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| Richie Havens, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
Richie Havens- "Here Comes the Sun"
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
Tuesday, June 26, 2012
CLOSE UP: Golden Bloom (Shawn Fogel)
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| Golden Bloom (Shawn Fogel), 2011. By Travis Simpkins |
Golden Bloom- "Doomsday Devices"
Joe Buck: Art and Music (Songs that Inspired the Illustrations)
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| Joe Buck, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
Evil Motherf*%#er from Tennessee
Demon in My Head
Devil is On His Way
Music City's Dead
Muddy Waters
Hillbilly Pride
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| Hank Williams III and Joe Buck, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
Monday, June 25, 2012
CLOSE UP: John McCauley (Deer Tick)
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| John McCauley, 2010. By Travis Simpkins |
Deer Tick- "Baltimore Blues No. 1" on David Letterman
Ryan Starble: Profiles from the Quiet-D Illustrations
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| Ryan Starble, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
On Quiet Desperation, Ryan plays a reporter from The Danvers Gazaette, a High School newspaper, who comes to interview Rob Potylo. Because Rob is an alumnus of the school, Ryan is eager to know what Rob's life as an artist is like, and the realities of pursuing a career in the arts. Rob is willing to take Ryan under his wing and to let him see for himself what his life will be like should he decide to continue with his artistic dreams...
Quiet Desperation- Act One- Episode 13
Quiet-D Episode 14
Episode 23
Episode 24
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| Quiet Desperation #8, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
Sunday, June 24, 2012
CLOSE UP: Ron Hansen
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| Ron Hansen, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
Ron Hansen talks about his novels and the writing process
Stagecoach (1939): The First John Ford/John Wayne Collaboration
Director John Ford took a chance and cast a young, obscure B-movie actor in the pivotal role of his important film, Stagecoach (1939). The young actor went by the name John Wayne, and every scene he was in throughout the film worked together to make him an instant Star upon it's release. Filmed in Northern Arizona's Monument Valley, many local Native Americans were hired as extras and to perform the amazing horseback stunts in the chase sequence. Everything works together to form a masterpiece of the Western genre.
Eight people are on board a stagecoach bound for a semi-distant outpost, despite warnings of Apaches on the war path in their vicinity.
A plethora of characters are present... a grumpy banker, a gentleman gambler, a drunk doctor, a meek salesman, a proper lady, a lady of ill repute, the sheriff and the bumbling driver.
The natural tensions exist... More discomfort arrives with the Ringo Kid (John Wayne), an outlaw whose horse went lame and needs a ride, but is arrested by the sheriff and placed in back with the other passengers...
When the Indians attack, this mismatched group must work together to fend them off...
Along the way, they find respect for one another. And Ringo finds love...
Stagecoach- movie trailer
Saturday, June 23, 2012
City Slickers (1991): A Modern Western Comedy
Released in 1991, City Slickers did a lot to help the careers of Billy Crystal and Jack Palance. Crystal had come to be typecast in a series of boring romantic comedies that didn't really showcase his talents, and this was a departure. For Palance, it was, perhaps, the best role he had since the 1950s and earned him a well-deserved Academy Award (which he accepted doing one-arm push ups on stage).
Mitch Robbins (Billy Crystal) and his two friends, Ed and Phil (Bruno Kirby and Daniel Stern) are all approaching 40, and all are experiencing trouble and discontent in what their lives have become. It is agreed that an old fashioned cattle drive, which trains tourists in the trade, will be the much needed break and respite they need...
Irresponsible cow hands and ill-prepared city participants prove to be the least of their worries when they meet their trail boss, Curly (Jack Palance)...
Grizzled and hard-edged, Curly doesn't care for Mitch's smart-ass ways and even less for the groups inability to adjust to the cowboy lifestyle. Left alone with Curly, Mitch is terrified, but manages to find some common ground and finds that Curly is a bit philosophical and has important life lessons to impart...
A tragedy occurs, and the three friends must decide if they have the wherewithal and fortitude to proceed in accomplishing the task of bringing in the cattle alone...
In the process, each man learns a lot about himself and what can be accomplished...
