Thursday, December 17, 2009

stellastarr* / The Postelles at Bowery Ballroom

The Postelles

stellastarr*

I think this is the last concert I'll photograph with my Canon 30D. It's time to move on to the
Canon 5D Mark II. (I'll have to sell my 30D to recoup the hit on the bank account, even if I won't get that much.) Good-bye friend.

Taken for House List.

Saturday, December 5, 2009

Pissed Jeans / Yellow Tears at WBAR

Just hanging with the dudes, taking their pictures and stuff.
Pissed Jeans (top) and Yellow Tears (below) played a WBAR Barnard College Radio show last night. It got pretty raucous, as it usually does for any Pissed Jeans shows. I was afraid the Lerner security personnel, who ominously stared down at us from the stairwell, was going to pull the plug on the show. (Lerner Party Space is in the basement level.) Luckily, they didn't! Eli's band Old Men opened.

For the entire set, go here.

(Jamie, I think time to time, for a long while, I'll bring up the concert conflict of Mew at Webster Hall vs. Pissed Jeans here... but I'm glad I chose the latter.)

Thursday, November 26, 2009

Pissed Jeans / Yellow Tears at WBAR

Pissed Jeans / Yellow Tears / Old Men show at WBAR.
CHANGE OF LOCATION
: Now at Alfred Lerner Hall Party Space, 115th Street and Broadway. Take the 1 train to 116th Street - Columbia University. It is the glass building.

There will probably be WBAR t-shirts and totes on sale, proudly emblazoned with the fun image above (which I took during the Pissed Jeans (Halloween Show) at Le Poisson Rouge show).

Buy your ticket at the Ticket and Information Center at Lerner Hall. If you are not a Columbia / Barnard student, email your name to wbarshows@gmail.com so you can get in.

Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Julian Plenti at Bowery Ballroom

Julian Plenti a.k.a. Paul Banks from Interpol played Bowery Ballroom last night.
Shot this for House List -- more there...

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Peter, Bjorn and John at Webster Hall

The other day, a Swedish friend of mine casually joked that everyone in his tiny country of 9 million knew each other. Makes sense, I thought, when I noticed that Peter, Bjorn and John chose fellow Scandinavian El Perro del Mar (née Sarah Assbring) as the opening act. I didn't know, however, that the evening would be Peter, Bjorn and John AND friends. I later learned that this Webster Hall show was the third in a month-long birthday tour featuring surprise guests at each stop. Anyway, Spank Rock and two other rappers (didn't catch their names, sorry!) stopped by to drop some beats. Andrew W.K. flailed his arms around for a "dance" number. Though unexpected choices for guests, the appearances provided pleasant counterpoints to PB&J's honey sweet pop. As expected, El Perro del Mar shared vocals with main man Peter Morén for the 2006 hit "Young Folks," a delightful ditty that got the crowd jumping and the floor shaking.

PB&J took on the supporting slot for Depeche Mode's North American tour this past summer. (Curious pairings appear to be a recurring theme for these pop pros.) Those arena gigs must have taught these guys a few tricks - they charmed the crowd with oomph and ease, tearing through a tight set complete with crooning and guitar shredding alike. Morén mentioned that this birthday tour marked the band's 10th year together. May there be many more!

Taken for Sup Magazine. They rock. Check it out online.

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Fuck Buttons at Bowery Ballroom

Fuck Buttons
Photographed for the House List. Listen to "Olympians" below, a sublime track from
the new record Tarot Sport.


Sunday, October 25, 2009

Saturday, October 24, 2009

The xx at Music Hall of Williamsburg

The xx
The xx
The xx
The xx

Gavin Creel

Gavin Creel
The one and only.
I took a quick snap of him in the green room yesterday during the CMJ panel about "Hair" on Broadway, in which he plays the starring role. I loved, loved, loved him when he was in "Thoroughly Modern Millie," which I saw during early high school. Memories!

Wednesday, October 21, 2009

Stereogum / Believer CMJ Showcase at the Studio at Webster Hall

Cold Cave: Is the fourth time too much? No.


The Golden Filter

So it begins...

Just saw Cold Cave, Golden Filter and Free Energy at the Studio at Webster. (Missed
Glasser, argh.) Broadcast & Atlas Sound at Music Hall of Williamsburg tomorrow! Photos soon...

Friday, October 9, 2009

Wierd Records at Barnard College Radio

I've been meaning to go to the Wierd Records parties at Home Sweet Home.
Well, now they're coming up to my 'hood so I have no excuse not to miss it.

Saturday, October 3, 2009

Pissed Jeans at Music Hall of Williamsburg

EDIT: The Fader feature is up online now, here.

Day 2 of the WFMU Fest at Music Hall of Williamsburg: Pissed Jeans headlined. My friend Jamie promised me that there will not be bodily fluids. All lies!
Matt Korvette: Frontbeast and human pretzel

Moving on. Pissed Jeans hails from Allentown, PA and makes filthy, grimey, gyrating, noisy, and growling rock. Sub Pop released their third full-length - King of Jeans - earlier this year.

About the show... I've listened to them on record beforehand but nothing really connected. But live? Absolutely mesmerizing! They won me over! As per Jamie's Gchat status: "matt korvette is the best looking man in the world." Full Flickr set here.

