Update on the NC 1960s book

Hey There-

I've finished the layout, and am awaiting copies of the proofs. Final corrections will then be made, and then the book will be ready, and available to purchase. Stay tuned.

-Daniel

April 27, 2013

RIP George Jones

Photos copyright 2004 Daniel Coston

RIP Richie Havens

It's hard to imagine that Richie Havens is now gone from this physical place. The man was so full of life. Of exuberance for the wonders of our day-to-day existence, and the things we find along the way. Of the interaction between all that he met. He talked to everyone like they were a long-lost friend, and to Richie, they were. Every one of us was a new, or renewed discovery about the connection through music, and life. Richie signed all of his posters, "Your friend forever," and he meant that. To Richie, it was all real, just like the man himself.

I first met Richie in 2001, when he played the Neighborhood Theatre, in Charlotte, NC. I knew much of his music through what I'd heard on the radio, and occasionally TV. He was a remarkable man to witness in a live setting. He put every ounce of his being into every song, letting it go with every strum of his guitar. As someone who loves playing with tunings and string settings on guitars, I was fascinated by his tunings, which allowed him to play entire chords with his thumb. This also allowed  him to make his guitar sound like a giant rhythm machine, as though ten guitars were playing the same chord simultaneously.

He seemed a little larger than life to me, so I must admit that I did not talk to him the first few times I saw him. Richie's management also had this strange rule about not taking photos during his performance. I'm sure that they had their reasons, but it seemed to be defeating their own client. So much of Richie's life was in his performance, in the music, and the emotions in the song. It was as if he was sometimes born to be on the stage. How can you not allow that to be photographed? This is my argument about such rules. Sooner or later, there are no more photos that can be taken, and you're left with the emptiness of the documentation, and what has now come and gone.

However, Richie had no such rules after the show, where he talked and posed for photos with everyone. I finally approached him after a show in 2009 after working up the nerve. He saw my film camera, and talked about a friend of his that had shot one of his album covers, and the intricacies of meshing together the cover shot. At the end, I went to shake his hand, and Richie hugged me. He did the same when I saw him again a year later. That was Richie, a strong hug over a kind handshake, and another friend forever.

I had hoped that I would again see Richie Havens on this earthly place, but it was not to be. Travelers never know where the road takes you, or when it will take you. But that is why we are on the road. To discover what we have not discovered, and to throw our emotions into another song not yet played. Here, or whatever is down the road for all of us.

Godspeed, Richie. Save me a hug for the other side.

-Daniel Coston

April 24, 2013

photo copyright 2009 Daniel Coston

60s NC book release party, June 28th, Neighborhood Theatre

Hello All-

I'm proud to announce that we'll be holding a release party on June 28th for "There Was A Time: Rock & Roll in the 1960s in Charlotte, and North Carolina", which I co-authored and edited. The location is Neighborhood Theatre, in Charlotte, on June 28th. Doors will be at 7pm, and show will start at 8pm. The bands will be Good Bad & The Ugly (first show since 1994), Young Ages, Abbadons (first show since 1967), Bobby Donaldson & The Ravens/Premiers reunion revue, and the Mannish Boys (featuring book co-author Jacob "Jake" Berger). The show will be MC'ed by yours truly, Daniel Coston. Tickets will be $15, and copies of the book will be available for purchase at the show. You can get more info about the show at www.neighborhoodtheatre.com.

The new issue of Ugly Things Magazine, which will be out in May, will feature one of our chapters from the book. More news coming soon. See you all again soon,
-Daniel
April 22, 2013

My appearance on the What It Is TV show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w8nmipl32mM&feature=youtu.be

Hello to everyone that has stopped in to check out my Avett Brothers pics. Come back often, and check out the Avett pics that I took in 2011.
-Daniel
April 18, 2013

Avett Brothers, SafeAlliance benefit, Concord, NC, April 13, 2013

Avett Brothers
SafeAlliance benefit
Concord, NC
April 13, 2013
copyright 2013 Daniel Coston

Comment About The Masters

Any time that the rules officials are getting more attention than the players, it's a bad sign.

The PGA could use more Mulligans (what we used to call a "do-over"), but then again, we all could from time to time.
-Daniel
April 13, 2013