Diana Wong | Photography

Portlandia at Music Hall of Williamsburg

2012-01-28T15:52:00.001-05:00

More photos on House List.

Girls at Terminal 5

2012-01-18T01:25:00.002-05:00

And the first show of the year...

Girls at Terminal 5! I was very impressed with the show. I didn't think the band would be able to fill out a big stage like Terminal 5, but they did! More photos at House List with words by Aaron Stein.

Penguin Prison at Mercury Lounge

2011-12-18T03:06:00.003-05:00

This was the best show I've seen of Penguin Prison so far! I thought I'd be entertained but maybe not knocked-my-socks-off wowed, but he certainly brought it ...and I was wowed! And despite my initial fears about shooting the show, since most of my concert photographer friends have been complaining about the newly installed LED lights (oh hey! this is a photography blog?), it wasn't bad at all. I just had to time my snaps with the lighting sequences, which was not that hard to predict since I'm fairly familiar the music. I guess it does help to do your research... More photos on House List.

Monarchy at Highline Ballroom

2011-12-12T12:08:00.001-05:00

Soulwax at Webster Hall

2011-11-13T22:11:00.002-05:00

When I went to Coachella 2007, these guys were playing... but I didn't know about them yet so I merely gave them a cursory listen before moving on to the next item on my festival agenda. I eventually gave them a serious listen and really got into their seamless blend of rock and dance, all the while lamenting the fact that I missed them when I had the chance. Luckily, I caught Soulwax when they rolled into town two weeks ago. You can see more photos at House List.

Moogfest 2011

2011-11-13T21:25:00.004-05:00

I've been waiting for Brooklyn Vegan to post my photos from Moogfest 2011, which took place in Asheville, N.C. on October 28 - 30, before reporting on my adventures here. You can see photos from Friday here and Saturday here, but photos from Sunday... a bit lost in the shuffle right now. I'll edit this post with that link when those pictures surface. But for now, here are some of my favorite photos from the festival.

Given all the festivals (or rock cruises) that have popped up recently, it's likely that many of you have festival fatigue. However, I really, really like Moogfest -- it is one of the most well organized festivals I've ever attended, especially in terms of bands running on schedule in the larger venues. The festival has a SXSW feel with various participating venues located within walking distance throughout downtown Asheville. And of course, the festival is in the heart of a pretty cool Southern city (check out this "36 Hours" piece in the NY Times from 2007). Some of the highlights of the festival include checking out local clubs, like the Orange Peel, tinkering with random synthesizers at the Moog Factory, and dining around downtown. So many great restaurants and shopping! There was also "77 Million Paintings", an art installation by Brian Eno available for viewing during the festival (you can watch Eno talk a bit about the installation on the Colbert Report). The only word of warning about the festival: airfare to Asheville can get really expensive if you buy tickets last minute. All in all, this is a fantastic festival with great vibes and killer lineups. Do NOT miss it next year.

Chairlift and Beach Fossils at Mercury Lounge

2011-10-26T16:51:00.002-04:00

See more photos from Chairlift and Beach Fossils at Brooklyn Vegan.

CMJ 2011

2011-10-26T16:39:00.002-04:00

This was my first CMJ since 2006 without a badge! Though I had a low key week, I ended up going to two events - a recording event at Stratosphere Sound put together by Just Managing and Virgin Mobile Live's party at Brooklyn Bowl. You can look at more photos from the Stratosphere Sound event, where I did a quick snap with Widowspeak (above), by checking out Brooklyn Vegan. Weekend, WATERS, Caveman, and a few other bands also played. Not exactly sure where to find the Virgin Mobile Live party photos at the moment (maybe my pal Abbey's blog?), but I'll just leave the portrait of the perpetual fun machine Datarock (below) as a teaser...

Ladytron at Terminal 5

2011-10-10T22:28:00.002-04:00

This is my favorite photo from Ladytron on Saturday night. More at House List.

Oh Land at Bowery Ballroom

2011-09-27T23:20:00.000-04:00

More photos at House List.

Dirty Beaches at Mercury Lounge

2011-09-23T00:55:00.002-04:00

Check out some photos of Dirty Beaches on the House List. I also snapped some pics of opener Frankie Rose... more photos of both bands might be on Brooklyn Vegan sometime soon.

