12ozProphet

Still Bill, a documentary on musician, Bill Withers, is playing at the IFC for the next week.  An insightful film whether you’re a diehard fan or never even heard of the guy.  Although I would like to bet everyone has been affected by his music in some capacity whether they know it or not.

The Best Of Bill Withers
I did this piece in 2006 for no reason other than an appreciation of Bill Withers.

After Thursday night’s showing, the IFC held an intimate Q&A with Bill Withers himself.  Topics ranging from his thoughts on the current recording industry, “Lady Gaga? You’re not gonna hear me and my 70 year old Navy friends talking about Lady Gaga.”  His feelings on hip-hop producers sampling his work, “It’s genius to be able to take such a small segment and make something new with it. I couldn’t ever do that! It also pays the bills.”  He also touched on his own mortality, and his struggles with speaking with a stutter well into his adulthood. 

After the Q&A I timidly approached him and asked him to sign his first record for me.  You can’t help but feel that you’re stepping outside personal boundaries at times like these (it’s fuckin’ Bill Withers.) Certainly not the case. My wife got to personally thank him for “Grandma’s Hands” as it’s one of those things that got her through losing her grandma last summer.

A lot of people get changed by fame.  Not Bill Withers.  Definitely one of the most grounded, charming, and soulful men I’ve ever gotten to witness in person.

Autographed copy of Bill Withers’ 1971 debut record Just As I Am.
No big deal.

Phallic Poo 2009

Photograph by Frank.
Poo by Frank’s dog.

What we have here is a phenomenal piece of modern photography.
About the photograph from the artist himself:
“I swear I didn’t touch it. It just landed that way perfectly with the stick and everything.”

To protect the photographer and his rights as a modern artist, I had to add a watermark, an indelible mark of exclusivity.
There is only one Phallic Poo.

Stephon Marbury, Steve Francis, Penny Hardaway, and now possibly Allen Iverson. They just love signing guys that were dope 5+ years ago. The Knicks are 2-9.

Back in 2 weeks for some more fantasm.

What’s your angle / Rectangle or triangle.

Ten Big Ones, Escape To Paradise poster, butane lighter that says Basketball on it, Thuggish Ruggish Bone 12”, Blacksheep promo condom, painting of Samantha by Kathi Packer, Rosa poster, bootleg Patrick Ewing, Asian Chicken, Curtis Mayfield, Ricky Hatton got knocked the fuck out - next up Miguel Cotto, Ewing dollar, Alien Autopsy, The Questionable Video, a letter from Sebastian all spelled phonetically, Miles Marquez: Pivot grind to fakie, Underboob: A close 2nd to Sideboob, Sean Cliver original ink drawing.

40 years after the Stonewall riots, there are still people that are anti gay. I have close friends that are prejudiced toward gay people for either bullshit religious reasons or for being straight up dumbshits.  I don’t want to use this as a forum to voice my opinion on social issues as online debates go nowhere fast. The point of the story is that on my way to grabbing the paper today, I ran into this awesome young lady letting her Twin Turbo’s breathe on Bleeker.

Around 8:30pm tonight the sun was setting and it felt weird. The lighting was bizarre as if it were 12 noon and 12 midnight at the same time.  Everyone on the street was looking at eachother confused and pointing upward at these strange clouds. I set my camera to the default “Sunset” mode and the result reminded me of Sabbath Bloody Sabbath.

The King of Pop always reminded me of King Tut. I named both of my dogs after deceased black musicians. I will very likely name my future 3rd dog, Jackson.

This is Wallace. He reminds me of a burrito. A whole wheat tortilla burrito. In this photo he reminds me of a burrito that has just eaten a burrito.

The closing scene of Carlito’s Way reminds me of all things awesome. Somehow it makes me feel happy and sad simultaneously. It doesn’t ever get old.  Carlito Brigante himself reminds me of my dear friend, Frank, who coincidentally introduced me to the movie in the first place.
Frank

Dearly departed.
“Crying inside.”