CLOSE UP: Sarah Lee Guthrie

Sarah Lee Guthrie, 2011. By Travis Simpkins

Sarah Lee Guthrie and Johnny Irion- "Holdin' Back"

For more info, visit: http://www.sarahleeandjohnny.com/

The General (1926): Classic Buster Keaton

     Buster Keaton's masterpiece, The General (1926), was a project close to his heart and one in which he maintained creative freedom. He wrote, starred and directed the film and his great physical comedic abilities run forcefully through it. It stands out as one of the best comedies of the Silent Era.

     Keaton plays John Gray, a railroad engineer on "The General", his beloved locomotive.

     As the Civil War breaks out, The General is targeted for theft by the Union Army, who plan to use it to cut off railroad access to the South. The loss of his train prompts Keaton to single-handedly chase down the culprits and retrieve it...

     at all costs...

     and with hilarious results...

The General- full feature film

CLOSE UP: Elizabeth Ziman (Elizabeth & the Catapult)

Elizabeth Ziman, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Elizabeth & the Catapult- "Taller Children"

For more info, visit: http://www.elizabethandthecatapult.com/

CLOSE UP: Tommy Ramone

Tommy Ramone, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Tommy Ramone- "I Wanna Be Your Boyfriend & Blitzkrieg Bop"

Ramones circa 1970s with Tommy Ramone center, right

For more info, visit: http://www.unclemonk.com/home.html

CLOSE UP: Golden Bloom (Shawn Fogel)

Golden Bloom (Shawn Fogel), 2011. By Travis Simpkins

Golden Bloom- "Doomsday Devices"

For more info, visit: http://goldenbloom.net/

Greg Stewart: Profiles from the Quiet-D Illustrations

Greg Stewart, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

      On Quiet Desperation, Greg Stewart plays the author of the book, "I Know Why Pigeons Burrow." The failure of his of his book has resigned him to wish he could join his feathered friends in hiding.

Quiet D Episode Seven

     In real life, Greg Stewart is a talented, funny stand-up comedian. His witty observations make every show worthwhile. He performs in and around the Boston area on a regular basis.

Greg performing stand-up at The Comedy Studio

The Comedy Studio

Quiet Desperation #8, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

CLOSE UP: Loudon Wainwright III

Loudon Wainwright III, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Loudon Wainwright III- "A Father and a Son"

Rufus Wainwright and his dad, Loudon Wainwright III

For more info, visit: http://www.lw3.com/home.php

CLOSE UP: Katie Melua

Katie Melua, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Katie Melua- "If You Were a Sailboat"

For more info, visit: http://katiemelua.com/

Tom Rush: Art and Music (Songs that Inspired the Illustrations)

Tom Rush, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Child's Song

These Days

No Regrets

Tom Rush, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Let's Talk Dirty in Hawaiian

Sunshine, Sunshine

Remember Song

Tom Rush, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

For more info, visit: http://tomrush.com/

CLOSE UP: Brett Sparks (The Handsome Family)

Brett Sparks, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

The Handsome Family- "The Giant of Illinois"

Robert Wadlow (The Giant of Illinois) and Mary Pickford

For more info, visit: http://www.handsomefamily.com/

CLOSE UP: Richie Havens

Richie Havens, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Richie Havens- The Key

For more info, visit: http://www.richiehavens.com/official_site/home.html

New Portrait Illustration: Joan Baez (Folk Musician/Activist)

Joan Baez, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

     After missing several opportunities to see Joan Baez perform, for one reason or another, I finally made it a point to see her when I took my Fiancé, Janet, to the 2009 Newport Folk Festival. Our friends in Deer Tick were playing there, as well as Arlo Guthrie, whom we had met on several previous occasions. It was a memorable event. Joan actually performed alongside Judy Collins, a tremendous rarity (I've heard they don't get along), and Pete Seeger was there as usual, 90 something years old and still going strong. Many aspects of Joan are intriguing... not only does she have a voice that seems to get better with age, a fantastic guitar ability and great songwriting skills, but she is also a truly nice person, warm-hearted and humorous, and an empathetic, steadfast humanitarian.

