A visit with Motel Portrait | Arts & entertainment
This is my first time writing an article for a publication. Fate has been kind to me, as the opportunity to do so came just around the time my good buddy Logan Wilms was releasing his first album — the eponymous release simply titled “Motel Portrait.”
I learned about Logan and his musical odyssey known as Motel Portrait while we were both canvasing downtown Frederick a few years back. We both had shows coming up and were posting fliers. Convening at the same shop space, we sparked up a conversation. We realized then that we both had a passion for music, storytelling and, as we like to say, “swag” — a word that he uses a lot, and one that we’ve adopted as our pet saying. Many of us have friends and words like that, I would assume.
kAm~G6C E96 J62CD[ x H2D 7@CEF?2E6 E@ 92G6 D66? 9:> A6C7@C> G2C:@FD E:>6D] x H2D 6G6? 23=6 E@ 4@>6 24C@DD E92E @9\D@\G2=F23=6 32?5 >6C49i DE:4<6CD WH9:49 x =:<6 E@ 4@==64EX 2?5 2? 62C=J 56>@ rs] %96D6 <:?5D @7 E9:?8D 2C6 567:?:E6=J DH28] x 6G6? 5:5 2 D9@H H:E9 9:> =2DE J62C 2D H6== 2D E9:D @?6[ 2=@?8 H:E9 @E96C 32?5D]k^Am
kAm%@ D68F6 :?E@ H92E |@E6= !@CEC2:E 😀 =:<6i $@>6@?6 E9@F89E :E @55 E92E x A=2J65 2 D9@H H:E9 2? 24E =:<6 E9:D] x A=2J 7F?<[ 7@C =24< @7 2 36EE6C E6C>[ H96C62D {@82?’D 86?C6 😀 ?@:D6^2>3:6?46^D@F?5D42A6D] &D:?8 2? 2CC2J @7 DJ?E9D[ 8F:E2CD 2?5 @E96C 366A\3@@A 56G:46D[ {@82? C6G62=D E9:D 6?E:C6 F?:G6CD6] (96E96C E96C6 2C6 =JC:4D @C ?@E[ E96 DE@CJ 😀 DE:== E@=5] x =@G6 9@H 96’== 5C2H J@F 😕 H:E9 2 D=@H=J 3F:=5:?8 5C@?6] x 766= =:<6 x’> 😕 2 9@CC@C >@G:6[ 3F:=5:?8 E6?D:@?[ E96? r#p$wP w6 E9C@HD 2 8F:E2C @? E96 8C@F?5 2?5 ;@=ED J@F]k^Am
kAm%96? 96’== EC2?D:E:@? :?E@ 2 G6CJ 566A 32==25[ D:?8:?8 6>@E:@?2==J] p? 6IA6C:>6?E2= 7:=> >:89E 36 G:6H65 2D 92G:?8 “?@ A=@E[” 3FE D@>6 @7 FD @H E96C6 😀 @?6] |@E6= !@CEC2:E 😀 E9:D H2J[ E@@]k^Am
kAmpD x DFDA64E65[ {@82? C6G6=D 😕 E96 ?63F=@FD ?2EFC6 @7 2CE] w6 2==@HD E96 =:DE6?6C E@ 766= E9C@F89 E96 D@?8D[ E2<:?8 7C@> E96> H92E E96J >2J] (92E 😀 >62?:?8=6DD[ H96? E96 @3D6CG6C 42? 8:G6 :E >62?:?8 H:E9@FE =:>:E2E:@?n !6C46AE:@? 😀 <6J[ 2?5 >J >:?5 DE2CED 8@:?8 5@H? A9:=@D@A9:42= C233:E 9@=6D ;FDE =:DE6?:?8 E@ E9:D >FD:4]k^Am
