Testimonials
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In2011,formerWetlandsowner andcurrentoperatorofBrooklyn Bowl,PeterShapiro,wasbrought onboardtohelmthenextchapter ofTheCapitolTheatre.Themultimilliondollarrenovationbrought TheCapitolTheatreintothe modernage.OnSept.4,2012, TheCapitolTheatrewasofficially backwithaperformanceby legendaryfolkmusician BobDylan.
NottoolongafterTheCapitol Theatrereopened,thelobbybar waschristenedasGarcia’s,a projectthatstemmedfroma partnershipwiththeJerryGarcia familythatallowedforsmaller bandstoperformatthevenue ontheGarcia’sstage.
Elevenyearsafterthereturnof TheCapitolTheatre,thePort Chesterstaplecontinuesto entertainconcertgoerswithits year-roundschedule.In2022 alone,everyonefromBillyStrings andTedeschiTrucksBandtoThe NationalandEddieVedderhave performedatTheCapitolTheatre.
BeginningonMarch8,Norwalk jambandGoosewillmakeitslongawaited(andsoldout)returnto thePortChesterrockpalace. Thoughnooneknowsexactlywhat willhappen,onethingisfor certain:ifit’sanythinglikethe venue,theshowsaregoing tobe historic
ABriefHistoryAboutTheCapitolTheatre
WrittenbyJonCaruso
Thisoldadageisresoundinglytrueandspeaksto thepowerofphotography.Photographscapture fleetingmomentsintimethatrecallaprofound varietyofmemoriesandemotions,uniqueto everyindividual–andphotographers,inalotof ways,arevisualhistorians.Theyobserveand documentourworldandwithoutthem,special momentsinhistory(orevensmallmomentsof personalsignificance)wouldbelostforever.Like othervisualformsofart,photoscantranscend languagebarriersandconnectusinways othermediumscan’t.
Rockandrollphotographers,inparticular,have playedanimportantrolechroniclingdifferent erasofmusic,spontaneousmomentsandepic collaborationsbetweengenerationsofmusicians. Concertphotographyisaboutcapturingthe artoftheperformanceandtheoverallvibeof anygivenshow.
Itcanbeextraordinarilydifficult,asthequalityof concertphotoslargelydependonconditionsout oftheircontrol.Forexample,changinglight conditionsfromlightingrigscanaffectcamera exposure,whiletheoverallmovementand unpredictabilityofliveperformanceskeep photographersontheirtoestoensuretheyhave focusandgoodcomposition.
Greatmusicphotographycanbringpeopleback toaparticularmomentintimeandmakethem feellikethey’reapartoftheaudience–evenif theyweren’tthere.Nooneknowsthisbetterthan JayBlakesberg, legendaryrock-and-roll photographer,filmmakerandpublicspeaker.
Hisiconiclivephotosandportraiturehavebeen featuredinprintformagazines,booksand recordcompaniescountlesstimesandhehas workedwithmanylegendaryartists,includingthe GratefulDead,NeilYoung,CarlosSantana,B.B.King, Phish,Radiohead,Soundgardenandmanyother well-known,criticallyacclaimedmusicians. Beginningin1987,heshotover300assignmentsfor RollingStone magazineandhisfirstsolomuseum exhibitionattheMorrisMuseum-NewJersey’sonly Smithsonian-affiliate;closedFebruary,2023. Jayhaspublished16coffeetablebooks:including hisnewest; RetroBlakesberg–VolumeOne:TheFilm Archives,a312-pagehardcovercoffeetablebook curatedbyhisdaughterRickiandoutnow.
TheelGooseTimes hadtheopportunitytospeak withJayabouthisbackgroundandwhatattractshim tothemedium.Aswereflectonhislegendarycareer, wealsotalkaboutwhyTheCapitolTheatreisa specialvenuetosomanypeople,histhoughts aboutGooseandmore.
"Apictureisworthathousandwords."PhotoCredit: JeffreyBowling JayBlakesberg Photographer,Filmmaker &PublicSpeaker TheelGooseTimes interviewwith
Forourreaderswhomightnotbefamiliarwith yourwork,howdidyougetintophotography?
