Wednesday, May 27, 2015

Viva Vienna! 2015



I attended the Viva Vienna! Festival over the weekend, Viva Vienna! is held every year in Vienna, Virginia, as a celebration of Memorial Day. There are carnival rides, food, craft and business vendors, and lots of music!

I didn't get to hear them all because I was only there two days, and there are three stages, so some of the performances overlapped.

Anyway, here's some of what you could hear at Viva Vienna 2015!

Please note: some of the embedded code on this page may not work well on mobile devices.



Silver Line (or Silver Line Station) is a fairly new band, described as hard-hitting Americana. I guess that's about right. The most interesting part of this band is the fiddle player (Dave Kline) who gives them a unique sound, playing parts that might normally be taken by the lead guitarist.


Silver Line Station at Viva Vienna! May 2015

Silver Line Station at Viva Vienna! May 2015
Silver Line Station

You can find their next gig by clicking HERE.



The next band up was Irresponsible. That's not a criticism, it's just their name. Sorry, I didn't get a picture...

From their website:
"Irresponsible is an Alt-Rock band based out of Washington, DC, whose hard work has landed them headlining shows at such nationally-renowned venues as the 9:30 Club and Jammin’ Java. The quality and consistency of Irresponsible’s studio releases and live shows have established the band as favorites in the DC music community. With the release of one EP and two LPs over four short years, Irresponsible has received consistent airplay on the Local Lix hours of DC’s premier rock station, DC101. Five of their songs have been featured on the station, including the most recent single, “Burn With Me.” Irresponsible’s blend of lighthearted fun and serious musicianship sets this group apart from the rest!"
I know it sounds like a bunch of hard-core head-bangers, but much of what they played was mainstream—and that's not a criticism, either.



Ken Wenzel & Cross Kentucky

Ken Wenzel & Cross Kentucky - Viva Vienna 2015
Ken Wenzel
&
Cross Kentucky

Ken Wenzel is a saxophonist turned acoustical guitar player doing a bit of country, rock, and jazz. When it was his time to go on stage, he walked up to the mic and just started playing—no introduction of the song. That seems to be his style. The whole band was there, though he sometimes goes solo. And, yes, he did play the saxophone!



When Jr. Cline and the Recliners took the stage, my first thought was, "Wow. What a bunch of old geezers. They must be my age." But let me tell you, the geezers can play! They do a R&B / Soul / Rock mix, and even though a lot of tunes are oldies, they do a great job. The band also did some original songs, so they're not just doing other folk's stuff.


Jr Cline and the Recliners at Viva Vienna 2015


Here's Jr. Cline introducing Miss Virginia. I'm not sure why she was there, but that's okay.


Jr Cline and the Recliners at Viva Vienna 2015 introducing Miss Virginia
Jr Cline and the Recliners at Viva Vienna 2015
introducing Miss Virginia

To give you an example of what they do (with their full band - only part of the group was at Viva Vienna!), here's a video:






The final act of the festival was Suburban Hearts, billed as an acoustical singer/songwriter duo. They do have a third person in the group now, playing bass guitar. I didn't catch his name. They're sort of a folk/rock/country mix, and it works well for them. I didn't get a picture, so I stole this one from their website.


Image of Hope Linzer & James Cubeta from their website, http://suburbanhearts.com/
Hope Linzer & James Cubeta
of Suburban Hearts




You can find out where they are playing on Reverbnation.


If any of these bands look interesting, visit their websites. Most have a few songs posted for you to listen to. Better yet, go see them live!


© 2012-2015 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

FSF Challenge - Steam






Five Sentence Fiction badge from Lillie McFerrin Writes

This week's writing challenge
from
Five Sentence Fiction
Lillie McFerrin Writes )
is based upon the prompt:

Steam


What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

Get FSF updates on twitter by following @5SentenceFic




A bit of romance?.




