Got Dem LOST VEGAS BLUES...

Thanks to Dave "The Rave" and his band "Flight of Ideas" for the great blues song that plays under the images this week. Dave lives in California by way of New York (where he wrote and recorded the song). Dave says he is a huge fan of Las Vegas...


"I was just there a week ago. Being out here means I'm a lot closer to the action.
I checked out your site and the design is terrific and I just love the pictures and quotes. Vegas is at once a city of inspiration and desperation . . I like to call it Disneyland for adults. When I'm there I forget about the real world for a couple of days . . ."lost" in a maze of dice tables and the next drink. Batteries recharged, I'm ready for a couple more months slugging it out in the
9 to 5.


I'm tickled that you like the song . . . I had thought for a while that Vegas could use a blues number about it . . once I got the words out the rest was easy."


When I contacted him about including his song in the project his response was..."Please feel free to use my song in your project, I don't write music to make money - but if your project goes well and you want to mail me a cheque I would not complain"


May The Blues be with you !!!!

Las Vegas- I'm going back...

The song this week "Las Vegas, I'm going back" playing under the "Lost Vegas" portfolio is from Cris W. James, the only musician that will be featured on the compilation who actually lives and works in Las Vegas ! Chris also recorded a dance version of this song that is pretty cool also if youwant to hear it and other songs on the "Myspace" link .

My band worked on our Lost Vegas song "Lucky Lady" the other night till 1:00 am. It is coming along nicely and hope to record it in the next two weeks. I also got a call from my friend "Kidd Rasta" who is also interested in creating something for the project. Raggae music and Las Vegas are not really synonymous, but if there is anyone who could pull this off it is the Kidd.

Stay Tuned !

The Vegas Strip

Special thanks to all the gentlemen of the "Insurgentlemen" for the wicked song they created for the "Lost Vegas Project". I was talking to the boys last week about the idea of shooting a video for the "21 @ Glitter Gulch" song. I came up with a "concept" for it... Hint: There will be lots of naked strippers in it. That is all I will let out of the bag for now..

This evening my band "No Signal" will work towards our recording of a really cool song written by Andrew Sprachman called "Lady Luck". Lastly on the music front Stephen Stanley (Lowest of The Low) and Carla MacNeill (Too Many Sisters) are set to record the song they wrote for the project in the next week or so. . It is going to be a very unique mix of music and styles.

My friends Kevin and Todd Godin of "Godin Productions" , who printed the beautiful "Lost Vegas" posters for me, are using the Lost Vegas images for their 2009 Calendars. They always make me a few hundred "Blatant Exposure" calendars for me to distribute, so look for those coming soon...

Have MERCY...Las Vegas

The song playing under the portfolio this week is called "Have Mercy Las Vegas" by the Phil Nico Solo Project. It's a great song and very appropriate for the economic crisis we are facing now. I asked Phil what inspired him to write this song and this is what he said...
"Going to Vegas as a tourist and getting eaten up by the place. Chewed up and spit out!! Hung over, broke, used by women...etc"
Hey we all need a muse !!!
Last weekend some vandals in our neighborhood took out some of their frustrations on our house. I have been hanging the "Welcome to Fabulous Downtown Las Vegas" framed photograph on our front porch just behind our gold Elvis bust... a little outdoor art for our friends in the hood. On friday evening some kids (I assume) came and smashed the photograph and covered our porch our car and Elvis in white paint.
Oh well no one was hurt, which is the most important thing. I find that having someone deface my art similar to someone hurting one of my children. Both are my creations and living things.
It's was funny to see peoples reaction to this act of silly violence, as many of our neighbors came by offering their condolences for Elvis and the work. Luckily both can be replaced.
And will be...

Mercy !

"Have Mercy Las Vegas.
Have mercy - mercy on me.
I drove out to the desert.
Just to forget ya
But I can't forget ya.
No No. Shame on me.
Have Mercy Las Vegas.
Have mercy - mercy on me.
Lovers , lovers and sinners
Come meet the winners in the dusty breeze.

Bought another bottle because there were models.
I'm the life of the party any day of the week.
Sun comes in the morning, without a warning
Turn my black out shades and turn off my cell phone. Oh no.

Have Mercy Las Vegas.
Have mercy - mercy on me.
I drove out to the desert just to forget ya
but I can't forget ya. No No. Shame on me.

Whooooooo Whooooooo
Conventioneers, Conventioneers
Over here.
I walk into the lobby, like it's a hobby
But it ain't no hobby. No no...It's the DMZ.
I drove out to the desert just to forget ya.
But I can't forget ya. No No. Shame on me.
Lovers , lovers and sinners,
Come meet the winners in the dusty breeze.
Have mercy Las Vegas.
Have mercy on me."

The Joy of not being sold Anything...

Please enjoy....

Dream of Life...

I used a quote by Patti Smith about "getting old" on the Homepage this week. Her exact quote was "I like getting Old". After posting it I received an email from "filmswelike.com" about the documentary based on her life called "Dream of Life" by photographer/filmmaker Steven Sebring.
Shot over a 10 year period it is a portrait of the artist as a not so young woman. Just letting it all hang out. How cool?
And what is not for her to like about getting old? A film/new album/a show of her photographs/induction into the Rock & Roll hall of Fame etc... I can't wait to see this film! I have been documenting a film about an artist for the past 10 years myself...although I am not sure where and if it ends?

In an article in the New York Times she said the following... "Rock 'n' roll drew me from my mother's hand and led me to experience. In the end it was my neighbors who put everything in perspective. An approving nod from the old Italian woman who sells me pasta. A high five from the postman. An embrace from the notary and his wife. And a shout from the sanitation man driving down my street: "Hey, Patti, Hall of Fame. One for us."

I just smiled, and I noticed I was proud. One for the neighborhood. My parents. My band. One for Fred. And anybody else who wants to come along."

You are never too old to dream, all is not "LOST" !!!

New "Lost" Music..."Old Song"

The first original song for the "Lost Vegas Project" is playing underneath the images on the homepage starting today. Thanks to Dale Clarke (OrangeCap) for his amazing musical talents on this piece (he plays it all on this track. Dale is also a talented painter, editor and graphic artist etc...).
My friends the "Insurgentlemen" recorded a new song on September 14th for the project called "Freemont Street" . It is a cool punkrocking tune. Here are the lyrics...I will post the song in the next few weeks....

Freemont Street (Copyright@theInsurgentlemen)

Got lost in Downtown Vegas
Staggering under a sea of lights
Saw Christina at the Glitter Gulch
21 never looked so right !

Its all been fun
Another setting sun
Gotta find a way
To extend my stay...

Bad results come from bad intentions
Even so we still go.
She looked good but your wallets empty
Got no soul got no dough.

Johnny lost his shirt at the Freemont
Sold his car and put it down on black
How's Johnny gonna get outta this one
Who's gonna pull the knife from his back ?

Its all been fun
In the Nevada sun
Feeling slipping away
All one big haze.

Bad results come from bad intentions
Even so we still go
She looked good but your wallets empty
Got no soul got no dough.

Keep Rockin in the "Free" World !!!