Istartedtakingpicturesasateenagerinthelate 1970s.Itookphotographsatconcertsandpictures ofmyfriends-tryingtofigureoutwhatmyplacein thescriptwas:WhowasI?WhatdidIdo?Where didIfitin?WherewasIgoing?AndIdugit… Ilikedtakingpicturesatconcerts,becausewhenI developedthefilminthebasementatmymother’s house,Icouldmakeprintsandthumbtackthemto mybedroomwall.Iwascreatingmyown memorabiliaanditfelt good!Essentiallythat’s whereIstarted,forfun–Iwasjustfuckingaround withacamera,figuringitallout–howtoexpose filmproperlyandhopefullycapturingwhatwas goingoninfrontofmeinanhonestway.
Wereyourparentsbigphotographers?
MyFatherisanAccountant,aCPAbytrade–more orlessretirednow,he’s85–andmyFatherwasa very,veryserioushobbyistshutterbug.There’salot ofphotographsofusasyoungkidsandhelovedto takepictures…hehadagoodeyeandIhavesome ofthoseoldphotos.Hestilltakespicturestothis day–notsomuchwithadigitalcameraanymore–whichhedidforalongtime,butnowmostlyonhis phone.Allthroughhisentireadultlife,healways tookpicturesonfilmcamerasandtheneventually digitalcameras.HealwayslikeditandIdefinitely thinkthatIgotthatbugfromhimandsomeofthat DNAwaspasseddown,becauseeveninthe1960s hehadagoodeyeforcompositionandknewhow toproperlyexposefilm.
Myparentswereencouraging-certainlymyfather wasencouraging.HeloanedmehiscamerawhenI was16yearsoldtobringtoaGratefulDead concert.ThatwasthefirsttimeIshottheband, sixteenyearsoldonLaborDayWeekend1978.
Lifechangingmoment!!
That’s amazing!Whatattractsyou tothemedium?
Well,itschangedovertime.Intheearlydays,Iwas shootingforfun,Iwasshootingforpleasure… Iwasshootingfor me. AsIbecameaprofessional photographer,Istartedshootingforotherpeople whowerepayingme money toshootforthem-and thatwasadifferentplaybook,adifferentgoal, adifferentendgame.
Whatattractsmetothemedium,Ithink,isthrough allofthosedecades,theendresulthasalways reallyturnedme on.Lookingatmydeveloped photosandnowwhatcomesoutofmycameraon thecomputerscreen– really,really stillturnsme on!!I’malsoinspiredbylookingatotherpeople’s photographsandnowwithInstagramand thingslikethat.
Igettoseewhatmyfriendsaredoing:people likeDylanLangille,whoistheGreensky Bluegrassphotographer,orJesseFaatz, BillyStringsphotographer,AdamBerta,whois theGoosephotographerandNuch(Michael Nuchereno-alsoGoosePhotog),whoblowsmy mindeveryfuckin’timehetakesapicture–Imeantheguyis inspiring!Andthat’sjusta handfulofthegreatshootersoutthere... TaraGracer,JoshSkolnik,AaronBradley, JoshTimmermans,AndrewBlackstein, StephPort,JayStrausser...thelistgoesonand onwiththesephotographerscreatingamazing musicphotos/documentation.IstilldigwhatI create,sothatisagoodthing-butI’malso turnedonbywhatotherpeoplecreateandby photographsmadefortyorfiftyorsixtyyears ago.Andso,that’swhatattractsmetothe medium-itstillinspiresmeandI’mstill passionateaboutit.
Backthen,wehadtowaittwoorthreedaysuntil yougotbacktoyourlabtodropyourfilmoffand waitforittobeprocessed.Now,whenIshoot photos,Icanlookonthebackofmycamera andI’m pretty sureIgotit-oritscloseenough whereIcanmanipulateitinPhotoshopor Lightroomtomakeitperfect.But,whenIimport thosephotosintomycomputerandIstart editingthem;itstillinspiresmeandthere’sstill passion behindit.Thosearethekeyingredients forlivingourlivesascreativepeople:passion andinspiration.Becausewithoutthem,whatdo youhave? Nothing.Sorryforthelonganswer!
Noapologiesnecessary,that’sa great answer. It'samazingwhatstoryasinglephotocan reallytellorwhatitcanreallybringoutofa person:whetherit'sacertainmemoryor feelingsofjoytosadness.