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart at Bowery Ballroom

2011-09-23T00:45:00.003-04:00

Not gonna lie - I was a bit more excited to check out Twin Sister than TPOBPAH last Monday. I've been entranced by Twin Sister's dreamy soundscapes for a while now and they were every bit as weird and lovely in person. (And unexpectedly dance-able.) TPOBPAH are always fun to catch live! Check out photos of TPOBPAH on House List, and even more photos (of Twin Sister and the first opener, Wyldlife) at Brooklyn Vegan.

VICE.COM Launch Party

2011-09-17T22:01:00.000-04:00

It was one heck of a party.

Erasure at Terminal 5

2011-09-14T10:13:00.004-04:00

Everything about this show was magnificent. More photos at House List.

New York Fashion Week SS12

2011-09-14T10:07:00.004-04:00

Check out some of my exclusive preview photos of Gwen Stefani's L.A.M.B. Spring/Summer 2012 presentation on Thread Count on RollingStone.com. Words by the wonderful Colleen Nika.

Here is one backstage photo:

More Music and Tennis at the US Open

2011-09-11T23:25:00.003-04:00

I always jump at the opportunity to shoot events that combine my love of concerts with another major passion (Fashion's Night Out, anyone?). I didn't expect that other passion to be tennis. I applaud the folks at USTA Entertainment and Go! Productions for putting on the show within the show. Check out the mega post on Brooklyn Vegan.

Wye Oak at the US Open

2011-09-02T11:38:00.003-04:00

So it looks like I'll be at the US Open a couple of days this tournament, photographing the (indie) musical acts performing at the "Baseline Stage" right outside Arthur Ashe Stadium. Wye Oak launched the concert series yesterday evening (cutesy portrait outtake above). Afterwards, I stumbled upon a mixed doubles match between Bob Bryan / Liezel Huber (1) and Christopher Kas / Anastasia Rodionova. The volley action at the net was nerve-wracking at times, but it was also really fun. At one point, Bryan returned a volley and I think he hit Kas who charging for the net; in response, Kas was playfully angry, to the delight of the audience. See the rest of the photos of Wye Oak (and some tennis) from yesterday at Brooklyn Vegan.

Infographics

2011-08-31T11:27:00.004-04:00

Hello there! I just received a 1TB external WD hard drive from the lovely BF (I had dropped heavy hints that I wanted to re-back up my photos). As I started copying my photo archives, I realized it will take quite a bit of time to back up my files because my archives total 600+ GB. Then I made some graphs!

I was curious how many photos I've taken per year. The spike in 2010 can be attributed to post-college free time and a camera upgrade. Simply not shooting as much can explain the drop in 2011; I've seen a lot of bands already, I like shooting new ones, and I've developed an uncharacteristic penchant for sleeping early.
Then I was curious about how many bands I've seen or photographed. I first discovered photos and concerts at the end of high school. Back then, I had a Canon Rebel and a clunker of a point and shoot back, and I was shooting mostly for fun (it wasn't that great). Then I got my trusty Canon 30D in March 2007 and I started shooting a bit more (this was also when I started neglecting my academics a bit, going out so late at night!). The next year, I reeled back my nighttime romps and focused on coursework rather than gigs. After I got my Canon 5D Mark II at the beginning of 2010, and especially after I graduated that May, I started to go to a bit more concerts. I guess this year, I've just been more selective about bands I want to see.

Anyway, I have a number of September shows lined up (you can check that out on the right margin). I'm especially excited about Moog Fest in Asheville, NC a bit further down the line. The line up looks stellar and I get to go back South!

Girl Talk and Matt and Kim at US Open's Rock the Set

2011-08-27T12:06:00.002-04:00

This was a last minute photo gig, and I had no idea the private event was a launch party for the US Open until I got to the venue. I used to go to the Open every summer as a kid (I had one of those oversize tennis balls for players to autograph!), stopped during HS and college, but now I'm getting back into it. Last year, I scored last minute seats to the women's final and this year, I'm going to the men's quarter finals... unless I cave in and decide to get day session tickets early on in the tournament as well? I can't decide!

