Thanks to my dear friend, Jessy Qussar, I got to cross off bucket list item #984:
No, the parade isn't for everyone, but if you're going to do it? Do it proper.
Personally, I love the parade. Very grateful for this city and all the incredible moments it offers.
Photo: The Thanksgiving Day Parade arrives on the Macy's Star in front of Macy's on 34th Street in New York City on November 25, 2010.
I would like to thank Mr. Elliot Winick of Winick Productions and Detective Joe Bunster of the NYPD's Midtown South Community Affairs Council for the opportunity to stand on 34th Street with my family, right in front of the Macy's Star, to continue a life-long Thanksgiving tradition.
As a kid, I distinctly remember wondering what it would be like to stand in front of the performers and look up at the larger-than-life balloons.
So Gentlemen, thank you for a delightful morning.
Whether you are watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade from home or standing behind some bike rack on 34th Street, you can be sure that all of those cheerleaders, Rockettes and square dancers are freezing their behinds off as they wait for the act/float ahead of them to finish.
And you know what, those ladies are doing a pretty good job of staying happy.
When I come home from work, I like to take a bit of time to take my brain from Cirque and move it to either my current read or... the greatest channel on Earth.
The other night, I flipped on Palladia around 11:00 p.m. to find selections from Glastonbury 2005, including the above Coldplay performance of "Fix You". While I'm not really enamored with attending festivals, I love building festivals. On top of that, Coldplay certainly doesn't make my top ten must-see bands, but their LD and pyro guys always knock it out of the park.
I just sat there and watched this thinking, "This is why I do this. I've done this exact set and am just as stoked now as I was standing stage left then. Look at how happy those people are. Look how beautiful this is."
But what is it that makes it so spectacular? Light, sound and atmosphere designed to the very last detail - straight from the musician's brain, to the sound engineer's console, to the lighting designer's vision, to the pyro guy's need to blow things up at the appropriate moments.
Creating art, which creates moments, which will create a memory of a distinct emotion that will never be replaced. That's why I do this.
I paid $40,000 to be a Penn State cheerleader and to have Steve Manuel tell me that I maybe should consider photography as a career option. I'm finally coming to grips with the fact, that perhaps, it was money well spent.
Look at that room. Look at the remaining half of Roger's rig - wall included.
Steve Manuel, wherever you are, I graciously send my best.
Roger Waters' load-out/Madison Square Garden/New York, NY/11.6.10
If you haven't figured this out already... I love my job. I love the people with whom I work. I may not have much of what most consider a conventional social life - but I guarantee that my definition of social covers more areas than the accepted definition.
No, I don't have a conventional boyfriend, no I don't have a conventional group of girlfriends, no, I don't have a conventional boss. And for some reason, people feel bad for me. For the record, it is the most ridiculous thing I've ever heard.
My job is live music. My job is photography. My job is travel. My job is Madison Square Garden. My job is New York City. I made up this job. I created it out of paper clips and glass. And if there's something I don't like about it; it is my own damn fault.
And still I hear:
"You work seventeen-hour days?! They better be paying you well." "Oh, it must be so hard to date." "You had to do what?" "Don't you ever get lonely?" "Why don't you have any normal pictures on Facebook?" "How does your life work?" "You don't make any sense." "Did you go to school for this?" "I haven't seen you for two weeks... and I live with you." "You're so distant." "How are you ever going to have a family?" "You can't do this forever."
Gosh darn it, people. Whether you've been paying attention to this blog for four years or for four days, you may note the content as somewhat unique. There was no major, there was no internship, there was no grad school. There is, still, just a lot of ambition, imagination and a desire to accomplish by creating my own rules instead of taking someone else's rules as the be-all, end-all, God-given path to success. Sure, it would be nice to add some normal human elements, but I wouldn't trade any of this for the world, because in my estimation, I have the world.