Absolutely,itcanreallymoveyou.It’sinteresting –backintheday,whenweshotforprint publications,Imightgoandshootashowand shoot10or15rollsoffilm.So,36exposures onaroll,Imightshoot300-700photosoverthe courseofaconcertandthemagazinewouldrun oneortwophotos–ormaybeifitwasacover story,I’dgetacoverandthenaninsideand athirdimage.
Nowadayswehavethisinfinitethingcalledthe Internet...there’snolimitations,right?Wecan tellstoriesinlongformorshortform:here’sone photoandthat’sgoingtotellthestoryorhere’s tenphotosorhere’sfivehundredphotos…We tellstoriesdifferentlywithourphotostoday.
Continuedonpage9
"Thosearethekeyingredientsforlivingourlivesascreative people:passionandinspiration.Becausewithoutthem, whatdoyouhave? Nothing." -JayBlakesbergPicturedAbove: Jay'sfirstportraitofGoose
Basedonyourexperience,whataresomeofthe elementsthatmakeupagreatconcertor popculturephoto?
Agreatphotocanbeanythingthatmovesand inspiressomebody.Itcanbegreatforoneperson orgreatforamillionpeople…youjustdon’tknow. There’salotofhistoricphotos,right?Youmight beaphotographerandyou’regettingthreesongs inthepitwhenTreyandGooseareonstageand yougetadecentshot–it’snotabrilliantshot,but that’sa great photoforyoubecauseit’sahistoric momentthatmayormaynoteverhappenagain. Whoknows?Ihave plenty ofphotographsthatI considergreatphotographs,becausethey’re historicallyimportant-butthey’reshitty photographs:thismusiciansittinginwiththat musicianorthismusicianplayingandthey’reno longerwithus-andthat’stheonlyphotograph thatyouhaveofthem.
Whatmakesagreatliveconcertphotographis somethingthat’sgotenergyandcapturesthe momentofwhat’shappeningandtranslatesthat storyvisuallytothepersonconsumingit.When peoplegoandtheyconsumeyourphotographson InstagramorFacebookorwhereveritmightbe,if youmakeaprintorwhatever…aweek,amonth, yearslater,ifitcanbringthembacktothat moment,whichwashopefullyamagicalmoment fortheviewer-thenthat’sasuccessful photograph.Itfeelsgoodtobebroughtbackto thosemoments,thoseexperiences–it’slike music.Idon’tknowaboutyou,butthere’s momentswhenyou’redrivinginacarandasong mightcomeontheradioanditmightbringyou backtowhenyouwere8or10or14or20oryour firstgirlfriendoryourfirstboyfriendoryourfuture ex-wifeoryourfutureex-husbandorwhateverit mightbe.Ittriggers something
Photographscandothesamething.Theycan triggersomethingtobringyoubacktothat momentthatwassuperspecialforyou–and that’swhatI’mhopingtodowithmyphotographs. I’mtryingtocreatetheseimagesthatwhen peoplerevisitthesephotographs,they’relike, “Aahh,thatmakesmefeelreallygood”(sighof relief,warmth)–likeI’mhuggingmyselforit bringsmebacktothatincrediblemomentwith thatspecialpersonorthatgroupofspecial peopleorconnectionyouhadtothatband.
Asyougrowolderandthatbandgrowsolder,your relationshiptothatmusicchangesandyour relationshiptothosephotographschangesover timeaswell.Iwanttherelationshiptothe photographtobethebridgetothosememories, thosefeelings.Thatisabigaskofastaticimage, butiftheimageisgood-ithappens!
Impossibletosay…forartists,Idohavea databaseandeveryartistinthatdatabasehas theirownfourdigitcode…andIbelievewearein thehightwothousandsorlowthreethousands.
Now,someofthatismisleading,because,it mightbeKellerWilliamsandKeller’sGrateful Gospel-ortherecouldbesomecodesinthere thatweassignedtosomethingsthatwereshot byotherphotographersthatwemanagetheir archiveswith,becausewemanagesomeother photoarchivesaswell.So,I’mgoingtosay 2,500differentartistsovertheyears.Ifeel veryfortunatethatIhavethatbodyofwork. Ihaveanewbookoutcalled RetroBlakesberg–VolumeOne:TheFilmArchives, whichisonly photographsthatIshotonfilmfrom1978to 2008andallofthosebandsyoujustmentioned areinthere–KurtCobainwasgonelongbefore weshotdigital,sotheonlyphotographsof Nirvanaareonfilm.RadioheadI’veshot bothdigitallyandonfilm.Iwasluckyenough tophotographRadioheadforthefirsttime in…1993,sameyearIshotPhish forthefirsttime.
