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Mark :

Mark

Updated: Jan 19, 2008 10:59am PDT

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Anna's bags

Travel show host :

Travel show host

Stevie Wonder :

Stevie Wonder

Hilary Duff :

Hilary Duff

Conduit :

Conduit

The Roots : The Roots live in Portland

The Roots

Roky Erickson & The Explosives : Portland Show

From Portlands WWeek.com

It’s a heartbreaking story—half Syd Barrett with a bit of One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest , the sort of thing that, even in Hollywood’s dearest imaginings, just couldn’t end happily. In 1966, with The Psychedelic Sounds of the 13th Floor Elevators, Roky Erickson and his Texan drug-buddies (counterculture heroes as much for their mammoth acid intake as their music) essentially invented psychedelia as a genre: a chaotic, captivating blend of loopy philosophizing and rootsy flourishes, theirs marked by Erickson’s keening, manic wail.

Then Erickson was arrested—for a single joint—and subsequently, tragically, pleaded insanity to avoid jail time. After three years of electroshock therapy, the Erickson that emerged wasn’t quite right. And, following an increasingly erratic solo career—mostly unhinged blues-rock lyrically obsessed with pulp sci-fi (imagine a garage Misfits or Rob Zombie, should either believe demons and aliens to be tangible enemies)—he disappeared entirely.

A 2005 documentary named after the Elevators’ groundbreaking single “You’re Gonna Miss Me” (best known by the kids as the song that opens High Fidelity ) shows the ravaged, near-toothless legend utterly deranged, scraping by on public assistance as radio, televisions and police scanners continually blare in attempts to drown out the voices ever-screaming within Erickson’s mind.

But anti-psychotics, his brother’s care and a series of benefits (credit Henry Rollins for the dentures) led to a remarkable recovery. Still, as he returned to the stage, even the most optimistic fans couldn’t have expected much more than shambling, hollow run-throughs of Erickson’s songbook followed by their own macabre, happy-you’re-alive applause.

Somehow, though, Erickson’s recaptured all the powers of old. Vibrant, almost cherubic, he’s lost a bit of range and mostly sticks to rhythm guitar, but he can still wrangle the high notes and throws himself into the occasional solo. Now fronting Austin trio the Explosives (whom he first played with 30 years ago), Erickson lets loose a straightforward bar-band groove with singularly captivating frontman vitality—energized by the music, the crowds, the impossible encore in which he’s found himself. God only knows if the voices remain, but there couldn’t be a finer way to silence them.

Roky Erickson & The Explosives

Miriams Well in studio :

Miriams Well in studio

Ghostface Killer : Portland Hip Hop Show

Photographer Todd Fleming

Ghostface Killer

Mariam shoot :

Mariam shoot

Life Savas :

Life Savas

Loch Lomond :

Loch Lomond

Updated: Sep 11, 2007 3:53pm PDT

Patterson Hood :

Patterson Hood

Updated: Sep 11, 2007 3:47pm PDT

CharMaine Neville :

CharMaine Neville

Updated: Sep 11, 2007 3:38pm PDT

Ocean Side :

Ocean Side

Around Towns :

Around Towns

Portait work : Portraits, senior photos, headshots by Todd Fleming Photography

Portait work

War Protest : War Protest on the Streets of San Francisco

War Protest

5510 home :

5510 home

4224 :

4224

Weddings : Wedding Photography by Todd Fleming

Weddings

Pacific Coast Banking School - Photographed by Todd Fleming :

Pacific Coast Banking School - Photographed by Todd Fleming

15410 sw Beaverton :

15410 sw Beaverton

Blazers Basketball :

Blazers Basketball

Scott and Cameron :

Scott and Cameron

Drew and Mieke :

Drew and Mieke

Stacey and Tony :

Stacey and Tony

Elizabeth and Brad :

Elizabeth and Brad

Lisa's Birthday - Skating :

Lisa's Birthday - Skating

Brady and Ambers Wedding :

Brady and Ambers Wedding

Updated: Aug 23, 2007 2:27am PDT

Charles and Ariana :

Charles and Ariana

Updated: Dec 11, 2007 10:27am PDT

Kirsten & David :

Kirsten & David

Updated: Nov 13, 2007 4:09pm PDT

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Michael and Melissa's Wedding

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Jennifer and Gordon

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Gordon and Jennifer

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Lorin in Portland

Dooley Family :

Dooley Family

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Charles and Ariana Wedding

Sprinza & Greg's Wedding :

Sprinza & Greg's Wedding

Wedding Day May 17th :

Wedding Day May 17th

Todd Fleming Photography Event Photos :

Todd Fleming Photography Event Photos

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