Souvenirs

 Memories they can't be boughten,
They can't be won at carnivals for free.
Well it took me years to get those souvenirs
And i don't know how they slipped away from me.....Steve Goodman

After I learned of that my old friend Bobby Finkel passed it was almost impossible not to start looking back at that period of my life.  I started thinking of all the times we spent together which of course led to thinking about more friends that I had not seen or heard from in years. And of course my iTunes seemed to reinforce this sentiment by coming up with Jeff and Tim Buckley versions of 'Hallelujah' and Steve Goodman's 'Souvenirs' (the John Prine and Goodman versions).
 
A lot if my time with Bobby was spent in and around Spring valley, PA just  outside of New Hope, Pennsylvania. Mostly we gathered at Armond and Anita's house to play poker and backgammon, eat, listen to music and generally indulge in the peculiarities of that time period. Poker and backgammon seemed to take center stage but the conversation was always lively.

There was a music room where we spent most of our time - the painting above is my impression of this room.

Bobby Finkel

'I did my best, it wasn't much
I couldn't feel, so I tried to touch
I've told the truth, I didn't come to fool you
And even though it all went wrong
I'll stand before the Lord of Song
With nothing on my tongue but Hallelujah'.......Leonard Cohen

Was surfing My Space looking for old friends when I came across the page for Bobby Finkel, a friend from the old days in Philadelphia. I left Bobby a message on his My Space page and two-three days later heard back from his wife that he had passed away in January....I was saddened by this - Our paths had crossed several times over the years and whenever my travels took me back to Philadelphia I always made an attempt to contact him - I knew he was playing bass in various groups - something he always talked about during those early years.

What you have to know is that Bobby and I shared many a good time hanging out in Philadelphia during the 60's, listening to, playing and going to see music at the Electric Factory, The Trauma, Second of Autumn and a few other places that slip my mind at the moment.

I can vividly remember many fun nights spent in Rittenhouse Square talking and listening to music, walking along the river behind the Philadelphia Museum of Art (Bobby lived with his parents across the street) or staring at the statues inside the Rodan Museum.

He loved his family and loved his work - he will be missed.

The top photo is Bobby in Bucks County and the one below is myself and Bobby during our Edison Electric Band days. I have posted this one before and he is the second from the left - top row - I am on his right.

Memorial Day

I have been making images of the American Flag for several years - always amazed at the many ways the flag is displayed and discussed. Here are a few thoughts on this Memorial Day.....

'I prefer a man who will burn the flag and then wrap himself in the Constitution to a man who will burn the Constitution and then wrap himself in the flag'........Anonymous Quote

'I wrote the script of Patton. I had this very bizarre opening where he stands up in front of the American Flag and gives his speech. Ultimately, I was fired. When the script was done, they hired another writer and that script was forgotten'...Francis Ford Coppola

'Martin Luther King did not carry just a piece of cloth to symbolize his belief in racial equlaity, he carried an American Flag'....Adrian Cronauer

 'There is no flag large enough to cover the shame of killing innocent people'......Howard Zinn

Timeless Hands

'Often while traveling with a camera we arrive just as the sun slips over the horizon of a moment, too late to expose film, only time enough to expose our hearts'......Minor White

Memorial Day

Wishing everyone a fun Memorial Day weekend.......Around here we are getting ready for dinner guests tonight - nothing like a few guests to put one in high gear doing everything that could have been done a week ago....


At any rate have some fun - be safe - see you on the other side.

Today's image is yet another from the Brooklyn Bridge series - I am considering a trip to Coney Island over the weekend - have a need to capture a bit of old New York before it disappears. And remember the Mermaid Parade is only three weeks away - Lou Reed is the King and Laurie Anderson is the Queen....the parade is quite the event culminating in the Mermaid Ball.....

Check out the links above.

The painting in the header is circa 1997.......

Johnny Winter

About all the information on this image is it was shot around 1975 at Madison Square Garden.

I do, however remember that one could use flash in those days. Albeit a bit harsh, flash allowed the viewer to clearly see what was going on at the side of the stage. There was something special about being able to sit on the side of the stage to see a show - does not happen that much these days.



On another front I received a few emails correcting my dates on the two Todd Rundgren posts. Thanks to  'Mr. Long Island' who stated that the Rundgren images were from the 'Todd" album and it was actually out in 1974.

 'The privilege of a lifetime is being who you are'.....Joseph Campbell

Bon Jovi

 
So last night I was fortunate enough to be at The Meadowlands Stadium for the opening musical event - Bon Jovi with Train at the opening act.

The new stadium is a fabulous place to see a sporting event or musical event. And, as always, Jon Bon Jovi did not let anyone down. He was simply balls to the walls for two hours fifteen minutes. If you have the opportunity go see this show - well worth it on all fronts.



Here are a few more including an IPhone look at the stadium and staging.