Wow.That’s incredible!
Iusedtopursueportraiturewaymorethanlive shots-becausetome,itwasamoreintimate wayoftellingthestoryofwhothatartistsis. Itwasadifferentkindofconnectiontothe photographsIwasmaking.Istillloveshooting portraits-IdidsomequickportraitsofGoosein Mexico.IdidareallyfunportraitshotofOrebolo inMexicowhichIthinkwillshowupsomewhere alongthewaywhentheydosomeshows.
ThefirsttimeIdidaportraitofGoose,theywere openingforPigeonsPlayingPingPongin SanFranciscoattheGreatAmericanMusicHall, whichheld600people…theyweretheopening act.They’remanagedbythesamepeopleGooseandPigeons–Pigeonswashiringmeto doaphotoshootwiththem,becausethey neededsomenewpublicityphotos.
Thiswasliterallyweeksbeforethepandemic, noneofushadanyidea…andGoosecame alongfortheridetothephotoshootandIdida portraitofthemaswell.Myfirstbandportrait waswithjustthefourofthem,beforeJeffwasin theband.
Beautifullysaid.Roughlyhowmanyartists/ bandshaveyouphotographedintotal?"Thenatureofthischanges-intermsof what weshoot, why weshootit, how weshootitandwhatweshootit for. Itispartoftheoveralldocumentationofanartist, itis‘VisualAnthropology.'" -JayBlakesberg
Thenatureofthischanges-intermsof what weshoot, why weshootit, how weshootitand whatweshootit for.Itispartoftheoverall documentationofanartist,itis‘Visual Anthropology”.In25years,we’lllookbackon thesepicturesandtheseguysaregoingtobe intheirmid-late50’sandthey’llbelike, “God,lookatuswhenwewere30yearsold”historicalmoments,frozenintime!
It’samazingtolookbackon.Photosare momentsintimethatareimmortalized!
IdidmyfirstPhishportraitin1993.Ididmyfirst candidBobWeirportraitin’79,whenIwasa teenagerandthenIjustdidanewportraitofWeir rightafterNewYearsin2023…It’sanongoingswirl thathopefullyneverends!Thefirsttime wasin1978,sothatwasfortyfourplusyears ago…andI’mstillphotographingBobWeir,so there’sthisarc.There’sthisanthropologicalarc, thisrockandrollarc…it’sanamazingadventure!
Withthisbodyofworkthatyouhave,wasthis oneofthereasonswhyyoustartedthe RetroPhotoArchivewithyourdaughter?
MydaughterRickistudiedPhotographyand BusinessatSkidmoreandshe’snowina Master’sprograminArtsManagementinNewYork City.She’sreallyinterestedinmyarchiveand lovesworkingwithit.There’stwopartsofit: @RetroBlakesberg(anInstagrampageshe startedatthebeginningofthepandemic)and RetroPhotoArchive.
Asanartist,youstarttothinkabout,“What happenstoyourworkwhenyou’regone?”
Musiclivesoninadifferentwaythanvisualstuff–movingfilmorphotography.Iwantmyworktobe aroundforanotherfiftyyears,ifnotlonger,andso Istartedthinking,"Okay,peopleareinterestedin whatIdotoday...howdoIkeepthem interestedin30+years?Howdoesmydaughter keepthisalivefinancially?CanshedoitwithJUST mywork?"So,westartedtoacquirearchival photographycollectionsthathavebeendormant, eitherfromdeceasedphotographersorelderly photographersthatdon’tknowhowtogetthis imageryoutintheworld.We’veacquiredseveral archivesoverthelastfewyearsandthat’swhat RetroPhotoArchiveis.We'reactivelysearchingfor popculture/musicarchivesthatareshotonfilm, nothingdigital.Wehavean incredible historic collectionanditisgrowing.Ifound75rollsoffilm ofJazzFestin1971thatnobodyhaseverseen before.TwelverollsoffilmwithEvelKnievelin 1972.TheRollingStonesin’69and’72.BobDylan in’74and’75.There’sallofthisstuffthatwe’re gettingandwe’reresurrectingit;gettingitoutinto theworldandgeneratingsomerevenueforthe peoplewhotookthesephotos(ortheirestates).
