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| Timothy Mason, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
Timothy Mason- "Peace"
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
New Portrait Illustration: Loudon Wainwright III (Musician/Songwriter)
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| Loudon Wainwright III, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
For over four decades now, Loudon Wainwright III has been writing and performing songs that, although they are quirky and quite different than usual Folk tunes, are definitely part of a bigger picture and tradition. The whole Wainwright Family has ties and some involvement in the music business. Over the past ten years or so Loudon's son, Rufus Wainwright, has been receiving a lot of acclaim. His daughter, Martha, is very talented as well. Despite differences in style, choices and direction, they all manage to stick together and support one another... an admirable thing. Loudon may be getting on in years, but he just released a new album, and his stuff is still edgy, still fun, still current.
Loudon Wainwright III- "The Picture"
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| The Wainwright Family |
Loudon Wainwright III and Rufus Wainwright- "One Man Guy"
Loudon Wainwright III- "A Father and a Son"
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| Father and Son: Rufus Wainwright and Loudon Wainwright III |
Tuesday, June 5, 2012
CLOSE UP: Tom Lewis (1940-2008)
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| Tom Lewis (1940-2008), 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
Democracy Now remembers Tom Lewis
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| Cops and Peace Demonstrators. By Tom Lewis |
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| The Catonsville Nine. (Tom Lewis back row, right) |
For more info, visit: http://www.commondreams.org/tomlewis
CLOSE UP: Roger Salloom
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| Roger Salloom, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
So Glad I Made It: The Saga of Roger Salloom. America's Best Unknown Songwriter- TV News trailer
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| Documentary about Roger Salloom |
For more info, visit: http://www.rogersalloom.com/
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| Roger Salloom circa 1975 |
Monday, June 4, 2012
New Portrait Illustration: Katie Melua (Singer/Songwriter)
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| Katie Melua, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
It was in Ireland, 2004, when I crossed paths with Katie Melua. She had a certain degree of popularity then, but nowhere near the amount of adulation and fame she has amongst European audiences now. There, across the sea, she is a bonafide Star. Somehow, American audiences have yet to fully appreciate her music, but that is sure to change. Katie is a sweetheart, gregarious and kind, and her lovely voice and well-timed music are a perfect reflection of her personality.
Katie Melua- "Mary Pickford"
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| Katie Melua, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
Katie Melua- "Nine Million Bicycles"
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| Katie Melua, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
Katie Melua- "Just Like Heaven" (cover)
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| Katie Melua, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
For more info, visit: http://katiemelua.com/
Sunday, June 3, 2012
CLOSE UP: Justin Townes Earle
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| Justin Townes Earle, 2011. By Travis Simpkins |
Justin Townes Earle- "The Good Life"
The Maltese Falcon (1941): Classic Film Noir (Humphrey Bogart)
Of all the classic moments in The Maltese Falcon (1941), perhaps the line, "It's the stuff dreams are made of," is the most frequently quoted. This tale of murder, mystery, love, deception and greed is really one of the first films considered to be "Film Noir." A true classic. Director John Huston is masterful, and the great cast helps as well... Humphrey Bogart, Peter Lorre, Sydney Greenstreet, Mary Astor and Elisha Cook, Jr.
Humphrey Bogart stars as Private Detective Sam Spade, caught up in a strange web of murders after his initial meeting with a client, who hired him with a bogus story...
He now finds himself surrounded by shady characters...
Thugs...
and a rather large man with a huge obsession...
All their troubles are grounded in the search for an elusive, valuable artifact... the Maltese Falcon.
The Maltese Falcon- movie trailer
Saturday, June 2, 2012
CLOSE UP: Sophia Cacciola
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| Sophia Cacciola, 2011. By Travis Simpkins |
Do Not Forsake Me Oh My Darling- "Episode One: Arrival"
Basic Instinct (1992): Modern Film Noir (Risque Cinema)
Although infamous for it's explicit scenes (Sharon Stone uncrossing her legs to reveal her vagina, rough, passionate sex scenes and various full frontal nude shots), Basic Instinct (1992) has other powerful aspects that carry the film far above and beyond the hype. Directed by Paul Verhoeven and written by Joe Eszterhas, the film has many ties to film noir, the most obvious being the flawed detective and the seductive femme fatale. It is a memorable film and still seems current 20 years later.
