Saturday, March 29, 2014

Chris Barfield: A Day in the Life of a Rock 'n' Roller


14 bands in 25 years...  That pretty much sums up what Chris Barfield has been up to in the past few decades. From his first band in 1989 playing bass with The Tommyknockers to playing lead guitar today in Casino 66, Chris has always been keen to the scene and has added to it his immeasurable talent. His love for Fuzz, Surf, Psych, Mod, Garage, Pop-Punk, Bubblegum and Goof Rock is evident in this impressive roster of the many California bands he has been in over the years.

1989 played bass in The Tommyknockers with Rich Coffee
1990 played bass in The Headhunters with Rich Coffee and Rudi Protrudi
1990-1992 played bass in The Fuzztones with Rudi Protrudi
1991-1992 played bass in a side project called Link Protudi and The Jaymen
1993-1994 played guitar in The Finks with Jake Cavaliere
1994-1995 played guitar in The Huntington Cads with Steve Hill
1995-2005 played bass in The Go-Nuts with Mel Bergman and Deke Dickerson
1998-1999 played bass in Ramonatures with Mel Bergman
1998-2000 played bass in The New Sounds Combo
2001-2004 played bass in The Checkers with Julie Vox
2003-2006 played bass in The Clamour
2003-2006 played guitar in The Regent Sound with Steve Hill
2006-2007 played bass in Johnny Bartlett's All Star Frat Garage Surf Band with Deke Dickerson
2010-present plays guitar in Casino 66

I met Chris back in 1991 when my band Cameltoe opened up for The Fuzztones at The Chatterbox in San Francisco. We also played in The Checkers together for over 3 years. It was a pleasure and a joy to play with someone with perfect timing and an honor to watch a true professional at work. A consummate musician with a sharp wit and impeccable taste in music, Chris is the kind of guy you love being in a band with, as the list above attests to.

You'll Never Walk Alone,

Julie Pavlowski Green
March 29, 2014



















Saturday, March 22, 2014

I've Got A Thingie For Jumbo Shrimp


The Bay Area instrumental combo Jumbo Shrimp, led by the seminal Rock n' Roller - Klaus Flouride, provided just the right amount of surf mixed with a bit of hoe down, spy n' spaghetti western to make you want to listen to their 7 song CD "Thingie" over and over again.

Released in 1997 on Flouride Treatment Records, "Thingie" is a thing of beauty. Crafted by a roster of über talented musicians who put their own spin on surf instrumental music, while covering several tunes that when written, were no closer to the beach than the south plains of Lubbock, Texas.

Who could possibly pull off a surf version of a Weezer song, sliding a sprinkle of Morricone into another, while balancing  a spy movie soundtrack in under 30 minutes of listening pleasure? Klaus Flouride and East Bay Ray can, that's who!

Managed by the Tiki King himself, Otto von Stroheim, Jumbo Shrimp was a band that although were around for a short period, left an indelible mark. I recently caught up with Klaus and Ray, and along with shots I took of the band in my San Francisco studio back in 1998, I present to you my interview with Jumbo Shrimp. 

The buffet is open,

Julie Pavlowski Green
March 22, 2014


How did the band form?

KLAUS FLOURIDE: Literally I was thinking of my first band in Jr. High School and thought it would be fun to revisit that kind of band just for fun. An A. list was formed and within the next week I called everyone and all the A list agreed, so it was sort of a lark, but I got my favorite musicians that I thought would like to do a primarily instrumental group in the “Ventures” style.

How long was Jumbo Shrimp around for?

KF: I think 2 ½ - 3 years.

Who are all the members in the band?

KF: The Original line up was Me, East Bay Ray and John Singer on guitars, Chuck “Lucky” Lindo on bass and Dave Scheff on drums. Then Chuck moved on and Greg Reeves took over on bass, as well as Dave Scheff moving on and Dana Burt taking over on drums

Would you consider Jumbo Shrimp a straight up surf instrumental band?

KF:  Not exactly, we incorporated sounds from 60’s Brit bands and spaghetti westerns styles and such as well as instrumental covers of 90’s alt. rock bands. Also newer toys for the guitars. A lot more fuzz and not always as much reverb. And our motto was “3 guitars, no waiting”.

