Rocktoberfest Columbia, MO 2009
Rocktoberfest 2009
Missouri Timepiece, Linkyn Jacybs Band, & Molly Hatchet
I'd been trapped for over a week and the thought of escaping even if it was just for a few hours put a little spring back into the step of my beat-up body. The email had startled me with its invitation. "We warming up for Molly Hatchet tonight. Why don't you come on out and hear how we sound?"
I had heard a TV commercial earlier in the week saying Molly Hatchet was going to be here in Columbia. I had been laying in the bed recouperating from belly surgery at the time. I hadn't seen Molly Hatchet since the mid- to late-80's. Still had a copy of the self titled album, “Flirtin' with Disaster,” and, or course, “Beatin' the odds” around the house somewhere. And I'm talkin' the album, not a cassette or CD copy. I still have the vinyl. That music was great “movin'” music. Early-80's, while still in the Corps, I'd strapped a cassette player on my side and run while listening to “Gator Country,” “Whiskey Man,” and of course “Flirtin' with Disaster.”
So my choices were to continue to lay around the house feeling sorry for myself or get off my butt and get out to the Midway Expo and have a good time. I chose the later.
It has been several years since I've been to a bike rally (the last one being in Tunica, Mississippi at a Casino with Black Oak, Arkansas in 2003) and the venue was quite different than my previous experiences. As a matter of fact, though I've lived here in Columbia for ten years this was the first time I've attended anything at the Midway Expo. Ticket prices were a little steep in my opinion ($25 for regular admission and $50 for VIP. I bought the VIP admission so that I could get better access for pictures and I guess the included t-shirt and bandana weren't bad either.) but from what I understand, about $13000 went to local charities.
The bands hadn't started yet so I walked around checking out the booths as well as from where I might get the best photos. (Some of the photos of all three bands are available for viewing at
http://www.paulsummitt.com.) Booths covered the gamut from t-shirts and bandanas to leather and lace to alligator and burritos. The bands had been scheduled to play outside at the Sandbar Stage but due to the rain everything was moved into the expo. The night before had been cage fighting and cage dancing, part of what
Motorcycle Events Magazine called non-stop weekend-long “biker friendly” entertainment.
Missouri Timepiece finally started Saturday night rolling. The bass player and drummer laid down a dependable and steadfast foundation for the trio's tunes while the impressive guitarist wore a stoic expression while nimbly fingering his way through some nice but forgotten numbers that I think I might like to hear again the next time I know where they're playing.
Before the Linkyn Jacybs Band took the stage I kept hearing people asking if this was the Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band or not. I didn't know. Given that Lynyrd Skynyrd discovered Molly Hatchet, so to speak, I guess it was fitting that a tribute band should warm up for them.
Just home from the Navy and back in college in 1974 I had taken a job moving pianos and amplifiers for a music store in Northeast Arkansas. They needed some amps and a piano moved into the old Forum theater in Jonesboro for some band from Alabama who were playing there that night. That was my first, but not last, exposure to Lynyrd Skynyrd. They went on to headline the Missouri State Fair in Sedalia that July.
Linkyn Jacybs took me back to those spring days of '74. While their first set seemed a bit muted, the set after Molly Hatchet left was dynamite. While I was a little disappointed with their arrangement of “Crossroads” during that first set (Hey, they're a Lynyrd Skynyrd tribute band not a Cream tribute band), their arrangements of the various Lynyrd Skynyrd tunes were right on and like I said the second set blew my socks off. If you get the chance to see this band around the area, do so. You won't be wasting your time.
The end of the first set brought a change on the bandstand of equipment and I was a little hungry so I decided to check out the food stands. With Molly Hatchet coming up next, one vendor was touting “gator” and I decided to try it. Armed with a diet coke and “gator on a stick” I walked back over to the table I had been sitting at with some nice folks from St. Charles. One young lady that was sitting at the table would be competing later in the Leather and Lace competition and she did have a powerful set of eye magnets. But I was hungry and apparently the couple from St. Charles were too because they went and got them some “gator” too. The “gator” was hot and tasted good but I was still hungry so I headed for the vendor selling burritos.
“One, please.” I told the guy in the trailer. “And give me a cold water too.” I stood and watched as he threw the meat onto the grill along with the other ingredients and started stirring. In a few short minutes he had the tortilla warming on the grill too and then was rolling the meat and ingredients up into the tortilla. Something nagged at my memory about the way he made the burrito. I sat down and unwrapped the burrito and took a bite.
“Mmmmm,” the flavor instantly took me back to San Diego. Just down from the Marine Recruit Depot while I was stationed there in the late '70's had been a little whole in the wall taco stand where they made the best burritos. I asked the guy who had made it where he had learned and he pointed to a little hispanic man sitting next to the trailer. I told him about the place in San Diego and he said “That's where I'm from.” He told me he works many of the bike rallies so if you get a chance at one, try his burritos.