Anyway, Matt and Kim and Girl Talk are always high energy and fun to shoot. It was comfortable shooting the bands at a barely-filled venue (it was a private event with caterers walking around...), since I'm sure the bands have played Terminal 5 before, when the venue was full to the brim. See a few more photos here.

Matt and Kim

Little Dragon at Music Hall of Williamsburg

2011-08-17T13:45:00.002-04:00

A couple more on House List, the Bowery Presents blog. This was an incredible show!!

Cut Copy at Prospect Park

2011-08-12T18:37:00.004-04:00

I ♥ Cut Copy thisssss much. As always, the Melbourne boys brought out the bright lights for some seriously romantic electroballads. At the moment, all I want to hear is "Need You Now" on a loop. You can see more photos of Cut Copy at House List.

Foster The People opened. I've somehow neglected to check those guys out til now, and I can see why they would sell out two nights of Terminal 5. (Mark Foster gave an obligatory "I can't believe we're here!" quip.) I give them props for a spot-on cover of "Say It Ain't So." Click on the photo below to link to Flickr.

Cold Cave at Bowery Ballroom

2011-08-07T02:22:00.007-04:00

I've seen so many iterations of Cold Cave, but this is the first time I've seen "the dance monster unleashed" (as my pal Jamie, who introduced me to Cold Cave way back in No Fun Fest 2009, describes it). I enjoy the aesthetic evolution from gentle head bobster to full out dance monster. Anyway, the Bowery Ballroom show this past Saturday was pretty infectiously dance-able. Here is one photo from the sold out gig and you can see more on House List or Flickr.

Black Lips at Bowery Ballroom

2011-07-30T17:02:00.003-04:00

The first time I saw Black Lips was in 2006, when they were opening for the Yeah Yeah Yeahs at Roseland Ballroom. I was pretty taken aback by the shenanigans -- ridiculous black wig, vomit on stage, spitting. Now, after seeing the band for the 5th time last night, I'm pretty used to it. In fact, it's a whole lot of fun. Tons more photos on House List.

Oh, and right before Black Lips, I was able to catch Pissed Jeans open for Cro Mags and Fucked Up (and I headed straight to Bowery Ballroom after that). I never miss an opportunity to see those guys play, and neither should you.

Glitch Mob / Phantogram / RJD2 at Terminal 5

2011-07-24T22:49:00.004-04:00

A shot from the audience from last Friday's show.

You can see the photos of the actual band at the House List.

Panda Bear at Music Hall of Williamsburg

2011-07-07T00:13:00.001-04:00

Diamond Rings at Europa

2011-06-21T15:28:00.001-04:00

A Heart is a Spade and Punk Photo's Northside Showcase with Diamond Rings, Porcelain Raft, and Bell. Stay fierce!

Bonnaroo 2011

2011-06-19T17:11:00.003-04:00

I went with a media pass (not a photo pass) this year, which afforded me tons of weight off my shoulders (literally, without a camera back pack and all) and a lot more time to enjoy the festival. I did take some photos with a trusty old Fujicolor Quick Snap Flash.

Beirut at Stratosphere Sound

2011-05-27T01:24:00.000-04:00

The Antlers at Bowery Ballroom

2011-05-23T22:08:00.003-04:00

I'm back from the dead and I spent the Friday night before the rapture with a sold out crowd and the Antlers. Great stuff. Check out a few more photos at the House List. I bumped into my pals Matt and Amanda at the show, so check out their review and pictures at A Heart Is A Spade as well.

Peter Bjorn and John at Bowery Ballroom

2011-05-03T14:00:00.002-04:00

You can always depend on Peter Bjorn and John for some good, clean fun.

Actually, Peter was having so much fun, he hit himself on the temple with his guitar. As a rivulet of blood trickled down his face (see above), you could hear all the women in the front gasp and murmur with concern.

You can see more photos on House List and additional photos at Brooklyn Vegan.

Sebadoh at Bowery Ballroom

2011-04-11T11:07:00.002-04:00

I went to the first night of Sebadoh's two night stay at Bowery Ballroom. Check out couple more pictures at House List.

