Next Library Talk

Hello all-

My next speaking event is at the Main Library of Charlotte, on August 14th at 7pm. More soon. Hope to see you there,
-Daniel
July 25, 2017

Tom Paxton Photo, Swannanoa, NC, Summer 2015

Tom Paxton
Swannanoa, NC
Summer 2015
Photo copyright 2015 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
July 25, 2017

Red Dirt Revelators Photos, Shelby, NC, July 22, 2017

Red Dirt Revelators
Newgrass Brewing Company
Shelby, NC
July 22, 2017
All photos copyright 2017 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
July 25, 2017

Jay Rogers Blues Photo, Charlotte, NC, July 22, 2017

Jay Rogers Blues
Spirit Square
Charlotte, NC
July 22, 2017
Photo copyright 2017 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
July 25, 2017

Jazz Arts Initiative Photos, Charlotte, NC, July 22, 2017

Jazz Arts Initiative
Stage Door
Charlotte, NC
July 22, 2017
All photos copyright 2017 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
July 25, 2017

Back On WNCW On Saturday, July 22, 2017

Hello all-

Just wanted to let you know that I'll be on WNCW tomorrow night, July 22, around 7pm, on their Saturday Night House Party show. I'll be talking about my new edition of the Double Door Inn book, and lots of news. Tune in, see you on the radio, and see you on the road.

http://wncw.org/post/daniel-coston-visit-wncw-during-saturday-night-house-party-722 

-Daniel
July 21, 2017

John Moreland Photos, Charlotte, NC, July 20, 2017

John Moreland
Visulite Theater
Charlotte, NC
July 20, 2017
All photos copyright 2017 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
July 21, 2017

RIP George Romero

Safe travels, George. Thank you for everything.
-Daniel
Photo copyright 2016 Daniel Coston

Acrobat At Spirit Square Photo, Charlotte, NC, July 14, 2017

Acrobat
Spirit Square
Charlotte, NC
July 14, 2017
Photo copyright 2017 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
July 16, 2017

The Inn Photo, Charlotte, NC, July 14, 2017

The Inn
Smokey Joe's
Charlotte, NC
July 14, 2017
Photo copyright 2017 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
July 16, 2017

Scythian Photo, Charlotte, NC, July 14, 2017

Scythian
First Ward Park
Charlotte, NC
July 14, 2017
Photo copyright 2017 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
July 16, 2017

Update From The Last Few Days

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday, photos of the Swannanoa Gathering, two private events, two baseball games, and gallery opening at the New Museum Of Modern Art. Friday, photos of one Carolina Business Review taping, interviewed the legendary Ann Moses (Ann said that she should interview me sometime. That made my day, and many more to come), and photos of the Sounds On The Square, Scythian at First Ward Park, and The Inn at Smokey Joe's. Saturday, photos of one event for Southpark Magazine, Camp Greene centenary event, one talk about the 1960s NC music scene at the Beatties Ford Library, photos of Alana Flowers Gibson, Glenn Gibson and Brandon's new band, and then driving to Asheboro to photograph my cousin Matthew King and Bjorn & Francois. Twenty-two years into photography, I finally get to photograph a family member onstage. I may need to a small vacation, but here's to staying on the line. See you in the sun, and see you on the road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RKeqXyY-9xA

New Library Talk This Saturday, July 15, at 3pm, In Charlotte, NC

With so much going on lately, it's high time I promoted my new library talk at the Beatties Ford Library this Saturday at 3pm. This new talk will comprise two of my books, and feature some new photos of mine, and some photos in my collection. Free admission, spread the word, and come by and say hello.
-Daniel
July 11, 2017

Rooney/Run River North Photos, Charlotte, NC, July 9, 2017

Rooney
Run River North
Neighborhood Theatre
Charlotte, NC
July 9, 2017
All photos copyright 2017 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
July 10, 2017

Pretengineers Photos, Charlotte, NC, July 7, 2017

Pretengineers
Spirit Square
Charlotte, NC
July 7, 2017
All photos copyright 2017 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
July 7, 2017

Thank You

Wow. My sincere thank you to all of you that came to last night's show opening for The Place To Be, posted about it, emailed me, or sent along best wishes. I was, and still am genuinely stunned by the love and support that you all expressed. Many times over, thank you. And 22 years in, we're (hopefully) just getting started. Since the show opening, photos of the Levine Children's Hospital benefit at the Neighborhood Theatre, two children's parties, and Carolina Gator Gumbo at Petra's. Again, thank you, on to more photos, and see you on the road.
-Daniel
July 8, 2017

Info On Tonight's Show Opening

Here's everything you need to know about tonight's official opening of my new show of photos at the Knight Gallery, at Spirit Square. It's open now, all day and until they close the building late at night. It'll be there until November 22nd, so if you can't make it tonight, come by anytime. Live music will be happening outside Spirit Square from 7 to 8:30pm, with a showing of An American In Paris to follow. I'll be inside the gallery around 6pm, taking questions, and hanging out with whoever comes by. And yes, it's all free to attend. Spread the word, and hope to see you in the gallery, and see you on the road.
-Daniel
July 7, 2017

Update From My Website

Hello all-

How are you? Just a quick update to let you know about the busy things that have been going on with me.

