Music
Take a deep breath
Take a deep breath, originally uploaded by cynthiacloskey.
My father turns 70 today. In our family, that means pyrotechnics.
We traditionally get our birthday cakes from Robert’s Bakery, in downtown Butler. My brother loaded up the cake with 70 candles, and Dad managed to get them all extinguished before the cake caught fire.
The icing did melt a bit though.
Happy birthday, Dad!
After a big project is finished, I like
So, for the record, Hildegarde Dolson Lockridge was a poet, playwright, and novelist who wrote 14 books, including the one that people locally had heard of, if they had heard of any at all, The Great Oildoarado. She was born and grew up here in Franklin, Pennsylvania. August 31st would have been her 100th birthday. After a stint at Allegheny College, she moved to New York City, where she wrote hundreds of articles for the major magazines of the day New Yorker, Harper’s, and dozens of others.
San Francisco Chronicle critic J.H. Task wrote of her 1955 book, Sorry to be So Cheerful, “She can pick any subject, take a brief highly personal look at it and when she puts it down again it will never be quite the same. . . Dolson [writes]deftly, wittily and with just the right dash of residual common sense which makes a funny piece stick in the reader’s mind.”
Yet, today, she is largely forgotten in her hometown. So, with the help of the Barrow Civic Theater, my wife Amy, my daughter Paige, The Franklin Public Library, John McConnell, Rosie Petulla, Ronnie Beith, Senator Mary Jo White, Roland Davis and his wife (who gave me a personal tour of Dolson's childhood home)and others, I began to put together both the research, the writing, and the funding to write and produce the play.
As I began haunting online rare bookshops, buying and reading everything I could find the Dolson had written, I began to change my outline for the play. There seemed something very poignant in the years 1959-1964 in Dolson’s life. In retrospect, readers can see it as a beginning of a turning point in her career, where she will quit writing the sort of essays that brought her fame and adoration and switch to murder mysteries, when she will abandon her free-wheeling “That Girl” persona for marriage to a fellow writer in 1965 and acting as his literary agent. What, I began to wonder, what would it have been like if she came back to her hometown as an honored guest (with all the internal stress of returning home and being expected to perform, both as an artist and in the role of small town girl made good), that was actually a last huzzah before she moved into a new place in her life. I drew largely from her own published writings, adapting them for the stage, cutting out references that were too obscure while attempting to preserve the unique feel of the time, linking them together and trying to tease out the themes that connect all of her pre-detective story writings.
By 2010, this play will be published with a critical bibliography of Dolson’s work. By that time as well, a request for a Pennsylvania Historical Commission marker to acknowledge Dolson and her contribution will have been submitted. If anyone is interested in helping with either of these projects, please feel free in contacting me. Some of you already have and I was deeply heartened by it. Here in Western Pennsylvania, we do a great job of saving the Great White Males, but many other voices have been largely forgotten. It’s my hope that this project will be the first of many that help to reclaim those lost voices of the Oil Heritage Region.
DIY Image Transfer
Yesterday, I saw three people (all in different locations) wearing local band t-shirts (the RickDan band, Veteran Status, and Newmen to be precise). It really made me feel incredibly hopeful about the little nascent scene here.
Golly, wouldn't a Venango Zine Fest be fun?
Thirteen years ago, William Dranginis saw Bigfoot. Fifty grand, a van, and a camera in a log later, the quest continues.
Foot doctor Richard Dunlap has photographed a wide variety of the detritus left by the oil boom. Now, several of the pictures are featured in a new Oil 150 exhibit in the Venango Museum of Science, Industry and Technology in Oil City. The public unveiling is set during an open house from 7 to 8:30 p.m. Wednesday , tonight, at the museum.
I've become strangely entranced with Slinkachou's art.:
I can personally vouch for these two; pros through and through and nice people to boot. So why not spend 3 nights and days honing your photographic skills, taking great fall images in the Appalachian mountain area of North East Pennsylvania.
Instructors Jim and Jessica Kronmiller, nationally known photographers, will share their years of experience capturing stunning nature images with a limited class size of 6 students. Allowing for plenty of one on one instruction time.
This workshop will be held October 9th thru the 11th, on the Buck Valley Ranch, a year round resort, and will include lodging (2 or 3 students to a ranch room), a horseback ride, and meals. If you like country style images; old barns, country churches, beautiful landscapes, scenic streams & mountain views, this is the workshop for you. Come enjoy a great fall experience!
