Celebrity Image

The photographs of pop sensation Justin Bieber with his 18 year old "girlfriend" Selena Gomez make me want to throw up! It all looks way too contrived. Seeing that kid with his shirt off makes me think of the animated character Montgomery Burns from the Simpsons. Another reason for celebrities to keep their ROCK STAR clothes on!

"Everybody Is A Rockstar" by Brian K. Raynor

Microphone not necessary. Just a couple weeks ago at an event someone approached me and asked my name and then asked if I was "famous or" was I "someone" he "should know". Is that because we dress ourselves like rockstars? The clothes, the hair? Self promotion is all over the place with blogs and websites and Twitter and Myspace and Facebook and whatever social network is hip. Everyone wants their 15 minutes of fame and now more than ever people don't care how they get it. Nude photos or "sex tapes" were considered a disgracing scandal at one time. Then it became the gateway to stardom,... an entry on a résumé of sorts. Now, the girl next door is sending naked pics out on her cell phone. Thankfully for us all, I have never sent a naked text nor made a sex tape but I am all about self promotion. Not just for me and my meager talents but for everyone. We are not all rockstars BUT God gave us talent and life to share,... there's nothing wrong with SELF PROMOTION,... just keep your rockstar clothes ON.



I was inspired several years ago to paint "Everybody Is A Rockstar" by the way everyday people dress. I donated it to Well Oh Well to help raise money for people who are more concerned with survival than a rockstar image.

"Mute" by Brian K Raynor

"Mute" is an abstract of a guitar. I call it "Mute" because it has no strings and can't be heard. Like the thirsty and dying people in isolated villages of Africa have no voice. Poverty and corrupt government keep them silent. I donated "Mute" to "Well Oh Well" to raise money for Charity:Water www.charitywater.org.
A recent college graduate, Kelsie Holden purchased it.

Charlotte ELVISFEST 5/8/2010

Charlotte ELVISFEST was this past Saturday Night at Puckett's Farm Equipment. Enjoyed some good music,... Ritchie Mars & the Big Dipper, Kelley and the Cowboys, Diamond Jem and the Ace, The Defilers, The Tremors and JT and the Dragpipes. The usual rockabilly crowd was there all greased up and tattooed. Some of Puckett's regulars were there and THANKFULLY the Mayor of Derita kept his shirt on. Many other familiar AND new faces also attended and danced and laughed and sang along and drank and cussed and listened and smoked and enjoyed themselves. A good number of tickets sold- Hopefully enough that there WILL BE a SECOND ANNUAL Charlotte ELVISFEST and it will SELL OUT!

"Vinyl Thoughts" by Brian K Raynor

A new painting. Hope to have at least 25 new works ready for June 6th.
"Vinyl Thoughts" in celebration of the growing trend for new music to be released on vinyl. According to Nielsen SoundScan CD sales have been on the decline and vinyl is on the rise. I'm sure it is a hipster thing - taking something old and making it new and cool.

Honky Tonk Revival 2

Sat. night I went out to Puckett's for the Honky Tonk Revival 2. I got there late and missed The Defilers. The second band, Jem Crossland & the Hypertonics (less their bass player), was already 10 minutes into their set when I came in. Jem has a powerful voice but whatever new material they did - I missed. From there on out it was not Honky Tonk nor Rockabilly but Southern Rock. I endured all I could. There were some good singers/ talented musicians but they were not what I consider honky tonk. There wasn't a good crowd out for the show. Between those watching the Carolina Panther's play and those at ElvisFest I guess there just aren't enough folks to go around.

Ukulebilly??!!!

Saturday night I went out to Puckett's Farm Eqipment to hear Mad Tea Party open for Jem Crossland & the Hypertonics. I've heard Mad Tea Party before and was not unimpressed then,...but Saturday her vocals were up way too loud. That's not a good thing. I had to stand outside for most of their show to keep my ears from bleeding. Loud, High Pitched & Nasally,... not a good combination. Sorry MTP but I think Old dogs, miles away, were probablly howling in pain.
Jem Crossland & the Hypertonics did a couple songs I haven't heard them do before. ABOUT TIME!
A couple swing dancers hit he floor once or twice or thrice.
I left with my clothes wreaking of cigarette smoke. But a drive home at 2am from Puckett's without that lingering stinch just wouldn't be the same!

Quiet Drive

On my 45 minute drive into work this morning I decided not to listen to the usual radio ("Bob & Sherri", "John Boy & Billy", "Bob & Tom") nor CDs (here lately Reverend Horton Heat). Just time to think quietly. Nothing profound popped out of my brain. I did try to remember the last book I read all the way through. I decided it was American Gods. That was perhaps 3 years ago. I have tried to get through a few books since then but just couldn't get into them. I know that I've allowed tv to occupy too much of my time. Sadly, I don't see myself doing anything about that anytime soon. :(