Cut Copy at Terminal 5

2011-04-04T11:11:00.003-04:00

One of my favorite concerts ever was Cut Copy co-headlining with the Presets at Webster Hall in 2008 and I've been enamored with Cut Copy's brand of romantic electro pop since the beginning, so you can suspect my excitement to catch the Aussies in action this time around. I can't wait to see Cut Copy (and the Presets) again at Coachella!

More photos on House List.

Royksopp at Webster Hall

2011-03-30T10:43:00.001-04:00

Almost forgot about this. See more photos at House List.

James Blake at Music Hall of Williamsburg

2011-03-15T11:08:00.005-04:00

James Blake, a 21-year-old electronic wunderkind from London, made his well-received U.S. debut last night in Brooklyn. A few more photos at House List (with words by Jared Levy).

Miike Snow / Major Lazer at Terminal 5

2011-03-07T16:51:00.003-05:00

Miike Snow and Major Lazer, along with Ed Banger DJs So Me and Mehdi, closed the Downtown Records five-year anniversary festivities at Terminal 5. (There was also a showcase at Webster Hall the day before, with A-Trak as headliner). I've never seen Major Lazer before, but I heard all about them... But I really adore Miike Snow, so I was excited to see them at Terminal 5 again! Still, I wish they have new songs or a new album to promote, as the show was exactly the same as the last time (though I guess that isn't necessarily a bad thing!). The shooting situation was pretty tough. Lighting for Major Lazer was either nonexistent or an overwhelming magenta-blue. Miike Snow had their fog machine on maximum (as expected) and saturated their stage with deep blue hues. Still, I'd shoot Miike Snow again, any day.

The Maiden Voyage of Bruise Cruise (Miami to Nassau, Bahamas)

2011-03-02T12:18:00.003-05:00

I went on the maiden voyage of Bruise Cruise, a rock and roll adventure from Miami to Nassau Bahamas and back! Black Lips, Vivian Girls, Surfer Blood, Turbo Fruits, Ty Segall, Thee Oh Sees, Jacuzzi Boys, Quintron and Miss Pussycat played. Ian Svenonius performed MC duties throughout the fest. I was shooting for Sup Magazine, so you'll see more pics when the feature comes out. But for now, here are some gnarly legs and Cole from Black Lips catching air.

GWAR at Music Hall of Williamsburg

2011-02-21T15:08:00.004-05:00

As my fellow photographer Gabi Porter says, shooting GWAR should be an item on every concert photographer's bucket list. Just bring a poncho (thought that didn't help that much) and waterproof your gear. More of my photos at House List.

I was shooting with Gabi and Chris La Putt; Gabi's set is at Metromix and Chris's set is at Brooklyn Vegan.

Baths / Braids at Mercury Lounge

2011-02-18T01:09:00.002-05:00

More photos of Braids (and words by Aaron Stein) at House List.

Chromeo at Terminal 5

2011-02-07T00:17:00.004-05:00

Check out more photos at House List.

Wavves and Best Coast at Music Hall of Williamsburg

2011-02-04T11:26:00.004-05:00

Wavves and Best Coast co-headlined and sold out Music Hall of Williamsburg (and Webster Hall the day before). I really can't wait for my Bahamas cruise after this double dose of fun, sunny rock. A couple of more photos at House List.

It's Live!

2011-01-31T23:20:00.002-05:00

My website is live! Click here! There will be some tweaks here and there, but it's there! This blog will still be here for all my post-concert ramblings (and the occasional photo from the archives). Much thanks to my buddy James for the work.

From the Vault: The Decemberists

2011-01-26T23:08:00.003-05:00

A photo from Terminal 5 from last year that I've never posted... I thought I should share this because the Decemberists just got #1 on the Billboard charts! (And then I remembered this photo because I had found it a few days ago while sifting through archives for images for my upcoming, proper website.) (View larger here.)

Tokyo Police Club and Two Door Cinema Club at Terminal 5

2011-01-23T17:58:00.005-05:00

This is a strange coincidence: the first time I saw Tokyo Police Club was during Coachella 2007, and this very weekend, it turns out I'm going to Coachella this year. Anyway.

More photos (and words by Geoff) at House List. Even more photos on Flickr!

The Vaccines at Bowery Ballroom

2011-01-21T13:43:00.003-05:00

Newest band out of the U.K. I hate the word "hype," so check out the band for yourself by watching a clip from Later... with Jools Holland below. See a few more pics on House List.