kAm(:E9 2== E92E 36:?8 D2:5[ H6 3@E9 @H E92E E6C>D =:<6 7F?< 2?5 2>3:6?E 42? 36 >:D=625:?8] v6?C6D 2C6 ;FDE A2CE @7 2 =2C86C >FD:42= =2?5D42A6[ 2?5 3J 3@@<:?8 >6 2=@?8D:56 9:> 2?5 E96D6 @E96C 32?5D[ D@>6 @7 E96> 36:?8 >6E2= 2?5 “>6E2= 25;246?E[” :E H2D 2? F?DA@<6? 2??@F?46>6?E 23@FE E96 2AAC64:2E:@? 7@C E9:D =2?5D42A6]k^Am
kAmx H2D 4FC:@FD 23@FE 9:D E9@F89ED @? 9:D @H? >FD:4 2?5 >FD:4 😕 86?6C2=[ D@ x E@@< E96 @AA@CEF?:EJ E@ :?E6CG:6H 9:>] x 5@?’E @H 23@FE J@F[ 3FE x 7:?5 E96 C6DF=E 2D 2 8C62E 6I2>A=6 @7 DH28]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m~?6 @7 E96 7:CDE E9:?8D x 962C A6@A=6 2D< 😕 :?E6CG:6HD 😀 H92E 2C6 D@>6 @7 J@FC :?7=F6?46Dnk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmx 86E :?DA:C65 3J G:DF2= 2CE 2?5 A9JD:42= 6>@E:@?D 7@C >J D@?8HC:E:?8] (96E96C :E’D 2? 23DEC24E A:646[ 2 4@?7=:4E65 766=:?8 J@F 766= 😕 J@FC 496DE[ @C 2 A:4EFC6 @7 2 7=@H6C @? E96 H2== >62?E E@ 3=6?5 :?E@ E96 324<8C@F?5] x ECJ E@ E2<6 :?DA:C2E:@? 7@C >FD:4 7C@> 5:776C6?E 7@C>D @7 2CE:DE:4 >65:2] %9:D 2==@HD >6 E@ 86E 2 F?:BF6 2AAC@249 E@ H92E x 2> H@C<:?8 @?]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mw@H 5:5 J@F 4@>6 FA H:E9 E96 ?2>6 |@E6= !@CEC2:Enk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmxE H2D E96 d__E9 ?2>6 x 42>6 FA H:E9 7@C E96 32?5] tG6CJE9:?8 x 925 4@>6 FA H:E9 H2D 2=C625J E2<6? 3J 2?@E96C 32?5 E92E H2D 62D:=J 7@F?5 @? v@@8=6]k^Am
kAmx H2D :?DA:C65 3@E9 3J E96 q64<=6J’D |@E6= D:8? @77 @7 &$\`d[ 2?5 3J E96 2CE J@F 7:?5 😕 2 9@E6=] w@E6=^>@E6= 2CE @7E6? 6G@<6D D@>6 <:?5 @7 G28F6 6>@E:@? H9:=6 >2:?E2:?:?8 2 D@CE @7 2>3:8F:EJ E92E 2==@HD E96 G:6H6C E@ AC@;64E E96:C @H? >62?:?8 @?E@ E96 2CE] x 766= :E 😀 :>A@CE2?E 7@C >J 2CE E@ 36 3@E9 :?G:E:?8 E@ E96 G:6H6C[ 6>@E:@?2=[ 2?5 2FE96?E:4 6?@F89 E@ 36 C62=] (9:=6 2=D@ 36:?8 G28F6 6?@F89 D@ E92E E96 G:6H6C 42? C6=2E6 E@ :E 2?5 2DD:8? E96:C @H? >62?:?8]k^Am
kAmx =@G6 :E H96? 7C:6?5D 4@>6 FA E@ >6 2?5 6I4=2:>[ “x 7:8FC65 @FE E96 >62?:?8 @7 E9:D @C E92E D@?8P” x 8@ 2=@?8 H:E9 :E[ 3642FD6 2CE 5@6D?’E 92G6 2?J 9:896C >62?:?8 @FED:56 @7 H92E E96 G:6H6C 766=D] p?5 E96 H2J E96 2F5:6?46 :?E6CAC6ED 2 A:646 42? 36 2D 566A 2D E96 @462?j E92E’D H96C6 E96 >28:4 :D] (:E9 2>3:8F:EJ 4@>6D 566A6C >62?:?8]k^Am
