Category: Music Journalism

Heading into the Weekend on a Positive Note.

Concert Photography, Hardcore, Indie Rock, Music, Music Journalism, Rock Photography, Show Photography

With good news regarding recent tests coming from my neurologist. My long-suffering Mets surprising everyone with their wild-card win and success against long-time rivals the Braves and the Phillies. I welcomed the weekend with a sense of joy that seemed fleeting lately. Come Saturday, upon arriving home a just published book featuring one of my images was awaiting my return. The book, itself was amazing. Not only did it cover and reflect a very important period of my life. Many of the show flyer and fanzines illustrated within its pages. Mirrored that of my personal collections and boxes of memories of the time. The picture below features a friend at a mid nineties hardcore show at CBGB’s. The subject, whose name shall remain anonymous. Was/is a monumental influence on how I wanted to approach photographing bands and artists. I am extremely impressed with the books build and quality within. I’ll leave a link in case the subject matter (Fanzines and their importance to independent music.) interests you. https://tribalbooks.myshopify.com/products/cut-paste-the-american-hardcore-fanzine

Just A Minor Threat

Creative Writing, Documentary, Film Photography, Hardcore, Music, Music Journalism, Show Photography, Skate Boarding, Skateboarding, Storytelling

This past week, I attended two events celebrating new book releases from and about subjects whose work and passion have positively influenced me, my life, and the course the roads it’s taken. As usual, I decided to take my camera along. Taking place at Washington DC’s MLK Memorial Library and Virginia’s George Mason University Campus. Groundbreaking Photographer Glen E. Friedman and Ian McKay (Minor Threat. Dischord Records, Fugazi.) spoke about Glen’s photos and his book ‘Just a Minor Threat.’ Allowing me many firsts, including my first visit to the MLK Memorial Library and meeting Glen and Ian. Later in the week, I had a similar experience visiting George Mason University to sit in on a discussion about the book with photographer Antonia Tricarico, Joe Lally (Fugazi), and the man himself, producer/engineer of Viginia’s legendary Inner Ear Studio, Don Zientara on the book ‘The Inner Ear of Don Zientarara.’ I took a few pictures while I listened intently. I bought my first book of Friedman’s music photos, ‘Fuck You Heroes,’ in 1994. Each of the people I met at these events influenced my art immensely and provided stories regarding their journey. Looking back on my life, thing of the impact their images, music and the recordings they helped shape. It’s worth wondering what it would have been with it.

Experimenting with Music Photography

Damion Photo, Editorial, Finding your Zen, Indie Rock, Memories, Music Journalism, Rock Photography, Show Photography

It’s safe to say, my interest in photography was born out of necessity. As a teenager in love with hardcore punk and going to Sunday matinees, I started a fanzine which needed pictures to go with my interviews and show reviews. Admittedly, my pictures were terrible. I really knew nothing about composition or camera settings. When I think about it, I didn’t even own a film SLR until I was twenty four. by then I was more interested in documenting my new surroundings in a neighborhood known as Hell’s Kitchen. While I was still going to shows regularly. and taking much better photos, I eventually got bored, which started my focus on experimentation with light and movement. Ultimately, is was within the shadows, movement and darkness, that I found my love. The more I learned about composition and waiting for the right moment, the more my images stood out. While it wasn’t alway pretty, I felt that I was finally capturing the energy, raw emotion, and elements that capture the essence, and intimacy that smaller venues offer.

Looking Back; Municipal Waste

Concert Photography, Lightroom 4, Music, Music Journalism

I’ve been going through some old picture folders (Something I’ve been doing as I have come to realize some aspects of my photography are coming, or have come to an end.) and deciding what to delete and what to save. During this process I’ve found a number of photos that were never edited or just needed a bit of TLC. Going back about ten years. I found some images from a Municipal Waste V.F.W. show. At the time, I knew nothing, other than the name, about the band. Something I grew to love, considering all the times I became a devotee to a band I was seeing and hearing for the first time. Upon coming across images from that particular show. I took a few minutes to make a few adjustments and do a little cropping. Thanks to my newly acquired Lightroom knowledge, I was pretty happy with the results.

United By… Book Project

Concert Photography, Music Journalism, Promotional, Show Photography

If you’ve been paying attention, you might notice that I’ve discontinued a feature I started back in April of 2020. “United By” was the skeleton for a book featuring many of the concert/show images I had taken over the years. After a spirited start, reality set in, and the idea went into the “Maybe someday.” to do file; however, after finding a template where I could build my project at my own pace. Things picked up rapidly. After seeing the right person to pen the books foreward and an incredible editor, I began reaching out to band members and people involved in putting on shows, putting out records, and giving a voice to those who create. The responses and thoughts added much-needed yet previously void of life to both the images and my little project’s purpose. Work continues as I wait for the final images to be digitized and downloadable.
Though things seem to be wrapping up on my side, I know there is still a lot of work to do before figuring out how to submit it to publishers. Here’s to a long wait.

An Interview with Vision Guitarist Peter Tabbot

Interview, Jersey Beat, Music Journalism

I recently had the opportunity and pleasure of interviewing Vision guitarist Peter Tabbot. Co-founder of the legendary hardcore band Vision. We talked about the band Vision, the death of the bands singer and close friend Dave Franklin. His contributions to the City Gardens rock – doc “Riot on the Dance Floor.” and his work as a health officer and teacher. You can read and learn more by clicking the link below.

http://www.jerseybeat.com/petetabbot.html

An Interview with Byron Wilson of Seattle’s Singles Going Steady.

Interview, Jersey Beat, Music Journalism
That’s Byron on the left at Singles Going Steady.

Since moving to Seattle in the Spring of 2017. I’ve spent a lot of time exploring Washington States abundant arraye of record stores with Singles Going Steady being one of my personal favorites. Aside from a stock that focuses on underground, independent and extreme music. You’ll never leave without a great conversation to add to your selection of stellar releases both used and new. It was through our many conversations that I felt Byron would make for a great interview. As a young witness to the early days days of West Coast hardcore / punk. A volunteer at the storied all ages punk music venue The Gilman St. Project and countless other adventures. His interview is chock full of vivid storytelling. There’s a link to the interview at the bottom.

http://www.jerseybeat.com/byronwilson.html

Remembering Washington DC’s Safari Club

Hardcore, Jersey Beat, Music Journalism

Existing from 1988 – 1998 Washington DC’s Safari Club provided a home for countless local and touring bands, Offering an all ages atmosphere had a lasting impact that can still be felt today. I reached to Rich Dollinger and Shawna Kenney to answer some questions while sharing some memories of the time and the club.

http://www.jerseybeat.com/safariclub.html

United By… (The Crowd)

Commentary, Concert Photography, Documentary Photography, Indie Rock, Location Shooting, Music Journalism, Narrative, Photo Journalism, Rock Photography, Show Photography

Over time, I began to include a few pictures of the crowds expressions, participation and overall reaction to particular acts, sets and song. For as long as I’ve attCrowd (1 of 1)Crowd Gap (1 of 1)ended shows and gone to concerts, every act with little to no exception, had a particular song that the audience knew every word, hook and breakdown. While it was always a great opportunity to capture the moment when a singer reaches his emotional halcyon or time the moment when the guitarist launches in the air. It might also be the perfect opportunity to catch the reaction to the crowd. The images to your right were captured about eight years apart. The above captures the crowd at a Revelation Records showcase at CBGB’s. While the one below shows the emotion of the crowd during a set by the band Thursday at Atlantic City’s House of Blues.