Rural Alberta Advantage at Mercury Lounge

2011-01-13T10:54:00.002-05:00

And the first concert of the year goes to... Rural Alberta Advantage! I need to apologize to the drummer for momentarily blocking him from exiting the stage during the encore for the acoustic finale in the crowd (below); I thought the band was just doing quick step-in-and-out-of-the-crowd thing a la Win Butler. Anyway, I might have to check them out again when they return to New York in March? There are some more photos on Flickr, and some on House List.

Best of 2010

2010-12-24T15:57:00.006-05:00

Twenty-ten was a year of some damn good concerts. I started out in January with old favorites and fellow Columbia alums Vampire Weekend and concluded two days ago my new favorite, Yelawolf. Though I didn't go out much during the first half of the year while slaving over my thesis, I made up for that lull with a mind-blowing Bonnaroo adventure.

My top 5 favorite concerts this year (photo or no photo) are

1. Robyn at Webster Hall (twice)

2. Miike Snow at Terminal 5 (who I fell in love with during Bonnaroo)

3. Daryl Hall and Chromeo at Bonnaroo

4. Delorean / Tanlines at Bowery Ballroom

5. Diamond Rings at Mercury Lounge

and Pissed Jeans at Cake Shop (my perennial must-sees) as an honorable mention because I always like checking them out.

The following images are some of my favorites from 2010:

Crowd During Dropkick Murphys | Bonnaroo | June 13

Pissed Jeans | Cake Shop | June 18

Goldfrapp | Hammerstein Ballroom | June 23

Crowd During Ted Leo | Siren Festival | July 17

The Dead Weather | Prospect Park Bandshell | August 3

Local Natives | Governor's Island | August 7

Crystal Castles | Terminal 5 | August 21

Scissor Sisters | Terminal 5 | August 25

Pavement | Central Park | September 22

MNDR | Terminal 5 | October 7

The Drums | Webster Hall | October 20

Guided by Voices | Terminal 5 | November 7

Kate Nash | Terminal 5 | November 19

And here are some passes:

And finally, I have some photo-related resolutions for the new year:

1. Shoot more

2. Shoot more outside of concerts

3. Shoot more non-Bowery stuffs

4. Make website

5. Upgrade lens

Happy holidays!

Yelawolf at SOB's

2010-12-23T13:45:00.000-05:00

I've been listening to Trunk Muzik 0-60 nonstop!

Bear Hands at Bowery Ballroom

2010-12-19T00:14:00.005-05:00

I went to check out Bear Hands yesterday and take some snaps for House List. I'm not too familiar with this band, aside from the snippets I heard during CMJ during the Maker's Mark, Fred Perry, and Insound.com event at Stratosphere Sound. The photo below is from that day (also, check out the "outtakes"):

Drummer wasn't there that day... Why is it so hard to photograph the drummer?

Anyway, the lighting was pretty tough that night. The stage alternated unrelentingly between overblown red hues and dimmed lights. Though there were sporadic bursts of white light, the night was pretty atrocious. In terms of tunes, Bear Hands was pretty catchy at times. (However, I need to take another listen, since I tend to focus on the visual and not aural when I'm shooting.) The second opener was Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr. - also enjoyable, but the visual elements were really distracting.

Photos for House List are here, and the rest of my Flickr set is here.

From the Vault: Mew Outtakes

2010-12-16T01:34:00.004-05:00

One of the things I like most about Flickr is its analytics function and the ability to check out popularity trends in your images. For me, I like seeing what band photos have disproportionate amounts of "favorites" or views (i.e.: Vampire Weekend). Well, long story short, another person favorited a photo I took of Mew a year and a half ago for a Sup Magazine feature, and it occurred to me that I have outtakes that never saw light of day. And I know that my pics of Mew have been "image macro"-ed and Tumblr-ed, so I figure I should post these up for people to check out. If anything, this is an excuse to gawk at handsome Danes ;)

For the ENTIRE Flickr set, click here. Check out the Sup Magazine feature here (while you still can).

Diamond Rings at Mercury Lounge

2010-12-08T01:33:00.001-05:00

More at House List.