Costs: Only $599.00 - includes; meals, lodging, 2.5 hr horseback ride and in-depth instruction.
Reserve your spot for this years workshop before August 30, 2008!
For more information call : (814) 673-0900 or email
Yesterday, Paul Westerberg made available a 44-minute single MP3 file of a dozen-plus songs, dubbed "49," for 49 cents. Amazon.com is handling the commerce via a link from the Westerberg Web site Men Without Ties.
Free and Legal Downloads:
Tor.com lists free and legal downloadable science fiction and fantasy e-books. (via)
Mike Doughty Live at Artscape on July 19, 2008
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Live at All Good Music Festival on July 11, 2008
Explosions in the Sky Live at The Grey Eagle on March 14, 2007
The Black Angels Live at The Grey Eagle on July 4, 2008
Mission of Burma Live at The Bohemian National Home on July 19, 2008
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This week's Franklin Silver Cornet Band concert will feature an appearance by tuba pro Jim Self.
Self was born in Franklin and raised in Oil City. Consequently, though he's come back and appeared in the area a few times, I'm not sure that people in these parts get how enormous he is in the biz. He's the heir-apparent to the great Tommy Johnson, the go-to guy for film scores-- Self has appeared in everything from his famous mother ship solo in Close Encounters to more recent films like Lemony Snicket, War of the Worlds, & Sin City. He has way over a thousand film credits, as well as recording credits with everyone from Leon Redbone to Maynard Fergusun to Barbra Streisand. He has worked with orchestras and jazz groups around the globe. He is without a doubt one of the top low brass players in the world.
Meadville's skate park needs some repairs. And no wonder:
According to the attendance report compiled by the complex, a total of 1,500 users made use of the skateboard facility during June. . . . far ahead of the 875 who used the baseball fields and the 750 who made use of the tennis courts during public sessions.
I guess it's really not a crime. Who knew?
I'm reading Museum of the Missing: A History of Art Theft by Simpon Houpt for the Franklin Public Library's Summer Reading Program for Grown-Ups - it's an exploration of art theft, both thuggy and institutionalized.
What's the future of photojournalism?
Art makes better doctors.
Yeats in the Digital Age
Tomorrow's father daughter project? A papercraft steampunk x wing kit.
Free and Legal Downloads:
Fiery Furnaces Live at East River Park, NY NY July 17, 2008
Retribution Gospel Choir Live at Bottom of the Hill on July 8, 2008
Hayseed Dixie Live at Stella Blue on May 7, 2008
Draw Tippy. On my Arm Forever.
The Franklin Barrow Civic has made a fantastic move in offering a family friendly price package for all remaining shows in the current season. You can buy 2 adult tickets and 2 children's tickets for $50. About $12 per ticket. While I'd like to see a drop to $10 per ticket and maybe even a student rush program (Tickets drop to $5 for students in the last half hour before a show). This is a fabulous step in the right direction of making the arts available and accessibly to everyone in Venango County.
Speaking of the Barrow, Dave the tech guy (no last names please) is moving to a new position at Joy Manufacturing (with the very talented Linda Henderson of the Latonia Theatre). He will be missed.
The two most fabulous things I saw in downtown Franklin this week?
A fully-loaded for-touring Rivendell Atlantis bicycle bizarrely leaning in front of Spanky's Tobacco Emporium and a guy with a homemade prison style Tippy the Turtle Tattoo
I wonder if they were related somehow?
Venangoland has been updated with an essay on "Schools vs the Real World".
Aluminum Lego Key Chains? Yes. Yes. And yes.
The Erie Times News profiles the Chaffee Gathering Music Festival.
Pittsburgh's Irish and Classical Theatre is presenting the complete plays of John Synge. Wow.
Chatham University has announced thier "Bridges to Other Worlds: An International Literary Festival." from Oct. 4-5 will feature Robert Hass and, one of my daughter's favorite writers, Naomi Shahib Nye.
A new music festival in Pittsburgh is founded in memory of Alexander Berkman -- the anarchist who tried to assassinate Henry Clay Frick.
Pittsburgh's Brillobox, recently profiled in the NYTimes, has gone to an all vegetarian menu.
Upcoming Shows Of Interest:
Guess Whose Hair I'm Wearing? at the Barrow Civic Theatre Little Theatre 91223 Liberty St, Franklin, PA) Doors open at 6:30, show starts at 7pm. Tickets $5 at the door - free for students and seniors with ID.
