Happy Thanksgiving Everyone

Wherever you are. Happy holidays.
-Daniel
November 25, 2015

Chatham County Line European Tour Postcard That Uses My Info

See them in Europe, or in the US, if you have the chance.
-Daniel
November 24, 2015

Can Newton Photo

Cam Newton
Cam's Thanksgiving Jam
Fillmore Charlotte
Charlotte, NC
November 23, 2015
photo copyright 2015 Daniel Coston

Sinners & Saints Photos, Charlotte, NC, November 21, 2015

Sinners & Saints
South End Bazaar
Charlotte, NC
November 21, 2015
all photos copyright 2015 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
November 22, 2015

Brian Wilson Photos, Durham, NC, November 19, 2015

Brian Wilson
Carolina Theater
Durham, NC
November 19, 2015
all photos copyright 2015 Daniel Coston
See more at Endless Summer Quarterly's FB and Twitter pages

 

-Daniel
November 21, 2015

South End Bazaar

Hello-

I'll be selling books and prints at the South End Bazaar, at 2525 Distribution St. Charlotte, NC 28203, this Saturday, November 21st. The event starts at 11am, and goes until 8pm. I'll be there after noon, and there until 6:30pm. 
Hope to see you there,
-Daniel
November 21, 2015

New Interview With Jim Bowen Of The Bondsmen

Daniel Coston: How did you meet the other members of the Bondsmen?

Jim Bowen: The fall of 1966 in Durham, NC I transferred from Durham High School to Northern High School  my junior year. In study hall I met a sophomore Phillip Pearson. We talked about what we did, liked, hobbies, etc. What else do you do in Study Hall besides study? Phil mentioned he played in the school band, played the Euphonium. I said I had played the clarinet previously at D.H.S. Then he said he also played drums in combos. I told him I played electric guitar in combos also. He told me about two friends at the junior high school that played guitars and one of them had a great singing voice. Phillip invited me over to his house for a jam session. I met Ken Haywood playing bass and Archie Thomas playing electric guitar and Phillip was right, Archie is a great singer.

Coston: How did the band form?

Bowen: After playing together Ken and I swapped base and guitar and I started playing the bass and Ken played Lead Guitar. Archie sang lead vocals and guitar. Phillip was an out of sight drummer. We all sang back-up vocals. After a couple more sessions everything was clicking, we enjoyed playing and started to learn more songs. The Bondsmen was formed. The four of us played a few gigs, youth centers, club houses, sock hops, the discotech clubs.

We wanted and needed more variety – a keyboard player. Gene Gallegan was a junior at NHS he had transferred from PA., he played organ and electric piano. He was a great addition to the Bondsmen. Our song variety increased. We wanted more- horns- we auditioned several horn, sax and trumpet players. The just did fit. So far the 5 Bondsmen were learning more and more songs and we all like what we were doing and got along great so the horn player we were looking for had to fit right in.

I call a trumpet player I had player with in the DHS band, Tim Hutchinson. He played 1^st chair and what a sound he could deliver. I think we really wanted a Sax player for some of the music we did, but when we heard Tim that all changed. Another great addition to the Bondsmen. So the original line up:

Archie Thomas – lead Vocals

Ken Haywood – Lead guitar – Backup Vocals

Jim Bowen – Bass guitar – Backup Vocals

Phillip Phillips – Drummer

Gene Gallegan – Organ & Electric piano

Tim Hutchinson – Trumpet

Coston: Did you have an idea of what you thought the band should sound like?

Bowen: Our ages ranged from 14 – 17 years old. Some were limited to where we could play- no night clubs because we were under age. We learned a variety of music to please everyone. Some old standards and a lot of top 40 hits. Remember top 40 hits in the  60’s included, Temptations, Tams, 4 Tops, Showman, Beatles, Dave Clark Five, Kinks, Monkeys, Herb Albert, and Jimi Hendrix just to name a few.

Coston: Where were some of your early gigs?

Bowen: Early gigs included; Youth Centers, Sock hops, High school proms, YMCA Dances, Country Clubs, Moose Lodge, Shrine Club, Duke, Carolina and State Frat Parties, Christmas Parties for businesses – WTVD, Trucking Co., Jaycees, etc.