Tennis at Mercury Lounge

2010-12-02T09:05:00.005-05:00

Tennis is a husband and wife duo from Denver that makes dreamy, dreamy pop. I really enjoyed their sold out set at the Mercury Lounge. Check out my photos on House List (along with Jason Dean's review) and even more photos on Flickr.

Delorean at Bowery Ballroom

2010-11-23T13:31:00.003-05:00

Delorean returned to the Bowery Ballroom with sunny beats and air horn loops. Once again, the Spainards boasted impressive openers -- Lemonade is a must-see! Check out pics from their previous visit here, and the many more pics from last Sunday on Brooklyn Vegan.

Kate Nash at Terminal 5

2010-11-21T15:51:00.002-05:00

I think the last time I saw Kate Nash was at the Bowery Ballroom, so this was a big step up. Her set was mostly charming and cutesy, save for a disorienting grrl riot-y interlude. The high point was definitely fan favorite "Foundations." Kate lingered on the stage after the last song, with Hole's "Violet" playing in the background, so she could toss copies of (what I presume to be) the set list to the hungry crowd. Taken for House List. You can also check out more pics on Flickr.

The 1900s at Mercury Lounge

2010-11-13T00:38:00.002-05:00

I heard of this band and wanted to check it out. The Chicago sextet brandishes an enjoyable brand of pop. A few more at House List!

Guided by Voices at Terminal 5

2010-11-08T14:44:00.005-05:00

For House List.

Paper Spaceship's CMJ30 Photo Exhibit

2010-10-24T14:09:00.002-04:00

Paper Spaceship has an exhibit of concert photography from CMJ from the past thirty years. I have some images in that, along with images from many amazing photographers. Check it out at P.J.S. Exhibitions at 238 W. 14th St. (at 8th Ave.) until the 30th.

Muse at Nassau Coliseum

2010-10-24T13:43:00.003-04:00

A few more at House List soon. This was a shoot from the soundboard, which is both good and bad; while there was no way of capturing the impressive stage set up from a photo pit up front, it was also taxing to shoot from hundreds of meters away.

CMJ 2010

2010-10-24T13:30:00.002-04:00

This year, I managed to catch Kids of 88, Zowie, Kisses, Restless People, Salem, MEN, Sky Larkin (big photo story for Sup Mag!), Surfer Blood, The Drums, Eli Escobar, Nomi Ruiz, DOM, Bear Hands, Surfer Blood, Ma.Mentor, Woven Bones, Penguin Prison, The Postelles, Diamond Rings, and Braids. In that order. A selection of images from this year's CMJ:

The Drums at Webster Hall

Braids at Cake Shop

Diamond Rings at Knitting Factory

DOM at Stratosphere Sound for an Insound.com recording session

Nomi at Le Bain at the Standard Hotel for the Bond Music Group CMJ showcase

Sky Larkin at Ben Sherman in-store in SoHo

New Mexico

2010-10-19T12:17:00.003-04:00

I have been away for a week visiting Albuquerque with a college friend for a wedding and some general sight seeing. I have never been in the Southwest before. Albuquerque, Santa Fe, and the few places in between I visited really live up to the state's nickname, "Land of Enchantment." I can't imagine what it's like to live in a city with such gorgeous weather, gorgeous sunsets, and gorgeous mountains (Sandia) right there, everyday. I have never seen an area with architecture that is so consistent (or try to be consistent), from the historic city centers to the suburban outskirts! This is one of my favorite sights from my brief trip, taken somewhere in Jemez Mountains. Just beautiful.

Anyway, I got back just in time for the insanity of CMJ Music Marathon. I'll upload a few more pics from the trip before all the CMJ stuff (and Muse!).

Miike Snow / MNDR at Terminal 5

2010-10-08T23:25:00.003-04:00

This was a challenging shoot. Unlike the last time I saw Miike Snow, the lighting was extremely unforgiving and the band decided to invest heavily in a fog machine. Nevertheless, the jackalope-loving electro masqueraders delivered a riveting set that stuck with tracks from their eponymous debut album (albeit with heavy ornamentation and tweaking) and delivered an impressive remix of Vampire Weekend's "Kids Don't Stand A Chance". MNDR opened and also performed in the dark. Still, I am pretty in love with the shot above because you can still make out Amanda's humongous glasses. I was shooting for House List -- check out a few more pics here, along with Aaron Stein's write up.

