kustara Gallery? Hunh? Hunh???

Enough.

"Bubblegum" is the perfect soundtrack to tonight's musings and meanderings. I've almost put every song from the record on this here blog, but here's one I haven't (OK, part of it once...)

I wish I had written "One Hundred Days."

(Note to self: Next life - musician. I'll drive all the sexy young thangs crazy, while hopping on one foot...they'll scream a lot at me).

I also wish I had shot this.

So, in the meantime, I gotta make me some photographs.
That matter.
To me.
This week.
The last three shoots of 2008.
Good riddance.

This photo was shot by Thom Salvatico in 2004 while I was shooting Sundae for my NO VACANCY series. She remains one of my favorite subjects ever. I have the privilege to shoot her again after the new year, five years later. Already 2009 is going to be better, even if the fucking world ends after Sundae and I shoot.



My shot:



Cover Star: Sundae St. Laurent
Headlining Band: The Mark Lanegan Band

www.jamesmgraham.net

When You Are Gone, You Are Gone III

When you talk to me about snow, I get all, uhmmm...

Cover Star: Darenzia
Headlining Band: The Mars Volta

www.jamesmgraham.net

When You Are Gone, You Are Gone II

Arriving at your doorstep momentarily. With a tea kettle and a spatula. Or some such thing. Perhaps it's the cyclical nature of "time" - lose a ship and a ship sails into port. And on board, a puppet show with a live band, a paper bag, and a non-working "for display only" model of a rotary engine. Or some such thing. You know, just when you think everything changes, everything does, while you are thinking that everything changes. Then it changes again. It's not fair. That's what UPS is for. It's a scientific fact that if you move slowly enough you can pass through walls. And metal. And other people's lives. It all feels the same. But you have to move really, really slowly. Really fucking slowly. Practice that. You took that from your past. And still do. Remember when you talked about brushing your teeth and wondering what you'd look like when you were dead? Pristine and wonderful.

Wait!

A Em G. A Em G. A Em G. A Em G.

This is nonsense, you tell yourself and everyone else...
...but it sounds good. To you. Right now. And probably will tomorrow, too.

Cover Star: Reby
Headlining Band: Fugazi
Paintings: William Quigley

www.jamesmgraham.net

When You Are Gone, You are Gone

There's a silence, a vacuum, a void.
I gotta figure out how to fix that.

-----

Back in 1999, I was lucky enough to tour the original Ackermansion with Forrest J Ackerman on a warm Saturday morning in Los Angeles. Forry showed Toby and I the entire house filled to the brim with his collection of science fiction and horror props, memorabilia, letters, books and magazines. He told great stories, answered every stupid question in detail and invited us to go to lunch with him at The Sizzler. Dream fulfilled, it was one of the best days of my life.

RIP, Mr. Sci-Fi.


Cover Star: Persiana
Headlining Band: Foo Fighters

www.jamesmgraham.net

Abandoned Pomegranate

The second Brownie Hawkeye has been cleaned, hacked and repaired by my trusty assistant and I. Another is on the way, supposedly "pristine" but I doubt it. Those plastic lenses tend to oxidize and collect grease, even when only used by a little old lady to drive to church on Sundays.

The goal is to take the best elements of the three and create a "Frankenstein Brownie" - the most appealing organs, eyes, and body. Whether bad or good, I am still the brain behind this creature.

More soon.

I watched Jem Cohen's Fugazi documentary, "Instrument" (for the 20th time) last night with a friend. I am convinced that it is one of the few music documentaries that you can show someone who is not all that familiar with the band and it will compel them to love them. You can't say that about "Let It Be" or "We Jam Econo!" or even "Gimme Shelter."

You can, however, put "Instrument" in the company of "The Last Waltz," "The Kids Are Alright" and "The Daddy of Rock 'n' Roll." And "The Devil and Daniel Johnston."

More soon. When Fugazi gets off their asses and records/tours again...

I am available for a documentary too. Jus' sayin'. Wanna follow me around with a camera and see what it is exactly that I do?

Let's talk...seriously.

Sundance beckons...

Cover Star: Marzena
Headlining Band: Fugazi

www.jamesmgraham.net

I'm Really Glad There's a Grasp To Grab

Apple pancakes and pretty girls make for a great afternoon...

Cover Star: Sienna
Headlining Band: Built To Spill

www.jamesmgraham.net