First, I have a entirely new show of photos. The Blumenthal Permforming Arts group in Charlotte asked me in May to put together a show of concert photos from the Charlotte area. In three weeks, I picked out, printed, framed and hung the show in three weeks. Instant karma? More like instant art! The show is now free to view anytime at the Knight Gallery at Spirit Square until November 22nd. The show is titled The Place To Be, and features photos from every current and past music venue in Charlotte that I’ve photographed over the last 22 years. Spirit Square is hosting an official opennig party on Friday, July 7th from 6 tp 9pm. Live music, free admission, and one big party. I hope to see you at the show this week, or sometime over the next few months. My show at the Charlotte Museum Of History is still there, and please check out that show, as well, if you haven’t already.

Second, with the recent closing of the Double Door Inn, I have re-written the book on the venue that I originally co-wrote with the late Debby Wallace in 2008, and have this new version as the third and final edition of the book. Home Of The Blues: A History Of The Double Door Inn, is available on Amazon, and other independent book shops throughout North Carolina. 

Lots of work the past several months. Two days of photos in June with the National Sports Media Association (NSMA), work with Emmylou Harris, Rodney Crowell and more as part of a concert with the Earl Scruggs Center, traveling to photograph various shows by Micky Dolenz, X, Rhiannon Giddens, and many others. Numerous events for Southpark Magazine, Charlotte Magazine, and many other clients. I have also been dragged out from behind the camera, as of late. Check out two nice articles on me on Charlottefive.com, and Francene Morris recently did an excellent interview with me that covered a lot of ground. You can find all of these online, as well as links to them on my blog, danielcoston.blogspot.com.

And if you’re wanting to see more of my work, here’s where you can see what I’ve been working on.

danielcoston.blogspot.com (blog)

@danielcostonphotos (Instagram)

@danielcoston (Twitter)

danielcostoncostonmusicphotos.com (music photos and archives)

danielcoston.photoreflect.com (Event photos site)

I hope to see you all soon. Safe travels, and see you on the road.

-Daniel

July 5, 2017 

Monday Night Allstars Article In Creative Loafing Charlotte

This features a number of photos from my archives. Enjoy,
-Daniel
July 5, 2017

https://clclt.com/charlotte/after-22-years-the-monday-night-allstars-are-still-alive-and-kickin/Content?oid=5072756 

The Place To Be Artist Statement

The photos contained in this show are a collection of many days and nights enjoying music, in many places. Large venues, small venues, anywhere and everywhere in Charlotte, NC. For the past 22 years, I have tried to find these places, and photograph them. For this show, I wanted to convey the rich vibrancy and diversity that one can see and hear on any given night in Charlotte. From the legendary artists, to the local musicians that make up the Charlotte music scene. In theaters, clubs, churches and more, big and small. Be they venues that no longer exist, or ones that you can visit tonight, the photos in this show are a reflection of those beautiful sounds, and my efforts to put a visual to the sounds that continue to be, The Place To Be. Wherever you choose to find them. 
-Daniel Coston
June 11, 2017

Two Days Until The Official Opening Of The Place To Be!

Hope to see you there. Spirit Square, Charlotte, NC, 6pm until 9pm. See you soon,
-Daniel
July 5, 2017

Bobby Allison Photo, Concord, NC, April 2017

Bobby Allison
Concord, NC
April 2017
Photo copyright 2017 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
July 4, 2017

Threshers Reunion Photos, Denton, NC, June 30, 2017

Threshers Reunion
Denton, NC
June 30, 2017
All photos copyright 2017 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
July 4, 2017

Jazz Room Photos, Charlotte, NC, June 14, 2017

Jazz Room
JazzArts Initiative
Charlotte, NC
June 14, 2017
Photo copyright 2017 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
July 4, 2017

Kenny Roby Photos, Charlotte, NC, June 30, 2017

Kenny Roby
Neighborhood Theatre
Charlotte, NC
June 30, 2017
Photos copyright 2017 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
July 4, 2017

