Bits of songs float - through the radio, at parties of people who I don’t know very well, in ethnic restaurants while I sit eating, through open windows of cars driving by, and I listen. Sometimes I become so immediately enamored with the song, that I will do anything to discover it’s name or the artist. Other times, like in the case of Rita Mitsouko, I wait 20 years for this information. Luckily for me, Arthur Russell’s Instrumentals 1974-Vol 1. was immediately findable thanks to internet sleuthing skills. There are a few songs, like Instrumentals that stir my soul, that resonate in that place in me where music goes to be enjoyed. One day I’ll make a list of these songs and play them one after one until the harmonious nature of the melody and whatever it is that makes me tick, combine into one long joyful audio experience. A little on Arthur Russell:
He was one of those genius musicians who cultivated their art in the heady days of 1970s New York. Like many of his peers, he passed away young but fortunately, his amazing music lives on. The clip above is from a new documentary of his life and work.
For my sixth grade graduation, I was given a small, rectangular camera. It used a sort of film (now extinct) that created photos with no sharp edges.
These are some of the photos I took on my last day in elementary school. Read the rest of this entry »
Ah, the Bay Area! When I first saw this video, I couldn’t help thinking, “This is so San Francisco, kinda lame but sorta cool.” You’ll know what I mean when you watch it.
Cheers to the Bay Area and the folks who live there, I sure never could! (okay, I tried in the East Bay but I lasted less than a year…)
One of my favorite photos!
I’m not certain about the exact identity of this family. It’s possible they are related to my grandfather Atanasio…more investigation needed.
Jean Claude Vannier - L’Enfant La Mouche Et Les Allumettes
I’ve enjoyed this clip for quite awhile now but with passing of Yves Saint Laurent, I thought this week would be an appropriate time to share it.
Bonus + favor
I’ve included as a bonus my favorite Jean Claude Vannier song, Danse des Mouches noires Gardes du Roi. Like a lot of other music of this genre and time period (the early 70’s) the song features a sort of honky tonk piano playing style. This style of piano showed up again, 20 years later in a lot of house music. Does anyone know if this kind of playing has a particular name? Danse des Mouches Noires Gardes
These past few weeks I’ve spent most of my free time sorting, scanning and editing old family photos. I’ve been trying to get copies to various family members, while at the same time researching the stories behind the pictures.
The photo above was taken in El Sereno and is of my great aunt Doris (who recently passed away) and her daughter Suzie. Suzie says this picture made it into the newspaper and I can see why. Snow in El Sereno?
I hope kids in Baldwin Park were able to get pictures of themselves playing in the ice/snow that unexpectedly covered their neighborhood today.
Video describing the history of the “Amen Break”, a sample used in everything from NWA to Jungle to car commercials. Fascinating stuff for music geeks like me! Read the rest of this entry »
See here for more info.
By the way, I spotted reproductions of old Teen Angels magazines for sale at a Downtown Broadway magazine kiosk just last week.
No need for me to go on about how much I like the Knife so sit back and enjoy the videos. (Although, I would like to know why/how Sweden and Norway are creating such good music?)
Found a few years ago on my street. A plaza somewhere in Mexico.
A series of objects, photographs, letters and other items found on the streets of Lincoln Heights.
