Grimmage (Fairy Tales Never Told) - NEW BOOK!

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For those of you who like my writing, I realize more than anyone else (thank you Catholic and Capricorn guilt) the frustration at following the sporadic trail of new works since my last book in 2001 and the quiet suspension of my Ralph zine. Sometimes life inadvertently shuts the tap to the creative well, sometimes you have to flush out the system, sometimes (more often than not, thank you Mr Wiffen), you have to be patient and wait for the light to poke through the barricade (yeah, I used to laugh when I read interviews with writers who alluded to a door or an opening and a song or poem or whatever coming through and being prepared to receive it, otherwise you'd lose it - but, you know, by and large, that is how it works - I can sit down and force myself to write but it's not the same as when all doors are open and things just write themselves - I am talking about fiction here; non-fiction is not a problem, that is a more specific skill set).

 Anyway, thanks to the patience and constant support of my wife Alison who originated the idea (with Carylann) that finally got the logjam busted, I am very happy to announce a fantastic new book which is a collaboration between Carylann Loeppky and myself. We chose 14 of Carylann's large paintings which are currently on display at our BBAM! Gallery and I sat there and stared at each one and had them tell me their story. I posted a preview on the BBAM! page and got positive reaction.

 https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=331916983546789&set=a.265368293534992.63850.262133597191795&type=3&theater

 It is probably some of my best work and I am very happy with the results. Carylann's paintings evoke a specific approach and I was amazed at how fluid it was to sync into that.

As I said, if you liked my writing in the past, you will be very very pleased to see this. The book is a compact 32 pages full colour (the size of a 7-inch single!), the initial printing is limited to 40 copies to celebrate the end of her exhibit at our gallery (altho most of the pieces will stay on the walls a little bit longer) and I'll have details soon on how to order it (yes, there will be a general edition at some point).

 If you are in Montreal, our Finissage party is this Tuesday (BBAM! Gallery, 3255 St Jacques), starting at 6pm, with drinks and snacks and the cool jazz of Gary Lindner on piano (there might be a possibility of my reading some of these poems live, we'll see how it all works out).

I hope you will come out and finally see the fantastic space to which we are devoting most of lives to these days.

 Lots more to come :)

BBAM! Gallery - Rock'n'Roll Art Gallery in Montreal

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You know, life is a funny thing. Every few years I seem to come to a fork in life's highway. Left or right? 


Rock writer/photographer. Punk manager. Record label guy. Hair metal manager. Record label top of my game guy. Quit everything/move to Vancouver/start back at the bottom guy. Graphic designer guy. Zine guy. Beatnik guy/band with national TV/Radio exposure. Record label owner guy. Book publisher. Move back to Montreal start all over. 


And now, over the next month, my wife and I are opening a rock'n'roll art gallery/cafe/performance space/retail store called: BBAM! Gallery/Galerie BBAM! Official big to-do probably in March but until then we're in there every day and open to the public while we get it together.


 I invite my Montreal friends to come visit the space (3255 St Jacques across from Lionel Groulx metro - white building says Cafe Armatta for now, old Pages bookstore) and maybe help us hang cool posters and stuff and watch the beginnings of a very unique contribution to this city's pop culture landscape. 


We need your help and patronage and I'll be there every day Mon to Sunday to talk to you in Francais, Anglais et Italienne (chacun egalment mauvais). All my loves in one space: art/photography/comics/jazz/rocknroll and coffee (yes we can have booze during special events, don't worry & yes, you can rent the space for groovy events).


https://www.facebook.com/pages/BBAM-Gallery-galerie-bbam/262133597191795






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Ralph Alfonso - Punk Walk Tour Of Queen Street (Inside the Crash'n'Burn)

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Recently, Ralph Alfonso did a Punk Walk Tour of Queen St in celebration of The Diodes return to The Horseshoe, Toronto, for their Nov 27, 2011, Concert (with special guests Dentata, and Dildoniks).

This turned out to be a lot of fun. We started at the Ontario College of Art and Design and ended up at The Peter Pan for soup and coffees and more conversation.

Although this was a one-off event (it was completely free and for fun); Ralph has no problem doing it again or making it
a regular event if there is enough demand. As Ralph lives in Montreal, and most people are working, it has been suggested future walks take place on a Saturday. Just get a bunch of friends together and contact Ralph Alfonso at ralph@bongobeat.com and we'll see if we can find a suitable date for your Punk Walk. Donations for Ralph's gas would be appreciated, of course, and if there's enough lead time, we will try to invite some special guests from the 77 scene to come along and share stories and memories.

Here's a write up in The Grid:
http://www.thegridto.com/culture/music/the-toronto-punk-walking-tour/


Video Note: this is a quickie video on my phone of us walking towards the Crash'n'Burn building

When You Were Burning All The Photographs, Was There One That Made You Laugh?

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When You Were Burning All The Photographs,
Was There One That Made You Laugh?

by Ralph Alfonso


Whatever roads we took
You know, we finally made it here
A little older, a little wiser
We like to think that, anyway,
you look great
I'm not just saying that
Why would I?
There's nothing to gain
I missed that train
I spent too much time looking at
the schedule
not realizing
time had run out
Doors shut
the whistle blows
Where you went
The conductor knows
Those railway tracks
Never looking back
When you were burning all the photographs,
was there one that made you laugh?
The secret sign
The secret joke
The time and place to our favourite song
We knew all the words
Sometimes I try to sing along
But now my heart
gets it all wrong
That's how it is
I know i'm just passing through
Wanted to say hi
Nothing happens unless you try


(c) 2011

The Diodes On Tour. 2011. The Original 1977 Line Up.