An Evening of Ragtime And Klezmer - 8pm Saturday and 3 pm Sunday at Foxburg PA's Lincoln Hall. $15 at the door.
The Butler Art Center's open mic Spirit Cafe runs Friday from 8-10
Gypsy Dave and the Stumpjumpers play Meadville's Artist Cup Cafe Fridy at 9 pm. No cover.
Newmen play a free show at Meadville's at 9 pm Saturday.
The Cellar Dwellers bring improv to Seneca's Brother Bean Saturday night from 7-9 pm. No cover.
Free and Legal Downloads
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Live at All Good Music Festival on July 11, 2008
Animal Collective Live at Lux Frágil on May 28, 2008
Spin Doctors Live at Fiesta Days on July 12, 2008
July 16, 2008
I have iminta beta invites. If you want one, email me.
Oil Heritage is going regional.
indie.tv streams independent films, documentaries, and more.
Writer's Mug is a collection of woodblock print portraits of writers.
It's good to see that nice Feist girl getting some work
Free and Legal Downloads:
..And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead Live at Illini Media Building (WPGU 107.1 Studios) on November 9, 2007
The Black Angels Live at Logan Square Auditorium on June 20, 2008
July 14, 2008
Dolson is the most famous writer to come from Venango County, Pennsylvania. Her sidesplitting essays, published in the leading magazines of the day, like The New Yorker, captivated and brought America to tears with their quirky tales of a big city career woman who was still a small town girl at heart.
This show is appropriate for all ages. Tickets are $5 at the door, students and senior citizens admission is free with ID.
Email me to claim them
The book I'm reading this week for the Franklin Public Library's Summer Reading Program for Grown ups? The Graphic Novel, The Rabbi's Cat
Pittsburgh Opera is looking for an African-American boy between the ages of 8 and 13 whose voice has not yet changed for the role of ‘Starving Boy’ in The Grapes of Wrath. Auditions take place on Monday, July 21 at the Pittsburgh Opera offices located at 2425 Liberty Avenue in the Strip District. Each candidate must be present at 5:30 pm for the group instruction and be prepared to stay until 7:30 pm.
Candidates must be able to act, sing solo vocal lines, and project their voices from the stage. Participation in the opera also includes being part of the ensemble (chorus). Candidates must be prepared to sing 16 measures of a song of their choosing. They will also be taught a brief excerpt from the opera in a group setting. Each will then be heard separately, performing his song and the excerpt.
For more information or to schedule an audition, please email Iris Lin or call 412-281-0912 ext. 266.
$10 bike cam? No problem.
Read Print offers thousands of free online books.
Lyle Lovett says he has "never made a dime" from album sales during his two-decade career.
My underwater protrait of my daughter, called "The Selkie" was named a "hot photo" by JPG Magazine on Saturday.
10 Best Practices of Online Music Promotion
Free and Legal Downloads:
Civil Disobedience & Life Without Principle by Thoreau (e-book)
Thurston Moore (of Sonic Youth) poetry performance March 9, 2006
Little Feat Live at House Of Blues on June 17, 2008
Tweet? Pownce? Plurk? Plurk.
I’ve fallen off the Twitter bandwagon. At first I stopped twittering in righteous indignation at the amount of time that the site goes down, or shuts down services because it’s overloaded. If I’m using something to stay in touch with people, I want it to work reliably. Otherwise, what’s the point?
I have an account on Pownce, and I thought I might use that as my Twitter alternative: a place to post short things that aren’t quite ready-for-blog-time, and to see what my friends are up to. It’s fine for that, except there’s not a critical mass of my curent friends there. Using Pownce felt like being the first one at a party, standing around holding a drink and waiting for everyone else to show up — and feeling sure that everyone has decided to go instead to another party across town (or stay at the party (Twitter) that they were already at).
So I didn’t use anything for a while. This turned out to be a lonely but brilliant idea. Lonely, because I was disconnected from the on-going conversations that everyone is continuing to have, doing perfectly fine without my interjections. Brilliant, because not being part of these conversations freed up oodles of time during the work day, time that I used to get real, paying work done.
And it turned out that, while those missed conversations were fun, I was still able to keep in enough touch with people to maintain friendships and feel sufficiently connected.
Still and all, I missed having an outlet for small observations, and I wished for a way to keep a little bit in the loop. I tried just dipping into Twitter and jumping back out, but the glitches and outages still seem to be going on. And the conversations are addictive; I don’t think my willpower is strong enough for small sips at the firehose.
