Summers (photo by Dennis Mukai)
“We were in a sort of fever pitch,” says Summers. “And somewhere, in some lonely hotel room, I thought, ‘I’m gonna get a camera. I’m going to be a photographer. I’m going to be a great photographer.’”
For the easygoing, but serious-minded guitarist, running out to B&H and buying a Nikon and a lens was a very healthy decision, both creatively and mentally, as photography became what Summers has described as “a private world that I could retreat to.” To date, Summers has shown in more than 60 exhibitions worldwide and published several collections of his photographs, including the recent coffee table book, A Series of Glances. On Friday, Aug. 11, Summers brings his The Cracked Lens + A Missing String theater tour to The Heights Theater, where he will play and improvise to sequences of his photography, projected on a cinema-sized screen, and read from his book of darkly humorous short stories, Fretted and Moaning.
In the performance, Summers stands facing the audience, viewing his images on a second screen as they are projected behind him. To musically match the varied moods of his images, Summers augments his guitar with an older, rack-mounted Eventide Harmonizer and a pedal board of straightforward and weirder effects. “I find things within the sounds that lead me to certain areas of playing, rhythmically or harmonically,” says Summers. “You build up a certain repertoire of moves you can make.” Fans of such Police mega-hits as “Roxanne” and “Don’t Stand So Close To Me” may want to check out Summers’ ghostly harmonics throughout “Tea In The Sahara” on Synchronicity or his guitar synth chords that introduce “Secret Journey” on Ghost in the Machinefor an idea of what they’ll hear Friday night.
'African Boy' by Summers
'Women in Morocco' by Summers
'Young Monks' by Summers
Although he initially began taking photographs with a Nikon SLR, Summers was encouraged by his friend and mentor photographer Ralph Gibson to try a Leica camera. Once Summers had the Leica in his hands, he never looked back. “It really suits me,” says Summers of the Leica and its viewfinder, which allows him to use a secondary optic with frame lines to compose and focus the image he wants to capture. “The photograph that is made is that frame,” says Summers. “To me, it’s a much more intelligent way of seeing.”
Summers’ encounters with so “so-called foreign” places are a recurring subject among the hundreds, more likely thousands, of photographs he has taken. There’s African Boy, an image made in Tanzania featuring a young Maasai boy, his face painted in preparation for his transition from boyhood into manhood via ritualistic circumcision. The boy’s expression is both curious and fearless, almost as if he were collaborating with Summers. “He’s really eyeballing the camera,” agrees Summers. “These kinds of shots are very hard to get.” Meanwhile, the Muslim women in Women in Morocco were most definitely not interested in collaboration. “You have to be careful about raising the camera,” says Summers of his experience making photographs in Morocco.
Young Monks captures an entirely different experience; while wandering around in Myanmar (formerly Burma), Summers and a friend happened upon a Buddhist nunnery and found themselves suddenly surrounded by a gaggle of young monks, all girls. “Photographically, it was amazing,” says Summers. “They were super friendly, and I managed to get that shot of the young girl flying through the air.”
“Even if I’m not playing, I travel,” says Summers, who will be touring The Cracked Lens + A Missing String through December. He remembers his first time in Houston with The Police and being pleasantly surprised by the relative funkiness of Space City and is pleased to be returning with a show that highlights his two passions: music and photography.
“I’ve never gotten bored with it,” says Summers of photography. “It’s a very healthy and engaging pursuit — very much like music. It’s filled with passion, love, effort, work, and decision-making. I hope this is all revealed in the show itself.”
From Your Site Articles
- With Poetry and Rap Mixed In, Aperio Presents Innovative Concert of New and Reimagined Music ›
- Top Chef Evelyn Garcia Debuts Long-Awaited Jūn by Kin in the Heights ›
- Coming to the Heights: Chivos Touts ‘Current’ Mexican Food, Spirits Beyond Tequila and Mezcal ›
- Next Stop, Music City ›
- This Weekend: Bayou City Funk and Popular Austin Group Join Forces for Spirited Show at Heights Theater - Houston CityBook ›
- In Classical Guitar Program, Aperio Beautifully Blends the Old and New - Houston CityBook ›
Gold Tooth Pizza (photo by Sean Rainer)
Gold Tooth Tony's Detroit Pizza
Pizza chef Anthony Calleo, the creator of now-shuttered Pi Pizza, is planning to open a new brick-and-mortar this September in the Heights. Calleo has spent the past few years as a chef at Rudyard’s, but is ready to get his hands back in pizza. His new joint will feature Detroit-style with a few Pi Pizza faves thrown in, and will offer pick-up and delivery options. Also anticipate appetizers, meatball subs and specialty lasagna.
Nonno's Family Pizza Tavern
Nonno's arcade designed by Gin Design Group
Sara and Martin Stayer of beloved Montrose-area Nobie’s are also grabbing a piece of the pie. Scheduled to open later this summer, Nonno’s, located on Richmond adjacent to the Stayer’s bar, The Toasted Coconut, will feature square slices of Chicago tavern-style pizza in a family-friendly setting. The interior by Gin Design Group is all about ’80s nostalgia — think a retro arcade area with neon, pinball machines, vintage furniture and light fixtures. Fluffy focaccia style pan pizzas by the slice will be on offer as well as snacks, salads, desserts, cocktails and natural wines. The patio will be a welcome perch come fall — if it ever arrives!