Bongo Beat Records & Film Pop presents the Vancouver Punk Movie: Pop Montreal

Bongo Beat Records & Film Pop presents the Montreal premieres of two important films

Bongo Beat Records in association with Film Pop is proud to present two important film documentaries as part of the Pop Montreal festival  for 2011.


First is the Montreal premiere of Bloodied But Unbowed, The Birth of Vancouver Punk Rock 1977-82


Ralph Alfonso designed all the Zulu Records punk re-issues when he was part of the Vancouver music scene in the 90s and is one of the few original 1977 pioneers who has contributed both to the 77 Toronto scene (as  manager of The Diodes, The Crash'n'Burn Club and journalist for Bomp, Cheap Thrills, and New York Rocker) and the 77 Vancouver scene through associations with Zulu Records, Sudden Death/Joe Keithley and the individual band members.


This film means a lot to us and we are very proud to be involved with Pop Montreal and Blue Sunshine in presenting it.

BLOODIED BUT UNBOWED
Susanne Tabata | Canada 2011 | 74min. | Quebec Premiere
http://www.blue-sunshine.com/music-scene-reader/events/filmpop-bloodied-but-unbowed.html

Thursday, September 22, 2011 - 19:30 - 21:00

 additional matinee screening Sunday Sept. 25 at 1:30pm!

Bloodied But Unbowed is the first in-depth chronicle of Vancouver's original punk scene. Distinct from London, New York and L.A., Vancouver punk was eclectic, raw, politically charged, relentless and at times comedic. Bands like DOA, Subhumans, Young Canadians, Pointed Sticks, Modernettes, UJ3RK5 and the Dishrags, helped forge the city's reputation as an alternative mecca, attracting and influencing the likes of Kurt Cobain, former Guns N' Roses' bassist Duff McKagan and Henry Rollins.

Leather, spit, beer, drugs, sex and a righteously enraged music terrified the mainstream in Vancouver in the 70s and Bloodied But Unbowed captures the raw essence of the kids who barely lived through it, as well as those who did not. Drugs wreaked havoc in the punk scene, snuffing short the lives of some of the scene's luminaries. But despite the harsh toll, many of Vancouver's most infamous sons (to wit: Joe Shithead and eternal bad boy Randy Rampage) are still on the road, playing gigs, pissing on squares and generally causing an uproar. Narrated by Billy Hopeless and packed with stories of love and loss, rebellion and regret, Bloodied But Unbowed captures the rise and fall of an epic era.

http://thepunkmovie.com/

The next film is a long overdue look at the life of Phil Ochs, one of the great heroes of the 60s musical revolution and an inspiration for many (including myself). Again, this is the Montreal premiere.

PHIL OCHS: THERE BUT FOR FORTUNE
Kenneth Bowser | USA 2010 | 96min. | Quebec Premiere

http://www.blue-sunshine.com/music-scene-reader/events/filmpop-phil-ochs-there-but-for-fortune.html

Friday, September 23, 2011 - 19:00 - 20:50

$8

NOTE: Michael Ochs will NOT be at this screening due to unforseen circumstances.

From civil rights to the anti-war movement to the struggles of workers, folksinger Phil Ochs wrote topical songs that engaged his audiences in the issues of the 1960s and 70s. In this biographical documentary, veteran director Kenneth Bowser shows how Phil's music and his fascinating life story and eventual decline into depression and suicide were intertwined with the history-making events that defined a generation. Even as his contemporaries moved into folk-rock and pop music, Phil followed his own vision, challenging himself and his listeners. Not one to pull punches, Ochs never achieved the commercial success he desperately desired. But his music remains relevant, reaching new audiences in a generation that finds his themes all too familiar.

Guest Bio: Michael Ochs
Michael Ochs is an American photographic archivist best known for his extensive collection of pictures related to rock music dating back to the 1950s and 1960s. The Michael Ochs Archive contains 3 million vintage prints, proof sheets and negatives which are licensed daily for use in CD reissues, books, films and documentaries. The Los Angeles Times called Ochs "America's preeminent rock 'n' roll photo archivist" and The New York Times called his archive "the premier source of musician photography in the world".

As a special treat, we are happy to offer a free download of a tribute song that I wrote for Phil Ochs a few years ago and by the powers of kismet, manages to tie in both Phil Ochs and the Vancouver punk scene as it features myself on vocals with Gord Nicholl (Pointed Sticks) on keyboards who also recorded and mixed it with Buck Cherry (Modernettes) at their Vancouver studios, Paramount Recorders. On electric guitar is Michael Rummen (Four Horsemen, Bruno Gerussi's Medallion, Ralph) and on acoustic guitar is Dave Rave (Teenage Head). They are all featured on the "electric" version. There is also an acoustic version which is just Dave and myself. I have only ever performed this song once or twice live and it always garners an appreciative response. Phil Ochs and his music touched a lot of people.