My hunger satiated and Molly Hatchet getting ready to start, I returned to the bandstand to take pictures. The first tune was rough as the sound levels were off and the sound crew worked to balance the band's sound. I wasn't impressed with lead singer Phil McCormack's needling the crowd and threatening to quit playing either. However, the guitar work of Bobby Ingram and Dave Hlubek and the foundation laid down by Tim Lindsey on bass and Shawn Beamer on drums were amazing.
The band ran through most of their hits and after McCormack announced that they had signed with Sony and that a new album was on its way, they played some of their new stuff. After one song he announced that it was the first time they'd ever played it. Gimme a break, Phil. The only time someone plays something in front of a crowd for the first time is they're drunk, stoned, or a liar. At least that's been my experience. But I'm going to give you the benefit of the doubt and say you were a little stoned and misspoke. You did look a little tired when you were wolfing down that gator and signing those autographs.
Remember the young lady with the eye magnets? She won the Leather and Lace competition while Ingram and McCormack were signing autographs. I think she was the only contestant.
Cost wise I think I got quite a bang for my buck. Some of the money did go to charity and I spent over five hours there enjoying the music and the company. Hopefully, I'll be there next year too.
The Photographer's Website Manual by Philip Andrews
As stated in a previous review, since I am both a photographer and a Web designer/developer I have little positive to say about most books on Web design. This book is no exception. I suggest you pass on this and find a book just on Web design. You'll learn more.
Lighting and Posing Tecniques for Photographing Women by Norman Phillips
In case you aren't aware, I'll tell you up front that I am not a fan of Amherst Media books. They tend to be put together too fast and with little quality control. They also seem to be put together by public relations and advertising people rather that content experts. At least that's the perception I get from their books.
So when I say that I was not overly impressed with this book that's probably not too surprising. Phillips has gathered together the works of several photographers and presents a general overview of how to take pictures of women. The book's focus is not on nude photography. Unfortunately, in my opinion the book is just to general in context. There is little you can get here that you couldn't get done better elsewhere. My recommendation is pass on this one.
The World's Top Photographers: Nudes by Anthony LaSala
First, I don't know who says these photographers are the world's top. I have seen better in my opinion. I've also seen worse. The point is that you should include this book in your library because someone thinks these photographers are the world's best. I liked many of the images in this volume. My problem again is the why. Why are these pictures being taken? What are they supposed to mean? Am I the only one that doesn't understand this? The book is just a collection of LaSalla's opinions of who the top photogs are. I could put this kind of book together and it would be just as valid.
The Photographer's Guide to Nudes by John Freeman
This book is classified as "a complete masterclass." While it is a worthwhile addition to one's library, it is not a masterclass, complete or otherwise, in my opinion. Freeman's photography is very good. He covers the technical aspects of how he took these photographs pretty good but no where does he discuss the why. To me a masterclass should help the photographer discover the why of the photography. Why are we taking photographs of nude men and women? What do the photographs say? In that respect I believe Freeman failed.
Lighting for Nude Photography by Rod Ashford
There are several things I really like about this book and only one or two that I don't. First, I love the format. Ashford shows the picture first, then a diagram of how the picture was taken showing the placement of the lights, the model, and any set pieces, and a brief description. My main complaint is that his description doesn't go quite far enough. I want more specifics. How high are the lights and at what angle? How small is a small room? The pictures are wonderful and the method is fantastic as far as it goes but give me more. Should you buy it? Yes.
The Parasite by Ramsey Campbell
I can't believe I wasted my time on this one. What a piece of garbage. It's not good horror. There is no purpose in the actions of the characters. Don't waste your time. I am not even going to try and sell or trade this book. It's going into the trash where it belongs. 'Nuff said.
Landscape Photography by Peter Eastway
I want to start off this review with something positive about the book so let me say there are many many excellent color photographs to look at here. Other than that, the book is useless. I was expecting so much more out of the Lonely Planet series. I was also expecting so much more from Eastway. Afterall, he's an award winning landscape photographer and has even won awards for his photography. And he's published in several magazines. But this book is not good. Like I said, other than looking at its pictures, pass on it.
Mastering Nature Photography by John Kieffer
I had a slightly difficult time getting through this book. Kieffer's writing style, plus the fact that the majority of his photographs (all of the color) are found on the included CD, leads to a very dry text that I felt like I had to drag myself through. Trying to read this text is not the best use of it once you've paid for it. Instead, familiarize yourself with the organization of the book and use the specific topics to improve your work. For instance, Kieffer does a pretty good job of providing detailed information concerning planning photographic excursions to possible locations. Despite the dating, his discussion of equipment is still of some value. Finally, he covers the specifics of the bussiness of selling the pictures you take. The CD is of some value in that many of the locations he has taken photos at should be on every photographer's wish list to visit. Buy the book and plan your next trip.