That’sabusinessthatmydaughterandIare runningtogether...she’sslowlyintegratinginand willeventuallytakeoverRetroPhotoArchive, whichwillincludemyarchive.Youcanseesome ofthisworkonInstagram@retrophotoarchive.
Atthebeginningofthepandemic,mydaughter cametomeandsaid,“Hey,Iwanttodoa newInstagrampageforyouandcallit ‘RetroBlakesberg’anditsonlyphotographsthat youshotonfilm.”Iwaslike,“That’sagreatidea,” soshestarteddoingthatwithgreatsuccess. RetroBlakesberg:CapturedonFilm-1978to 2008 isthemuseumexhibitandthatwasatThe MorrisMuseum-theonlySmithsonian-affiliated museuminthestateofNewJersey.Ihadfour galleriesthere:126prints,glasscaseswith ephemeraandmemorabilia...didacticswritten aboutmeinthethird-person.It’slikethereal fuckingdeal.Myworkisinamuseum!I’mpretty proudofthisexhibitandRickicuratedit,and shealsocuratedthebook-andofcoursethe Instagrampageandthat’sbasicallythegistof RetroBlakesberg.Myfilmphotographsarealready apartoftheRetroPhotoArchive,sowhen somebodyusesafilmphotographsomewhere, thephotocreditisJayBlakesberg/RetroPhoto Archive.Itsourownlittleboutiquestocklicensing agencythatweownandoperate.
Lookingbackonyourcareer,whataresomeof yourproudestaccomplishments?
Well,myproudestaccomplishments,ofcourseas afather,aremychildren.Idohavetwoincredible, creativechildren.Ricki’sworkingonallofthe photographystuffwithme.Mysonisastaffwriter onaNetflixtelevisionshowinLAandhe’salsoa filmmaker.Igotluckywithcreativekids,whoalso don’twantacorporatetypecareer,whichisgreat!
I’vegotanincrediblewifeandwehavebeen togetherforover30years-soallofthoseare personalaccomplishmentsIamproudof.
Onaprofessionallevel,thefactthatI’mstill relevantandthatpeopleareactuallyinterestedin myphotography.I’veessentiallyhadacareerasa rock-and-rollphotographernowfull-timefor35+ years.Iquitmylastjobin1987andI’vebeen workingformyselfeversince.IhopewhatIdostill inspirespeopleandtheycanbepassionateabout theworklikeIam.Itstillfeels good tome.AndI’m stillhavingfun,becauseyouknowwhat...funis fucking fun! (chuckles) Ihopethatdoesn’tcome offaspretentiousoranything.
No,notatall-it’spersonallyinspiringtosee someonewhofollowedtheirdreamsandwere sosuccessful!Whataresomeofyourfavorite venuesyou’vevisitedthroughoutyourcareer?
Favoritevenues?Ilikevenuesthatdon’thave reallyhighstages.Anyvenueisagoodvenueto shootataslongasthere’slightingandyoucan haveaccess.Idodigvenuesthathavecool history…andtheghostsarefriendly…
TheCapitolTheatre,builtin1926,hashoused thousandsoflegendaryshowsfromthe GratefulDead,PinkFloyd,BobDylan,B.B.King, Phishandcountlessothers.Whatdoesthis venuemeantoyou?Whydoyouthinkbands likeplayingthisvenue?
Bandslikeplayingroomswheremagicdripsfrom thewalls.TheFillmoreinSanFrancisco…Jimi playedthere,Janisplayedthere,theDeadplayed there,magichappened,it’spartofthebuilding forever...alegendaryroom.TheCapitolTheatrein PortChester,NYisalegendaryroombecauseof someoftheartiststhathaveplayedthere.With theCap,youalsohavetotakeintoconsideration thepeoplewhomanageit-andthepeoplewho runitarethepersonalitybehindthatroom,right?
