Copies of my new books, My Flash On You (Volumes one and two), and Hurried Documents are now available at Park Road Books. More locations coming soon.
-Daniel
April 6, 2025
Sunday, April 6, 2025
The Last Two Weeks
Last weekend, photos of the opening of the Carolina Theatre, Allegro Gala, Levine Children's Gala, Charity League luncheon, and lots more.
Sunday, March 23, 2025
This Weekend's Events
Friday, photos of two episodes of Carolina Business Review, and Dancing With The Stars Of Charlotte. Saturday, photos of the Nourish Up gala, and the LAWA gala at the Casey.
RIP Jim Stack, and RIP Larry Tamblyn. Save some piano lessons for me up there.
FYI, I will be at the Carolina Theatre ribbon cutting on Monday, and the Renee Fleming show on Friday. Weather permitting, my 1926 straw boater hat will also be in attendance.
Three New Books From Me
On Monday, in honor of St. Patrick's Day, and because I felt like doing it, I released three new books. Three new, massive books, in one day.
For some time, I have wanted to collect my print interviews over the past thirty years. Afters years scouring all over to find the work of other artists, I realized that I wanted my own work to be collected and released in one place, and hopefully find new readers and listeners in the process. Sooner or later, the work we create lives on away from us, and eventually beyond us.
Two of the books reflect my love of the music of the 1960s. My Flash On You, Volumes One And Two collects interviews with everyone from the Animals, Big Star, Cyrkle, Left Banke, Sonics, Procol Harum, Love and many more. The third, Hurried Documents, collects interviews ranging from Douglas Adams, to baseball players, Marx Brothers writers, musicians, and many others. All of these books also chart my journey as a writer and interviewer, and collector of stories.
All three books are available on Amazon, via the links below, and soon to be at your favorite local bookstore. These are interesting times that we live in. Ultimately, all one can do some days is stand in the wind, run your flag up the pole and say, I'm doing this. Because you want to, whether or not the world is watching. And hey, how many times in your life can you say, I released three books today?
Today is that day.
Enjoy, and see you on the road.
-Daniel
March 21, 2025
https://www.amazon.com/s?k=daniel+coston&crid=119D7UJ0WP2J4&sprefix=daniel+coston%2Caps%2C144&ref=nb_sb_noss_1
Wednesday, March 19, 2025
Appearance on KPOO Radio
I also did an early morning appearance on San Francisco's KPOO on Monday, talking about Maurice Williams and Earl Gainey. Check it out!
-Daniel
https://www.dropbox.com/scl/fi/xocgg6mz7dxg026mpas7g/RSH-3-17-25-Daniel-Coston.mp3?rlkey=pdexliglzbkz2h83q6kspmq8z&st=3qpqjhvu&dl=0&fbclid=IwY2xjawJHwrNleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHZAZMRh12clsCHUj_aS1mJIPyQS6-RAEYExkBF6Otvs5_CzLMS1lWMTl3Q_aem_Xjp4tR1YlYS4jYcap5xNmQ
I've Been Nominated!
https://charlotteledger.substack.com/p/charlotte-ledger-40-over-40-awards?fbclid=IwY2xjawJHwUZleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHZTQE3dJPj8mSZ5k7joLdZ8eGwkrGdydZXMJn5UANoh26H-z7DNABzgwtQ_aem_SZvGi6yMadFYpEDoDo6ctQ
Congrats to all the fellow nominees!
-Daniel
March 19, 2025
Monday, March 17, 2025
Ed Rising Podcast! Happy Birthday Micky!
Monday, one video shoot, quietly released three books in one day, and photographed Kraftwerk at Ovens Auditorium.
Happy St. Patrick's Day. More soon. See you on the road.
-Daniel
March 17, 2025
St. Patrick's Day Events
Monday, one video shoot, quietly released three books in one day, and photographed Kraftwerk at Ovens Auditorium.
Happy St. Patrick's Day. More soon. See you on the road.
-Daniel
March 17, 2025
Friday, March 7, 2025
New Interview With Myself, Plastic EP and David Leaf
This is my second interview with Plastic EP and David Leaf, discussing Brian Wilson, Smile, Brian's brothers, and so much more.
