Decades Of Rock Show, Charlotte, NC, September 15th, 2018

On September 15, I'll be bringing back my series of shows playing the music that many of us grew up with. This new series, entitled Decades Of Rock, features some of your favorite local musicians playing the music that rocked the world, and rocked our world during those times. The Mannish Boys open the show with the garage rock and R&B of the 1960s, and then Randy Franklin & The Sardines bring the 1970s, some of the 80s back to life. The show is at Neighborhood Theatre, doors are at 7pm, and the show is at 8pm. And tickets are $10, online and at the door. Spread the word, see you there, and see you on the road.
-Daniel
August 29, 2018

The Waves Of Attrition

You 
are no longer
here
you are lost
among the waves 
of incoherence and idolatry
that makes one
dance
for your own
amusement,
telling 
the others
that you 
still care,
not ready to admit
that 
you are 
just as lost
in the emptiness
in every days
as those
you
ran away from,
who will always
look
to you 
like they are standing still,
but they 
in turn
see you
in the very
same 
way.

There are
no 
friends,
only a series
of collisons and circumstances
that mark
our lives,
washing endlessly
in the
ghosts of attrition
that we
all share,
yet we all
suffer 
alone.

It’s not
the motion
that kills,
but the stops and starts
that pry
us
from ability
to relex.
It is
thrilling,
it is
frightening,
it is
all I 
know.
And the ache
can 
run
deeper
than the rush
that brings
us back
to the surface,
for the
moment.

There is no line,
only a series
of circles, 
repeating and reworking
our twttches and 
habits,
until they seem
a sense of normal,
having
lived
it all
before,
until the circle
fades, 
and the spinning
of waves
begins 
again, 
and we rise,
and we fall, 
and we dive,
hoping
that the next 
idea
will
save 
us. 

-Daniel Coston
August 29, 2018

Thoughts On Neil Simon

Neil Simon was more than the writer whose work kept showing up in your high school Englidh textbook. Simon changed the ideas of what a comedic play could be. Pathos, poignancy, empathy, dealing with life’s changes, and looking back on your past. Simon’s work changed and grew as he changed. And in turn, so did we. Play after play, story after story, Neil Simon will always be out there. Which is all that any writer, or any human being, can ever hope for. 
-Daniel CostonAugust 27, 2018

Rob And Ti's Farewell Party, Charlotte, NC, August 26, 2018

Rob And Ti's Farewell Party
Charlotte, NC
August 26, 2018
With the Spongetones, Randy Franklin, and more

-Daniel
August 26, 2018

Junior Astronomers Photo, Charlotte, NC, August 25, 2018

Junior Astronomers
Visulite Theater
Charlotte, NC
August 25, 2018
Photo copyright 2018 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
August 27, 2018

Matthew Sweet Photo, Carrboro, NC, August 24, 2018

Matthew Sweet
Be Loud!
Cat's Cradle
Carrboro, NC
August 24, 2018
All photos copyright 2018 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
August 27, 2018

Right Profile Photos, Carrboro, NC, August 24, 2018

Right Profile
Be Loud!
Cat's Cradle
Carrboro, NC
August 24, 2018
All photos copyright 2018 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
August 27, 2018

Update On Tonight's Event At Petra's

UPDATE ON TONIGHT'S UPDATE. Petra's bar will be open tonight for anyone that would like to check out my show, which will now be there through Labor Day Weekend. There will also be an event on Sunday that will celebrate the closing of the show. I will also be available the next couple of days for anyone that would like a tour of this show, or my Spirit Square show. Feel free to call or message me if you're coming by Petra's tonight. I think that's the news, for now. Good night, and good luck.
-Daniel
August 27, 2018

I'll Be At Petra's Tonight, But With One Slight Change

Hi everyone. I just found out that the Petra's show will be up for another week, and that the closing party will be put off until the weekend. That being said, I have friends coming by the show tonight, and I had already made plans to be there. AND I'm working on another book. SO, let's combine both. Tonight, I'll be at Petra's after 7pm, hanging out, giving tours for anyone that comes by, and editing my next book. It's not quite Novel Writing, Live From Dorchester (extra points if you spot that reference), but it could be close. What's the next book, you ask? And does it figure in to the Petra's show? Come by Petra's after 7pm and find out. See you there, and see you on the road.
-Daniel
August 27, 2018

The Last Few Days, And Tonight's Closing Event At Petra's

Friday, photos and camera on two tapings of Carolina Business Review, then drove to Chapel Hill to see The Right Profile do their first show in 31 years, followed by an set by Matthew Sweet. Just, wow. Saturday, photos of the Great Gatsby Gala, one private event, and Junior Astronomers at the Visulite Theater. Sunday, photos of Rob and Ti's farewell party. Photos are coming soon. MONDAY NIGHT, if I'm allowed to use all caps for a moment, Petra's is holding the closing party for my show of portraits of musicians. Come by and say hello, or buy a photo, before it all goes away. See you there, and see you on the road.
-Daniel
August 27, 2018

Show Opening Tonight!

