Update from my website

Hello All-

Wow, it's April, isn't it? A happy belated Easter to all. The past few months have been a busy time here, and there's lots to tell you about.

My photo and interview book, North Carolina Musicians: Photographs and Conversations, will be out through McFarland Publications (www.mcfarlandpub.com) around June. For all of you that wanted me to put together my photos of NC musicians from the last 16 years, this is it. It's got 140 photos, 19 interviews with the likes of Scott Avett, Dom Flemons, Si Kahn, Tift Merritt, John and Chandler of Chatham County Line, and many more, as well as stories and reflections from yours truly. The book will also be available as an EBook, and will be available in stores throughout the Southeast. More on this book soon, as well as a book tour.

Through no manner of planning, I also have another book coming out in the coming weeks. There Was A Time: Rock & Roll in the 1960s in Charlotte, and North Carolina, is the story of the Garage Rock and Psychedelica scene in the Charlotte area, and throughout the state. This book is a co-write with Jacob "Jake" Berger, and features nearly forty interviews. No photos from yours truly, but you do get the true story of legendary bands such as the Paragons, Grifs, New Mix, Stowaways, and many more. We will be announcing the publisher for this book shortly. This book is currently in layout, and should be available shortly. You can follow the book, and where to get copies at therewasatimebook.blogspot.com.

One of the chapters for There Was A Time will be excerpted in the next issue of the legendary Ugly Things Magazine. (www.ugly-things.com) Speaking of magazine publications, the next issue of the Big Takeover Magazine (www.bigtakeover.com) will feature my interviews with Gary Brooker of Procol Harum, and Vince Melouney, original guitarist for the Bee Gees. My thanks also goes out to everyone that saw my Avett Brothers photos in the January issue of Our State Magazine.

My photos of Doug Dillard and Duck Dunn were featured in the Grammy broadcast in February, which was an amazing and surreal thing to witness. My thanks to the Grammy folks for reaching out to me, and to Doug and Duck, and their families. God bless you both.

Lots of recent photoshoots! I spent a couple of days in Asheville working with the fantastic Underhill Rose (www.underhillrose.com), shooting studio and posed pics for their upcoming album. I photographed Si Kahn and son Gabe Kahn last week, as they put together a collaborative album. Other recent work includes shoots with Sweet Potato Pie (www.sweet-potato-pie.com), Caleb Caudle and Haley Dreis, John Cobett (yes, the actor) and Chris Stamey. By the way, Chris Stamey's new album, Lovesick Blues (photographed by yours truly) is now out, and getting some of the best reviews of Chris' career. That's saying something! You may have also seen some of my photos on the Monkees' official Facebook tour page. That was pretty cool!

How do you know when you're a photography veteran? When the albums you photographed early in your career get reissued. I've recently been working on photos for the reissue of the Drive By Truckers album, Alabama Ass Whuppin', which I originally photographed in 2000. For many people, this will be their first exposure to this great record, and I look forward to people discovering this CD. Also, the $2 Pistols and Tift Merritt EP, which I did the recording studio pics for in 1999, is now out of vinyl. Look for more of my Yep Roc-photographed records to come out on vinyl soon. It all looks better with vinyl packaging!

On that same front, Son Volt is back, and recently bought two of my photos from way back when for a tour-only CD, which features recording of the band from 1999. It's amazing to see photos I took all those years ago presented that way, especially with a band that I've been a longtime fan of. Check out the CD at the band's upcoming shows.

I recently been interviewed by Joe Kendrick and his new What It Is video show (www.iamavl.com, or whatitisradio.org). That show will hopefully appear on Youtube soon. Jeremy Davis of Elonzo also interviewed me for his Skelepod blog (http://skelepod.podbean.com/2013/02/18/episode-3-daniel-coston/), which I recommend checking out.

My thanks to everyone that came out in late February for my last-minute show at CHP Studios. That was a lot of fun. If you want to see me again in person, I'll be doing an interview and conversation with Chuck Johnson on May 4th, as part of Elizabeth Teagarden's house concert series. Several of my photos from the upcoming NC Musicians book will also be on display, and you can pre-order copies of my upcoming books. Go to Chuck Johnson's page for more info, or email me. I will also be speaking at USC on April 11th, talking about the importance of photography in presenting music. This presentation is not open to the public, but I'll provide details later.

On top of shooting many events for various media outlets and organizations, there's been lots of recent cool shows. Jeff Mangum, Emmylou Harris & Rodney Crowell, Matrimony, Justin & Rhiannon of the Chocolate Drops, Cowboy Junkies, Patterson Hood, Shawn Colvin & Mary Chapin Carpenter, and many more. 

More big news coming soon, including announcements on a new gallery signing, and photos for an upcoming Charlotte calendar. My thanks to all that follow the madness that is my life, and I hope to see you all somewhere soon. Safe travels,
-Daniel
April 2, 2013