kAm%92E’D H9J x DEF4< H:E9 E96 ?2>6 |@E6= !@CEC2:E] q642FD6 x 5@?’E E9:?< @7 2 >@E6= @C 2 A:4EFC6 2?J>@C6 H96? x E9:?< @7 E96 ?2>6] xE DEC:<6D >6 2D :ED @H? 6?E:EJ]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m%9:D >:89E 36 2 C6=2E65 BF6DE:@?i (92E H2D E96 DE@CJ 23@FE E96 89@DE J@F E6== 2E J@FC D9@HDnk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAm~? >J ?6H 2=3F>[ x 92G6 2 D@?8 42==65 “!2E:6?46^%96 r@>>@5:7:42E:@? @7 pCE[” H9:49 😀 565:42E65 E@ !2E:6?46 (@CE9] !2E:6?46 (@CE9 H2D 2 89@DE H9@ A@DD6DD65 E96 HC:E6C !62C= {6?@C6 rFCC2?] !62C= HC@E6 D@>6 2>2K:?8 DEF77 23@FE 6I:DE6?E:2=:D> 2?5 E96 F?:G6CD6[ 56DA:E6 4=2:>:?8 D96 925 ?@ 65F42E:@?] !62C= 4=2:>65 !2E:6?46 (@CE9 A@DD6DD65 96C E@ HC:E6 96C H@C5D]k^Am
kAmpE E96 E:>6 @7 962C:?8 E9:D DE@CJ[ x 925 2? :?DECF>6?E2= HC:EE6? E92E ?66565 =JC:4D] $@ x E@@< D@>6 @7 >J @H? HC:E:?8 2?5 3=6?565 :E H:E9 !2E:6?46 2?5 !62C=’D HC:E:?8] %9:D 96=A65 >6 7:?5 E96 49@CFD E@ E96 D@?8i “!2E:6?46[ :E’D ~z]” x 2DDF>6 2 89@DE H9@ 42?’E =6E 8@ @7 E9:D H@C=5 ?665D E@ 962C E92E :E’D 2== ~z] x =@G6 E96 :562 @7 92G:?8 2 C62= 89@DE HC:E6C]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mx 2=H2JD D66 J@F D@=@ @?DE286] w2G6 J@F 6G6C 925 @E96C >6>36CDn ~C 5@ E96J 4@==23@C2E6 H:E9 J@F 😕 E96 DEF5:@nk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmx A6C7@C>65 2== @7 E96 :?DECF>6?ED @? E96 2=3F> 6I46AE 7@C E96 5CF>D A6C7@C>65 3J x2?] x 2=D@ 925 AC@5F46C z6??J t2E@? A=2J D@>6 8F:E2C[ E@@[ 3642FD6 96’D 2 >2DE6C >FD:4:2?] q642FD6 @7 >JD6=7 HC:E:?8 E96 D@?8D[ A6C7@C>:?8 G@42=D[ C9JE9>^=625 8F:E2C[ 32DD[ <6JD[ DJ?E96D:K6C 2?5 4C62E:?8 E96 D@F?5 56D:8?[ x 5:5?’E 92G6 E96 56D:C6 E@ 3C:?8 2?J@?6 6=D6 :?E@ E96 DEF5:@ @C E@ H@C< H:E9 2?J@?6 6=D6 @? E9:D 2=3F> 3642FD6 x 925 DF49 2 A6CD@?2= G:D:@? 7@C E96 AC@;64E]k^Am
kAm%96 “|@E6= !@CEC2:E” 2=3F> 😀 2 3=6?5 @7 2CE C@4<[ D9@682K6[ AF?<[ D=F586 >6E2= 2?5 7C66 ;2KK[ H:E9 2? 6E96C62= 2?5 2>3:6?E 7=2G@C E9C@F89@FE] %9:D 5:776CD 7C@> >J D@=@ A6C7@C>2?46[ H9:49 😀 2 >@C6 DEC:AA65\5@H? G6CD:@? @7 >J 2>3:6?E D@F?5D42A6D 2?5 6=64EC:7:65 7@=< D:?86C\D@?8HC:E6C DEJ=6] (96? H:E9 2 7F== 32?5[ |@E6= !@CEC2:E 92D 2 7C6D9[ 6>@E:@?2==J 492C865[ 962GJ[ 6E96C62= D@F?5 E92E 😀 ?@E @7E6? 7@F?5 😕 >2?J C@4< 8C@FAD]k^Am
kAm#646?E=J[ x 92G6 366? H@C<:?8 H:E9 D@>6 7C:6?5D E@ D6E FA 2 E@FC:?8 32?5 E@ AC@>@E6 >J DEF5:@ 2=3F>] x’> 6I4:E65 E@ 3C:?8 E9:D 2=3F> E@ =:76 @? E@FC] x =@G6 3@E9 A6C7@C>:?8 H:E9 2 7F== 32?5 2?5 E96 492==6?86 @7 4C62E:?8 2 4@>A6==:?8 =:G:?8 A:646 @7 2CE 😕 7C@?E @7 2? 2F5:6?46 3J >JD6=7[ D@ x 4@?E:?F6 E@ 3@E9 A6C7@C> D@=@ 2?5 56G6=@A 2 7F== 32?5 A6C7@C>2?46]k^Am