It has been quoted Klaus, that you said “there are three lead guitars, which automatically eliminates the tedium of waiting for your favorite style and tone. Three guitars, no waiting." Were you consciously trying to combine 3 different styles in one song?

KF: See the above motto. We all tried to incorporate different sounds into the tunes but not necessarily all in one tune.

We all know Ray and Klaus were in The Dead Kennedys and Chuck "Lucky" Lindo was in Actionslacks, but what other bands have each of you been in?
Klaus Flouride

KF: Dave was and I think still is in Translator and Itchy Kitty, Chuck has The American Professionals, John was in the Zip Code Rapists and The David Brian Band, Ray has The Killer Smiles, I have Gravy’s Drop and The Go-Going-Gone Girls. Actually I have no Idea which and how many bands all of us have been in. The classic line too numerous to mention I think fits snuggly in here.

What was your most memorable gig with Jumbo Shrimp?

KF: One of the most memorable was playing three sets @ The Beach Chalet in SF. We had about 2 sets worth of material. It got pretty noisy by the end, plus we did a cover of the R.E.M. song (again instrumentally) "It’s the End of the World as We Know It" and some of the members were there, so that was fun.

East Bay Ray
How long did it take to make “Thingie”?

KF: We recorded the basics in our practice space and did overdubs at my home studio. Maybe a total spread out over a couple of months.

I see The Neanderdolls did back up on “Mersey Beach”. Was it the whole band or just Barbara?

KF: I think it was Barbara, Julie and Lexie shouting 1 – 2 READY ROCK! before the key change.


What is your favorite surf instrumental record of all time?

KF:  That’s a hard one. I’ll hand it over to Ray.

EAST BAY RAY: Here's three: Miserlou - Dick Dale, Pipeline - The Chantays, Penetration - The Pyramids, oh four, Telestar - The Tornados


Have you ever gone surfing?

KF: No. I know my coordination level and I choose to live.

EBR: Yes, but not much, it was in Northern California and the water was too cold! Would have been better to try in in Hawaii!

Who were your greatest inspirations on this record?

EBR: The recording "Ventures in Space" by The Ventures

KF: The Trashmen and yes, The Ventures too.

What “Thingie” were you referring to?

 KF: That would be telling.

What projects are you working on now?

EBR:  Currently I'm involved in being an artist advocate to help artists, - musicians, filmmakers, photographers, writers, etc -  gain fair treatment from those who profit from their work.

KF: My abs.

Any chance we’ll get to see “Jumbo Shrimp” live again?

KF: People are pretty busy and scattered far and wide, but in life I’ve learned to never say never.           







Saturday, March 15, 2014

New Years Day 2000 from The Mask Series

"Lounge Kat No. 1"


Spending New Years Eve at Danny Elfman's beach house in Malibu was a perfect way to start the New Century. I had recently relocated from Northern to Southern California and to spend such a pivotal moment in history there, was truly a gift after the rough year I had just gone through. My friend worked for Danny and had invited me as her guest to ring in the new millennium. The excitement of that monumental New Year's Eve filled the air. Danny even played a rare piece of music, just as the clock struck midnight, that my Grandmother Julia, a trained opera singer from Morsasco, used to sing.

Synchronicity was in the air...

It was a turning point in my life and I was determined to start a new photographic series based on whatever I shot on New Years Day 2000. New Life, New Year, New Century! Fortuitously, masks were strewn around the outdoor patio and as people began to wake from their slumber, they slowly entered the sunshine and donned a mask. Without missing a beat, I picked up my camera and began to shoot portraits of the mask wearing party goers. It immediately clicked. I saw what was to become my next photographic series, which I ended up shooting for the next 2 years.

Presented here are the first 4 images that sparked The Mask Series. Transforming my usually shy friends into amazingly vibrant actors, the masks allowed them to be free from judgement, free to posses the mask they had selected. The Mask Series is a study of iconic identity and the freedom a mask gives us to take up symbolic gestures that embody universal characters.