Surf's Up.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ItmGK3C0G04
-Daniel
March 7, 2025
Wednesday, March 5, 2025
Live Interview Tonight With Members Of The Beckies
Hello all-
I'll be doing a live interview at 6pm EST with the Material Issues podcast alongside all of the surviving members of the Beckies, Scott Trusty, Gary Hodgden West and Mark Abel. Check out Material Issues' FB page, and their Youtube page. Hope to see you soon.
https://www.facebook.com/groups/materialissues/
-Daniel
March 5, 2025
Tuesday, March 4, 2025
Dane Donohue Interview With Myself And Plastic EP
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ojvDp-dzwCw
-Daniel
February 13, 2025
Childers Crew
I have donated prints to benefit David Childers. Please spread the word.
-Daniel
February 14, 2025
Ken Evans Interview With Plastic EP And I
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IjWveDzAcuQ
-Daniel
February 14, 2025
Recent Ed Rising Podcast On New Ringo Starr Album
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=osTEGTjy9Bw
-Daniel
February 15, 2025
Recent Events From Late February
Thursday and Friday, photos of McColl Center auction preview party, Prog For Wishes at Visulite Theater, NC Zeitgeist gala, and Thurston Howell Band - A Premier Yacht Rock Spectacular at the Boatyard LKN. Saturday and Sunday, photos of a Bridgerton Party at Charlotte Museum of History, Del McCoury at The Earl Scruggs Center tribute to Earl, Leslie Paliyenko's 90th birthday party, and taping a new podcast with Mark Arnold and his Fun Ideas.
See you again someday, and see you on the road.
-Daniel
February 18, 2025
RIP David Johansen, and RIP Joey Molland
RIP David Johansen. RIP Joey Molland. May they and their music live forever.
-Daniel
March 1, 2025
RIP Don Sturkey
Years ago, I wanted to be Don Sturkey when I grew up. For over forty years, Don and his camera lit up the pages of the Charlotte Observer with his images. His ability to cover both hard news stories, and arts and music in a daily newspaper format is something we may never see again. Be it Elvis Presley at the Charlotte Coliseum in 1956, slice of life images from the bustling southern cities, to the dusty roads of rural communities, Don was there. Day in, day out. Consistent, and as good a working photographer as you may ever see.
The first time I met Don was in 2001, when he had an exhibition of his work at the Main Library. Also in attendance was all of the Observer and News photographers that had worked alongside him. Jeep Hunter, Tommy Franklin and so many more. I had been shooting for the Observer at that point for less than a year. The freelancer that the Observer sent to cover the event tried hard to ignore me. Don and his fellow photography vets treated me as an equal, a peer. It was a lesson I've tried hard not to forget.
For all of his accomplishments and accolades, Don was always composed, and quietly confident. I tried hard not to gush to him about what he and his work meant to me, so I instead took photos of him at every chance I was given. Be it exhibits in Charlotte or Shelby, or the party that they threw to close down the Observer building in 2016. I made sure to get photos of Don with Jeep Hunter as they exited the building. For those of us that pick up a camera, a photo can mean so much, and can mean so much more as the days pass by.
Don left this physical place last week for his next assignment. Like Jeep, Tommy and so many others, they and their work are still here, even after their bodies pass on. If you're lucky, what you create lives on after we do. The work flows from us, and beyond us. Sooner or later, that is all we can hope for.
I wanted to be Don Sturkey when I grew up. I still do.
Safe travels, Don. Thank you. Until I photograph you again, in the great gig in the sky.
-Daniel
March 2, 2025
Goldmine Feature On My Beckies Reissue
https://www.goldminemag.com/columns/the-beckies-70s-album-with-left-bankes-michael-brown-now-expanded?fbclid=IwY2xjawI0W7tleHRuA2FlbQIxMAABHeRnfjk_uWrKMLkB9jHFSJgnU5v54hFXXB96WMXXcZWOHjfIA2OSOMGoMA_aem_XAY8S1inD4NFj2FnJUyoQA
-Daniel
March 4, 2025
Avett Prints Available In Theatre Charlotte Auction
Hello all. I've donated prints of two of my photos from the recent Avett Brothers NYE show to an auction benefiting Theatre Charlotte. Both are prints made just for the auction, and are signed by yours truly. Spread the word, and Avett on.
