4th of July from John Carl on Vimeo. Music: The Guest Room “When Might Makes Right”
Back in early July, @bentmatches and I were standing at the Skybar a little after a beautiful sunset when our friend @AVLSkylie introduced us to three people looking for an adventure to film. Being expert adventurers, we shared a knowing glance and smile and set to work. Here is what they said about that night:
We went on a road trip for 30 days to 30 cities filming one story each day of people around America. This day we were in downtown Asheville, NC for the 4th of July celebration. We didn’t know a soul but by the end of the night we found ourselves in a parking lot with new-found friends setting off fireworks illegally. And we got there in a convertible driven by a friend who looked like he fronted a 50’s rockabilly band. All in all, an amazing night and one of the more meaningful videos we made.
This night was one of the best of my life. To be young, in love, and feel like the king of town in a hot red convertible surrounded by the talented and beautiful — I know of little better. It doesn’t matter how old I get, I’ll always want to go back to that day. I’d like to go back right now.
The folks we met were an artist collective (The Duck Duck Collective) and were filming a series of short spots all over the Eastern US for a really hip Levi-Strauss ad campaign. They had awesome equipment and great personalities and threw themselves into the fun of the evening. We went to the Admiral first and danced, then went to that abandoned parking lot off Merrimon where we lit all the fireworks. You can see me driving the convertible and vaulting through the fireworks at the end. I’m so glad there is footage of this day of my life.
I saw this episode of the Twilight Zone many years ago and it made a big impression on me. I love the setting (I like pretty much anything apocalyptic) and the simple way of telling the story. This is one of the few episodes of the Twilight Zone not to feature the supernatural as a plot device. The actors are Charles Bronson and Elizabeth Montgomery. Warning: Uniformed hotness for everybody.
I’m very excited to have my Andrew Bird tickets (Orange Peel, $25) already purchased. He is one of my absolute favorite musicians and songwriters out there right now, and his live shows are spectacular displays of his musicianship and uniquely melancholy heart, proudly bruised and bandaged in esoteric words that make me reach for a taxonomic glossary. His lyrics recall the most flowing lines of Tennyson’s work, without the classical allusions. I saw him in 2007 with Reese, who played with him briefly in the early 2000s in the Squirrel Nut Zippers, and I got to shake his hand and speak to him briefly, but in rare form I was star struck and couldn’t think of a single bit of conversation. I’m not familiar with the opening act — has anybody seen St. Vincent?
He’s just as good live as in the video. I’ll see you at the show.
This guy Charlie is pretty funny. I’m from the Michigan countryside but we were close enough to be aware of the city. The second house I ever lived on was located on infamous 8 Mile Road, but far enough out to be a dirt road surrounded by farms. If I grew up in the Shire, Detroit was Mordor, always the dark cloud on the eastern horizon. The news from the east was full of Coleman Young’s policy failures, white flight and population decline, auto plant closings, the yearly immolation of Devil’s Night, police brutality and murder after murder. I applaud Vice for focusing editorial attention on this problem, unconventional though it may be.
Yes, I agree that Detroit is a great city for journalism. The difference is there is no hurricane or war or financial crisis to capture headlines blame — but there are some Pulitzers hiding in the rubble.
For the past two years I’ve gone to the POP Asheville Festival, and I had an awesome time both years. I blogged about it, too.
The festival right now is in a little trouble — the money kind of trouble. Now, I don’t have any money to give but if I can support a great event by talking about it here, then I’m gonna do that. Please, Asheville, support this festival — it’s one of my favorite things about living here and gives such color to an otherwise grey January. I’ve discovered great bands, had an awesome time on LaZoom, and felt like I was stealing it because it was all so cheap. So yes, I would be willing to pay more. I’d pay $25 for two nights of awesome music and bus rides. I think it’s worth that.
Also, Congrats and Good Luck to my friend and former colleague Susanne Hackett of Pollinate Consulting on being named Director of the Festival.