One More Time


  


    The steam from the engine entwined with the evening fog as she stepped off the train, swirling around her like a gossamer shroud. He looked up and squinted, trying to accept that it was really her. The subdued light from the station windows illuminated her face with the soft, ethereal glow that seemed so natural—and so familiar. As if emerging from a misty dream, she moved silently toward him, her eyes locked onto his. You don't often get a second chance, Brad thought, and who could have believed she would return to this forgotten part of the world, let alone willingly?


Note: If you want to hear this story from another angle, see the version Tess posted - this was quite by accident!



While you're here, why not check out my post for the Horror Bites #18 writing challenge!

Also, because of recent host problems at the FSF site, I was unable to post my entry for "Family." If you'd like to read it anyway, here it is! FAMILY


© 2012-2015 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Friday, May 15, 2015

FSF Challenge - Family






Five Sentence Fiction badge from Lillie McFerrin Writes

This week's writing challenge
from
Five Sentence Fiction
Lillie McFerrin Writes )
is based upon the prompt:

Family


What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

Get FSF updates on twitter by following @5SentenceFic




Another short one this week...




Blind Date


  
    The routine was always the same when Brad and Cheryl went downtown on a date—he'd stop by the subway station entrance and talk to a homeless man, the discussion always ending with Brad giving him money, sometimes forcibly.
    "Why do you always give that beggar money, especially since he doesn't seem to want it?"
    "He's my brother, isn't he?"
    "Yes, I know we're all supposed to be brothers—"
    Seeing his eyes grow moist, she turned and looked back, only then seeing the resemblance.




While you're here, why not check out my post for the Horror Bites #18 writing challenge!


© 2012-2015 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

This Week's Free Photo - Jack-In-The-Pulpits



As always, I am behind in posting my free photos... 

Yesterday evening I took my little point-and-shoot camera with me as a jogged* through the trails of Gunpowder State Park. I was hoping to take a few shots of wildflowers to post here. Only a few were visible, though, and the low light of the setting sun in the woods didn't help. I did catch a Jack-in-the-pulpit, however, glowing in the last rays of the sun.  


Image of Jack-in-the-pulpit - free to use with attribution to K. R. Smith - file name DSCN0131_KRS_2015_05_14.jpg
A jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
growing in Gunpowder State Park (Maryland, USA)


Image of Jack-in-the-pulpit - free to use with attribution to K. R. Smith - file name DSCN0133_KRS_2015_05_14.jpg
A jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum)
growing in Gunpowder State Park (Maryland, USA)
    
In the picture above, the light from the sun disappeared just seconds after taking this shot. You have to get the picture when the moment is right!


Image of the Gunpowder River (Maryland, USA) - free to use with attribution to K. R. Smith - file name DSCN0146_KRS_2015_05_14.jpg
Evening on the Gunpowder River

Image of reflections in the Gunpowder River (Maryland, USA) - free to use with attribution to K. R. Smith - file name DSCN0148_KRS_2015_05_14.jpg
Reflections of the sky in the Gunpowder River

Image of a heron in the Gunpowder River (Maryland, USA) - free to use with attribution to K. R. Smith - file name DSCN0151_KRS_2015_05_14.jpg
A heron (in center - it's hard to see) looking for a late snack

 
Stop back again! I'll have more photos for you next week (well, eventually...)!


* To say that I "jogged" is taking liberties with the meaning if the word. It's been over a decade since I last entered a race. I've put on a few pounds since then. It may be more appropriate to say that I "waddled at a faster pace  than normal."



Images DSCN0131_KRS_2015_05_14.jpg, DSCN0133_KRS_2015_05_14.jpg, DSCN0146KRS_2015_05_14.jpg, DSCN0148_KRS_2015_05_14.jpg, DSCN0151_KRS_2015_05_14.jpg ©2015 K. R. Smith - www.theworldofkrsmith.com - may be used, in whole or in part, with attribution.


© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Tuesday, May 12, 2015

HB Challenge #18


Just a reminder: It's okay to leave comments!