Loudermilks Photo, Charlotte, NC, June 30, 2017

Loudermilks
Neighborhood Theatre
Charlotte, NC
June 30, 2017
Photo copyright 2017 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
July 4, 2017

Avett Brothers, WBT 95th anniversary gala, June 28, 2017

Avett Brothers
WBT 95th anniversary gala
Foundation For The Carolinas
June 28, 2017
All photos copyright 2017 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
July 4, 2017

Closing The Door

On January 2nd of this year, the Double Door Inn held its final show. After visiting and photographing the building for 23 years, I was witnessing the last night of a place that had come to mean so much to me. My emotions that night were mixed. As others came to grips with the venue’s closing, I silently held out hope for the building to be moved. It was something that myself and others had been working on by this point for months, with occasional flickers of hope. 

I first stepped into the Double Door in January of 1994, on an excursion with a local video and TV group. I first attended a Sunday night blues jam. Twenty-three years later, almost to the day, I would photograph the final blues jam at the Double Door. Over time, my love of photography and music would drive me to document so many great shows at the Double Door. It also would lead me to help put together the first edition of Home Of The Blues in 2008 with the late Debby Wallace, a local music fan and aspiring writer. 

When we did the original book, Debby had never written a book before, and was at times unsure about putting it together. By the time that she turned in a draft, it was unfinished, and four months overdue. Up against a deadline for publication with out original publisher, I put together that first version in a weekend, adding interviews, sorting out the structure, and finding the ending buried within the texts. I learned a lot in putting that book together. I cannot tell you how much fun it was the first night we sold copies at the Double Door, during Happy Hour. I’m so glad that Debby got to experience that. When she passed away suddenly a month later, I became the shepherd of the book. Ordering copies, taking care of questions, and working towards a second edition of the book in 2013. By this time, I had formed my own publishing imprint, Fort Canoga Press, to make sure that books like this one were published the way I wanted to see them released. My original plan was to do a third edition of the book for its 50th anniversary, but life and other plans got in the way.

When many of us heard that the Double Door was closing, and that CPCC was buying the building, we were heartbroken. We know how this going to turn out. Over the next few months, a few of us in Charlotte quietly began an attempt to save the building. It quickly emerged that moving the building, and getting the building away from CPCC was the only viable option. 

This back and forth with CPCC continued via email for months. After the Double Door closed in January, a larger group of Charlotteans got involved. By mid-January, our plan was in place, and was presented to CPCC. While I cannot go into who was involved, I can tell you that it was a remarkable coalition, and one that I wish would use its brainpower for more proejcts in the Charlotte area. 

Once again, CPCC rebuffed our offer, which would have cost them nothing, and continued plans for demolishing the building. Let’s be clear about this. CPCC had every chance to save the building, or allow it to be moved to another location. And they didn’t want that. Multiple excuses by multiple presidents, and their minders. In retrospect, our plans were largely based on faith and hope. One hand hoping for the best in ten other hands, and so on. Would it have worked? What would have happened from there? And what point would it have not been the Double Door Inn? I don’t know. Sometimes, the closer you get to the sun, the more you can’t see beyond the sun. And in turn, the harder you fall.

If you have recently driven by the former site of the Double Door Inn, you may have noticed that part of the exterior has been preserved. This is not a total surprise, to me. Former CPCC president Tony Zeiss offered to appease his friends by turning part of the new building into a music venue, and honor the Double Door’s history. When CPCC came calling about photos of the Double Door, the venue put them in touch with me, the man involved trying to save the building. All of this does beg more questions. Did CPCC demolish the Double Door Inn, so that they could own its memory? And why didn’t they state their intention, in the first place? You can build all of the statues you want, until they fill the greenway, ten times over. But when you destroy history, it is gone. Forever. When there is no building for the next generations to see what all the fuss was about, no marble and tile can ever do those places justice. Statues are only a reminder of lives once lived, and replacing life with more statues does ourselves and our stories a cold, infinite injustice.

When everyone had through their greiving about the loss of the Double Door, mine was just beginning. When others had moved on, the month of February found me in quiet mourning. But the book, in its third and final edition, began calling to me. The book became my catharsis, and my step into the next chapter.

Over the last few years, I have evolved into being more of a binge writer. Some of it is due of my lack of a regular writing schedule, and some of it is my work frame of mind. In short, I have become a writer with a photographer’s tempermment. I’m absolutely focused on writing when I do so, but give me other projects to tend to, or photograph work to do, I walk away from what I’m working on, and it takes me forever to get the wind behind my writing that I had some time before. It works fine for essays, but larger writing projects feel like start and stop affairs. It can be frustrating, even for me. Why am I working on this project again? Didn’t I finish it, already? But walking away from a peoject like the Double Door can sometimes be a good thing. It allowed me to step back, think about how the book could do, and how best to structure the new book.