kAmp A6C7@C>2?46[ E@ >6[ 😀 D9@H42D:?8 J@FCD6=7 2D 2? 2CE:DE H9:=6 4C62E:?8 2 3C:67 =:G:?8 6IA6C:6?46 7@C E96 2F5:6?46] p H@C< @7 2CE E92E 42? @?=J 36 6IA6C:6?465 3J E9@D6 H9@ 2EE6?5] u@==@H:?8 E92E 2AAC@249 E@ =:G6 A6C7@C>2?46 96=A65 >6 C6\:?G6?E D@?8D HC:EE6? E@ 36 A6C7@C>65 3J 2 7F== 32?5 :?E@ D@?8D E92E 42? 36 A6C7@C>65 3J >JD6=7] %96 D2>6 H@C5D 2?5 49@C5D H:E9 2 4@?EC2DE:?8 E@?6]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(92E :?DA:C65 J@F E@ 8@ 5@H? E9:D A2E9 — E@ DE2CE |@E6= !@CEC2:E[ @C ;FDE 5@ >FD:4 😕 86?6C2=nk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmx DE2CE65 |@E6= !@CEC2:E H96? x H2D 2 D6?:@C 😕 9:89 D49@@= 😕 a_`h 2D 2 G69:4=6 E@ 42CCJ 2?5 D9@H42D6 E96 D@?8D x H2D HC:E:?8] x DEF4< H:E9 :E 3642FD6 x <6AE HC:E:?8 2?5 x =@G6 E@ A6C7@C> =:G6] %96 F?56C8C@F?5 >FD:4 2?5 AF?< D46?6 😀 H96C6 x 766= =:<6 x 36=@?8] qJ A=2J:?8 >FD:4 2?5 4C62E:?8 =@42= 6G6?ED[ x 92G6 D66? D@ >2?J D>:=6D @? E96 7246D @7 E9@D6 H9@ D92C65 E9@D6 >@>6?ED H:E9 >6] x 5@?’E 92G6 >F49 @7 2 42==:?8 E@ 2?JE9:?8 6=D6 @E96C E92? 3C:?8:?8 >FD:4 :?E@ E9:D H@C=5] |FD:4 😀 DF49 2 A@H6C7F= 2?5 A@D:E:G6 7@C46] tG6? H:E9 2== @7 E96 A6@A=6 H9@ 4C62E6 :E[ E96 H@C=5 H@F=5 36 2 36EE6C A=246 :7 6G6? >@C6 A6@A=6 4C62E65 >FD:4 2?5 6IAC6DD65 E96>D6=G6D]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8mw@H H@F=5 J@F 56D4C:36 J@FC >FD:4n x E9:?< x >62? 36J@?5 86?C6 6G6?] (92E 😀 E96 26DE96E:4n (92E 2C6 J@F ECJ:?8 E@ 6G@<6nk^DEC@?8mk^Am
kAmt>@E:@?2=[ C62=[ GF=?6C23=6[ ADJ49656=:4[ C6>:?:D46?E[ 6?6C86E:4[ 4=@D6[ 6I92FDE:?8=J A6CD:DE6?E] x =@G6 E96 H@C5 6E96C62=] *@F @H 9@H =@G6 A=2JD 2 3:8 A2CE 😕 962=:?8 2?5 A2:?n x E9:?< E92E @F89E E@ 36 C6AC6D6?E65 😕 2CE >@C6] x C62==J ECJ E@ FD6 >JD6=7 2D 2 42?G2D[ 6IA=@C:?8 5:776C6?E 6>@E:@?D 2?5 5:C64E:@?D] x C62==J =:<6 26DE96E:4D E92E 2C6 3@E9 4@?EC2DE:?8 2?5 4@>A=6>6?E2CJ]k^Am
kAm|J D64C6E >2DE6C A=2? 😀 E@ 4C62E6 D@>6E9:?8 :?G:E:?8 2?5 G28F6 6?@F89 7@C E96 2F5:6?46 E@ C6=2E6 ;FDE 6?@F89 E@ E96 >FD:4 2?5 2CE E@ 2DD:8? E96:C @H? 766=:?8D 2?5 :?E6CAC6E2E:@?D E@ >J H@C<] |J >2:? 8@2= 😀 E@ 36 2 >:CC@C E92E J@F C62==J 7:?5 H@CE9 =@@<:?8 2E D@ E92E J@F 42? D66 J@FCD6=7 7@C H9@ J@F 2C6] %92E H2J[ H6 42? 36 C62= 2?5 7:8FC6 @FE 9@H E@ 36 C62==J 92AAJ]k^Am
kAmkDEC@?8m(:== J@F 92G6 2?J FA4@>:?8 D9@HDn %@FCn p=3F> C6=62D6 A2CEJnk^DEC@?8mk^Am
link