Of course, these first initial images show the exact reaction to a night after a millennial party...

There was an exhibition of a dozen of these images at a warehouse in downtown LA in 2003 but not many people had the opportunity to see or purchase these images. I have now decided to make them available for viewing here on my blog and will present a set from The Mask Series each month.

There are 30 sets total!

These images will be available to purchase in a limited edition, from my Etsy Store. My hope is to someday translate these images into silkscreen prints but until I have enough money, time or interest from outside patrons, that project remains a dream.

Somethings Change on New Years Day,

Julie Pavlowski Green
March 15, 2014

"Lounge Kat No. 2"

"Untitled Mask No. 1" 

"Untitled Mask No. 2" 



Saturday, March 8, 2014

Bob Baker and His Magical Marionettes


The Bob Baker Marionette Theater was born in 1960 and is considered the longest running puppet theater in America. With an inventory of over 3,000 puppets he has created over the years, Mr. Baker continues to entertain and delight his audience for over 50 years. What makes Mr. Baker's marionettes literally stand out is that he brought them down from the stage and into the audience! With the puppeteer dressed in black, they make the strings dance and weave, bringing the marionettes to life right in front of your eyes. What could be more magical?

Currently in its 54th season, the theater company continues with "Fun with Strings!" which runs every Saturday and Sunday at 2:30pm. The puppet show, featuring Jack Frost, the Snow Queen, Chili Dog, The Balloon Clown and over 100 additional marionettes Mr. Baker has created, is "a wondrous journey with many magical stops along the way"!

Bob Baker began to create toy marionettes in 1945 while still a student at Hollywood High School. After high school, Mr. Baker was an apprentice at The George Pal Animation Studio. A year after he started working at the animation studio, Bob was promoted to head animator of Puppetoons which were a series of animated puppet films made in the 30's and 40's.

Although not marionettes, these puppets were created with multiple wooden parts that were interchangeable and were filmed frame by frame. One of my personal favorites is "Tubby the Tuba" 1947 with a tip of the hat to the Hollywood Bowl. George Pal was also a science fiction animator and film producer of "Destination Moon" 1950, "When Worlds Collide" 1951 and most notably for the 1953 film "War of The Worlds".

After WWII, Mr. Baker was an animation supervisor for many of the studios. He was also the puppet master in such notable films as "GI Blues"1960 staring Elvis Presely and "Escape to Witch Mountain" 1977. He helped with special affects in "Bednobs and Broomsticks" 1971 and "Close Encounters of the Third Kind" 1977 and his puppetry can be seen in television shows such as "Bewitched", "Faerie Tale Theatre" and "Star Trek". Mr. Baker is also notably the founding member of the Academy of Puppetry and Allied Arts.

Recently Mr. Baker graciously allowed me the opportunity to photograph him and his amazing marionettes at his theater in Echo Park. Below is a photo essay of my visit, one in which I walked away enchanted and delighted.

I'm you're puppet,

Julie Pavlowski Green
March 8, 2014
















Saturday, March 1, 2014

Moving Pictures - "The Feline Feeling"


My first attempt at shooting a string of moving pictures came to fruition at the beginning of this year in the form of a movie trailer titled "The Feline Feeling". Directed and Produced by the amazing duo of Elvia Lahman and Hannah Metz who are co-owners of the lovely vintage clothing store in Pasadena called The Loved One, this trailer is a vehicle to showcase their new line of vintage inspired lingerie.

When I was asked to be the Director of Photography for this project, I threw my hat into the ring, picked up my trusty Nikon D800 and channeled my inner Russ Meyer, Doris Wishman and Roger Corman. Shooting started at The Monty Bar in downtown Los Angeles, and was a perfect start to an amazing weekend. Yes, this was shot in two days!

I thought I would select some of my favorite stills from the film and share them with you. Working with the crew and actors was a wonderful experience. As a still photographer, I am a solitary creature creating, directing and lighting mostly on my own. Creating this film, I became part of a team building a vision together. It was a creative experience I hope to do again in the future.