A retired Rock and Roll star is found murdered, stabbed with an ice pick during sex. Detective Nick Curran (Michael Douglas) and his partner are on the case. The Rocker's girlfriend is the natural suspect, having been the last one seen with him. Following the address, Nick finds Catherine Tramell (Sharon Stone), a wealthy heiress and author...
Tramell's last novel being about a retired Rock and Roll star being murdered with an ice pick in bed further implicates her, but also creates an alibi. Confusion as to whether or not she committed the crime ensues...
Meanwhile she is writing a new book about a detective and begins playing mind games with Nick...
Forced to play along and concede to her seductions and advances, Nick engages in a wild, sex-fueled love affair with Catherine, despite the fact that people around him are turning up dead...
Catherine challenges him emotionally, physically and professionally... Is Catherine a murderer? Or just a sex-crazed woman out to mess with men's heads?
Basic Instinct- movie trailer
Friday, June 1, 2012
CLOSE UP: Elizabeth Ziman (Elizabeth & the Catapult)
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| Elizabeth Ziman, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
Elizabeth & the Catapult- "Race You"
CLOSE UP: Michael J. Epstein
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| Michael J. Epstein, 2011. By Travis Simpkins |
The Michael J. Epstein Memorial Library- "Civil Engineering"
CLOSE UP: Mehran Khaghani
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| Mehran Khaghani, 2011. By Travis Simpkins |
Mehran- Stand-up comedy
For more info, visit: Interview with Mehran Khaghani
Thursday, May 31, 2012
CLOSE UP: John McCauley (Deer Tick)
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| John McCauley, 2011. By Travis Simpkins |
Deer Tick- "Main Street" on the Late Show with David Letterman
CLOSE UP: Johnny Irion
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| Johnny Irion, 2011. By Travis Simpkins |
Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion- "Target on Your Heart"
The Man on the Eiffel Tower (1949): Obscure Classic Films
Tense and intriguing, The Man on the Eiffel Tower (1949) is a thriller that doesn't keep the viewer guessing, but rather leaves one wondering about that which is already known to be factual.
A spoiled man has a tough dilemma. His wife has found out about the woman for which he plans to leave her. She agrees to leave the new couple to their devices, but only if she is paid handsomely. The man knows he is in the will of his wealthy aunt, so he hires a psychotic killer to kill her so that he might collect the inheritance.
Unfortunately, a desperate (legally blind) burglar stumbles upon the murder just as it is taking place. His involvement is instrumental to the unfolding of the future events.
Meanwhile, Paris' best detective, played by Charles Laughton, has been assigned to the case.
He gets more than he bargained for when the killer turns out to be an arrogant sociopath and basically admits to the crime, then taunts and challenges the detective to come up with a way to prove it.
He leads the police on a series of chases that include the rooftops of Paris...
as well as the Eiffel Tower itself, as the title suggests...
Can the detective find the proof he needs to send this psychopath to the guillotine?
The Man on the Eiffel Tower- full feature film
Wednesday, May 30, 2012
CLOSE UP: Rob Potylo
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| Rob Potylo, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
Rob Potylo talks about the FCC and Radio Censorship
CLOSE UP: Golden Bloom (Shawn Fogel)
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| Golden Bloom (Shawn Fogel), 2011. By Travis Simpkins |
Golden Bloom- "30 Lives"
Brett Sparks (The Handsome Family): Profiles from the Illustrations
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| Brett Sparks, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
Brett Sparks formed the band, The Handsome Family with his wife Rennie in Chicago in 1993. A perfect team (she writes the lyrics, he writes the music), their sound is inspired by country, rock, bluegrass and folk ballads. Brett's expert guitar playing and strong baritone voice comprise their unique sound and are the foundation of The Handsome Family's live shows. He also produces and plays the majority of the instruments on their home/studio recordings.
The Handsome Family- "Bottomless Hole"
The Handsome Family- "Song of a Hundred Toads"
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| Brett Sparks, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
The Handsome Family- "All the Time at Airports"
The Handsome Family- "After We Shot the Grizzly"
The Handsome Family- "Bowling Alley Bar"
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