Wednesday, February 12, 2025
RIP Earl Gainey
Time is fleeting. Time is a monster.
Earl Gainey was Maurice Williams' longtime friend, and co-founder in both the Junior Harmonizers, Royal Charms and Gladiolas. From their homes in Lancaster, SC came music that has, and will continue to change the world.
Through friend and later Zodiac member Lebo Blackman, I was able to interview Earl Gainey in Lancaster. The stories that Earl had about those days was remarkable and revelatory. I learned a lot about Earl that day, as well. After the interview, I had Lebo and Earl pose for photos, using one of my usual mantras, "I want to do this, I have to do this."
I just learned that Earl left this place last week for his next adventure, one that Earl even spoke about during our interview. I want to listen to that interview, but I'm not ready to right now. Someday soon, as I hope that all of the stories that I've recently collected will be shared and passed on.
Thank you, Earl. Tell Maurice I said hello.
Hug your friends, hug your loved ones, and share your stories. Time is an elusive shapeshifter, and sometimes can move too fast, and all too quickly.
-Daniel
February 12, 2025
RIP Phil Lowe
RIP to Phil Lowe, drummer of the Good Bad & The Ugly, Barons and more. I'm so glad that I got the GBU to reunite for two of our Charlotte 60s shows reunion shows. Thank you, Phil. Play some "Repent Walpurgis" up there for me, and tell Sir Gary Brooker that I said hello.
-Daniel
February 12, 2025
Photos of GBU from 2014 to 2021 by Daniel Coston.
Monday, February 10, 2025
New Article On Me
https://voyageraleigh.com/interview/rising-stars-meet-daniel-coston/
-Daniel
February 10, 2025
Wednesday, January 22, 2025
Beckies Story, Produced By Yours Truly, Out On February 28th
When the Beckies’ sole album was released in 1976, it should have capped a remarkable era for keyboardist and songwriter Michael Brown. What had begun ten years before with the Left Banke and “Walk Away Renee” culminated in this band, whom Brown spoke highly of for the rest of his life. Despite good reviews, the album got lost in the shuffle of summer releases, unable to find a wider audience.
I first discovered the Beckies in the late 1990s, as I was diving deep into my Left Banke journey. I found a promo copy of the album on one of my first trips to Nashville. I was instantly drawn to the album, though the album’s muddy mix always seemed to hold myself and other fans back.
I met Beckies guitarist Jimmy McAllister in 2003 vis email, when he wrote a magazine to complement an article I’d written on the Left Banke. He enthused about his time with the Beckies, and the demos that the band had made leading up to the album’s recording. He sent me a CD of the band’s first demos, and promised to send me more. When Jimmy died in 2006, an avid collector in England, John Kennedy sent me the entire set of demos, saying “Jimmy wanted you to have this.”
I had been thinking about a collection of the Beckies material for some time, featuring the original Sire album alongside the demos. When Omnivore Recordings asked me last year if I had any projects to put forth, I knew that this chance had arrived.
Over the past year, I reached out to band members Scott Trusty, Gary Hodgden (West) and Mark Abel, as well as the families of Michael Brown and Jimmy McAllister. All of whom gave me their blessings for this project. Trusty and Abel both did lengthy interviews with me, filling in a timeline that has never been properly explored, as well as picking out demos for the second disc.
Omnivore licensed the album from Rhino, and mastering guru Michael Graves went to work. When I received his new mastering of the album, it was a stop everything moment for me. Songs and harmony parts that were once buried now sparkle, as do the demos that Graves also mastered for a complete package. After all these years, the Beckies now sound better than ever.
So here it is. Nearly fifty years after it was released, and nearly thirty years since I first heard of the band, the Beckies’ moment has finally arrived. I wrote the liner notes, and produced this project alongside Cheryl Pawelski, who has way more coolness and Grammys than I do.
