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My Son, Now Gone

Submitted by jgervasi on Wed, 2015-06-03 12:48

R.I.P. to my "son," BBC the cat.

He was born in early 2001 (possibly very late 2000).

BBC was part of a colony of feral kittens who lived on my block in the East Falls neighborhood of Philadelphia. BBC and his sister OS were taken in to my rented home and soon moved to my house in the Roxborough neighborhood when I bought it in 2002. Socializing the siblings was a prolonged and involved process, but it worked out in the end. For 14.5 years we spent practically every day together since I've worked in my house the entire time. He was gentle and affectionate and quite delicate. On Monday morning he was struck ill and by early this morning he was dead, likely from a viral or bacteria infection.

We will forever -- forever -- forever love and miss him.

MRR Online Part Two

Submitted by jgervasi on Fri, 2015-05-15 07:08

The second and final "guide" to entering the L!F!P! project (along with some personal observations) is now up on the MaximumRockNRoll magazine website. This one was written by guest interviewer and former interview subject Stacey Finney.

You can read it here.

The previous one, written by me, is here.

Thanks again to Grace Ambrose and Yoni Kroll for making this happen.

Karen Brings the Soul

Submitted by jgervasi on Wed, 2015-05-13 10:40

Here are three more photos of Soul Glo by Karen Kirchhoff.

This was shot in my backyard.

Tea With Soul Glo

Submitted by jgervasi on Wed, 2015-05-13 07:15

I talked to two members of the young Philly HC band Soul Glo last night, Pierce Jordan and Ruben Polo. It was a conversation that went into some areas (race, the use of certain incendiary words, role models) that may prove to be rather provocative for some listeners. I'm curious to know what listeners think of it when it goes up.

Karen did a shoot with the fellows last night, but here's a shot Hana took of the three of us before the interview. I am the rather small white person.

What the World Needs Now Is Jenna, More Jenna

Submitted by jgervasi on Tue, 2015-05-12 13:38

Here's an extra photo of Jenna Pup by Karen Kirchhoff from the shoot they did on May 10, 2015 (Mother's Day).

The MaximumRockNRoll Print Article

Submitted by jgervasi on Tue, 2015-05-12 10:34

MRR #385 Karen Kirchhoff Photos Two-Page Spread

Currently Reading:

Days of Rage by Bryan Burrough

The Fifth Heart by Dan Simmons

Today's Playlist:

De Doden Hebben Het Goed by Wiegedood

The South Shore by Michael Vincent Waller

Varg & Björn by Murg

These photos are from MaximumRockNRoll magazine #385 (June 2015).

Sorry the photo of the two-page spread of Karen's photographs is a bit blurry.

Please pick up the issue for the real deal.

Just A Little More Eric Hansen

Submitted by jgervasi on Fri, 2015-05-08 20:43

The thing I love about doing the interviews where I photograph the interview subject is I can get them up an hour or two after they end. The Karen photos are always a million percent better, but there's a joy in the immediacy of sharing our conversation straight away.

I had the pleasure of speaking to Eric Hansen of the band Spent Flesh and the labels Suicide Bong Tapes and FDH Records, who was kind enough to bring me a killer stack of his releases. A note to future interview subjects: this is the way to my blackened little heart.

Here are a few extra photos from Eric's visit.

Jenna Pup!

Submitted by jgervasi on Thu, 2015-05-07 20:59

Earlier this evening I interviewed Jenna Pup of the trans queer grindcore band +HIRS+ for L!F!P! Once Karen phographers her, the interview will go up for you to enjoy (and enjoy it you will, I think).

For now I leave with you with two photos of Jenna and I in front of my house before the interview and one Jenna solo shot. Since my azalea bushes are in bloom, I had to have the photos taken by them.

Congratulations To Karen and Bull!

Submitted by jgervasi on Wed, 2015-05-06 21:17

Karen, Bull, and a German Ceremonial Log Cutting

Yesterday my brother Bull (Policy of 3, Four Hundred Years, R.A.M.B.O., the Mariposa food co-op) and Karen Kirchhoff (photographer for this project) had a commitment ceremony (including a log sawing) in the Pine Barrens of New Jersey.

All the best to those two!

MRR Online Part One

Submitted by jgervasi on Wed, 2015-05-06 21:08

Currently Reading:

Days of Rage by Bryan Burrough

The Fifth Heart by Dan Simmons

Today's Playlist:

A Furrow Cut Short by Drudkh

Helig, Helig, Helig by Chalice of Blood

Live in Guildford - November 13, 1972 by King Crimson

The Weighing of the Heart by Colleen

The first part of a piece I wrote exclusively for MaximumRockNRoll magazine is now on their site. It's an essay on suggested places to start exploring this project and it's called, "A Young Person's Guide To LOUD! FAST! PHILLY!"

Next week they should be running five recommendations by guest interviewer Stacey Finney. I'll do a blog post about that when it goes up.

These pieces are also in the "Press" section of this website.