Coston: How did the single with Justice Records come about?

Bowen: Battle of the Bands were a popular event and we liked playing in them for exposure and to win prizes. We won several Battles, The Jazz In, Pearson Music Battle, Raleigh Battle, etc. The prize of  The Durham Battle of the Bands was a recording session and 1000 records at Justice Records in Winston Salem.

Coston: How often did the Bondsmen play during their time together? How many times a week, month, for example.

Bowen: The Bondsmen would get together after school and practice 3 to 5 times a week and if we didn’t have a gig we would do our show on the weekend. When we stated playing gig’s it was every weekend Friday and Saturday. During Christmas Season we played out 3 to 4 times a week. We were not able to practice as much but we would go to gigs and learn songs before the gig started.

Coston: The Bondsmen set list by 1968 was pretty diverse. How did you come to choose songs for the shows?

Bowen: We played for all age groups. The older age group we choose songs like Blue Moon, Love is Blue, etc. My father recommended some songs for their age group and they worked. One night at practice my father gave us sheet music of “Sweetheart of Sigma Chi” to play for the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He said the Frat House would like it and sing along with us. We thought ok well see how it goes, we were skeptical. The night of the gig we played the song and WOW, they went crazy, they were pleased and needless to say they helped spread the word to other Frat Houses and we got more and more jobs. As for the younger age group the top 40’s of the day was great and appealed to the teenager on up.

Coston: How much did the venue (dances, private groups, etc.) affect the Bondsmen’s set list?

Bowen: After months of practice we had learned over 200 songs. We would compile a list for each gig and then take request. When we played one of our regular gigs and had a request we didn’t know we would learn it for the next time.

Coston: My impression is that the Bondsmen were very popular in the Triangle area, and elsewhere. Talk about that.

Bowen: The Bondsmen had a great following. The YMCA dances got larger. The local radio station WSSB would come out and announce us at the show. The Frat parties spread from Duke to UNC to State. Mostly word of mouth from Frat Brothers. When our 1^st record was released we sent a copy to the local radio stations and put some copies in the local Record Bar. One night we got a call from WSSB and invited us to the station for an on air  interview. You can only imagine how high school kids felt (on cloud nine). We were welcome anytime to go to the station and they played our records all the time.

Coston: What do you remember about winning the Battle of the Bands in 1968?

Bowen: January 27, 1968 we were 2nd place in the Raleigh Battle of the Bands. This was held at the Dorton Arena. Playing on the large stage where I had seen groups like Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, Moody Blues and more.What an experience for high school students! March 2,1968 we won First place in the Pro Combo Contest. This was a battle held by Pearson Music Store in Durham with 15 bands competing. April 1968 we won First place in the South Granville Battle of the Bands. Winning this Battle qualified us to go to the State Battle of the Bands. June 1968 we were 3rd place in th NC State Battle of the Bands. So many great groups from all over the state. It was great to be a part of this Battle. 

Coston: Talk about “Our Time To Try”, and picking “I See The Light” to record.

Bowen: One of the Battles we won was The Jazz In August 6, 1967, one of the prizes was a 3 hour demo recording at AMH Studio in Chapel Hill. When we went to the studio we recorded 8 songs. The studio engineer said he liked our sound and asked did we have any originals. We told him we were working on one. He made us an offer to come back to record it. We went back to Durham and started to put together “Our Time to Try.” John Santa also went to NHS and would come to shows and practices he had written lyrics to a song. Archie and John worked on the lyrics, and the rest of the group worked on their parts of the music. When we returned to the studio to record “Our Time to Try” the studio engineer also liked “I see the Light” from the demo session and it became the other side of “Our Time to Try".

Coston: Favorite Bondsmen gigs. Talk about them.

Bowen: It’s hard to pick a favorite gig. The Frat Parties were like “Animal House” and they really got into our music. The youth centers & YMCA Dance crowd got larger each time. I enjoyed playing for the large crowds and of course all the girls-yes, we had groupies!

Coston: The band had lineup changes in 1968. Everyone talked about that time, regardless of whether you joined, or left the band?

Bowen: The summer of 1968 Gene, Tim, and I graduated from High School. After the summer we enrolled in different colleges in different areas.

