A new perspective

Forgive me if this post rambles. This weekend was a educational one. My mother gave me, my Dad and my nanny a DVD of "The Wolfs, the early years, 1969-1983." WOW, I can't stop crying, and wondering how our lives would have turned out if they had stayed together. Damn that hindsight!! While I was watching the DVD for the 4th time in a 48 hour period with my wife Stephenie, it reminded me of how much Steph and I are like my parents from back in the day. Steph sees it too. It breaks my heart that my parents couldn't see past the present and work things out. I can remember looking at photo album after photo album of my mom and dad when they were young adults and wanting to know more about who they were and what they were all about. Movies , even though they are silent, give you so much more information. Since watching this DVD for the 5th time in 48hrs it has reconnected me with my mom and dad. I guess I have fallen in love with them all over again. It makes me wish they had worked through their issues and thought more about the future. I know it is all in the past and it all should stay there, but there will always be that little glimmer of what could have been. THANKS MOM!!!

I LOVE YOU GUYS !!! Your number one son,

Gabe

Cool assignment

This morning I met the coolest guy, Gladden Corbin. He's a photographer who used to shoot all kinds of things including assignments for the Dispatch Record. He has also been collecting cameras for the past 50 years. He now photographs landscapes and he wife paints the photos. We talked for about 2 1/2 hours about how things have changed over the years, cameras he wishes he had not sold or traded, but overall no regrets. I felt sorry for our reporter who went along to interview Gladden, he barely got the interview

I hope if I make it to Gladden's age I will have a similar perspective and I'm able to look back on my career and smile.

-Lone Wolf

The end of a GREAT weekend

Sorry I have not updated in a few days, but I've been trying to readjust to regular hours. I could really use a week more of sleep, but as the saying goes,"places to be , people to meet." I figure I'll get all the sleep I need when I'm dead. I've been contemplating how I will wrap up this past weekend of documenting this historic event, and the only thing I can say WHOA! I feel sorry for my wife Stephenie for having to put up with me after shooting an assignment like this. You have to understand that I hate the area where we live, our property is very, very nice, but some , if not the majority of the population here are IDIOTS!! Mostly right wing, religious right types. It is very frustrating to be around and photograph free-spirited, loving life type of individuals and then come back to "HEE-HAW HELL!!" Culture shock in the worst way. This weekend was just such a liberating event, great music, people who accept you for who you are. AWESOME. Don't get me wrong I missed my family terribly, but I didn't miss being here.

I really want to thank the GMS staff, hopefully we will work together again, also the staff at George's for making me feel right at home. Last but not least my step-mother Laura who got me this gig. THANK YOU!!

The shot I decided to post, which was very difficult to decide, pretty much says it all. It was taken towards the end of Cross Canadian Ragweed's show, F@$#ING AWESOME!!

Enough for now, I'm off this weekend to celebrate my Nanny's 80th birthday with the family, sparks could fly. Can't wait.

Live today as if it were your last, you just never know.

-Lone Wolf

Deadheads galore

Man oh man!!! Last night was,...well, it was. I think of myself as pretty liberal, but next to the group of concert goers that attended last nights festivities, I looked like a freaking Right Wing Conservative fresh off the farm. I've never seen so many acid-dropping, pot-smoking, free-spirited individuals all under one roof in my entire life. IT WAS THE COOLEST FREAK SHOW EVER.

The one thing this whole weekend has been about is bringing awesome musicians from the past and present together to celebrate an establishments 80th anniversary, and also to raise money for Children's House. I thought for this post I would put something human in that happened last night while I was waiting for the show to start.

The Garden, which is the covered patio stage at George's, has windows that look east. Beyond the windows a railroad track runs. (approx. five to six feet form the building) Just as I walked into the Garden a train passed by traveling about 10mph. I noticed a guy gazing out the open window, mesmerized by this Union Pacific. I took a few frames before he noticed me. We struck up a conversation, he told me how fascinated he was by these huge creations. Later I discovered he was the drummer for the warm-up act, "Rev. Peyton's Big Damn Band." They were great by the way, they impressed me so much, I had to buy a CD, "Big Damnation." This kid who plays the drums is also the Reverends brother, Jamie. Part of his set includes a 5 gallon bucket. What the hell is that all about. This weekend has been a blast, it has also been an education.

Tonight is the last night of the festival which will feature Mountain of Venus, Outformation( made up of some members of Widespread Panic), Paul Barrere and Fred Tackett of "Little Feat," and more of Steve Kimock and crew (Grateful Dead).

It's been real and it's been fun, but it ain't been real fun. Can't wait to get home. Ya know, this is probably the only time I will ever see these people, but I'm thankful for the opportunity to see these Legends, who are the best at what they do. It has been a pleasure.

Until tomorrow, or whenever.

-Lone Wolf

Oldtimers night-out

I hope no one takes offense to the title of this post, it just seems fitting. Last night was more of the same just a more "experienced" crowd of music enthusiasts. It was also an eye-opener for me in that being in my mid-thirties I kinda feel like a man without a country. You don't, or can't, relate to the twenty-somethings because you've been there and done that, and you can't connect with the fifty plus crowd either, because you aren't there and haven't done that yet. I guess the fifty plus looks at the thirty-somethings kinda the way the thirty-somethings look at the twenty-somethings. It's all relative I guess. I did have a better time last night than the night before. I was trying to get a certain shot last night when an older couple, late fifties:), suggested that I stand on one of their chairs. I did get the shot, heard a couple of cheers to my left, looked over and received a few thumbs up, I guess they thought it was a good shot but during happy-hour it's amazing how many "good" shots you seem to get. When I got off the chair I looked at the guys wife, giggled and shook my head and she said, "You know we all think of you as our grandson." I have never seen this these people before in my life. I suppose that's what makes George's seem like a different world, it doesn't matter what you look like, what you believe in, if your a local or an outta-town er, everyone treats you like they have known you all your life. Good-times, good-times.

Until tomorrow.

-Lone Wolf

George's 80th Music Festival

Made it to Fayetteville (Arkansas) yesterday safe and sound. On the way I borrowed some "driving tunes" from my dad one of which is "The legend of Johnny Cash." Great album and PERFECT on a road trip, he might not get this one back. I have come here to photograph George's Majestic Lounges 80th birthday. About 20 single acts and bands, mostly local, are occupying both stages for four days. Last night kicked off the festival in "high" gear. The headliner, Cross Canadian Ragweed finished the evening with a nothing less than AWESOME show. It was a true rock concert loud, sweaty, and the smell of reefer filled the air. I swear I probably lost half my hearing last night. The fun continues tonight with Crowne/Hutchison, Nace Brothers, Anthony Gomes, Jimmy Thackery, and a Cate Brothers reunion. Should be an interesting evening.

Stay tuned.....

-Lone Wolf