It's funny how things change though. Once upon a time, I thought I had the world. My definition was very different, but equally as important. I was determined not to give it up, but in the end, I did. Very curious how those things happen. Did you have to leave one world to get to the other? Can you be in both worlds at once?
Can I be watching Roger Waters for the 2nd time, camera in hand, at MSG and have someone beside me who is equally as ecstatic to be there for a repeat performance?
Of course, of course, of course. Don't be ridiculous. Who doesn't want to see The Wall?
Photos: Roger Waters/Madison Square Garden/New York, NY/11.6.10
Joe Ragosta of Patent Pending/The Delancey/CMJ Festival/New York, NY/10.22.10
I'm on a bus (again) back from a delightful Halloween weekend in Cambridge. Doesn't have anything to do with the above photos, but I need something to do on this trip since all of my attempts to stream the Steeler game have failed and my current read is sitting on my nightstand in NYC. You could say that I was a little drunk the night prior to departure, making my packing skills uhhh... a little less than adequate. Yes... sans book, but I did remember my costume, so I guess in the long run, that's a win.
What did I learn this weekend? That I like Harvard in the fall. Yes, yes, that's what I learned.
Gig: The 19th Annual Baron Investment Conference
Call Time: 2:00 a.m.
Venue: Lincoln Center
Theaters: The Metropolitan Opera House, Avery Fisher Hall, Alice Tully Hall and the David H. Koch Theater
Acts: Bon Jovi, John Mellencamp, Diana Ross and Kelli O'Hara
Photo: Kelli O'Hara performs in the lobby of the David H. Koch Theater, home of the New York City Ballet and the New York City Opera, during the 2010 Baron Investment Conference held on October 22nd. (Again, please pardon the crappy pocket-cam).
I was skeptical. Phoenix at the Garden?? Are you serious?? And who are their support acts? Uhhh Waves and Dirty Projectors?? Give. Me. A. Break.
Seeing that this show was part of the CMJ Festival (NYC's version of SXSW annnd my craziest time of the year), I was going to hold off on my remarks until I actually saw them play in a venue of this capacity. I am going to admit, however, that I did leave my little fourth floor desk in the belly of MSG - almost directly below the arena floor - at about 7:00 p.m. to go home, have a glass of Bordeaux and come back for Phoenix's set, caring less about the openers. Quite rare for me to not show love for the opening bands, but I just couldn't stomach this one.
Now, whilst I finish my wine, let's flash back to 2002, driving around in my friend's car. Seniors in high school. I decide I want to test out this cool new band on him. Alt-rock. From France. Called Phoenix.
Album: United
Track #4: "If I Ever Feel Better"
All I got from him:
"Sounds like Jamiroquai."
"Oooook," I say, "back to Ja Rule it is." (As I chuckle to myself, I hope you all realize that was a joke.)
Annyway, fast-forward to 2009. Phoenix releases Wolfgang Amadeus Phoenix. They play hard on the festival circuit. People go bananas! Bookers go bananas! All the sudden, you are not cool if Phoenix isn't on your radar.
Fast-forward again to October 20th, 2010. While it was clear that they sure as heck weren't used to the rules of this type of venue, I must say that they carried its size in their performance. I had only planned on staying for four or so songs to see if they could hold their own. That was, of course, until I got word that Daft Punk was going to be their guests for the encore.
"I guess I can wait until midnight to eat dinner..." was my first thought. My second was, "This is going to be rad."
Aside from the inevitable goodness that was to happen during the encore, mid-way through their set, they projected a planetarium graphic onto the ceiling. Which. Was. Awesome. A concert under the stars, but you're inside? I wish all bands did that in arenas.
And now, one more fast-forward to the encore. What song did they play with Daft Punk? Ahhh yesss... I believe it was...
"If I Ever Feel Better"
Life is a series of very interesting and amusing coincidental circles. In that moment, Phoenix and I came full-circle and I boogied my little heart out.
Photos: Pardon the crap pocket-cam shots.
