An exhibition of photos by Merri Cyr of Jeff Buckley opened at Blender Gallery in Sydney this evening. If you’re a Jeff Buckley fan or have an appreciation for portraiture it’s well worth a visit. They’re on show till June 5th.
I haven’t given him much thought in recent years but i was a Jeff Buckley nut as a teenager. I bought Grace when it came out in 1994 (i was 14) and it still stands as one of my favourite ever albums. I saw him play at the Enmore on his last tour here in 1996. I read the bio’s and watched the doco’s. I collected all the bootlegs i could get my hands on. When i visited New York i did my own little mini-tour of all the venues he used to play. I was a bit of a Buckley tragic.
Merri Cyr’s portraits of Jeff are beautiful in their candidness and intimacy and play a big part of the Buckley mythology. If you own Live at Sin-é, Grace or Sketches, then you’ll be familiar with her work. Jeff obviously trusted her and i imagine she relished the opportunity to photograph him.
She was at the gallery opening tonight, but i was reticent to say hello. She was already crowded by enough fanboys as it was. But i would love to pick her brain.
Here’s an article by Merri Cyr from The Guardian and here’s some Buckley videos from youtube. He sure was pretty.
Talking about his time playing small venues around New York.
Performing The Way Young Lovers Do, live at Sin-e.
So Real music video.
Oh I arrived late when most of the crowd had dispersed, and managed to have a bit of a chat with Merri. I too was a huge buckley tragic, but lately have not thought about him nor listened to his records. Though tonight, it was really good to bring up those emotions again, and hear first hand accounts/stories about the great man.
i’m familiar with many of your experiences dan.. i didn’t get into jeff until 96 so never got to see him live.
merri’s photos are a huge part of jeff’s presence still. he was an enigmatic person and her photos show a little more of his character.
Thanks for the headsup on this Dan, might be in Sydney soon so I’ll have to check it out.
I remember seeing Jeff at the Newcastle Workers Club back in 1996. A mate rang me up that afternoon, his date for the night had fallen through so he had a spare ticket. Quite honestly, one of the best musical experiences I’ve ever had.
I am STILL a huge Jeff fan and listen to him all the time.
Tragic x 1000
A friend of mine gave me Merri Cyr’s book a few years back and there are some gorgeous shots of him in it.
This idiot HAD tickets to Jeff but passed them up at the time for reasons I won’t even go into. Biggest ever regret.
hi!
while we’re on the subject of Jeff in Australia, is there anyone who’s got any pictures of Jeff during his second (and last) visit to Australia? I’m thinking of the Hard Luck Tour 1996.
On this day I remember Jeff in particular. I was a great fan of his and his father Tim. It was one of the nicities of my life to have the good fortune to see Jeff live 4 times – The Metro, The Phoenician Club, Enmore Theatre (his worst performance) and his final performance in Australia and with the Jeff Buckley band as we knew it, Matt Johnson’s last appearance at Selinas – one of my friends DAT taped the concert which was around 3 hours. I mourned Jeff’s passing seriously and it took me 8 years to really WANT to listen again. Now I am entranced by his early acoustic work.
Jeff – you are the tear in the hearts and minds of many people …. One of my reasons for hoping there is a heaven is that I can see Tim and Jeff together.
oh he is just so talented…cant bear to think in past tense……….eternally cool.
Someone above hated the idea of any comparison/joining of souls between father and son! What a suden turnaround! Long live Tim Buckley’s memory along with that of his inherited ly gifted son.
~ In the half light
Where we both stand
In the half light
You saw me as I am ~
Aloha. I’m currently wring about Jeff and would appeciate any first hand eye witness reorts etc
Please mail me…
Thanks
A