TheFillmoreinSFisaLiveNationroom,butit’s gotit’sownpersonalitybecauseofthepeople thatrunit:MichaelBaileyandAmieBaileyand theotherstaffthere.It’savibe.It’sthewhole package,ANDitisinSanFrancisco!InSan Francisco,almosteveryvenuesomehowhasthe "BillGrahamvibe,"becausesomeoneinvolvedin thatvenueonceworkedforBillorwastrainedby someonethatworkedforhim.
Manyincrediblepeoplethatusheredinthemodern dayconcertexperiencefromSanFranciscoworked withBill:PeterandBobBarsotti,SherriWasserman, GreggPerloff,DannyScherandDavidMayeri-to namejustahandful.
TheCaphasgotalotofmagicalhistory,buttheone thingthattheCaphasthatnoothervenuehasis PeteShapiro.Peteiswhatmakessurethatthevibe isthevibe.IjustrecentlyfinishedPete’sbook… PeteandIaregoodfriends,butafterreadinghis book,IfeellikeIknowsomuchmoreabouthimand whathismotivationsareandthewaythathethinks. Thewayhisbrainworksandhowheconjuresmagic. TheCapisaspecialvenuebecauseofthepeople thatrunit.It’saspecialvenuebecauseofthe projectionstheyputonthewallsandtheceilings. It’saspecialvenuebecauseofthecarpetingand thewallpapertheychosetoputinthere.It’sa specialvenuebecauseofthebandsthatchooseto comebackthere…I’mnotalocalbutIlovetheCap!I liveinCalifornia,butitsstill my venue,youknow whatImean?That’smytakeontheCap:isthatit’s thepeople,thevibeandthevisionofPeteShapiro andthepeoplethatareunderhimthatsharehis vision. That's whatmakesagreatvenue!
Givenyourstoriedcareer,whatisitlikeseeing youngergenerationsofmusicianstoday collaboratingwiththosewhopavedthewaythat you’vegrownupwith,likeBobWeir?
Nothingturnsmeonmorethanseeingthesesit-ins happen.Ididabookcalled Jam eightortenyears agothat’saboutbandssittinginwithbands, collaborating.I’mafirmbelieverinthephilosophy of:“norisk,noreward.”AndwhenyouputRickand BobWeironstagetogether–maybetheyrehearsed asongbackstageacoupleoftimes–thereisstill riskinthereandifitworks,therewardis grand. Trey…nobodyknewwhatthisTrey/Goosethingwas goingtobe.Doyouknowanybodywhowalkedaway fromthatsaying,“Oh,thatsucked!”Right?Norisk, noreward.Theytooktherisk,andtherewardwas great–forthem,asplayersanditwasfucking fabulousforthefans.IlovethatandIlove photographingthosemoments.AndifIwantto photographthosemoments,Ihavetoshow up….becauseifIdon’t,Ican’tcapturethose historicalmoments!
ThatwassomethingthatwasinPete’sbookand somethingI’vealwayssaid.Ifyoudon’tshowup, youcan’tcaptureit,asaphotographer.Ifyoudon’t showuptotheshow…youcan’thave theexperience.
"Alotofpeoplelaughatusforwhatwedoandtheamountoftime andenergyandmoneythatweputintothis-butforus,that’swhere wegettotouchthat magic: asphotographersbycapturingthatmoment andasfansbyexperiencingthosecollectivemoments." -JayBlakesberg
Thisusedtodrivemywifecrazyintheold days,whenI’dbelike,“Yeah,Iheardthat, Bobby’sgonnasit-inwithsoandsodownat TheGreatAmericanMusicHallortheWarfield orSweetwater”andshe’dbelike,“C’mon! Whocares!”AndIknewitwasimportantto capture,soI'drespond:“No!Bobby’sgonna sit-inwithx-groovymusician…andIgottabe there!”Now,25+yearslater,Ilookatphotos fromspecialnightsorsit-insandIwaslike: “FuckyeahIwasthereandhere’sthefuckin’ photostoproveit!”It’snotjustforme,it’sfor all ofus.It’sforourcollective popculturehistory.
Alotofpeoplelaughatusforwhatwedoand theamountoftimeandenergyandmoney thatweputintothis-butforus,that’swhere wegettotouchthat magic: asphotographers bycapturingthatmomentandasfansby experiencingthosecollectivemoments.
