Last night I was one the lucky few to see a special solo performance by Michael Gira at The Stone, a tiny little venue in the lower east side.  It was just Micahel Gira and a guitar, which in my opinion is the most intimate way to experience someone’s music.  The highlight of the show was when he played Blind, one of my favorite Swans songs ever.  It was a real treat to hear his stripped down version.  If you are unfamiliar with the magical sound of The Swans, Love of Life is a good record to start with.

Blind
written by The Swans on Drainland

Now some of us are weak, and some endure
And some people live their lives, with a violence that’s pure and clean
But I saw a man cry once, down on his knees
In the corner of a darkened cell, and his pain meant nothing to me

But I was younger then, and young men never die
When I walked out in the sun, I was strong, clear minded,
and blind

And please don’t ask me a question, you’ll just be misunderstood
And if you could step inside me, you’d feel what hatred brings
And if you could see with my eyes, you’d see what self-deception means

I was younger once, and I created a lie
And though my body was strong, I was self-deluded, confident,
and blind

Now show some pity, for the weak of will
Because when we’re drinking, we can never be filled
And show some undentanding, for the lonely fool
Because when l’m drinking, l’m out of control

No I was never young, and nothing has transpired
And when I look in the mirror, I feel dead, I feel cold,
I am blind. 

Photos of Michael Gira by Mark Benney

This lovely black and white movie was much better than I expected it to be.  It was so exciting to see the first film made by one of my all time favorite photographers Anton Corbjin. Each shot was more gorgeous than the last and the acting was really impressive.  It was so true to life, at times I thought I was watching a documentary.  I can’t wait to see what Corbjin comes up with next.
www.corbijn.co.uk

http://icanhascheezburger.com

The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (2007)
Directed by Andrew Dominik

I watched this gorgeous film yesterday and the best treat was the stunning cinematography. Each scene was crafted like a carefully composed luminous photograph. Many shots were all about the way sunlight fills a room, or the way dust travels through air. I loved the use of blurry lens vignettes, an very Victorian effect that I rarely see anywhere anymore (other than in the timeless photographs of Sally Mann). The story was kind of slow but this beautiful film is well worth watching. The cast was amazing too. Highly recommended.

Sally Mann, Untitled from “The Motherland Series”