Friendship

Spikey Takes on NYC.

Though we had never met. Jessy and I have maintained an online friendship for years. When I heard she was visiting New York city late this winter I was hoping I’d get a chance to meet her. She had mentioned that when she finally came to visit she definitely wanted to be photographed. That made me more than happy. There was the initial back and forth through emails and texts while she was here. The time passed and to be honest I didn’t think it would happen. It was her first time in NYC and as you can imagine there is so much to see and do. Every minute counts. Monday came and while in the midst of a shoot I got a text. “Are we going to do this today?” “How do I get to you?” With my can’t miss directions she made it over without missing a step. As I met her at the PATH station I was taken aback. All these years and all the pictures I had seen of her had me thinking she was 5’9 or 5’ll. A tall, lanky Amazonian. Yet she was small in stature.

We talked and joked like any old friends would. There was none of the weirdness you’d expect when trading an online friendship for a face to face one. I showed her the main spots in town and we went to my place to take some pictures. Jessy is pretty damn awesome. We talked about everything from tortoises and her experience as a Park Ranger to life a Roller Derby girl. She promised to bring her skates and helmet the next time she came up. Jess, if you’re reading this. It was a pleasure to finally meeting you. I feel like I’d met my long lost little sister. Love you.

Pictures from the Citizens Arrest show @ Brooklyn’s Knitting Factory.

Friendship, Hardcore, Music

I was on the way to Beacon New York when my phone lit up with a text reading “Citizens Arrest tickets are almost Sold Out. Get ’em fast or miss out!” I thought “Oh, I’ll order them as soon as I get home tonight.” As soon as I walked in the door I walked over to the computer to place my order. This was something I would not procrastinate on. To my dismay and dispare they were “Sold the fuck Out.” Damn, I was pissed. I’d been hearing about this reunion long before it was even book and it was not to be missed. I posted a “If anyone out there……” and thanks to Freddy Alva and the band I was covered.

About ten of us (including Freddy New Breed, Charles from Rorschach and Amy Edge) me up for a pre-show dinner before heading over to Brooklyn’s Knitting Factory. I think I missed a couple of bands, including Mind Eraser but was lucky enough to catch Asshole Parade. I’d never heard them prior to the show but really liked their sound and overall vibe. Citizens Arrest followed and the place went ape shit. Between the moshing and the stage divers I wasn’t sure I’d make it out alive. I was front center and between being thrown into the stage and about five different stage divers delivers blows to my head with boots and body fat I was dazed and at one point almost went down. All of it was totally worth because CXA kicked some serious ass. The original lineup was all there including Janis Cackers and Ted Leo. Playing so many favorites from their good old days and even throwing in covers from SSD and Youth of Today. After the set Daryl Kahan pulled my lifeless body up on stage to take a picture of the band and Fab Five Freddy Alva. It was so good seeing so many familiar faces including Rich Trash, Justine Demetrik, Javier and so many others. Thanks to Janis for the ticket and to everyone that made it such an amazing night.

Joseph, Janis, Patrick, Ted, Daryl and Freddy

Beauty, Family, Friendship, Happiness, Portraiture

I’ve always felt very temporary about myself. The word permanent is wrapped in pitfalls. In life we move from place to place. From job to job. Even marriage seems to be a temporary situation for most these days. People come in and out of our lives in the blink of an eye. With all that said I’ve managed to make friends early on in life that still remain near and dear to my heart. People who’s presence defy classifications. No matter how long it’s been since we talked or how far the distance in miles we may be, remain close to the heart. I’ve been lucky in that regard. Which brings me to Mandy. I met her while skateboarding in a parking lot. I was an obnoxious sixteen year old at the time and if I remember correctly. She hated me at first but somehow a friendship was formed and almost twenty five years later we’re closer than ever. She’s been there for me through thick and thin and has always been an inspiration. Recently on a trip to Germany she met a man and fell head over heals in love. She’s back in Germany now and may be living there with him for the unseen future. I wish her all the love and happiness she deserves. I’ll miss her but there is no doubt in my mind that we’ll remain connected and see one another some time in the near future. We got together a week before I left for Florida and she for Germany. We finally had that bacon martini and ass juice we had been planning for so long. And I got to show her my favorite bar. Below are a couple of pictures I took that night along with a couple of my favorites.

But Sometimes they Love Color.

Beauty, Canon lenses and equipment, Friendship, Portraiture

She loves color and there’s no doubt that her personality and energy call for it.