I noticed a few people talking about Plurk. Yet another social networking site? Yes. I like its interface, especially how easy it is to see a thread of conversations (a big problem in Twitter). Plurk also doesn’t promise to be instantaneous, so it feels different from Twitter and instant messaging. The odd cartoony graphics are intriguing.
I’m especially interested in how they’ve integrated a concept of karma. The more you do with Plurk, the more karma you build; you ca also lose karma in various ways. The more karma you have, the more features you have access to. This matches one of the important principles for building a good social network (one which I first heard about from Brad King): No free rides. If you want to play, you have to contribute.
(Now that I think about it, Plurk karma is kind of like one of the rules of Fight Club: If this is your first time at Fight Club, you have to fight. Interesting.)
Anyway, one big way to build Plurk karma is to invite others to join. So…
Festival seeking multi-media self-portraits
This looks interesting:
A Transom Special Feature with Art Outlet’s SELF Program & FLIK International Movie Festival
What is SELF?
SELF is a forum created by Art Outlet where artists explore self-portraiture in traditional and non-traditional media. It can be a memory, a vignette from life, an interesting dream that affected you, an experience of moving to a new culture, a story your mother once told you, an event that changed your notion of identity, a meditation on a certain theme in your life…
Transom, in association with Art Outlet and the FLIK International Movie Festival, is seeking multi-media self-portraits to be featured at the festival and on the site. We’ll offer honoraria to those we put on Transom. All stories must be non-fiction, under five minutes, and include both audio and visual components. The visual can literally reflect the story, or complement it – your choice. Along with your soundtrack, you can use photo slideshows, cut up old films and videos, animation, footage of locations or related imagery, or even a series of hand drawings. Whatever works for the story. (By the way, Transom is pleased to be working on this project with our original Web Director, Josh Barlow).
The video embedded above is a submission for the project, from Renee Shaw. It’s titled “My Best Friend Mark.”
Quantum Theatre’s “Cymbeline” — Deus ex Machina with real machinas
Special announcement, with a deal for Pittsburgh-area bloggers:
Area bloggers are invited free of charge to Quantum Theatre’s performance of Shakepeare’s Cymbeline:
Preview Performance (they will be testing the techie workings of the production)
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Mellon Park (Point Breeze/Shadyside neighborhood)
8PM (no late seating, gates lock at 8 sharp)
Quantum Theatre’s upcoming production is Shakespeare’s Cymbeline, which runs in Mellon Park from July 31-Aug 24. It is truly innovative in that Karla Boos — the director and Quantum founder — is collaborating with Illah Nourbakhsh at the Robotics Institute at CMU to integrate interactive technology into the production.
We can’t spill any more secrets than that, except to say that this event is sure to be a wonder.
Find out about Quantum Theatre at their website: www.quantumtheatre.com.
RSVP required; cancellations appreciated. Please RSVP to Rene Conrad at rconrad@quantumtheatre.com or 412.697.2929.
On the right hand side of the blog
I've been thinking a lot about Arts Funding in a rural, economically depressed area like the Oil Heritage Region (See what a team player I am? Even though I loathe the petro-fetishism of the area, I'll use the brand to promote). We have some stellar events and spaces. Yet, I think that places like the Barrow, for instance, price their performances too highly for the natives to attend regularly.
$45 (not counting to glasses of box wine at intermission – why don’t they sell local wine?) for my family of three to see my neighbors doing a show that I’ve seen am million times before? Probably not.The Barrow has big bills, I understand, and a lot of our large time honored cultural landmarks also benefit from the largess of the state (full disclosure: I have received a number of grants, local , state and federal, in support of my work). But for individual artists or new series just getting off the ground, finding that initial funding can be really difficult.
What I’m suggesting is an experiment – a technological twist on the tip jar, using Chip In's widget. The idea is that not only will a widget like this motivate donors, but the constant updates cut out the “middle man” and save time for volunteers seeking updates as well. Funds are processed through Paypal, which is very familiar to those donating on the internet already. People donating can be part of the “winning team” and feel that they are making a difference versus a small drop in a bucket that may never be filled (a la those gigantic tacky thermometers outside churches and United Way offices) .
For the experiment, I've chosen the 2008 Venango Digital Film Fest (Full Disclosure: I’m involved with planning of the fest).