Pavement at Rumsey Playfield, Central Park

2010-09-23T23:32:00.001-04:00

For Brooklyn Vegan. More photos here.

Klaxons at Bowery Ballroom

2010-09-22T00:15:00.007-04:00

A few more photos at House List and my Flickr.

Vampire Weekend at Radio City Music Hall

2010-09-17T10:54:00.004-04:00

For House List. Also a few more on Flickr.

Robert Plant at Bowery Ballroom

2010-09-13T15:05:00.005-04:00

"Epic" is an understatement for last night. To see a legendary front man in such an intimate setting... yeah, epic doesn't cut it. I had the pleasure of shooting for NPR's All Songs Considered again. Their recording and mix of the concert will be available soon.

EDIT: You can listen to NPR's edited version of the full concert here.

Mudhoney / Pissed Jeans at Bowery Ballroom

2010-09-05T11:40:00.006-04:00

Though I realize that I'm probably never going to top this set of Pissed Jeans photos I took at Music Hall of Williamsburg during the WFMU Fest (someone told me yesterday, "close the book on PJ!"), I'm still going to try. The gig last night was such a dude fest and it was fantastic. I somehow got out of the riot on the first floor unscathed...

Mudhoney was outstanding. Pissed Jeans was as sludgy as ever. White Hills opened; I caught a bit of the set and it sounded really heavy.

Took the Mudhoney pics for House List (more here). More Pissed Jeans pics here.

Tanlines at the Whitney Museum

2010-08-30T12:55:00.006-04:00

Given how encores are practically compulsory during concerts, it's refreshing to see an actual encore. Tanlines were caught very off-guard when the crowd insisted on one more song after a fantastic set at the Whitney Museum of American Art. I'm glad I caught a summer gig at a museum before the end of the season. (Free museum admission is wonderful, as well.)
Taken for Brooklyn Vegan. DJ/rupture closed the evening. More photos there soon.

EDIT: Check out the rest of the photos here.

Scissor Sisters at Terminal 5

2010-08-27T17:58:00.002-04:00

What a fantastic band to photograph. Tons more at Brooklyn Vegan.

Crystal Castles at Terminal 5

2010-08-22T13:16:00.005-04:00

Canadian electronic glitch-rock duo Crystal Castles lists "murder, blank looks on girls, knives" as influences. I'll leave you with that thought! For House List. Few more here.

Local Natives at Governor's Island

2010-08-08T21:12:00.004-04:00

I finally ventured out to Governor's Island to catch Local Natives. More photos (of the band, actually) at the House List.

The Dead Weather at Prospect Park Bandshell

2010-08-05T17:48:00.003-04:00

The first time I saw the Dead Weather was at their debut concert at Bowery Ballroom. Though the venue last Tuesday was ten times as huge, the guys (and girl) were just as immediate and impressive in this space. A lot more photos at House List, the Bowery Presents blog.

'Sup Magazine Party at Le Bain (Standard Hotel)

2010-07-30T05:58:00.006-04:00

'Sup Magazine issue 22 is out! We just had a launch party at Le Bain at the Standard Hotel, which turned out not so standard since there were gorgeous skyline views, jacuzzi, half-naked people... It was a pain to get in (illusions of exclusivity?) but catching Blondes and checking out the space considerably assuaged my headaches. Anyway, the print issue can be found in various shops in the city like Opening Ceremony and Seven for free.

Chromeo at Bowery Ballroom

2010-07-30T05:53:00.003-04:00

Always a good time, always great vibes. Although I don't think anything can compare with their set at Bonnaroo with Daryl Hall, this was pretty spot on. For House List.

Black Keys at Terminal 5

2010-07-29T14:40:00.002-04:00

Shot for Brooklyn Vegan. Way more photos there.
Damn, these guys were good. I kinda wish I saw them during Bonnaroo now.

Siren Music Festival 2010

2010-07-18T22:24:00.006-04:00

I was trying to pick my favorite, favorite, favorite photo taken from this year's Siren Music Festival... and the winner is this one. This is a close second. (Magic hands!) I've been watching the Cyclone from the photo pit all day, and when the crowd really got into moshing, saw a potentially interesting juxtaposition.