To Michael, Jimmy, Scott, Gary, Mark and their families, thank you. To Omnivore Recordings, thank you. To those of you that have been with me, and put up with me during my time researching the Left Banke and its adjacent archives, thank you. The release of this collection marks the end of a chapter for me, but the music will always be out there, waiting for its next discovery.
Good To Know: The Beckies Story, out February 28th on Omnivore Recordings.
Left Banke, forever. Michael Brown, forever. Beckies, forever.
https://omnivorerecordings.com/shop/good-to-know/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XdQtqACQOZ0&list=OLAK5uy_kPwwGux14OS5vJRgFTdT7e8eue7FAMCow
Tuesday, January 21, 2025
RIP Garth Hudson
In August of 2004, I spent a night in Morgantown, West Virginia, boxing 20,000 albums for a friend of mine. All by myself. I slept on the floor of this empty 120 year-old building, waiting for the moving van to arrive the next morning. I got back to Charlotte at 6pm, and fell asleep for an hour, totally exhausted. Scott Avett called and woke me up. We talked for 20 minutes, and I had to ask him later what we talked about.
Somehow, I got myself to the Neighborhood Theatre that evening for a show with Burrito Deluxe. The band featured Sneaky Pete Kleinow of the Flying Burrito Brothers, and Garth Hudson of the Band. It was a good show, but I told myself, “I’ll say hello to Pete and Garth, and then I’ll go back to bed.” Garth and I started talking about records, and he mentioned an obscure 78 rpm record, and I said, “Wait, I have that record.” “I’ve never met anyone that knows about, much less owns that record,” responded Garth. The record had been made by the Communist Party of New York City during the 1930s, and somehow had ended up left in a cottage that my dad’s parents bought in 1960. I'd never realized the origins of that record until Garth told me that night.
After a while, Garth asked if I knew of any good places to eat that were still open. I recommended the Landmark Diner. Garth said, “Are you going?” “Yes, I am,” I replied. Garth, Sneaky Pete (who was celebrating his birthday that day) and Jeff Davis (former American Rhythm Aces bass player) piled into my car. I had to throw trash from my backseat into the trunk. Garth sat upfront, Pete and Jeff in the back. At one point, I started laughing. “What’s up, Daniel?” Garth asked. “I have been so many road trips with the Basement Tapes and the first two Burrito Brothers records on one cassette,” I responded, “and now you guys are in my car!”
Garth and I sat in one booth, and Pete and Jeff sat across from us. We all talked records. At one point, Rick Danko came up in conversation. I tried not to to bring up the Band, as I knew that every fan had done that with Garth that night. Garth smiled at the thought of Rick, paused, and looked up at me. “You and Rick would’ve gotten on great,” Garth told me. “You both like to laugh.” I have no idea how I kept it together after that. I thanked him for saying that, but inside, I was a puddle on the floor.
I dropped off the band at their hotel, and Garth said as he got out of the car, “Man, talking to you tonight has really inspired me on some things.” I thanked him for all of his years of inspiration.! I eventually went home, got up the next morning for a video shoot, and proceeded to have one of the worst shoots in my life. Subjects throwing hissy fits, you name it. Would I have changed a thing about the night before? Not on your life.
Farewell to one of the most remarkable musicians and minds I have ever had the honor of meeting. Let us know what its like up there, Garth, and what their record collection is like. Safe travels, from your friend in North Carolina. Until I photograph you again, some sunny day.
-Daniel
January 21, 2024
Wednesday, January 8, 2025
RIP Peter Yarrow
Peter Yarrow
Knight Theater
Charlotte, NC
October 2011.
Safe travels.
-Daniel
January 8, 2025
Thursday, January 2, 2025
Avett NYE and Press On Pics Now Posted
Photos from the Avett Brothers NYE show, and the Press On Fund event are now posted over at @danielcostonphotos, and at danielcostonmusicphotos.com. See you at the next adventure, and see you on the road.
-Daniel
January 2, 2025
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