In Sight

RECENTLY SEEN: At the Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum in Norwalk.

–CP

Kathleen O’Rourke/The Advocate

ABOVE: Participants sit in the back of the church during “Sing It/Pray It”, a healing and praising worship service at St. Luke’s Chapel.

4/19/2009

I haven’t worked on Sundays since the beginning of my photojournalism career many, many years ago.  But, today I had the pleasure of swapping with Chris P. which will allow me an upcoming long weekend.    So I found myself in a church in the south end with some very nice people and a lot of beautiful light.  And one man (BELOW) even brought his own boombox, an item I haven’t seen since the beginning of my photojournalism career many, many years ago.  I’ve come full circle.

ABOVE: Willie Nelson, with his guitar Trigger, performs his standard show opener, Whiskey River, at the sold-out Palace Theatre in Stamford.

4/14/2009

Working as a photojournalist at the Advocate, you end up shooting quite a few concerts at the Palace Theatre, but I generally don’t get too worked up.

It’s editors John Breunig and Mark Conrad, both possessing an encyclopedic knowledge of all things 70s, who generally get much more excited about whatever baby-boomer pop/rock act is taking the stage that night. Needless to say, their enthusiasm seldom rubs off on me.

But Willie Nelson, now he is a different story. At 76-years-old, the man is a living legend.

For me, having the outlaw country icon make a stop in Stamford is huge, but it’s my friend Lexey, who hails from Bakersfield, who puts it best: “I love me some Willie.”

I couldn’t agree more.

–CP

POST SCRIPT: Billy Bob Thornton & The Boxmasters (and later Ray Price) opened for Willie. Minutes before the start of the show, representatives of Mr. Thornton’s band called the newspaper to tell us we would not be able to photograph the Boxmasters as previously arranged.

Presumably this has something to do with the recent flap which resulted in the cancellation of the band’s Canadian tour as the Stamford show was their first performance since the tour was called off in the Great White North.

“It sure feels good to be back in the United States of America,” said Thornton to the audience as he chain-smoked through his set.

For what it’s worth, they were pretty good.

BELOW: Ray Price, 83, rocks the graying house with some western swing. I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I’m sure I was the only 20-something in the theater who could sing along to his opening song, San Antonio Rose…I guess I’ve got my old man and his Bob Wills records to thank for that.

ABOVE: Johnson De Jesus carries a cross in a procession in the Lower East Side.

4/10/2009

I don’t want to take away from Kathleen’s wonderful photos [below], in fact, I should ask her for a print, but I wanted to share this on the blog.

As I was was heading over to Abraco on East 7th for a shot and a cortado, I ran into a Good Friday procession. The prayers were in Spanish and I’m not really sure what was going on, but I did understand the priest when he said “muchisimas gracias por los paparazzi.”

I guess that’s me.

–CP

Kathleen O’Rourke/The Advocate

Sonia Villeda and Leonardo Villeda wait on the corner of Cove Rd. and Frederick St. with the 10th station as parishioners from St. Benedict-Our Lady of Montserrat and St. Mary’s Church participate in a Stations of the Cross procession from Cummings Beach to St. Mary’s Church on Good Friday.

This event never disappoints.  Aside from providing wonderful photo opportunities, the sheer dedication and devotion of the parishioners is inspiring.  I witnessed children get down on their knees to pray in the middle of the street and then watched them turn to help their elderly grandparents to their feet as they moved on to the next station.  It was a Good Friday!

BELOW: Participants gather on the lawn at St. Mary’s Church following the procession.