Go-go-go see a spectacle of decadence,

Julie Pavlowski Green
March 1, 2014






Nothing says rock and roll more than a close up of a DJ cuing a 45 record. This set the tone for the movie, as music was such a prominent character in the trailer. Brian Waters, Lance Porter, Brad Culkins and Eric Big Arm all contributed to making sure that the music in this flick was unforgettable.


We started out on Friday night at The Monty Bar in downtown LA. It was fun shooting all the ladies dancing in fabulous outfits. I had only met Hannah before, so it was a great way to meet all the actors and start the weekend out on the right foot...


Louisa, played by Hannah Metz, was simply divine. She is a natural in front of the camera and made my job of filming her a dream. She looks like a cross between Catherine Denuve and Brigitte Bardot and is lovely inside and out.


I was thrilled to get to shoot the old and run down movie theater in South Pasadena. The Rialto is seriously on its last leg and to include it in a movie was a tribute to the old cinema house that may be torn down soon. It also helped to set the stage for Louisa's arrival by bus.


Sweeny Todd's Barber Shop was a perfect location for the "cat burglary". Todd Lahman has impeccable taste which can be seen in the details found in his shop. He and his lovely wife Elvia wrote the script for the trailer. Todd also was the voiceover in the film. The beautiful natural light streaming through the windows counterbalanced the overhead florescence, which I felt was a counterpoint to the contrast between the barbers and the burglars.


Possibly my favorite still from the movie, this image suspended time for me. This could have easily been seen in a "Twilight Zone" episode. From the car to her impatient look, this cat burglar (played by the delightful Emily Alben) once again made shooting this trailer a joy.


I loved working with Erin Cherry. Her timeless look was a perfect match for this period piece. From wearing the new line of lingerie to looking like a silent movie siren as a cat burglar, Ms. Cherry fit the bill!


This was the first moment when Louisa walks into the dressing room and is from her point of view. It was filmed at the lovely Fremont Center Theatre in South Pasadena. This 1920's location was where the author and playwright Ray Bradbury used to present his work via his Pandemonium Theatre Company.


The line of lingerie, which features items like "Sin In The Suburbs" panties and "She Should Have Stayed in Bed" bralette, were a perfect foil for the ladies "audition" on stage.


But it was the "Kittie Panties" that stole the show. The elastic "whiskers" are so cute and original! Who wouldn't want to buy a them after watching the trailer?


In another memorable sequence from the minds of The Loved One, came Louisa's entanglement with a string of Daisies. You could watch this sequence over and over again and come out with a different story every time. It's mysterious link to the rest of the film made me even more thrilled to shoot it.


My first attempt at a close up was fun and challenging at the same time. The scene is where Louisa first sees René. Focusing a hand held 35mm lens took some practice but Hannah was a true professional and did the take until we got it right.


Tension mounted as René (played by Elvia Lahman) and her wig wearing pussy cat Lucille, (played by Lucy) created a dramatic moment between her and Louisa. Lighting the vacuous theatre space was not as much of a challenge as I thought and we were able to capture René in a soft glowing light.


One of the biggest surprises in the film came at the apex of the script. We were rehearsing the cat fight in the dressing room when Dirty Ashley, played by the amazing Ashley Miller, began to give it her all and started to pull at the only tear away dress we had. The fight was on and we couldn't look back!


You couldn't have hired a better team of actors that reacted to the cat fight with such enthusiasm! We were all so caught up in the moment of surprise, which I think helped to intensify the scene itself. We weren't expecting it to happen and everyone's reaction was caught on film, er.. I mean pixels or whatever you call it these days!


I was caught off guard, since it was only supposed to be a run through, and actually picked my camera up which was attached to a tripod and continued shooting them while they were on the ground. This couldn't have looked more real than if they actually got into a real cat fight themselves!


We filmed the last scene at an actual rag house in downtown LA. American Apparel graciously allowed us to film in their sewing department. The editing throughout the film by Hailee Kendrick was amazing but the end edit stood out the most for me. The off center edit which zooms into Louisa captured for me, the essence of 60's B-movies that were experimenting with different angles and ways of presenting the image.