L'Internationale

I love this for many reasons. Here's the Chinese metal band, Tang Chao, singing The Internationale.

Scenes From an Apartment

More clips from the apartment. My little Nikon is having trouble so I am using the big Canon which has much better quality, but is so less convenient.

Running Down the Battery

I felt like taking the camera out for a spin, but because the battery was only half-charged I had to take some shots to kill it so I could recharge it fully. I ended up liking the clips enough to edit them into this clip. Music here is Yo La Tengo.

A Chicken Story

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Can I tell a story of a chicken who couldn't cross the road without any pictures of said chicken? I don't know. Maybe somebody can tell me if this works. It's some quick writing to go with a montage of self-portrait shots. The music here is "Zurle" by Balkan Tribes.

Moments of Hesitation

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I cut together a few moments from the last few months, set it to John Coltrane's genius take on "My Favorite Things."

Consumer Digest

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Down near Manhattan's Union Square I happened by a shoestore that had this shoe in the window. It took me surprise.

When I was a youngster, punk rock stuff was hard to find, you had to go to strange stores in far-away places in order to get it. When I finally could drive I would go all the way to Zed Records in Long Beach, California...an almost hour long drive from Buena Park. But it was worth it. It was worth it.

Zed's had the best punk rock records around, the only store where you could get esoteric 7" records and demos from bands that played around, but didn't have a label yet. It was awesome. So, it's pretty strange to see a Circle Jerks shoe in a Manhattan store window. Even stranger when I think that the record cover it's based on is over 25 years old.

Et Tu?

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Subtitle for this one: "City Symphony in Three Movements."

Scored for 7 Train, Subway Conductor, Bells, 32,000 Cyclists, Wind, Jeff, Elaine, NPR Newsreader, Creaky Floorboards, & Silk Tie.

Underground

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This video is composed of a few clips I shot while walking around the city, paired with music by The Grassy Knoll and a bit of writing that represents some of my thoughts while going to work.

John Cage on "I've Got A Secret"

A coolness factor of 99 on this one. John Cage performs 'Water Walk' on the 50s game show, I've Got A Secret.

Soft Focus With Ian Svenonius

Wow, this is pretty good. Ian Svenonius, formerly of The Nation of Ulysses and currently of The Weird War, does a sort-of talk show with punk, hardcore and avant-pop musicians. His interview style is a performance to behold in itself, coming off as a sort of pretentious punk intelectual, a Dick Cavett for the hipster/hardcore set. But as the interview with Ian MacKaye (The Evens, Fugazi, Embrace, Minor Threat) shows he knows how to get a good conversation going, despite the schtick. The clip above is only one part of four, so go here to watch the rest of them. More interviews with Henry Rollins, Chan Marshall, and Genesis P. Orridge. Both MacKaye and Rollins are heroes of mine, so I love this kind of thing.

Take Our Test

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Here's a handful of clips and photos that I've shot over the past few weeks. It's strange how editing and a little music can make life seem more poignant that it does when you're living it.

Music here is 'Take Our Test' by the Minutemen,

Cecil Taylor at Lincoln Center Jazz

"The piano is many, many things and one of the things is a drum with 88 notes," says Cecil Taylor in this article published in the February 13th edition of Playbill. Taylor is bringing his band to Jazz at Lincoln Center on March 9 and 10, a radical move for an organization not known for showcasing challenging improvised music.

Scheduled to appear with Taylor's band is John Zorn's fabulous Masada, but my bet is that Cecil Taylor is going to steal the show. I bought tickets about two weeks ago. If you want to see what promises to be a phenomenal night of original music, be prepared to plunk down at least $50 each. It's gonna be worth it.

Andy Kaufman sings 'Rosemarie'

In this clip Andy Kaufman sings Slim Whitman's 'Rosemarie.' He sings it beautifully, with utter conviction. And, oh yeah, he's dressed like an Indian fakir.

Christmas in Southern California

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Went back to visit the family and the nephews (who star in this clip) for Christmas. After many seasons on the East Coast, a California Christmas seems much different.

Music is 'Corona' by the Minutemen.

Solitary Walk

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I edited this together from leftover clips while listening to the tune incorporated herein. If there's a mood or a message, blame it on Ute Lemper and Elvis Costello.

Music is Ute Lemper singing Costello's "Couldn't You Keep It to Yourself."

Cecil Taylor

Here's a clip of Cecil Taylor playing an amazing piece of improvised music. There is something so intense, yet cohesive about the way he welds together fierce clusters of notes with more spiderweb-like bits. I love this.

Everybody Dance

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I have taken to carrying my little Nikon with me everywhere I go and do my best to shoot interesting video. Sometimes the clips have no particular theme. Here is a compilation synched to the music.

Music is Domingo Cura, Percusion Part I.

The Hardcore Show #8

After a brief hiatus of a couple of weeks I finally got it together and posted a new Hardcore Show. I don't have anything to write about this one that I didn't say in the intro, so if you really want to know the truth, I'd advise listening to the show. And if you've never heard Mickey Katz before, do youself a favor and click on the link.

CLICK HERE TO LISTEN

Van Morrison, Lonnie Donegan and Chris Barber – I Wanna Go Home
Dave Miller and Jeremy Wakefield – Steel Crazy
Dizzy Gillespie – Lady Be Good
Slim and Slam – Bei Mir Bist Du Schoen
Uri Caine – Cohen Owes Me Ninety-seven Dollars
Mickey Katz – Bagel Call Rag
Charlie Parker – Night in Tunisia
Charlie Chesterman – Goodbye To You
Betty Carter – Heart and Soul
Tin Hat Trio (w/ Willie Nelson) – Willow Weep for Me