Friday, November 27, 2015

San Francisco at Night 11/21/15






Last weekend, a group of 35 eager young photographers got on a yellow school bus to try their hand at night photography. We had about a 50-50 mix of digital photography students and members of the school photography club. Tom, Don, Bob, and our driver Hector and I were the chaperones, instructors, and cooks. We begin our tour of San Francisco at Crissy Field with great views of the Golden Gate Bridge and a bar-be-que area with picnic tables. The first and fourth photographs show the students lined up to get shots of the bridge at sunset before we move to the Palace of Fine Arts. In the Spring, the sun sets directly behind the bridge, but this time of year it sets further south, out of view for our photographers. While we walk the couple of blocks to the Palace, Bob and Hector are busy BBQing burgers and dogs, and an hour later we go back to eat under the illumination of flashlights. After dinner we drive across the Golden Gate to the lookout on the Marin side to get a look back at the City and the bridge. Our final stop is the Embarcadero where we take 30 second photographs of the Bay Bridge and the remnants of the pier that used to sit there.

Chris Difford and Glenn Tilbrook:Acoustic Squeeze, Great American Music Hall, SF 11/20/15





Billed as the "At Odds Couple" tour because of their long history of acrimony, the duo was in fine spirits and good voice. The elaborate stage set was fun as well. They also had a fine new album to showcase, and longtime Squeeze fans were not disappointed. We were guests of our friends and fellow Squeeze fanatics George and Julie, who was celebrating a birthday. The lads even gave her a few bars of "Happy Birthday." Thanks for a great evening with many good friends.

Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Richard Thompson Electric Trio, The Fillmore, November 2015




Richard Thompson rolled into town on the heels of his new CD "Still" and thrilled a sell-out crowd with both old and new compositions. There are many music lovers who have no idea who he is, but for those of us who appreciate great guitar playing, stellar song-writing, and a dynamite band, he couldn't come around often enough. My friend Mike Kemp and I enjoyed a typical guitar extravaganza and a catalogue that stretches back more than forty years. The Fillmore is an outstanding music venue going back to the 60's. Well worth the work night drive up to the City.