Peoplewonder,"Whyareyougoingto20 Gooseshowsthisyear?"Becausethere’sa goodchancethatyou’regoingtogettotouch magic.Connectionsaremadebymusicians connectingwithmusicians.JeffandBen sittinginwithDead&Co,BobwithGoose werebothepicmomentsatepicevents!Older generationsofmusiciansplayingwithyounger generations…fucking unreal,Iliveforit, Ilivetophotographit.
Iloveit!Howdidyoufirsthearabout Goose?Whatdrawsyoutotheband andtheirmusic?
IbelieveIfirstheardofthemfromfriendsof mine,whoarebigPigeonsfans–afamily fromRichmond,Virginia.I’mfriendswiththe momandeveryoneinthefamily,fromshows.
ImissedtheGooseshowatPeach,theone whereRickwassittingbecauseoftheleg injury.ImissedthatshowalthoughIwasat thefestival,butIdon’tknowwhyImissedit.
ButeveryonewastalkingaboutGoose.
EvenbeforethatIhadbeenhearingaboutit, butwhenBenBaruchandDaveDiCianni,who (now)managesPigeonsandGoose,started saying,“Ithinkwe’regoingtostartworking withthisbandGoose.”AndIwaslike,“Yeah, I’veheardofthembutIhaven’theardtheir music.”Theywerebothsayingtome,“Oh yeah,yougottahearGoose,youaregoingto lovethisband.”Itdidn’ttakelongtogodown thatroadofLove,DevotionandSurrender!!
MyfirstGooseshowswereinMexicowhenthey didthelate-nightstuffwithDead&CoandIfellin lovewithitrightthere.Imettheguysandgot introducedtothembyDaveandBenonthe beach,andwedidaquickphotographoftheband andtheircrewandfamilies.Onthattrip,Imet Sam(themonitormixer),Murph,Goedde,and Coach-thatwasthefirsttimeImetCoach(Jon Lombardi).TheywereexcitedIwasthereandIwas Dead&Co’sphotographerandIwascomingto shoottheirshow.Ibecamefriendswithallofthem prettyquickly.Verygenerousandverywarm peopleacrossthewholeGoosefamily/crew.
IwasontheEastCoastdoingmyGratefulDead slideshow,andBen,Peter&Jeffallcametosee meattheFTCinCT.Whentheycameouttothe WestCoastandwedidthatphotoshoot-Ishot theirshowsandourfriendshipdeepened.Iwas supportingthem,becauseIlikedthemaspeople andmusicians!!Iwasintoit-andIwouldshow supportbybeingthereandshooting.Thenthey startedinvitingmetostuff:“Hey,areyougoingto cometoRedRocks?CanyoucometoGoosemas? Wewantyoutogetashotforus.”Benaskedme tocometoGoosemastogetapictureofhim proposingtoSam.
Everyoneintheband,crewandfamilyarejust superreal,downtoearthgroovyhumans…That’s howImetthoseguys.I’mthirtyyearsolderthen them,butwealltravelonthesamefrequency.I didabookin2008called TravelingonaHigh Frequency anditsreallyaboutmusiciansandwhat they do.SometimesIgettorideonthatfrequency withthem…andbringmycamera!
Thankyousomuchforyourtime,Jay!
Again,it’sbeenanhonorandaprivilegetobe abletohavethisdiscussionwithyouandreflect onyourstoriedcareer.
Ifourreaderswouldliketolearnmoreabout howtopurchaseJay’snewbookorlookatthe RetroPhotoArchive,pleasevisit:
www.rockoutbooks.com
www.retrophotoarchive.com
Foradditionalcontentnotinthisarticle, includingadditionalphotosprovidedby JayBlakesberg,scantheQRcodebelow!
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•Hasonlinecare.
ClayArtCenter 40BeechSt (914)937-2047
Open10am-5pmmostdays.TheClayArtCenteris thelargestandmostactiveceramicfacilityinthe tri-stateareaandhostsvariousexhibitionsand classes.
OpenDoorFamilyMedicalCenter-PortChester MedicalOffice 5GraceChurchSt (914)632-2737
•Hoursare8:00AM–7:00PM(Mon-Thur), 8:00AM–5:00PM(Fri)and9:00AM–2:00PM(Sat).ClosedSundays.
•Hasonlinecare.
