Monday, June 29, 2015

The Day After The CLT 60s Reunion

That day after I helped to reunite the Bondsmen and Mod VI for killer sets at the Neighborhood Theatre, where I found myself in Tennessee doing photos with The Beach Boys at the children's hospital benefit. During which I'm standing near Mike Love, and Peyton Manning walks up and says hello. And then Dan Marino, and more all-pro NFL and college players and coaches also walk by. And then I watch Mike Love teach Peyton Manning the lyrics to "Barbara Ann", so that he can sing them with the band during the show. And he did. And then I ran home to email these photos, because the Beach Boys want to post them as soon as possible.

And that day was my day, today. And how was your day?
-Daniel
June 28, 2015

Wednesday, June 24, 2015

My Upcoming Book Talk And Signing Schedule

Upcoming Book Signing Schedule-

Mast General Store, Winston-Salem, NC, July 4th, 11am to 4pm

Mast General Store, Boone, NC, July 10th, 1 to 5pm

Mast General Store, Boone, NC, July 11th, 11am to 2pm


Upcoming Book Talk Schedule-

South County Library, Charlotte, NC, June 30th, 6pm

Plaza Midwood Library, Charlotte, July 13th


Hope to see you this Saturday at Neighborhood Theatre for our big CLT 60s Rock & Roll Reunion show.

More soon, safe travels,
-Daniel
June 24, 2015

My Playlist On WNCW This Afternoon

Bondsmen - I See The Light
Paragons - Abba
Sounds Unlimited - Cool One
Mod VI - Long Tall Sally
Saytrs - Ticky Tacky
Stowaways - It Won’t Be Wrong
Mannish Boys - Hey Rosalyn 
Grifs - Catch A Ride
Corsayors - Hominy Grits
Cykle - If You Can
Teenbeats - I Should Wait
Huckleberry Mudflap - Eyes Of Blue
Londons - Old Man (A Thing Of Age)
Shirley Hughey - Pink And Green

-Daniel
June 24, 2015

Thursday, June 18, 2015

Thought For Today

The news is defeaning, and depressing today. As I’ve tried to get through today, I’ve found myself doing searches through Youtube, and playing TV and radio broadcasts of the 1981 New York Yankees. 1981 American League Playoffs? Yep. Bill White and Phil Rizzuto calling a rain delay? Oh, yeah. This is all very nice, but I eventually asked myself, “Daniel, what are you doing?"

All these years later, I still have a soft spot in my heart for baseball, and the Yankees ball clubs (and announcers) that I fell in love with as a child. I can still name the starting lineup of the ’81 Yankees. Thinking about those days, and hearing those voices reminds me of days when my worldview was not so heavy. Not so clouded by the day to day reality that we all face. But in my childlike heart, I still believe in the feeling that baseball gave me, and the hope for the future that those feelings provided. So this is where I am today, reaching out to the past, while trying to get through the present.

In times like this, we search for understanding that the world doesn’t often provide. We all do different things to make sense of it all, or find a way to get through this.  There is no one answer, just a piece of the puzzle for every individual. While I listen to broadcasts today of Yankees baseball, I hope that everyone takes some time to mourn, to heal, and to find that place of calm. As we all move through this, and life together. However long this takes. Play ball, and safe travels.
-Daniel
June 18, 2015

Monday, June 15, 2015

Book Talk, And Other Cool Events For Our June 27th Show

Hello All-

My first book talk of the summer will be this Wednesday, June 17th, at the North County Library in Huntersville. I will be talking about There Was A Time, as well as my North Carolina Musicians book. All of my books will be available at the talk.

I'll also be on WNCW next Wednesday, June 24th, at noon. I'll be spinning records with Joe Kendrick, and talking about North (and South) Carolina Garage Rock. Tune in!

Look for further press about the show, and look for the Mod VI this Friday night at 8:45pm, as they'll appear on WBTV's news show on their Bounce channel, talking about our June 27th show.

See you soon,
-Daniel
June 16, 2015

Saturday, June 13, 2015

Playlist For Temples Show Review

The Electric Prunes - I Had Too Much To Dream Last Night
13th Floor Elevators - (I’ve Got) Levitation
Pink Floyd - See Emily Play
Temples - Shelter Song
Jonathan Richman & the Modern Lovers - She Cracked
Strokes- Hard To Explain
Small Faces - Tin Soldier
Remains - Don’t Look Back
Sloan - The Good In Everyone
Superdrag - Sucked Out
Love - You Set The Scene

-Daniel
June 13, 2015

Shakey Graves pic

Shakey Graves
Neighborhood Theatre
Charlotte, NC
June 11, 2015
photo copyright 2015 Daniel Coston


Temples Show Review And Photos

Check them out here. See you on the road.
-Daniel
June 12, 2015


http://shutter16.com/temples-bring-uk-rock-to-charlotte/

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

New Booksigning Date!

