actual jazz in an actual basement
This weekend I went out to see some actual jazz in an actual basement. How atmospheric! Granted, traditional jazz basements are full of smoke, which current laws forbid, but the ceilings and the...
View Articleon this date in history, and the greatest novelty song ever
On this date in 1922, Howard Carter, leading an expedition funded by Lord Carnarvon, opened the tomb of the Pharaoh Tutankhamun, familiarly known to those who love his pop culture story as “King Tut”....
View Articlemusic from the tiny desk
Here in Kekionga we’re big fans of that great gospel flavored rhythm and blues band from Alabama, St.Paul and the Broken Bones. When they played the Manitou this fall, they pretty much blew the roof...
View Articletumblr sunday: a woman with two guitars
This photogenic (and almost certainly very charismatic) woman in this classy vintage photograph is Willa Mae Buckner, described in the accompanying caption as “blues woman, burlesque dancer, snake...
View Articlephotographic notebook
For writers who came up before the digital revolution, and many who were born later, nothing ever will replace the little paper notebook. Nothing to charge up, nothing to turn on, no lights, no sound,...
View Articleshuffle playlist for an after dinner walk
It’s a holiday weekend; you’re bound to need it sometime. Genuine old iPod shuffle string, no skips. “Coconut” -Harry Nilsson “Heaven” – Talking Heads “Friend of the Devil”- Grateful Dead (American...
View Articledavid bowie
There’s really nothing much else to write about today than the oddly shocking death of David Bowie. There’s nothing deeply personal in this; I was never a huge fan, although I like a lot of his songs...
View Articlework day
It was a work day today. Except for a walk and a trip to Costco and a surprising amount of active photography– photos from Costco may turn up here soon. But mostly a work day, so have a picture of my...
View Articlelet’s watch tv: opening ceremonies, rio olympics
Welcome back to our series of reviews of Olympic opening ceremonies. No one is more surprised than I am that this blog has lasted long enough to be writing about its second summer Olympics. (Read a...
View Articlearetha franklin
It was a week ago today that Aretha Franklin died. By now we’ve all read a lot, and heard a lot, and even though her own voice speaks for itself if anything does, it still seems right to make a bit of...
View Article