From the first time my bewildered parents insisted I only listen to The Clash in the house while wearing headphones, I've known about the power of punk to irritate and often alienate. And I know it is and always has been about being aggressively anti-establishment, often nihilistic, stripped of excess and bombast while sneering at all sentimentality and attachment...Unless you're these two, whose joyful, sparkly, romantic vibe at the train station was so infectiously happy I couldn't help but stare (and obnoxiously snap a picture.) That's South Pas for ya. Even the punk kids are straight out of Frank Capra!
27 comments:
Because the night belongs to lovers
Grandma of Punk: Patti Smith
I used to have a book of her self published poetry.
Sorry, I don't think I coded that link correctly. Click on my name to hear the song.
I like this photo. I love the way the sun is shining through his mohawk. I remember when hardcore punk got really popular in my high school, bands like Black Flag were super big. It sounds awful to me, lol, I'd take The Clash anyday!
Very cute photo Laurie... Yes, very pretty !
The light is great !
This parent still has not changed her opinion. You've got to remember from whence we came. But if the guy wants to look like a rooster and enjoy music (?) that is frightening, why should I care? I would never scoff at joyful, sparkly romance at the train station or anywhere else. Love is where you find it. Cock-a-doodle-do!
One day, the very young man in your photo was riding the Gold Line. Another man in his late 40s wearing a business suit was sitting across from him, staring at him. After awhile, the young man became annoyed at the older man staring at him. Finally, the young man said, "What's the matter, mister, didn't you ever do anything wild when you were young?" To which the older man replied, "As a matter of fact I did. I once had sex with a chicken, and I was just wondering if you were my son."
(I'm here all week. Try the veal.)
I love the harsh back lighting. It gives his 'hawk an almost angelic halo. You're right about the sun there - it is magical and this moment- maybe so for them. :~)
You really caught the moment, Laurie - youth, ah...love the way the light catches the crazy hair.
Different is sometimes good. Great catch of a moment. :)
i like the moment you captured in this photo, Laurie. That red punk hair style and the backlight sunrays make a beautiful photo.
wow---except for the train station, I'd say you stepped back to the 1980's! Seriously, I think I knew those kids! I think KROQ existed ONLY so that kids could annoy their parents, loudly.
and mister earl---rotflmao---that story never gets old!
Love the shot---the lighting, the stances. Cool!
The body language of these two is so sweet and shy... at odds with the "hair on fire" message presented to adults.
I love the rebellious punk spirit... Rebellion is the unique province of youth, the engine that drives youth to seek and find its identity.
And some of us, long past youth, have forgotten to turn off our engines!
Mister Earl, I'll have the veal but I think I'll avoid the chicken.
Lovely shot, Laurie! Light on the left echoing the light in the young man's hair. I hope he never regrets that hair, only looks back on it with a fond chuckle.
Riding 30 year old bikes and taking public transit? These kids today! Where did we go wrong?
How long does it take to get your hair like that?
Good work Laurie.
The flames of love & romance are burning bright around this young man's hair!
Mister Earl...you crack me up!
Stepping in to tease my mom -- Ah, Dixie -- you weren't only about the cool jazz you taught me to love, because I still remember when my friend Mary and I caught you dancing down the hall when I was playing London Calling...
:-)
As long as it doesn't turn harmful and destructive, I'm all for punk! I was a mild one back in the 80s too.
This is a sweet, funny-strange photo Laurie. Wonderful capture!
I still scare my mother
I found this on Capra from his autobiography
"Capra reflects on his father buying a 15-acre farm in Sierra Madre, an escape for the family from the ghetto. But before his last mortgage payment, Capra's father was crushed to death in the gears of a machine at his factory job. "Stunned Mama and frail Ann [Capra's sister] forfeited the ranch and returned to Little Sicily, as destitute as the day they had arrived in America 14 years before"
I think they look so sweet sharing a tender moment as any young couple would. The clothes are secondary, but maybe that'S beacuse I remember having purple and blue streaked hair of my youth.
Laurie, Who? Moi?
I agree with The DJ, (again!).
Q: What's your secret 2 raising 2 great shutterladybugs?
Hi everyone,
Mme Gramaphone, your songs are fabulous. I'd forgotten about that one. Will you follow me around and play a soundtrack for me? :-)
I'm glad everyone liked my little anti-Sid and Nancy couple. Actually, my favorite punk couple will always be Exene Cervenka and John Doe from X. (I was so bummed out when they broke up.) Their song Los Angeles still sums up a lot about this crazy region, in my opinion.
Pasadenaadjacent -- I can't figure out if you're comment is truly a punk response... or just really depressing! Now I'll always know the shadow side of Capra. Sigh.
HIlda, Trish and Babooshka -- I never did the punk hair, but I rocked the black nail polish, motorcycle boots and safety-pin laden blue jeans jacket...
And Yak, my dear woman, you are STILL punk queen extraordinaire.
Thanks for the comments, kids. Til tomorrow...
Oh, and Mister Earl, would you believe my photography teacher told that joke when I was in high school!?
Oh I'm too late to have a say but I will anyway. I love this photo for a lot of reasons. One is that they aren't my kids and I don't have to go toe to toe with them. I've been there and sort of done that. Now I can just say , 'live and let live or love and let love,, whatever" . IT's a fabulous capture, L. Take a bow. It 's a great street portrait and the light, oooohhhheeee.
V
I'm even later than V. but I'm joining in anyway: Absolutely great photo Laurie. I've just got a question here - When did punk/Schwinns become retro??? It was not that long ago!!!
My almost 14-yr-old thinks he is so cool listening to KROQ - SO I just love point out that I was listening to it when I was just a few years older.
Love the kid's doo in the sun. Some days I still listen the the Clash, and Violent Fems,. But then there's Pink Martini and Amy Winehouse to come full circle.
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