Spirit Square, Charlotte, NC, tonight from 6 to 9pm. When The Legends Come To Town officially opens. I'm bringing pizza, soda, lots of records, and tours for anyone that wants one. Come by and say hello. Don't leave me Alone Again, Or. See you there, and see you on the road.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_X3HKEC68EM 

-Daniel
August 23, 2018

American Legion World Series Championship Game Photos, Shelby, NC, August 21, 2018

American Legion World Series Championship Game
Shelby, NC
August 21, 2018
with Cara Mund, Miss America
More photos soon at danielcoston.photoflect.com

-Daniel
August 22, 2018

Tuesday Events, And A Reminder About Thursday

Tuesday, found out that I took the cover photo of the new Jeremy Clyde & Peter Asher CD (links and photos coming soon), and finally made headway on a book project that I've been trying to work on all year. Mowed the yard, set up my next round of interviews, and traveled to Shelby, NC, where I met Miss America, and photographed the American Legion World Series Championship. By the way, Miss America (or her spokespeople) would like to remind you that my show opening at Spirit Square is tomorrow night from 6 to 9pm. Come by, enjoy some music and food, and check out the show. See you in the stars, and see you on the road.
-Daniel
August 22, 2018

Chairman Of The Board Photos, Mooresville, NC, August 18, 2018

Chairman Of The Board
Queen's Landing
Mooresville, NC
August 18, 2018
All photos copyright 2018 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
August 20, 2018

Blue Cactus Photo, Charlotte, NC, August 17, 2018

Blue Cactus
Evening Muse
Charlotte, NC
August 17, 2018
Photo copyright 2018 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
August 20, 2018

Glenn Miller Orchestra Photos, Charlotte, NC, August 17, 2018

Glenn Miller Orchestra
Belk Theater
Charlotte, NC
August 17, 2018
All photos copyright 2018 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
August 20, 2018

Sinners & Saints Photos, Charlotte, NC, August 17, 2018

Sinners & Saints
Evening Muse
Charlotte, NC
August 17, 2018
All photos copyright 2018 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
August 20, 2018

When The Legends Come To Town Opens On Thursday!

Thursday night! August 23rd, 6pm to 9pm! I'll be holding by official opening for When The Legends Come To Town, at the Knight Gallery at Spirit Square. I'm bringing some pizza, a bunch of my favorite albums, and have some fun for a few hours. Spread the word, and hope to see you there.
-Daniel
August 19, 2018

Thank You/I'll Be At Spirit Square Tonight

My sincere thanks to everyone that responded to my Aretha Franklin post via FB, through the Blumenthal's social media channels, or heard me on WBT last night. I spent much of the day in Shelby, NC at the American Legion World Series, so logging back on to my social media last night was kind of a mind-blower.

I am photographing the Open Mic Celebration tonight at McGlohon Theater, which means that I will be at Spirit Sqaure for tours for my show at the Knight Gallery. Thank you all again, safe travels all, and see you on the road.

-Daniel

August 17, 2018

RIP Aretha Franklin

In January of 2012, I was photographing an event that contained some silent auction items. One of them was for Music With Friends, which brought in famous musicians for private concerts in Charlotte, NC. Their next guest? Aretha Franklin. I immedaitely contacted my then-editor for the Observer, Olivia Fortson, who was also a fan of Franklin’s music, who soon got me a photo pass to the show.

Two days before Franklin’s concert, I was photographing another event when everyone’s phones started reporting that Whitney Houston had died. Houston was also Aretha Franklin’s god-daughter. My heart sank twice that night. About Whitney Houston, and then thinking that Aretha’s show would be cancelled.

The next day, an email went out from Music With Friends. The show was on. What we didn’t know was that Franklin, who never flew on any aircraft, was already in Charlotte, having arrived by bus on Saturday. This is how Aretha Franklin came to play at the McGlohon Theater, and ultimately perform her tribute to Whitney Houston in Charlotte. 

The buzz in the room before the show was electric. ABC’s 20/20 had arrived to film the show for a story on Franklin. Any space in the room that could be filled that night, was. Franklin came out to a roar that the audience that had waiting all of their lives to let loose. When Franklin walked onstage, a gentleman walked onstage behind her, and dropped Franklin's huge purse underneath her piano. I later learned that the purse contained half of Franklin’s fee for the evening, in cash.

Franklin just owned the room for the whole show, singing all of her hits, and hitting all of the notes that you would want her to hear. Two-thirds into the show, Franklin sat down at the piano, and started playing the intro to “I Will Always Love You”. And the room just stopped. For the next nine minutes, Franklin sang a tribute to Whitney Houston that went into deep Gospel soul. Watching Franklin play the piano, and letting The Spirit enter the room (to use a Gospel phrase) was a revelation. In this space, there are keys that Franklin, and other gospel musicians can play that do not exist on the wirtten page. They exist in the playing, in the feeling that the musician is leting go of, and in the room where the music happens. Thankfully, someone recorded this portion of the show on their phone, and you can watch it on Youtube. It was very real, and something that all of us were witnessed it will take with us, always.

Respect? Yes, Ms. Franklin played it on this night, and she earned it. From all of those that were there that night, and all of us that listened and learned from her. 

Safe travels, Queen Of Soul. 
-Daniel Coston
August 16, 2018

Galax Fiddlers Convention Photos, Galax, VA, August 11, 2018

Galax Fiddlers Convention
Felts Park
Galax, VA
August 11, 2018
All photos copyright 2018 Daniel Coston

-Daniel
August 15, 2018