Cold Cave at Music Hall of Williamsburg

I often encounter this dilemma at club shows: flash or no flash? I did bring my Speedlite 580EX to this first night of the WFMU fest, and Cold Cave played practically in the dark, in red light. So flash or no flash? As much as I wanted to, I opted for my fantastic plastic f/1.8 50mm prime because Cold Cave is brooding and dark and moodly and ...cold. I didn't think additional lighting would fit the atmosphere. (Not just making excuses here.)

I've seen 3 different versions of the band now. Apparently as of four days ago, Sarah Lipstate, the wonderful noise goblinette of Noveller, is no longer in the band. This was, by far, the longest set I've ever seen them play. Gets better and better each time! I wonder how opening for Sonic Youth at Terminal 5 will play out... Full Flickr set here.

EDIT: Talk about the uncanny. I was reading Marilyn Ivy's "Naito Masatoshi's Flash," shortly after writing this post. It has a quote from Cartier-Bresson, his advice to readers of Photography magazine in 1955:
And no photographs taken with the aid of flashlight either, if only out of respect for the actual light - even when there's not any of it.

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Fever Ray at Webster Hall

Talk about a Scandinavian chill! Fever Ray - a.k.a. Karin Dreijer of the Knife - knows how to put on a show. With incense, mist (...that smelled like maple syrup?), old time-y lamps, apocalyptic circus outfits and CLASS FOUR LASERS, the atmosphere at Webster Hall was eerie and otherworldly. In other words, absolutely fitting for Fever Ray's grotesque pop (grotesque in a good way). However, these aesthetic directions created difficult conditions for photography, as it was hazy and extremely dark for most of the show. Also, photographers were only allowed at the periphery of the photo pit (lest we disturbed the lasers and mirrors center stage). I made due with what I had...
After the show, I managed to catch up with pals - Matt (Music Slut), Abbey (Punk Photo), and Jeff (Culture of Me) - in the VIP balc. Oh, and Karin made an appearance in civilian clothes. A slight fan moment ensued, one that I will not elaborate here.

Saturday, September 26, 2009

Phoenix at Rumsey Playfield

I've never seen Phoenix live, so this massive show - first of two sold out nights at a 5500-capacity, give or take, venue - was a very impressive introduction. Also, this is the largest venue I've ever photographed.
It was an all-around enjoyable night. The lighting during the first song was a harsh, unforgiving back light. After this dramatic intro, the pretty sick light show ensued. Great weather, great atmosphere, great energy!

Took these pics for House List, Bowery Presents' endeavor in blogging. You can see more photos on Flickr here.

Sunday, September 20, 2009

The Decemberists at Terminal 5

Oh, Colin! I knew he wasn't going to kick me but I still recoiled.

The Decemberists played a "Lottery Show," which involved a live drawing of songs from the Portland quintet's entire catalog plus a few surprises (i.e.: "Colin write a song now"). This was a fantastic show all around - lively band, lively crowd. I can't ask for more as a concert-goer or photographer. Shot this for House List, the nascent Bowery Presents blog. The entire Flickr set can be found here.

Friday, September 11, 2009

Cold Cave at Rogan Store

Fashion's Night Out, baby! I feel the recession reversing already. (Not.) But still, some great events yesterday night, including Cold Cave performing an in-store at Rogan on 330 Bowery. Free champagne, I can't complain.
Wes and Dominick

On a related note, the day before, I went to Agent Provocateur's presentation at the SoHo Grand. Here is some kinky couture for yah.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

Warp Records 20th Anniversary at Terminal 5

EDIT: 'SUP write-up and photos are up online now.

Last night was the 20th Anniversary shindig for Warp Records. Battles, !!!, Flying Lotus and Pivot played. Shot this for the incomparable 'Sup Magazine, review coming up.

Battles was tighter than ever. Unf, that precision!
Ian of Battles

"High hat"

!!! was one fierce one-man dance party with jazz hands and twirling. Towards the end of the 3rd song, frontman Nic Offer jumped into the photo pit and started dancing around with the photographers and the crowd. Some sweat got on me.

I think I've been subconsciously channeling JJ Abrams, because lately, I've been embracing the lens flare.

Pivot sounds like Battles redux with a dash of Animal Collective, but I did enjoy them. Will give them another listen.

Tuesday, August 25, 2009

Mew at Music Hall of Williamsburg

EDIT: Hot off the interwebs, the interview with Bo Madsen and the photos with the rest of Mew is up on 'SUP MAG, here.
Amazing. Extraordinary. Immense. Epic. This was by far the best concert I've ever, EVER been to, and I've been to many (my ear doctor agrees). During the encore, I was upstairs photographing the crowd, and I was just standing there thinking, "this is so beautiful." It was overwhelming - I felt like I should've teared up or something.
I was accidentally double-listed for photopasses because I was shooting my first assignment for the Bowery Presents blog, cleverly titled House List. I was also shooting for none other than 'Sup Mag.
I met the Danish trio around soundcheck to take some very quick portraits for 'Sup. What a gracious bunch of lads! A teaser...
Album dropped today in the States. It is sprawling and glorious. "Introducing Palace Players" is my favorite jam right now. For the complete set, go here.