The first annual Venango Digital Film Festival took place in November of 2007 and attracted 12 films of excellent quality which showcased the region and the region's filmmakers. This year, The Venango Digital Film Festival will be held in three beautiful restored historic theaters: the Crawford Center in Emlenton, PA (Friday, September 12), the Latonia Theater in Oil City, PA (Saturday, September 13), and the Barrow-Civic Theater in Franklin, PA (Sunday, September 14). People's Choice awards will be selected each evening, and the winner will be carried over to compete the following night. The top three films will receive cash prizes.
In addition, we are sponsoring a 10-15 minute screenplay competition with the theme of Oil Boom Days in Venango County, in conjunction with the 150th Anniversary of the Discovery of Oil. The two winning screenplays will be produced and screened over the weekend and over the two year period of the Oil 150 Celebration. The People's Choice winner will receive a cash prize and will be screened at the Great Lakes Film Festival. Now, last year, the Film Fest was free $5 – talent rich but cash poor, so in effect I’m projecting a model where the door stays free, but you pay ahead what you think it’s worth.
Consider this for a moment. With the door free of charge, you can choose, by using Chip-In, what you want or can pay. Last month, I took the family to see the inexplicably horrible Indiana Jones movie. Total cost (excluding popcorn) ~$25 (Yes, I realize that the city folk reading this have passed out at what you perceive as the inexpense. Once you recover, call Joann Wheeler and set up an appointment to buy a house and studio here. Seriously. We’d love to have you.) was it worth that amount of money. No. Not a chance. I would have, however, paid a total of $12 (or $4/person) to see it.
To me, last year’s fest was worth about a $5 door. So, I’ve dropped $10 (for my wife and myself) in the widget you see on the side. Donate whatever you feel is appropriate .25 to $2500. The goal I chose is $1000, an amount that I see as large, but not insurmountable. I’ll keep track of it here, and then make the donation to the Film Fest on Sept 1, 2008. Even if you don't or cant or won't contribute, I'm interested to hear what you think of this as a model for fundraising for the arts in our area.
While Franklin's Farmer Market is disintegrating rapidly (on Wedensday when I went down to get some beans for yakni, there was only one stall and the City had "forgotten" to close off the street to traffic making it a death trap that I decided to skip) Titusville's is expanding in size and moving in location.
Submit your original 10-15 page screenplay on the theme Oil Boom Days in Venango County for filming. Your opportunity to produce and direct! Cash Prize! Screening September 14.
Deadline: August 1, 2008
FILMSSubmit your original short digital film by western PA filmmaker or about western PA themes. Cash Prizes for People’s Choice awards September 12-14.
Deadline: August 25, 2008
CAST, CREW, SUPPORT
Want to get in on the fun? We will need cast, volunteer film crews, costume and location help – just give us a call! Mark your calendars for
September 12, 13, and 14,
The Second Annual Venango Digital Film Festival
Details at www.artsoilcity.com or call 814-677-1260
If I get all my work done today (doutbtful) I'll be building this papermodel polar bear with a nodding, empty head and a beer tatoo on its butt. Kinda reminds me of a woman I used to know...
Free Four Color T-Shirt Printing Press Plans
Want to buy a Super Bowl Ring?
Since the music scene is slow this weekend, I'll be heading to Erie's 20th Annual Panegyri Greek Fest (today from 2:30 - 11 p.m., Saturday 11 a.m. - 11 p.m., and Sunday noon - 9 p.m.) at the Assumption Greek Orthodox Church on 4376 West Lake Road. Free parking and admission. For more info call (814) 838-8808.
Speaking of Erie, The Erie County Historical Society will hold a Ghosts and Legends Tour tonight and every Friday at 8 p.m., now until September 26 (exception: September 5th). Discover the mysteries of downtown Erie with a 1 1/2 hour walking tour. Since the size of each group tour is limited, reservations are required; call (814) 454-1813, ext 0. Cost: $8 Adult, $4 Child.
The Cinema and Digital Arts Program of Point Park University is creating the CINEMA ACTORS DATABASE. This will be a catalog of actors and actresses who are interested in being cast in cinema student productions. The database will be accessible to the students of Point Park¹s Cinema and Digital Arts Program.
This is an opportunity for actors and actresses to participate in productions by some of the most talented film students in the Pittsburgh area.
Works by Point Park students have gone on to be exhibited at film festivals both nationally and internationally.
Anyone interested in submitting a headshot/resume can do so by emailing the materials to:
infocinema@pointpark.edu
Please put Actors Database in the subject line.
