Alleys & Ruins no. 74, TC's Speakeasy (2005, Ypsilanti, MI, 4am)
My regular watering hole in 2005 is TC’s Speakeasy in Ypsilanti, Michigan. It’s a classic dive with a large cast of regular characters, and I love the place. I’ve been going every Monday to their Open Mike night for a year - a couple of times I perform on stage with my guitar.
At 3am, I stagger out drunk with my friend Eric, aka Satchel Jones, a talented Monday night folk singer. Its late and we're both kinda stumbling, but I have a sudden desire to prowl around looking for a photo and Eric gives me the thumbs up! I take the gear from my van and now we’re on the hunt for alleys and ruins, walking around this crusty old town. We lug my heavy equipment around for an hour, walking down alleys, up fire escapes, and over garbage.
I spot an intriguing awning and stare at it for a few minutes. “Nah, lets keep going,” I say to Eric and we keep walking. Then I stop. “Just a sec,” and I go back for a second look; the awning is stirring something inside me. “Let’s set up,” I say. It's a 10 minute exposure, star streaks are visible in the sky. Through my beer haze I realize the image is missing something. I pull out my flash, attach a blue gel and fire the light once under the awning and surrounding area.
“Hey X,” says Eric, suddenly realizing, “this is fucking TC’s – it’s the back door!”
“What? You have got to be kidding!” But of course it is.
I get a warm feeling inside; what a fitting tribute.
){kind=link}