Hello All-

I'll be signing books at Mast General Store in Winston-Salem, NC on July 4th, smack in the middle of Heavy Rebel Weekend! I'll be signing copies of my North Carolina Musicians book, as well as all of my other books. See you there!
-Daniel
June 9, 2015

Hallway

I am not
in control,
yet I move
through it all,
hurtling myself
forward
in blind
ambition 
and knowledge,
not knowing
where this 
is leading me,
or where
I want it
to end.


I feel nothing, 
yet
I am aware 
ot it all,
overloaded 
into 
mobile
paralysis,
numb to experience,
as if
I was 
dreaming it all
from a distance.
And here
I am again, 
falling again,
because
it feels more
familiar
than stopping
to make sesne 
of it all.



can only
look behind me
as they all
fade away
and 
make sense
of it all
as I pass through
this hallway,
alone
in a different 
time
and 
place,
the ghosts
of myself
that others know,
or think 
they all,
and the other
that I am
slowly 
becoming.
Lost
in a 
state
of emotions
I am
not prepared
to accept,
yet still
embrace
its swarm
of emotions,
knowing
that the unknown
is more frightening,
staying in the 
exhausted now
than 
what 
comes 
next.

-Daniel Coston
June 2015

Happy Birthday Les Paul

Happy 100th birthday to one of the most amazing and funniest people I ever met and photographed, Les Paul. Happy birthday Les. Save a laugh for me, wherever you are.
-Daniel
June 9, 2015

Saturday, June 6, 2015

Wrecking Crew Screening Tonight

Theatre Charlotte, 7:30pm.
Tickets available at the door.
Me talking about the Wrecking Crew afterwards.
Please come out and help me celebrate Sandra's birthday.

See you soon,
-Daniel
June 6, 2015

Wednesday, June 3, 2015

When My Holiday Snaps Become An Album Cover

Out now. Check it out, and this was a great project to work on.
-Daniel
June 3, 2015
PS, along with the interior photos, the cover pic was taken last year on one of my few days off, while driving through the Blue Ridge Parkway.


Tuesday, June 2, 2015

RIP Jean Ritchie, and Richard Watson

Safe travels to the both of you, and thank you for all the music. Tell Doc that we said hello.
-Daniel
June 2, 2015

Monday, June 1, 2015

Big WAYS Battle Of The Bands News Coverage

Hello All-

In doing research for There Was A Time, my book on the Rock & Roll scene in North Carolina during the 1960s, there was one event that may well have been the greatest day for Garage Rock in Charlotte's history. In 1966, 27 bands took part in the Big WAYS radio station's Battle Of The Bands competition, an all-day event featuring the best and brightest of the region's Rock bands. Attendees could remember who else was there, what they wore, and the songs they played. There were only two things that escaped everyone's memory- who won, and what day the competition was.

In talking to the Young Ages last year, we figured out that it was the Young Ones, from Lumberton that won the competition. With that info in hand, I asked Maria David of the Charlotte Observer's Retro CLT section to see what she could find. What she found is linked below.

David not only found the date of the event (Saturday, November 19, 1966), she found the Observer's coverage, and how the Lumberton paper, The Robesonian, covered the event and their hometown heroes. The two articles also provides a fascinating contrast to how media at the time viewed the growing youth culture. The Robesonian covers the Young Ones like they are conquering youngsters, with a cool photo to boot, and even lists the bands's song selections at the competition. The Observer article? Well, you're going to want to smack the writer around more than just his head and shoulders. You're been warned.

You can find further descriptions, and photos from the Big WAYS Battle Of The Bands in our book. Check out the book, and the music at our show at Neighborhood Theatre on June 27th. See you there, and Rock on,
-Daniel
June 1, 2015



ConCarolinas Photos, Concord, NC, May 29, 2015

ConCarolinas
Embassy Suites Hotel
Concord, NC
May 29, 2015
Joel Hodgson
Judith O'Dea
Michael Hogan
all photos copyright 2015 Daniel Coston









-Daniel
June 1, 2015

Scythian Photos, Double Door Inn, Charlotte, NC, May 30, 2015

Scythian Photos
Double Door Inn
Charlotte, NC
May 30, 2015
all photos copyright 2015 Daniel Coston






My Blumeys Awards Photos for 2015

Hello All-

My photos of the Blumeys Awards, celebrating local high school musical theater, can now be seen here-

https://www.flickr.com/photos/blumenthalarts/sets/72157652806676518

If you look through the Blumenthal's Flickr page, you will also find my photos for the 2013 and 2014 awards. Enjoy, and keep on dancing,
-Daniel
June 1, 2015

Negro League Baseball day, Charlotte, NC, May 18, 2015

Negro League Baseball day
Knights Stadium
Charlotte, NC
May 18, 2015
all photos 2015 Daniel Coston








-Daniel
June 1, 2015