Hardcopies of headshots/resumes could be sent to:
Cinema and Digital Arts
Point Park University
201 Wood St.
Pittsburgh, Pa 15222
www.pointpark.edu
Further, any questions may be addressed to infocinema@pointpark.edu
Pittsburgh's Phipps Conservancy has acquired 26 pieces from the "Chihuly at Phipps: Gardens & Glass" exhibit,including 13 of these swirly, curly Amber Cattails:
Upcoming Shows of Interest:
Newmen plays Oil City's The Howling Dog Cafe tonight at 8 pm and Meadville's Artist Cup Cafe tomorrow at 9pm. Both shows are free.
Free and Legal Downloads:
Sharon Van Etten Live at Zebulon on June 25, 2008 Zebulon
Drive-By Truckers Live at 80/35 Festival on July 5, 2008
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Live at Penn's Peak on July 6, 2008
Rust Belt Bloggers Summit
Crusty Rusty Bolts originally uploaded by mikeyexists
Friday evening and Saturday, bloggers from Pittsburgh, Erie, Youngstown, Cleveland, Buffalo, and other cities in this region will be meeting for the first Rust Belt Bloggers Summit.
Our primary goal — or at least, my view of our goal — is to meet and learn about each other and our common interests, with the hope of finding ways to work together. We share the desire to use social media to support and improve our communities; since the cities in the Rust Belt share history and characteristics, we should be able to find a lot in common.
City Paper previewed the event in an article today ("Bloggers to unite under common threads at conference"), with quotes from me and Doug Derda, as well as other thoughtful bloggers in other cities.
If you’re interested in attending, visit the Rust Belt Bloggers website to get details, and come join us. No registration needed; just show up.
Let’s shake off some of this rust, shall we?
The Silver Cornet band plays in
This Saturday is another chance to take an orientation class at the Franklin Public Library for the Region's Grant Center. The free, one hour class starts at 2pm and runs for about an hour. Sign up calling (814) 432-5062.
The Beginner's Guide to Indie Hip-Hop
Anarchists need picnics too.
The Pittsburgh City Paper previews tomorrow's Rust Belt Bloggers Summit taking place in Erie on July 11-12.
Free and Legal Downloads:
The Evens Live at Ahimsa House on February 25, 2007
Mike Watt Live at Jillian's on February 6, 1998
The Ditty Bops Live at Freight & Salvage Coffee House on March 7, 2008
Feel the burn
I spoke too soon when I said that AMC was the only cable network I needed. I forgot the USA Network.
Burn Notice, my favorite television guilty pleasure, returns Thursday for its second season.
Burn Notice combines the spy techniques and intra-agency backstabbing of the Jason Bourne movies with MacGuyver do-it-yourself surveillance tips, then it adds some Ferris Bueller-type tongue-in-cheek voiceovers, and finally it throws the whole thing on the beaches of Miami. There’s more than enough eye candy for viewers of any gender, and just the right amount of intrigue to keep things interesting.
And the co-stars include Bruce “The Chin” Campbell (of the Evil Dead series) and Sharon Gless (Cagney of the detective series Cagney & Lacey). An abundance of riches.
For a taste of the sensibility of the show, watch this longer, more explanatory promo. Or check out the “Ask a Spy” feature on the show’s website. The show’s lead, Michael Westen (played by the strangely compelling Jeffrey Donovan) answers questions you didn’t know you had. Like, how can I break out of a prison in Turkmenistan? and how can I avoid embarrassing myself when playing sports at a company retreat? Great stuff.
And did you notice the soundtrack of that promo I pasted in above? Yes, that’s Billy Squier singing. Oh yeah.
Thursday, my lovely and talented wife,
So lovely and talented she is that she will also be preforming her hilarious one woman show – Guess Whose Hair I’m Wearing! – based on the writings of Hildegarde Dolson and adapted for the stage by, um, me...for two nights only- July 18th & 19th at 7pm
Dolson is the most famous writer to come from Venango County, Pennsylvania. Her sidesplitting essays, published in the leading magazines of the day, like The New Yorker, captivated and brought America to tears with their quirky tales of a big city career woman who was still a small town girl at heart.
This show is appropriate for all ages. Tickets are $5 at the door, students and senior citizens admission is free with ID. I also have some complimentary tickets to give away to blog readers. So, send me your name and address (via email or in the comments box if you're devil-may-care about privacy) by Monday July 14th at 10am, and I'll drop a pair in the mail for you, free, good for either day.
As an aside, if you're interested in bringing the show to your meeting, church, synagogue, mosque, trailer park, whatever, drop me an email for pricing and availability.