From the Office Mango website:
So we are in May and summer is fast approaching. Not only does this mean the sun is out for longer but the gardens are needing a lot of tender care. I’m not a gardener, not even close. I don’t even like sitting in them truth be told, its dull. Our garden is a complete nightmare most of the time, but over the summer months we have to at least cut the grass. We have a garage full of gardening equipment that rarely gets used, and all manner of weed killers and other products designed (in the right hands) to help you get the best looking garden you can

So this week I’m putting these products to a better use. Bring me your gardening tales of darkness and death – I just know you guys can.

1:  Tales can be posted on your blogs & then just add to the wee linky tool, or add as a comment if you don’t have a blog.
2:  A word count of 200-350.
3:  Try to scare me, or at the very least create a little bit of darkness.
4:  This will be a fortnightly (two weeks) challenge from when the post goes live, so you’ve got plenty thinking time.

So come on what are you waiting for, go find your inner demons and get your scare on!


Good fences make good neighbors (and for good reason...)




The Good Neighbor






    All I wanted was a little advice, mind you. He really shouldn't have taken matters into his own hands.
    I had this spot in the yard, you see, where grass simply wouldn't grow. Though not terribly large, it was noticeable, with sort of an oblong shape. The blemished area was in the back, by the fence where an elderly wisteria grows. It was a place few would see, but the ugly patch of withered fescue made it unsightly nonetheless. I do so love a lush, green lawn.
    My neighbor, Mr. Harding, has an immaculate lawn. He is always working on it—weeding, fertilizing, or cutting crisp edges along the walkway. Neither a wayward violet nor stray dandelion would dare trespass onto his verdant expanse. With whom, I thought, could it possibly be better to inquire?
    Indeed, he was eager to offer up his wisdom, which I followed to the letter. And yet the spot persisted.
    As it turns out, Mr. Harding is a bit of a perfectionist. When my actions failed to produce the desired results, he took it upon himself to solve the problem while I was away visiting friends. Serendipitously, an irritable stomach forced my early return.
    I found my dear neighbor, complete with an assortment of shovels and rakes, at the edge of the spot where a freshly excavated hole, not more than knee-deep, pierced the troubled sod. He was quite pale and shaking uncontrollably, his eyes fixated on the bottom of that shallow pit.
    All I wanted was a little advice.
    Now I have two spots.



260 words without the title... 



Previous Horror Bites challenges: 

Bad Hair Day Part III (#15) *
Bad Hair Day Part II (#13) *
Lemonade (#12)
Bad Hair Day (#11) *
Cross Words (#10)
The Door (#9)
Wrapped in a Mystery (#8)
If The Shoe Fits (#7)
You Won't Feel A Thing (#6)
The Wings of Death (#5)
* These were the first three parts of Bad Hair Day, a continuing story I have yet to finish


© 2012-2014 K. R. Smith All rights reserved

Monday, May 4, 2015

FSF Challenge - Memories



Five Sentence Fiction badge from Lillie McFerrin Writes

This week's writing challenge
from
Five Sentence Fiction
Lillie McFerrin Writes )
is based upon the prompt:

Memories


What it’s all about: Five Sentence Fiction is about packing a powerful punch in a tiny fist. Each week Lillie will post a one word inspiration, then anyone wishing to participate will write a five sentence story based on the prompt word. The word does not have to appear in your five sentences, just use it for direction.

Get FSF updates on twitter by following @5SentenceFic




Memories don't always make you happy...




Images of the Past


 See the prompt image at:
 

  
     Helen traced a finger across each of the figures in the fading black-and-white image. She remembered them all, and how they stood together, vowing to be friends forever. They had decided that in thirty years the five of them would meet on this beach and have a grand reunion. A shiver came over her as she stood alone, thinking of each one: Sarah had died from a drug overdose, Tina suffered a stroke and was in a nursing home, Gail was in prison for killing her boyfriend, and Debbie—she had simply walked out on her husband and three children without a word as to why or where she was going. Helen ran toward the ocean, tossing the frame and its contents as far as she could into the salty breakers, and when the cold water rushed over her feet, cried.


© 2012-2015 K. R. Smith All rights reserved