Civil War Genealogy by George K. Schweitzer, PhD, ScD
I think
I've said this before but I started researching my family history sometime around forty years ago now. One of the first stories about my family I learned was my great-grandfather going north from his Tennessee home and fighting for the Union. Over the years I've learned some of the stories about him were just that, stories. But I've also learned how he was charged with desertion because he when home for Christmas and how his father, my great-great-grandfather, was jailed for aiding the enemy by the confederate authorities because my great-grandfather was home during the holiday.
Finding this information has taken years of searching through documents and collaborating with distant relatives. Schweitzer's book makes finding many of these sources so much easier.
Starting with the war itself and providing the uninformed with a brief background and history from which to orient oneself, Schweitzer provides an overview of the various documents and histories available. He then walks the reader through the various national and state archives that are available. The next section deals with the various national and state publications followed by the numerous local resources that are available. His section on the various military unit histories is extremely informational. He closes with a discussion of artifact collections.
Whether you are just beginning your civil war research or you are an old hand, this is one book you should have in your library.
Web Site Design for Professional Photographers by Paul Brooks Rose & Jean Holland-Rose
I have been designing, building, and developing Web sites since the early 1990's. I've even written a couple of books about creating your own Web site. So you ask why did I purchase this book? The answer lies in my returning interest in photography over the past year. I wanted to know how best to display my photographic works via a Web site.
The cover should have told me that this book wasn't worth the thirty dollar asking price. Right there on the cover it stated "Step-by-step techniques for designing and maintaining a successful Web site." I think some idiot intern wrote something similar to that for the cover of one of my books back in the '90's. That book was a best seller too. (I wonder if that intern has now gotten a promotion and works for Amherst Media?)
Anyway, back to the book. The book is only 126 pages long. That's just under 24 cents a page. What a deal!
The book is relatively recent being published in 2003 so the material should be more up-to-date than any of my books from the mid-90's even if it's not cutting edge. So although Dreamweaver is mentioned, the tool of choice for these two authors is FrontPage. Hey, that's cool. I wrote one of the first books about FrontPage. Started writing the book before Microsoft even bought the product. Problem is they don't make it any more. Yes, I know in 2003 FrontPage was still being made. And some people were using it. But why do you think Microsoft quit making it? Because few professional Web developers would touch it by then. The people that were still using FrontPage were pointed at another even simpler product. The professionals were given new products to compete with Dreamweaver. And this book is supposed to be for professionals, isn't it.
But back to the book itself. The authors apparently make a living creating sites for photographers. That's what their bio states. The first chapter, however, talks about doing your own site to save money. Do you see the problem with the logic here?
But wait. I'm doing what I say shouldn't be done. I critiquing the book for what it's not. The authors and publishers say the book is aimed at professional photographers but I can't accept even that. The authors act like the reader has never been around Photoshop. I think this book is at best something maybe a beginner might want to look at and even there I'm not so sure. Even the downloadable site templates are amateurish.
I didn't like this book at all. It was hard to find anything positive about the book. The publisher should be ashamed of themselves.
Nude Photography Notebook by Eddie Ephraums
When I first saw the title and subtitle ("Finding Inspiration") of this book, I was terribly excited. In my search for purpose in my photography I am constantly looking for inspiration, something to set my photographs apart from the work of others. Unfortunately, I was terribly disappointed by this book.
The graphical design and layout for this book is distracting and obtrusive. I think I understand what the concept was but the presentation failed miserably. The book is about the work of Allan Jenkins and some of the concepts of his work that managed to squeeze through the presentation are good. The concept of keeping a notebook and sketching out ideas for photographs is one that I have used since the mid-'70's and I think it is an outstanding suggestion. His thoughts he has written about how he is trying to bring forth these ideas through the medium of photography are approaching on inspirational. The sad thing is that Mr. Ephraums' presentation drags the entire work down to mediocre.
On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft by Stephen King
I found a copy of this book at our local library book sale last year. Picked it up for $2 and feel like I got way more than my money's worth even when you add the 35 cents or so cost of the plastic dust cover protector I put on it. Around Christmas, Lori Allen was talking about reading it in her e-newsletter
The Right Way to Travel and I picked up my copy and began reading. Glad I did.
This book tells a lot about what made Stephen King write. It tells a lot about how he writes. It tells a lot about why he writes.
I enjoyed every minute of the reading of it. It reminded me somewhat of Bradbury's Zen of Writing. If you want to read two books about writing then these two are what you should read. Read them and everything you can get your hands on in the style and topic you want to write. And of course, write. Writers write. I had a screen writing professor at San Diego State University tell me that once. King's advice in this book stands up too. Avoid adjectives. Especially in dialog.
Of course, I think the very best advice he gives is that Life isn't a support-system for art but rather the other way around. My clients are calling so I have to get back to work. You go find a copy of this book and read it. You won't regret the time spent.
