album art for nathan harbin’s upcoming release, “beauty in madness,” collaged, montaged and assemblaged via the www by joe and marv

*and yes, i really did say that I photographed a hardcore band in a pawn shop in griffin, ga. its was as ridiculous and fun as it sounds.

this record sounds like what it would be like if black was in the rainbow, or if if creaking floorboards could compose. its by bonnie prince billy and i’ve had it for years, but i played it tonight for the first time in a while and it took me to a different summer where the night sings the sound of cicada and moonlight has a hard time getting through the magnolia trees. and there was a hammock there that summer, and the smell of must and pine mixed with nag champa under a string of loosely strung christmas lights. and there were little white chips of paint stuck to my dirty bare feet as i walked across an old porch toward a sweaty glass of iced tea over there on the fold out card table. that was a good summer.

in an email exchange today my friend chris roberts wrote this:

One of the best things about Heaven, I believe, is the theater in which you learn all the stuff you didn’t know when you were here. I’ll hit the matinee to see what Jonah saw inside the whale, or learn what Kay Harris was really thinking when she broke up with me in 10th grade — in my brother’s car on Homecoming, after I’d paid for the corsage, the game, the meal, etc.

Or imagine asking: “Jesus, what was the 43rd nastiest thing I ever ate? I’m pretty sure I can’t handle knowing about the first 42.”

“And He shall wipe away our tears,” it says in Revelation, so I assume it means he’ll work on my gag reflex, too.

last weekend he took me to the abandoned griffin, ga hotel and pawn shop. and yes, its the same building.
we had a good time.