Coston: What did you do after the Bondsmen?

Bowen: After the Bondsmen in 1968 I would jam with different groups. Four musicians from different groups and myself formed a group “The Sour Honey.” We did similar music and played some of the same places. In 1970 I played bass with an all-black group, I think the name was “The Soul Sensations.” We were all over 18 years old and we played night clubs in Raleigh, Apex, and Durham area. The fall of 1970 I moved to Charlotte to attend UNCC. I didn’t play for a couple of years. Then I picked the bass up and have been playing ever since. I have played in several bands and have recorded another 45 with a group “The Eyes”. And don’t forget the album “Tobacco a go-go” with the second Bondsmen record with both tracks on the album. Someone from Duke called my father, who had managed The Bondsmen, in need of a music group to do a “Rock mass” for a Sunday night service at Duke Chapel. “The Crystal Ship” was formed. Hubert Deans, keyboard and lead vocals, Johnny Thompson, drums, Ken Haywood, lead guitar and backup vocals and me on bass and backup vocals. We were the first band to do a rock mass at Duke Chapel in March 1970.

Coston: The recent reunion show. Talk about that. Thoughts, favorite moments, etc.

Bowen: Getting ready for the recent reunion show was a trip. Seeing The Bondsmen back together after 46 years was something I had only dreamed about. I talked to Daniel Coston and Jake Berger at the History Museum in Charlotte at a book release, " There Was A Time", and he asked me if I would be interested in a Bondsmen Reunion. I said that would be awesome but the group is spread out all over the country. Daniel said I will make it happen. That was June 2014. I went to Durham a few times for rehearsals at Hubert Deans Studio. The first time I went it was like being in a time machine. I hadn’t seen Archie, Tim, Hubert, Jim Ward, and Gene in 46 years. I had seen Phillip in LA. In the 70’s and again in 2014 in Charlotte. I had stayed in touch with Ken through the years. When we got on stage for the sound check all the rehearsals, and thoughts and dreams from the past 46 years came together. We were good, we were always good I mean after all these years we all still had it! We were great! 

Coston: To end this interview, finish this sentence. The Bondsmen were and are…

Bowen: The Bondsmen were a group of musicians in High School that formed a group whose motto on our business card was “Modern Music at its Best”. This has carried through the years and we are still preforming the music at the reunion 45 years later At It's Best.

A Reminder About The Venables New Album, Finish Line, Which I Photographed And Wrote The Bio For

Band and album links-

http://thevenablesrock.blogspot.com/ 

https://thevenables.bandcamp.com

Itunes

https://itunes.apple.com/us/album/finish-line/id1041856099

Amazon

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B015TBT974/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?qid=1444318424&sr=8-2&pi=SY200_QL40&keywords=the+venables+finish&dpPl=1&dpID=51%2BMeCuN1DL&ref=plSrch

Spotify

https://open.spotify.com/artist/1g20zxncKUD4xPO24CA6jS

-Daniel

November 18, 2015

Cayce, SC Flooding Benefit Photos, Billy Gibbons and others, November 15, 2015

Billy Gibbons
Malina Moye
Candace Glover
Kimberly Nichole
Lyle Jennngs
Benton Blount
Historic Columbia Speedway
Cayce, SC
November 15, 2015
all photos copyright 2015 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
November 17, 2015

And A Recent Event That I Did Photos For

http://womensenews.org/story/leadership/151102/fire-starters-in-womens-philanthropy-focus-regeneration

The highlight for me was when the panel started talking about Seneca Falls, NY, and its history. As I lined the ladies up afterwards for a group photo, I looked over my camera and said, "By the way, I grew up in Seneca Falls, NY." And then I took their photo.
-Daniel
November 17, 2015

Further Promotion For The Museum Show

Hello All-

I'll be 106.5 FM's 90 Minutes show this Sunday between 9pm and 11pm, barring another NASCAR rain delay. I also recently did an interview with News14 Carolina about my show, which you should see soon, if it hasn't aired already.