There is no pain, you are receding;
As I mentioned in various social-networking statuses yesterday, I actually had tickets, as a Pink Floyd/Roger Waters fan, to sit and watch Roger's latest version of his rock opera "The Wall" as an audience member, not a production nerd. So this means a few things:
1. I was not working
2. Jaded roadies were raving about this show - and jaded roadies never rave about anything, save two things, and trust me, shows are not one of the two things.
3. I cared enough about seeing an arena show that when fabulous seats from TP were generously offered, I immediately said yes.
4. I cared enough about an arena show to desperately want to sit through the whole thing.
5. I had no camera (see numero uno).
6. I had two tickets and immediately called my dad to see if he could hop a last-minute flight from Pittsburgh to New York.
While J. Harv was unable to ditch work, my trusty touring buddy and friend, Mr. Bryan Strickland was in town and ready to pick up the slack. (I know, I know, Dad... had it been Pete, you would have been there...)
And what did I learn? I should really just listen to jaded roadies. All the time... about everything...except maybe those two things.
I can't remember the last time I even told someone to go see a show - haha and I also can't believe that my recommendation is almost aggressive! Honestly, I am very selective on how I spend my time, but Roger Waters was absolutely worth 2.5 hours of my life. But that's all I'm going to say. You just really need to go see it.
Will I watch it again when he's back at the Garden for a 3rd date on November 6th? Yes and this time, I'm totally going to nerd out.
Image courtesy of http://www.brandonremler.com/
You can't really see them, but there is a string duet at the far end of the tunnel, one cellist and one violinist, providing beautiful sounds to the dusk passersby.
Architecture and Adagio, a brilliant sensory experience.
Also, I'd like you to please note that all three of these photos are from our most recent visit to Central Park. All of this... within a half square mile in less than two hours of exploring. No celebration, no holiday, no festival, no special occasion... just Saturday, just wonderful.
Central Park/9.18.10
I find it very fitting that my post for today, October 1st, 2010, is about a celebration of the people (and places) that make rock photography an important documentation of history and lifestyle.
Some of them are friends, some of them are icons, some of them are both.
So, happy two-year anniversary in this great city. Our relationship is very young, but I will always, always, always love it.
Photo: Bob Gruen photographs the opening of Julian Lennon's photography exhibit at the Bowery location of the Morrison Hotel Gallery on September 16th, 2010.
A night of some of my favorite people in my 2nd favorite place in New York, the Morrison Hotel Gallery on Bowery.
Top Photo: (L-R) Rock photog Bob Gruen, Elizabeth Gruen, Legs McNeil (um hello, dude who pretty much invented the word "punk" in regard to music... and there's so much more I'd like to say about him, but feel you should just look him up) and rock photog Mick Rock at Julian Lennon's photo opening at the Bowery location of the Morrison Hotel Gallery in New York on 9.16.10.
Bottom Photo: Sean Lennon, Yoko Ono and Julian Lennon at Julian's photo opening at the Bowery location of the Morrison Hotel Gallery in New York on 9.16.10.
Meeting Pattie Boyd was like meeting both George Harrison and Eric Clapton at the same time. Ever hear Harrison's "Something"? Or Clapton's "Bell Bottom Blues" or perhaps even "Wonderful Tonight?"
Oh and THEN there was that little number, what was it called... umm...
think, think, think...
Oh! Yes!
"Layla"...
...
All of those songs, really, courtesy of the love each of those musicians had for this woman. All of them, but "Layla"?? Let's think about how it would feel to have been the one to inspire that song. Words, music, everything... just think about it...
I don't care if you prefer the rock-out electric version, the acoustic, unplugged version or really just dig the piano solo, but without Pattie Boyd, you wouldn't have the chance to sit with your friends and discuss, sometimes even fight about, the above on your Friday nights when someone flips "Layla" on the juke box.
And holy crap... I met Layla...
Photo: Pattie Boyd attends Julian Lennon's photo exhibit opening at the Morrison Hotel Gallery on Bowery on 9.16.10.