Elro Pizza & Crudo
Elro
In case you missed it, chef Terrence Gallivan’s intimate pizza and crudo resto bowed in late July and stays packed every night. A good place to begin is with cool apps like spicy cucumbers with toasted peanuts and mint; the vegan Caesar with sesame dressing; and crudos of smoked kampachi with pumpkin seeds or cured salmon with apples and celery. Six different puffy wood-fired pizzas come in combos such as chorizo with arugula, guanciale with Parmesan sauce, and more. Don’t miss the soft serve ice cream drenched in chocolate for dessert.
Neighbors Pizza Bar
Street to Kitchen (photo by Richard Casteel)
Chef Angelo Emiliani of Angie’s Pizza (formerly Louie’s Italian American) has changed his restaurant’s concept name, yet again, and begun the move nearby to The Plant Second Ward. Soon, he will be slinging New York-style pies in the former How to Survive onLand and Sea space. Houston Thai restaurant Street to Kitchen is also relocating to the same complex this November. Since Benchawan Jabthong Painter won the James Beard Foundation Award for Best Chef Texas, her current 36-seat space cannot accommodate the influx of guests. The move to the former Louie’s Italian American space will provide nearly three times the amount of seating.
Nando's Peri-Peri
Nando's Peri-Peri marinated tomato, halloumi and chicken salad (photo by Greg Powers)
This popular restaurant brand recognized around the world for its flame-grilled chicken and commitment to South African farmers has made its Texas debut in the newly revamped Post Oak Plaza shopping center. “We are so excited to bring the flame, flavor and feel of Nando’s to Houston and Texas, marking our first major market expansion in nearly a decade,” said John Fisher, CEO of Nando’s PERi-PERi. “Uptown is just the beginning of an exciting journey for us in Greater Houston, and we look forward to becoming an integral part of this cosmopolitan, food and art-centric city.” Each Nando’s restaurant offers a unique perspective into South African culture and the brand’s Portuguese-South African heritage. Conceived by Texas-based Michael Hsu Office of Architecture, the space is colorful and layered with rich textures, engaging patterns and materials. Nando’s flame-grilled chicken is the menu star, marinated for 24 hours in a secret blend of herbs and spices. Options range from the PERi Chicken Bowl, Portuguese rice topped with chicken, arugula, roasted red peppers, grilled corn and velvety hummus, to Nandocas Choice, butterflied PERi-PERi chicken breast atop garlic bread with house-made coleslaw. Expect menu items with nods to Houston faves like PERi mac and cheese, the frozen Rosalita, a tequila and mezcal-laden margarita riff, and the Passion Fruit Frosé. Open daily for lunch and dinner.
North Italia
As a final farewell to this year’s national Summer Sips campaign, North Italia just launched a sweet and savory, three-course prix fixe brunch throughout August you don’t want to miss. Every weekend throughout the month, the modern Italian restaurant’s brunch ($35) features starters like Banana Coffee Cake, Sicilian meatballs and cannoli French toast with ricotta, mascarpone, chocolate pearls, crushed pistachios, and maple syrup. Other mains include Farmer's Market Scramble with grilled asparagus, piquillo pepper, spinach, English pea, and grana padano; and a variety of hashes, pastas, and pizzas. Salted caramel budino and Italian donuts tempt for dessert. Cheers to select brunch cocktails ($10) like the You, Me & Capri with Campari, peach, and sparkling rosé!
Hopdoddy Burger Bar
Hopdoddy
It’s a new month, and with it comes a specialty burger and new happy hour deal at all Houston locations. Inspired by a New York bodega, the Burger of the Month is the Bodega Burger stacked with a chopped cheese patty, bread and butter pickles, onions, spicy ketchup and doddy mayo. For happy hour, come thirsty for half off the full menu at the bar Sun.-Thurs., 3-6pm. Couple that with the $5 food menu including sliders and fries, plus specialty cocktails, and you’ve saved some dough.
From Your Site Articles
- Houston's Best Frozen Cocktails to Sip While It's Still Sizzling ›
- Everywhere to Eat and Drink in Round Top this Spring ›
- Spring for These New Italian, Mediterranean and Mexican Eateries! All the Best Food News Now ›
- This Week's Food News: Happiest Hours, Piping-Hot Pizza, and More of Summer's Best 'Chow' ›
- Everybody Loves Pizza — and, with this Latest Crop of Hip Pizzerias, There’s More to Love than Ever - Houston CityBook ›
- Pi Day is Upon Us with Cheesy Specials Galore - Houston CityBook ›
- This Week’s Food News: Celeb-Backed Pizza, a Pickleball Sports Bar and More Alfresco Fun - Houston CityBook ›