Thank you as always, and stay tuned,
-Daniel
November 17, 2015

Recent Events

Two Observer shoots on Friday, and the Harris Brothers at the Charlotte Folk Society concert. Saturday, seven events, including two Observer shoots, Elder Gallery event, Backcountry Beer Days at the Charlotte Museum Of History, and the Light Factory auction. My thanks to those that made my BB King photo part of the live auction. Wow. 

Sunday, went to Cayce, SC and the old Columbia Speedway for a benefit with Billy Gibbons, Lyfe Jennings, and a host of other acts. The rumored headliner didn't show, but still had fun. Monday, editing all of the photos I took in the last four days, and one video shoot. RIP PF Sloan. Thank you for all of the words and music. Let's live for today, and I'll see you on the road.

-Daniel

November 17, 2015

CharlotteFive Article On Myself And The Museum Exhibit

Thank you Michael!

PS, it's actually closer to 20 years of photos. Come by the show, and find out how close it really is.
-Daniel
November 12, 2015


http://www.charlottefive.com/photographer-daniel-costons-journey-through-a-camera/

Therapiggies

Hello All-

With the holidays approaching, I wanted to remind you about Therapiggies as a possible Christmas gift. They're cute, cuddly, inexpensive, and great traveling companions. My own Therapiggy, Blinker (the Piggies will tell you their names once they start to play with you, so remember to listen for it) comes with me for nearly all of my travels. Here's Blinker watching the sunrise in Denver, CO, the morning after the Zombies' Odesssey & Oracle show. With his cheery demeanor, and blanket in tow (blanket and other accessories are optional), Blinker is always up for another adventure.

Stop by therapiggies.com for more Piggy adventures, and how to get your own Therapiggy. Happy Piggies, and happy holidays,
-Daniel
November 12, 2015

Veteran's Day

To my grandfathers, Don Coston (WWII, US Navy) and George King (WWII, US Army, two purple hearts, one Bronze Star), wherever you are. Happy Veteran's Day. I miss you.

That is all. Over.

-Daniel

November 11, 2015

Sonia Handelmann Meyer Interview, With My Photos

Hello All-

Sonia and I will both have photos in this year's Light Factory auction, which is taking place this Saturday, November 14th. Check out -

www.lightfactory.org

for more info. Sonia will also be in attendance at the Light Factory auction. See you there, or at Sonia's show opening,
-Daniel
November 11, 2015

http://clture.org/through-the-eyes-of-sonia-handelman-meyer/

Happy Birthday Mom

And many more.
-Daniel
November 9, 2015

Warbirds Over Monroe Airshow Photos, November 8, 2015

Warbirds Over Monroe Airshow
Monroe, NC
November 8, 2015
all photos copyright 2015 Daniel Coston

  

-Daniel
November 9, 2015

Oh Hellos Photo, Charlotte, NC, November 6, 2015

Oh Hellos
Visulite Theater
Charlotte, NC
November 6, 2015
photo copyright 2015 Daniel Coston

And More Of My Ben Folds Photos

http://clture.org/an-evening-with-ben-folds/

-Daniel
November 7, 2015

CLTure Article With Lots Of My Sufjan Stevens Photos

http://clture.org/photo-gallery-sufjan-stevens-with-gallant-11-4-15-at-ovens-auditorium/

-Daniel
November 7, 2015

Back On The Book Tour

Hello All-

I'll be back at the Mast General Store in Winston-Salem, NC on Saturday, November 7th. I'll be there from 11am to 3pm, signing copies of my North Carolina Musicians book. Come by, say hello, and I hope to see you all there.
-Daniel
November 5, 2015

Television, Marquee Moon Piece

In 2001, I drove 12 hours to Chicago, just to see Television perform. At the time, the band had reformed after a eight-year hiatus, and were only going to play one show in the US, the Noise Pop festival, after a brief European tour. The venue in Chicago was packed, and insanely humid, due to their air conditioner conking out. The emcee introduced the band to great fanfare, whereupon guitarist and singer Tom Verlaine walked on stage, and spent the next ten mintues setting up his effects pedals. The band, and the whole audience, just stood there quietly, waiting for him to finish and begin playing. It got so humid that one of my lenses warped and locked on one of my cameras, rendering the camera and lens useless for the rest of the show. It was not a perfect show, but seven songs into the set, the band played “See No Evil,” the opening song on Marquee Moon, and absolutely nailed it. At that moment, the trip to Chicago seemed totally justified.