In early March, I had a large project to write for. I wrote ten short pieces for the project. Eight in one night, and two the next morning. As soon as I sent out the pieces, I began work on the Double Door book, that same morning. For the next two days, I wrote non-stop. Some sections, I re-wrote along the lines of what Debby had originally written, and others I completely re-wrote from scratch. A format also emerged for the book, to help set it apart from the other two editions. Begin the book on the last night, and then go into the history of the venue. The book then meets up in the final pages with the last night of the Double Door, and then completes the story. I’m fascinated by stories that move in circles, and not completely linear. The more that the circles return to where they have been before, more can be revealed. I wrote the last section first, then the beginning, and then wrote throughout the rest of the book. Some of it was planned, but I largely wrote based on what felt right, and then did some editing from there. Readers may also note that the book is still credited to Debby Wallace, and myself. The work began with Debby, and ends with me. A promise is still a promise, no matter how many years ago such promise was made. 

I did make one mistake in the process of writing the book. Just as I began to see the end of the work on the book, I had to put the book down to work on other things. And for a few weeks, it drove me crazy. The worst thing a writer can do is see the finish line, even if it is a mirage. You’ve seen the end, and now you just want to find it, even if it isn’t time yet to do so. After a few weeks of working on other projects, I carved out the time to finish off the book, and begin to make it ready for its final version.

I knew that I wanted a whole new set of interviews for this book. Over the period of several weeks, I started interviewing everyone that would talk to me. Nick and Matthew Karres, all four Spongetones, longtime barman George Mandrapilias, and others. Reading the original book now, it's a good book, but I wanted more. Now, I feel that the book tells a more complete story, and provides a lot more information. Most of the interviews were also done by the time I started rewriting the book. That way, what they had told me was already in my head, allowing me to have my writing be in tune with their words.

What surprised me the most in writing the final version? Learning about the rich history of the building, and the famous hands that the building and street passed through before it became the Double Door Inn. The house, originally listed as 4 North Fox Street in the 1930 census, was probably built around 1924 by the Wearn family. When the house was built, the road did not have a name, and would not have one for a few more years. The city of Charlotte’s records are all listed by street address. Somewhere in the archives, the building order is hidden away, languishing with many other homes that were built before their streets were named. But we know that William Wearn Sr. sold the land to his son on December 20th of 1923. I held the original deed in my hands, as well as the deed, written in longhand, when Wearn Sr. bought the entire plot of land from Stephen Torrance. As a researcher and archivist, this was what I live for.

The line that defines the book, for me, came late in the process of writing. I had written the end of the book, but I knew that one paragraph needed one more line. Something that would bring everything else I had written into sharp focus. As I began to fall asleep late one night, the line emerged in my head. The Double Door Inn passed through many of us, just as much as we passed through it. I woke myself, wrote out the line, and emailed it to myself, so that I would see it again the next morning. It’s amazing that you can write a mountain of words, but it can take only one line to define everything that you’re trying to do. And if you’re lucky, or working hard, or both, that line emerges through the clouds, and onto the page. 

What did the journey of the last several months teach me? That we may not always win the battles that we would like, but that does not mean that they weren't worth fighting for. That the best story isn’t always told at the time, but given time, will be told. That a building can be more than a biulding, when we as humans give it the chance to be. And that the things we love can continue to live on in our hearts and minds, if we remember to not let fear, anger and bitterness win us over. As difficult as that all can be, we are better for the journey when we allow the best of life to pass through us, and lead us from where we once were, and into the next story.
-Daniel Coston
July 4, 2017

NSMA Photos 2017

Hello all-

I spent two days last week photographing the National Sports Media Association (NSMA) annual conference in Winston-Salem, NC. As a former sportswriter, it was a lot of fun to give back to a professional that I have loved and followed for years. You can see more of my photos from both days at danielcoston.photoreflect.com, and click on the NSMA 2017 photos. Thank you, and if you were there, please send me an email and say hello. Best wishes,
-Daniel
July 4, 2017

Bucky Dent Photos, Charlotte, NC, June 28, 2017

Bucky Dent
Knights Stadium
Charlotte, NC
June 28, 2017
All photos copyright 2017 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
July 4, 2017

Invitation To My Show Opening On Friday

https://www.punchbowl.com/parties/3eae9209e1adf3a69994?utm_source=wordfly&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=MemberInvitetoDanielCostonExhibit063017&utm_content=version_A 

See you there,
-Daniel
July 2, 2017