Saturday, February 24, 2007

Is there anybody out there . . . ? (part two)

Calling all Nocturnes! Well, it's that time again! - For our 13th AlumNight (now an annual) event, sponsored by The Nocturnes Night Photography Web site, at a "secure undisclosed location" in the SF Bay Area, on March 3rd.

We have a number of announcements to make, much to talk about, and work (from you!) to see. All this, and a few more surprises - should be a another great AlumNight! So-o-o, if you're an Alum, be sure bring your latest work, promo pieces, 'leave behinds,' and just news of what's goin' on in your photo-life!

We are posting this notice here to catch a few of our fair-weather Nocturnes, whose email addresses may have changed since our last event - in the hope they'll catch the news here!


If you're alumni, and for some reason have NOT rec'd email re: this event - please contact us (you know where to find us . . . ) re: the details for AlumNight. Or, if you know of an Alum who fits this category, give them a buzz, won't you?

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

In the wee small hours . . .


Come Commit Suicide With Frank Sinatra

This Valentine's Day, while lesser San Francisco nightspots are jammed with nauseating couples and disgusting Cupid kitsch, a different aesthetic will hold sway at the 540 club: Suicide Sinatra!

In the 1950s, Frank Sinatra recorded four incredibly gloomy all-ballad albums: In the Wee Small Hours, Only the Lonely, No One Cares, and Where Are You? The Chaperone will spin the grimmest tracks from these masterpieces, along with other appropriately gloomy selections from Chet Baker, Miles Davis, Billie Holiday, Johnny Hartman, and other wrist-slitting characters who know what Valentine's Day is really about.

This year, the grimness will be compounded by Ashely and Windy's morbid Valentines, Best Break Up Story Contest (complete with valuable alcoholic prizes!), and other distinctly a-romantic activities. They'll also take over the 'tables 'round midnight (when the Chaperone slinks off to slit his wrists) to spin gloomy '80s music from the likes of Morrissey and Joy Division.

Needless to say, the fantasitic 540 staff will be happy to satisfy all your needs with the stuff that satisfies all your needs: alcohol. And remember, you're not just drinking for yourself--you're drinking for the bitch/bastard who's not there, so make them all doubles.

It all starts at 9:00PM sharp at the 540 Club, 540 Clement (near Green Apple), and continues until the hours grow too desparate even for the desparate.

Please omit the flowers. Because you know, in the wee small hours, no one cares.

(from The Nocturnes NightNews feed - thanks to SquidList)

Monday, February 12, 2007

Sweet Sweep Suite

So, do we think that a certain television, on a certain ranch, near a certain Texas town known as Crawford, was tuned into the Grammys last night? And what do you think a certain viewer of said television thought of the 'goings-on?' None other than Joan Baez (herself no stranger to 'shut up and sing' right-leaning directives) introduced the Dixie Chicks, who performed their hit anthem, "Not Ready to Make Nice" (NRTMN).

A great pop song, expertly tuned into a viewpoint (more prevalent, daily, I'm afraid) - the likes of which we haven't seen much of since the late sixties (remember "Ohio" by CSNY; or "What are their Names" by the same-mentioned David Crosby). And, not since Grace Slick's performances with the Jefferson Airplane have we seen such vitriol aimed at a president and an administration (also, it can said, in the group's more nihilistic period - toward a society, in general) - and the Chicks managed it without all the profanity that characterized the Grace Slick works!

As Natalie Maines (she, the author of those offending 15 words) said as they accepted the 3rd (or was it the 4th Grammy): “I’m very humbled and I think people were using their voice the same way this loudmouth did.”

Later, accepting their 5th Grammy, Ms. Maines added: "I think people are using their freedom of speech with all these awards. We get the message."

Indeed - let the discussion begin!

P.S. And was Gnarls Barkley's (DJ/producer Danger Mouse and vocalist/rapper Cee-Lo) performance great, or what!

NY Times Link to the story
And the backlash starts, yet again - here

Also, The Nocturnes:(STILL) Not Ready to Make Nice