Our Gang @ Santos Party House

Friendship, Hardcore, Music

I’ve been hearing about Santos Party House for a while now but had never gotten a chance to catch a show there. Hearing that old friends and New York Hardcore Veterans Our Gang were playing with Agnostic Front finally gave the chance to. Our Gang weren’t one of the huge names on the scene back in the 80’s but they were certainly one of the best. Members went on to play with bands such as Born Against, Citizens Arrest, Hell No and Sleeper/Serpico. More than Twenty years after it’s initial release their “Uprising” Demo has finally made it’s way to vinyl. Pick up a couple of copies. Our Gang “Uprising” LP

The People you Meet

Beauty, Friendship, Portraiture in natural light, Soft Lighting

Photography has always been my way to meet the world. To introduce myself and get ot know people I may not be bold enough to otherwise. To say things I would never be able to say with words. One of the reasons I started this blog in the first place was to tell the stories about the unique people I had been meeting and to tell the stories behind the images. Photography and portraiture has allowed me the opportunity to meet the world.

Thursday I met a woman whose cultural background was as diverse as the places she’s traveled. A recent transplant from the West Coast Suzanne is a mix of Arabian, South East Asian and European. Not to mention that she speaks a number of languages including Cantonese, Mandarin and Russian. I learned so much in the short time we spent together. Being around people with such diverse backgrounds and experiences is so important to me. We talked about our favorite destinations and how I dreamed about my next possible travel spots. Places like Vietnam, Cambodia and Morocco. I may not have been able to go there yet but I’m happy to have met and photographed people who have.

Don’t let Evan Dando near your Bandwith.

Friendship, Humor, Maxwells, Music, Uncategorized

This morning while checking my email I noticed there was one from Ben Deily of Varisty Drag (also known for being co-founder and at one time shared vocal duties in the Lemonheads.). I got to see the band and meet Ben and his wife Lisa. After the show we talked and doing an interview in the near future for Unite came up. He told me he’d be sending me some of the bands albums when they got home. A few days later I emailed him to say hello and remind him to send said package. Good thing becuase he forgot. A week passed but nothing. So I sent a second reminder. What followed was one of the best and funniest reasons it had gone unsent. “Me getting laid out with the flu for 3 days (I’m just back at work for the first time all week this AM)…the last of which coincided with a visit from Evan Dando, which took up all my limited remaining bandwidth… :-D” All I can say in response is “Damn you Evan Dando.” Here are some pictures from their set at Maxwells. Thanks to Ben and Lisa. They were incredibly nice. It was a pleasure to meat them both.

Rosie Outlook.

Beauty, Canon lenses and equipment, Friendship, Portraiture

Some people just bring the very best out in you. Rosie is one of them. We first got together for a project I was working on called “Mind, Body, Spirit” and recently got together for inspiration and Vietnamese Sandwiches. Always smiling and quick witted. She’s always got something positive to bring to the conversation. I just linked her blog “This World is too Much with Us.” check it out and send her some love. Here are some pictures we took. Worship these first.

Wishing Maurice (Mo Cash) Vega a Happy Birthday

Friendship, Hardcore, Music

I wanted to start the month of September off right by wishing my long time friend Mo Vega a very Happy Birthday. Growing up in the same neighborhood. Sharing a lot of the same experiences. Starting bands and fanzines around the same time and running around with some crazy (but good) friends. I recently reconnected with Mo after twenty years. It felt as if not a day had passed. Theses days he keeps himself busy with his band Accidental Tribe, producing, engineering and of course his graphic design. I was always lucky to be surrounded by a lot of creative, artistic people. Mo definitley falls into that file. Happy Birthday bro.

Love,

James Unite

Four Fingers and Bombay dirty up Montclair.

Canon lenses and equipment, Friendship, Music

Sometimes a band reminds you of why you go out to shows and still get a rush of blood to the head when it all clicks. Last night I was reminded twice when I got to see Bombay and Four Fingers at the Meatlocker in Montclair, NJ.Bombay features two members from Four Fingers (Chris and Jeff) with Chris switching from drums to the bass. I didn’t get the name of the drummer but he does most of the singing while bashing away on the skins. Bombays sound brings me back to some of the more experimental indie and post core bands of the nineties blended with a good dose of late eighties Dischord. I couldn’t help but think how well they’d fit onto a nice round 7 inch.

After heading over to Jakes for a beer I returned in time for Four FIngers set. This show kicks off their mini tour and despite a case of Montezumas Revenge I would not have missed it for all the Pepto Bismol in Montclair. I had met Tohm at a Reagan Youth show a few years back and immediately formed an easy friendship. Fast Forward to 2010 and I got a chance to interview the band a few blocks away a few months ago. He is currently being offered the vocalist role with Reagan Youth. FF play fast paced Punk with a ton of energy and plenty of crowd interaction. Tohm is an animal on stage while the rest of the band kick some serious ass. Since the interview they’ve added a fourth member to play Bass. Freeing Tohm to be even more of an animal. The band kicked off their tour with a new 7 inch in tow.

Congratulations to the band on the new record, the tour and the stellar set last night. All the best.