This project is being made possible in part through the Samuel and Edith C. Justus Charitable trust, the Elizabeth S. Black Charitable Trust, and the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA), a local decision-making program of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts (PCA), a state agency. PPA is administered in this region by the Venango County Center for Creative Development.
The Titusville Herald previews Titanic, Titusville Summer Theater's 40th anniversary show. It plays at Titusville High School's Colestock Auditorium Thursday through Saturday night.
The Art of Amusement Parks show runs from July 1-Aug 22, 2008 at New Castle's Hoyt Institute for the Arts
Sisters In Healthcare History Project is a study of the hundreds of Roman Catholic Sisters who worked as nurses in Western PA from 1847-1969.
Pittsburgh's Cultural District Gallery Crawl is Friday from 5:30 - 9pm.
The Afro-Punk festival is underway in Brooklyn and includes screenings of The Upsetter: The Music and Genius of Lee Scratch Perry.
Topp.org is an interactive website that allows you track radio-tagged animals.
Animoto is an easy-peasy way to put together music videos.
Free and Legal Downloads:
Avett Brothers at Bonnaroo Music Festival on June 14th, 2008
Mason Jennings at the Bonnaroo Music Festival on June 14, 2008
Robert Plant & Alison Krauss at the Bonnaroo Music Festival on June 15, 2008
Sharon Jones & the Dap-Kings at the Bonnaroo Music Festival on June 15, 2008
Bradley's Almanac is featurng soundboard recordings from Sub Pop's 1992 Vermonstress Festival includes sets from Coedine, Velocity Girl, Pond, and Beat Happening
Luckily there’s music to get me through
I wanted to show you a video of Ballboy performing “Something’s Going to Happen.” I envisioned that the title of my post would be “And no one will ever love you as much as I do.” It’s a perfect song for this evening.
Also: It’s true, you know. No one will ever love you as much as I do.
But YouTube doesn’t have a video of the band performing that song. They do have this lovely ditty though. The title is “I Lost You, But I Found Country Music,” and I think you’ll enjoy it.
You might also like this next song, especially the opening narrative. The song is “Avant Garde Music,” again by Ballboy.
Put it in your calendar now! Studio
The Post Gazette takes a look at what the Penn Brewery brewers are up to at 3 am.
The Johnstown Film and Wine Festival starts on Wednesday.
NyTimes reporter rides the Etape - the only stage of the Tour de France open to everyone.
Comic Artist Michael Turner has died.
Free and Legal Downloads (Today all via Megaupload and courtesy of Mystic Chords of Memory):
Vampire Weekend - Morning Becomes Eclectic, Village Recording Studios; Los Angeles, CA on February 2, 2008
Social Distortion - KROQ Almost Acoustic Christmas, Universal Amphitheatre; Universal City, CA on December 12, 2004
Iron & Wine - Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Manchester, TN on June 14, 2008
Against Me! - Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival, Manchester, TN on June 14, 2008
Be seeing you
I’ve just learned that AMC is remaking The Prisoner, the rather spooky and incomprehensible but wildly engrossing Cold War series that the BBC made in the late 60s.
The original version of The Prisoner starts out like a James Bond story, but then gets very weird. The hero, played by Patrick McGoohan with a constant smirk and raised eyebrow, is a man known only as Number Six. The titles show us that he has resigned from some spy agency, then was kidnapped. He awakens in an isolated seashore community called the Village, from which he can’t escape. Why is he there? Who are these other people in the Village? Why can’t he leave? Who is Number One? It’s all mysterious, and it’s also surreal — the colors, the images, the giant white bubble that captures and returns anyone who tries to escape.
“Be seeing you” is the main catchphrase from the show. It’s how the characters say “goodbye”; there’s no escape, so of course they’ll be seeing you, but also the community is full of spies and security cameras, so at any time someone is seeing you.
The uneasy sensibility of The Prisoner fit the Cold War period perfectly. It also suits our current day, with the erosion of personal liberties by government as well as the loss of privacy via our lives on the Web and the constant sharing of personal data. (Giant Eagle Advantage Card, anyone?)
AMC is already my new favorite cable network, what with the classic movies and novel programming like Mad Men. Soon I won’t need any other channels. Be seeing you, indeed.
“Dare I say, hip”
The New York Times spends 36 hours in Pittsburgh, and likes what it finds:
…old stereotypes die hard, and Pittsburgh probably doesn’t make many
people’s short list for a cosmopolitan getaway. Too bad, because this
city of 89 distinct neighborhoods is a cool and — dare I say, hip—city.
