6/30/2009

6/25/2009

CANADIANS

airstream
airstream

Today, hundreds of travel-trailer fanatics will cruise their shiny, tin mammoth-mobiles into a concrete field and sit there for days. It's the 52nd annual airstream trailer convention and, for some reason, Madison was picked as this year's host.

Thinking about doing an actual piece on it. When else do caravans of conservatives show up to a liberal college town and demand to be entertained? The convention is technically "international," which really just means Canadians can come if they want.

The guys above are on the septic tank staff. I spent some time riding around on the septic truck because it was gross and interesting and they said I could. They wanted to know where I was taking them for drinks after. I said, "Let's both just stick to our jobs."

They all wear red roses in their hats because "they're the most important people in the convention" and, apparently, they're the "heroes of the airstream club." I mean, I believe it. But I also think it's so they don't gag from the smell of feces from like 1,600 republicans.

6/23/2009

Senior Scenester Potluck

A piece for the Isthmus. Note the weekly-arts-and-entertainment-newspaper tone.

Well, just click here if you want to see it. Links to the Isthmus site. 

These are the kids who remember Harvest Fest in the 80s-- when scenesters, hippies and metal kids alike threw flakes of marijuana in the air and watched police officers confiscate it for themselves. These are the kids who stapled hand-made band flyers to telephone polls in the snow and only knew each other's first names. They were Madison's "scene" in the days of Sonic Youth and Nirvana. And, as the self-proclaimed aging hipster Blount Rapture said, "these are the people who aren't dead yet."

The Senior Scenester Potluck at the High Noon Saloon last Saturday drew about 50, well, "scenesters" to rock out, chill out, and talk about the good ol' days over a couple of beers. A handful of old-school local bands--most missing a member or two--signed up to play for the first time in years to a crowd of new and familiar faces and their families. Billy Seckman of Fahrenheit 453 even let his son, Will, fling his long, blond hair around on stage during their set. Later, another band took the stage as the lead singer screamed into the mic: "We are and were the Cutoffs."

According to Rapture, who said he once "ruled the scene," the potluck is a way to keep a part of Madison from dying. Madison is a place with ebbs and flows, he said, with the college kids who come and go every four years. "These people," he said with his eyes darting under thick black glasses frames, "these people have history."


Overall, the event had a "why am I still here?" air to it. I guess you have to seriously ask yourself that if you're clinging to the past.

6/22/2009

Fitchburg

farm-41
farm-44
farm-71
farm-42

Camped out on a farm in Fitchburg, WI. Wasn't really planning to stay the night, but when there's family-made wine, croquet, about two dozen horses and an already-made tent, why not?

Woke up to a horse sneezing. Damp socks, grass. Helped fold the chairs from around the fire and stack them by the shed door. The family who owned the barn sat in whicker chairs eating breakfast. They've been in the carriage-making business since the 1700s. They host polo matches on the weekends sometimes. The own a bed and breakfast and drink expensive whiskey.

Less than ten miles away is downtown Madison, waking up to crushed PBR cans in its streets and wondering how the college kids are feeling this morning.

6/12/2009

Second floor, balcony, Thursday afternoon

bird

I found this bird on the second floor balcony the other day. There was one fly on it around 1 in the afternoon and about a dozen birds flying and chirping by the power lines. It was especially strange when I kept hearing an ominous, deep laugh from an apartment somewhere-- someone apparently left his video game on.

Current assignment is editing footage of a Wisconsin prison inmate getting force-fed for four hours. Paper needs it down to five minutes. An editor asked me if I "had the stomach to handle it."

6/09/2009

Jazz Fest

keyboard
bass
behind the stage
terrace

Everyone in the Midwest is happy because nothing bad ever happens on the terrace and everyone likes jazz and believes in Bucky Badger.

Also, I've been resizing some photos from previous posts so you don't think I have a tendency to cut off the right sides of things.

6/02/2009