City Slickers- movie trailer
Friday, June 22, 2012
CLOSE UP: Tom Lewis (1940-2008)
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| Tom Lewis (1940-2008), 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
Tom Lewis talks about his Art and the Catonsville Nine
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| EZEKIEL, 1996. By Tom Lewis |
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| Tom Lewis and others burning draft records- Catonsville, Maryland- 1968 |
For more info, visit: http://www.commondreams.org/tomlewis
CLOSE UP: Brad Roberts (Crash Test Dummies)
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| Brad Roberts, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
Crash Test Dummies- Mmm, Mmm, Mmm, Mmm
For more info, visit: http://www.crashtestdummies.com/#/home
Thursday, June 21, 2012
CLOSE UP: Justin Townes Earle
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| Justin Townes Earle, 2011. By Travis Simpkins |
Justin Townes Earle- "Harlem River Blues" on The Late Show with David Letterman
Rear Window (1954): Classic Alfred Hitchcock
Often cited as Hitchcock's best film (it's certainly in the top five), Rear Window (1954) is a masterpiece of suspense. A testament to Hitch's perfectionist attitude and his ability to plan everything out, the sound stage had to be dug out and lowered in order to accommodate the inner-city set of buildings and adjacent courtyards. Each shot meticulously thought out, the final sequence is one of the most tense and memorable conflicts ever captured on film.
L.B. Jeffries (James Stewart) is a magazine photographer who has to spend the summer holed up in his apartment as a result of a broken leg. His only regular visitors are his nurse (Thelma Ritter) and his fancy, socialite girlfriend (the lovely Grace Kelly).
With little else to do, Jeffries spends most of his time looking out his back window and watching the goings on in his neighbors' apartments via a courtyard that makes all the windows visible to one another...
Things start out innocent enough, there is a lovelorn lady, a songwriter, a newlywed couple and a sexy ballet dancer that practices in her living room...
A morbid turn happens... With constant vigilance, Jeffries sees suspicious things in his Salesman neighbor's apartment that lead him to believe that he has murdered his invalid wife and disposed of her body...
He enlists the help of his nurse and girlfriend, who share the suspicions, to try to figure out if the neighbor is in fact a murderer...
Tension grows and an unforgettable climax is the result...
Rear Window- movie trailer
Wednesday, June 20, 2012
CLOSE UP: Aaron the King Wizard
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| Aaron the King Wizard, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
The Legend of Zelda
For more info, visit: Aaron the King Wizard on youtube
Jenny Zigrino: Profiles from the Quiet-D Illustrations
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| Jenny Zigrino, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
On Quiet Desperation, Jenny Zigrino plays a reporter working for the Improper Bostonian. Because it was a slow season at the magazine, she was sent to interview Rob Potylo, but the pronunciation of his last name proves troublesome for her. She is forced to listen to Rob's resulting diatribe, lambasting the Boston media's coverage, or lack thereof, of local music.
Quiet Desperation- Act One- Episode 15
In real life, Jenny Zigrino is a talented comedian and actress, performing nation-wide. Her website, http://www.jennyzisnice.jimrage.com/ , states, "Some would say the comedic stylings of Jenny Zigrino is Sassy, Brassy, and Classy. Her keen obersvations, adorable wit and explosive stage presence will capture your attention and make laughter shoot from your nose like a mucousy water cannon."
Jenny Zigrino- stand-up comedy
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| Quiet Desperation #8, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
Tuesday, June 19, 2012
Monday, June 18, 2012
CLOSE UP: Rob Potylo
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| Rob Potylo, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
Quiet Desperation- Act One- Episode 16- "A Line of Traffic"
New Portrait Illustration: Josh Gondelman (Comedian)
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| Josh Gondelman, 2012. By Travis Simpkins |
I first met Josh Gondelman in either 2006 or 2007, when he was performing at the Jerkus Circus variety show. I've seen him perform several times since, and am always impressed with the great material and timing he comes up with. A nice, gentle guy by nature, he used to teach pre-school and always has a patient smile on his face. I don't think I've heard, nor can I imagine, anyone having anything but nice things to say about him... a good person all around, and a very talented comedian.
Josh Gondelman- Stand-up comedy
Josh Gondelman
Pre-school Marriage Debate
Interview with Josh Gondelman
Sunday, June 17, 2012
Sinners in Paradise (1938): Obscure Classic Films
Director James Whale (Frankenstein, The Invisible Man) helmed this production, Sinners in Paradise (1938), showing his expertise reached beyond his works featuring atmospheric sets and creepy types, and showcased his abilities in character development and interaction.
A group of people board a plane for China (including two people running from the mafia, a corrupt senator, an uncaring heiress, two munitions dealers... ). En route, they encounter a violent storm and the plane crashes into the sea, killing the pilots, but the passengers survive. They find themselves on a strange island.
It is seemingly uninhabited, until they discover Dr. Taylor, who lives on the island with his Chinese servant. Dr. Taylor gives them an icy reception and for a mysterious valid reason, refuses to take them to the mainland, despite the fact that he has a seaworthy boat.
They are forced to stay, because none know how to sail a ship on their own.
Things are peaceful for a short while...
A mutiny forms, however...
Taylor is forced to concede and take them back to civilization... despite the doom he faces upon arrival.
Sinners in Paradise- full feature film
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