Marquee Moon, Television’s debut album, demonstrates the differences in the New York City punk scene of the time, and the English punk scene that was also emerging at that same moment. The punk scene in England, as enjoyable as it sill is to hear much of that music, was based as much about a new look and attitude than it was the music. The scene in New York City grew out of a young group of musicians that wanted to create something different. Something that wasn’t on the radio, or the TV. Yet. In New York, Television, the Ramones, Patti Smith (who had dated Verlaine for some time), Blondie (who bassist Fred Smith had bolted from to join Television), Wayne County, Talking Heads, and many more were all “punk”. 

All of these artists were also looking for places to play, which is why they all gravitated to one place- CBGB’s- and made it their new home. Verlaine and original band bassist Richard Hell had been the first to walk into the club in 1974, and the new music scene soon folllowed. Television were not only influential musicians, they were also groundbreaking in the New York scene. Their first single, 1975’s “Little Johnny Jewel”, is now considered one of the first singles of the punk rock music that was soon to arrive.

Television were also punks that could really play, with a dexterity and ferocity that few other bands had. The intertwining guitars of Verlaine and Richard Lloyd run rings around melodies. The band was also one of the few “punk” bands that took their cues from jazz albums. The songs credits on Marquee Moon credit the solos that Verlaine and Lloyd play, including who played which solo, and in which order, an idea that the band got from looking at the liner notes of jazz records.

Marquee Moon was recorded in September of 1976, and released in May of the following year. The band signed to Elektra with the understanding that Verlaine would produce the record, despite having very little production experience. Verlaine ended up co-producing the album with engineer Andy Johns, who had worked with the Rolling Stones, and was able to get the guitar sounds that both Verlaine and Lloyd wanted. Many of the songs on the record was done in one take, which included the ten minute title track. 

The lyrics are an expression of everything, all at once. Youth falling into adulthood. Falling into the arms of Venus de Milo, wandering New York with dreams of its possibilities, both good and bad. Even Verlaine himself has said that he’s not sure what all the lyrics mean. The songs lend themselves to endless interpretation, and for new listeners to find their own hidden meanings.

The cover shot was photographed by Robert Mapplethrope, who had also done the cover of Patti Smith’s debut album, Horses. The band took Mapplethorpe’s print of the photo, and had it reprinted to a photocopy store, which was then used on the album’s cover. The look of the photo also represents the tension that existed in the music, and in the personalities that made up the band. The band would only last for one more album, before splitting for the first time in 1978. The band has since reformed a few times since then, and are currently touring again, minus Richard Lloyd.

Marquee Moon, to me, represents one of those beautiful moments where the possibilities are endless, and something new emerges to influence all that arrive in its wake.  I have heard bands cover “See No Evil”, and listened as grown men shouted gutteral squeals of joy at hearing their favorite song played live. If anyone ever comes to my house while I’m playing Marquee Moon, that person will always stop and say, “Wow! This is great! What is this?” It literally happens every time. Marquee Moon is the sound of four people reaching out to create something diffferent, and better. And we’re still listening to that achievement.

Listen in, listen on and enjoy.

This case is closed. 
-Daniel Coston
November 5, 2015

Sufjan Stevens Photo, Charlotte, NC, November 4, 2015

Sufjan Stevens
Ovens Auditorium
Charlotte, NC
November 4, 2015
photo copyright 2015 Daniel Coston

Ben Folds Photo, Charlotte, NC, November 3, 2015

Ben Folds
with Y Music
Belk Theater
Charlotte, NC
November 3, 2015
photo copyright 2015 Daniel Coston

The Bondsmen Are Back!

Come to Durham, NC and see this show on December 27th, the first "local" show for this band in 45 years.

I'm apparently a music geek, too. But a professional one, mind you!
-Daniel

http://motorcomusic.com/event/marianne-taylor-music-presents-the-bondsmen-40th-reunion-of-one-of-the-triangles-favorite-party-bands/

Low Cut Connie Photo, Charlotte, NC, November 1, 2015

Low Cut Connie
Snug Harbor
Charlotte, NC
November 1, 2015
photo copyright 2015 Daniel Coston