Words by Gregory "The Poet" Schwartz

Photos by Doug Dresher

Safe at Home.

Brick and Mortar, Jhariah, Pollyanna.

North to Shore Festival.

House of Independents 5/16/23

Act One.

The six piece “Jhariah”

Stop, drop, jump, breathe.

The soul infused part Ska full on fun

brought a joyful beginning to the evening.

Act Two.

“Pollyanna” punk, psychedelic pulse.

Is a torrent of unabashed expression

Screaming free as the voice of inner being

Reaches out across the divide.

Brick and Mortar “Melt Up”

The only thing that went wrong

a broken down van kept em in Texas costing them four lost shows.

Brandon Frodo Baggins Asraf & John Sam Wise the Brave Tacon

And once again Richie High Five Brown.

Brandon and John have been creating together

longer than the lifespan of most other bands.

Returning home to family and loved ones.

Is the meaning of existence from from Wizard of Oz to the Saving of the Shire.

This audience of friends and neighbors.

Are witnessing the most hype performance of the tour.

Together, strength and perseverance go hand in hand

carrying ourselves above the world.

Cultivating a dignity, free from status and wealth.

As a cathartic heartbeat of experience and wisdom

bring a sense of belonging, along with a healing smile of

understanding.

We will survive.

Together through life.

Ever Forward.

Born from an existential argument between Modernists and Postmodernists, I have found my home with the post-punks and those who love a good slice of pizza. I live in a world of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction and the ever-elusive Decisive Moment. Punctum and Studium aside, I like to take photographs of people and things to see how they look photographed. While I miss both CBGBs and a cool place to bowl, Punk is still whatever we made it to be. The Future is Unwritten, and I owe it all to Mr. Bradley and Mr. Martin. Let Us Now Praise Famous Men and ask the Little Prince for his thoughts. Sometimes I'm On the Road, but if it weren’t for the honor of the thing, I’d rather walk. My loving wife supports this albatross of an obsession, and my kids put up with me well. BA, MFA, M.Ed., BCEA, Tri-X, and Nikon.

Rolling Stone: Featured picture Poet 2010

Lyricist Gorky Park band Moscow Music Peace Festival 1989

2007 Poet Laureate Asbury Park,

Featured in the Steve Forbert Video "Sandy"

Featured front page story Asbury Park Press March 19 2002.

Featured Article Asbury Park Press May 22 2009.