There are great restaurants, excellent shopping,
breakthrough galleries and prestigious museums. The convergence of
three rivers and surrounding green hills also make it a surprisingly
pretty urban setting.
Brillobox, The City Theatre, La Prima, and the Heinz History Center all are featured, along with standbys like the Incline, The Mattress Factory, and the Warhol Museum.
I'm very pleased to tell you that my
For the past three years, I have been documenting the lives and products of artist living in Pennsylvania’s Oil Region – an area roughly encompassing the territory between Titusville and Emlenton, focusing specifically on the Venango County area. This area was economically devastated by the pull out of the industry that today lends its name to the Region – Quaker State, Pennzoil and other factories supported the area for generations, leaving few economic choices for many residents when the businesses left in the 1980s.
In their wake, and bolstered by Oil City’s appointment of an Arts Revitalization leader, Joann Wheeler, the area has slowly began rebuilding itself as an artist’s Mecca. Touring musicians stop at Seneca’s Brother Bean Coffeehouse and numerous artisans and craftspeople have found studios in the area, drawn by the low cost of living and easy access to metro areas.
Although I compose my images in a variety of ways – including alternative process such as pinhole, cyanotype and Polaroid transfer not featured here – these images have some commonalty. They are shot with ambient light, during the act of creation. They are not retouched digitally, other than a light sharpening. It is my goal with the entire, ongoing, series and with this small sampling to explore the nature of these pioneering artists creating in a setting that in the past has been less than hospitable to working artist. It is my hope that through these images, you, the viewer, can see not only the future of the region, but also the hardships that these subjects filter through their work.
Next on my list for the Franklin Public Library's Adult Summer Reading Program - Rocking the Cradle of Liberty: A Guide to Anarchist-Connected Historical Sites in Boston
Bruno Wolozyn, a well-known local piano tuner, has died.
Venangoland updates with "One More Column About Patriotism"
Meadville’s Baldwin-Reynolds House Museum, is showing the work of local fabric artists until August 10th.
philly.com profiles Erie resident Dave Wasson's and his self-playing band organ consisting of 456 wooden pipes of different sizes and sounds that he has hand-crafted over 23 years.
The Art of Failure: Chuck Connelly Not for Sale, the documentary that tells the riches-to-rags story of a Pittsburgh area artist airs Monday night on HBO at 9pm.
Free and Legal Downloads:
Carolina Chocolate Drops Live at Bear on the Square Festival on April 20, 2008
Cowboy Junkies Live at Turner Hall on November 29, 2007
Death Cab for Cutie Live at Kulturbolaget on February 4, 2006
Defiance, Ohio Live at The Bike Barn on June 22, 2005
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The Linesville Carp (which BTW would make a great minor league team name) are going on a diet. No more, "cupcakes, bagels, doughnuts, buns and other items. . . "
GeekDad releases a (Netflix-ready) list of Classic Sci-Fi Summer films.
According to Media Matters, Fox News is getting even with its perceived enemy reporters by altering their pictures to make them look rather monstrous, then airing the results.
One Less Car covers The 2008 Cycle Messenger World Championships in Toronto, Canada (Adult Language Follows the Jump)
When I was an ungrad, my professors steered me towards grad school with the logic that there was going to be a mass retirement of boomer tenured profs and I would have my pick of jobs. Clearly, that did not happen. But the NYTimes says, now, a decade and a half later later, it's going to happen. For reals. I'll believe it when I see it.
Upcoming Shows of Interest:
Remora Deign plays Franklin's Barrow Civic Little Theatre (1223 Liberty St, Franklin, PA 16323) Saturday 7:30 pm. $5 at the door.
Nate Custer plays Seneca's Brother Bean Saturday from 7-9 pm. No cover.
Gypsy Dave and the Stumpjumpers play in Oil City's Justus Park at 6pm tonight. No cover. they play Foxburg's very lovely Lincoln Hall Saturday at 8pm. $15 cover at the door.
Free and Legal Downloads:
WFMU - Selected Sounds from the Free Music Archive vol. 1
Miranda Sound -Miranda Sound (technically, pay what you will)
Grace Potter and the Nocturnals Live at Casino Ballroom on June 29, 2008
Minutemen Live at The Blue Note on May 12, 1984
North Mississippi Allstars Live at Recher Theatre on May 18, 2008