Joan Baez- "Sweet Sir Galahad"

Bob Dylan and Joan Baez- 1965

Joan Baez- "Diamonds and Rust" 1975 (about Bob Dylan)

Joan Baez- "Love is Just a Four-Letter Word" (written by Bob Dylan)

Joan Baez- LIFE Magazine- 1962

For more info, visit: http://www.joanbaez.com/

CLOSE UP: John McCauley (Deer Tick)

John McCauley, 2011. By Travis Simpkins

Deer Tick- "Art Isn't Real (City of Sin)"

For more info, visit: http://www.deertickmusic.com/

CLOSE UP: Shelton Hank Williams III (Hank 3)

Hank Williams III, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Hank 3- "Pills I Took"

For more info, visit: http://www.hank3.com/

CLOSE UP: Tony Norris

Tony Norris, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Tony Norris- "Me and My Uncle"

For more info, visit: http://tonynorris.com/

Bonnie and Clyde (1967): A Classic Outlaw Film

     Daring in it's use of in-your-face sexuality and violence, Bonnie and Clyde (1967), challenged the traditional method of portraying historical figures on film and made director Arthur Penn's reputation solid. From the close-up shots to the choppy editing, the film oozes a certain style...  one that modern filmmakers often try to emulate, but seldom accomplish.

     Everyone is experiencing hard times in Depression-era America circa 1931. Texas girl Bonnie Parker (Faye Dunaway) is no different. She is bored with small town life and hates her job as a waitress... 

     This all changes when she meets newly released con Clyde Barrow (Warren Beatty). They immediately take up together and petty thefts and robberies quickly graduate to bank robberies... 

     Bonnie and Clyde are joined by Clyde's brother Buck (Gene Hackman) and his annoying wife, as well as auto mechanic and driver C.W. Moss. Together they form the Barrow Gang... 

     Although they do rob banks, they often get the blame/credit for crimes they didn't commit as well... 

     The police are hot on their tails, and the whole crew is fighting amongst themselves in the down time. 

     It can't possibly last. The authorities are bound to catch up with them at some point...

Bonnie and Clyde- movie trailer

CLOSE UP: Sugar Dish

Sugar Dish, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Sugar Dish performs to "Toxic"

photographs by Travis Simpkins

For more info, visit: http://babesinboinkland.com/Babes_in_Boinkland.html

CLOSE UP: Casey Desmond

Casey Desmond, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Casey Desmond- "Rocket Lover"

For more info, visit: http://caseydesmond.com/

CLOSE UP: Josh Gondelman

Josh Gondelman, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Josh Gondelman- Stand-Up Comedy

For more info, visit: http://www.joshgondelman.com/

CLOSE UP: Elizabeth Ziman (Elizabeth & the Catapult)

Elizabeth Ziman, 2012. By Travis Simpkins

Elizabeth & the Catapult- "Hit the Wall"

For more info, visit: http://www.elizabethandthecatapult.com/

CLOSE UP: Niki Luparelli

Niki Luparelli, 2010. By Travis Simpkins

Niki Luparelli- "Brand New Key"

Lainey Schulbaum, Travis Simpkins, and Niki Luparelli- 2007

For more info, visit: http://www.nikiluparelli.com/

The Wild Women of Wongo (1958): Classic B Movies

     The Wild Women of Wongo (1958) addresses the age old dilemma: what happens if you have two primitive tribes on an island, one tribe comprised of beautiful women but homely men, the other tribe made up of handsome men but ugly women? What's the compromise?
     The women in the tribe of Wongo have a problem. They are beautiful and enjoy where they live.

      But their men are not very easy on the eyes.

     They long for someone more attractive to come along. This happens when a rugged, handsome male from the neighboring tribe comes to warn them about hideous ape men invading their land.

     The women fall in love with the good looking man, but the men of Wongo are obviously jealous. They plan to kill the pretty boy, but the women catch wind of it and foul their plan, helping the man to escape. The women are banished from Wongo for their treasonous act. They roam the land, visiting with the dragon God lady.

      Skinny dipping, fantasizing about men and engaging in crazy dance rituals are good pastimes.

     Rivalries cause them to fight amongst each other.

     Along the way, they also have to fight off the ape men who wish to defile them.

     The lovely ladies make their way to the area where the good looking guy had originated and come across the ugly women of his tribe.

     They think it's a shame that a handsome man should have to mate with such troll-like women. Considering that they are infinitely more beautiful, they resolve to steal all the handsome men from the tribe (they are all equally dapper) and have their way with them, forming one big gorgeous mix of all around pretty people...

The Wild Women of Wongo- movie trailer