The fest was hot and uncomfortable, as expected. However, it was nice to have VIP (free drinks, yes please, five, yes) and watch and shoot with some friends. It was pretty pleasant!

Shot the fest for Sup Magazine. More there... Monday?
EDIT: Here it is.

Delorean / Tanlines / Glasser at Bowery Ballroom

2010-07-12T15:24:00.000-04:00

This weekend, I really liked all things Spanish. I finally took some interest in the World Cup (yeah) and watched the game from the archway under the Manhattan Bridge. The day before, I checked out Delorean's brand of hazy bliss. These Barcelonans know how to put on a show. More Delorean photos at House List, the Bowery Presents music blog.

This was the second time I've seen Tanlines since the Modular x 'Sup Magazine party a while back. I describe them as "triumphant tropical trance™." They were impressive then, but now they really got their act down now.

Anyway, Glasser opened. I was looking forward to this set but just didn't feel it live. Hard to explain. Biting commentary.

Bear In Heaven / Zola Jesus at South Street Seaport

2010-07-11T19:15:00.004-04:00

I'm so glad I finally caught Zola Jesus live. I've been spinning The Spoils on my record player for some time now and I've been busy the last gazillion times she's played in the city. Bear in Heaven headlined. I was disinterested in the beginning of their set but the guys did crescendo nicely into pretty catchy, atmospheric sounds.

Fiery Furnaces at Mercury Lounge

2010-06-29T23:55:00.002-04:00

I was a the Fiery Furnaces show at Mercury Lounge for a quick House List assignment. I was pretty put off by that rapid fire delivery; not familiar with this band, I couldn't tell when one song began and when another ended. Pretty off putting. My only request for super late shows: be a bit more engaging?

Comedian and Saturday Night Live writer John Mulaney, best known for his Girl Scout cookies Weekend Update bit, opened. That was the first stand up act I've enjoyed in a while.

Goldfrapp at Hammerstein Ballroom

2010-06-28T02:15:00.003-04:00

This was a difficult gig to photograph because of the harsh lighting and heavy back lighting. I managed to coax this image out of those shooting conditions (this one is my favorite). I'm not too familiar with Goldfrapp because, in terms of strong female dance-pop figures, I'm already listening to Roisin Murphy and Robyn, and I have a bit of inertia in terms of getting around to new music... But this was a great introduction. Much thanks to my pal Colleen who whisked me away to this show last minute for Vevant. Full article and a few more pictures here.

Pissed Jeans at Cake Shop

2010-06-24T17:09:00.002-04:00

I've seen these dudes a couple of times now and I don't think I will ever get tired of their act. However, I'll probably pass up the next show if it takes place in an overcrowded basement because I'd rather avoid the sweat. It was heinously sweaty. There was condensation on drum kits and my camera kept fogging up. Grossness, mosh pit hazards, and hygiene concerns aside, I admit this was fun to shoot. Eddy Current Suppression Ring headlined, Home Blitz and Bloody Gears played beforehand. More photos at Brooklyn Vegan.

Bonnaroo 2010

2010-06-17T02:07:00.008-04:00

I have so many favorite images from this past weekend at Bonnaroo. You
should check out the Flickr set here. Even more photos will turn up on
Sup Magazine's site once my epic four-part review goes live.

EDIT: Parts 1, 2, 3, and 4 of my write-up are live.

The Futureheads at Music Hall of Williamsburg

2010-06-03T02:18:00.006-04:00

Last minute assignment for Sup Magazine. More there soon!
The gig was energetic, as always. It was great seeing a couple
of friends I haven't seen in ages.
Hooray for Earth opened. (More at Sup soon, too!)

LCD Soundsystem at Terminal 5

2010-05-21T22:07:00.004-04:00

These guys know how to put on a fantastic show. They closed "New York, I Love You" (of course) complete with raining white balloons and topped with a quick rendition of "Empire State of Mind."
Shot for Sup Magazine. More there soon... (with words!)
EDIT: More photos here.

Beach House at Webster Hall

2010-05-07T13:49:00.002-04:00

Beach House | Webster Hall | May 6, 2010
A couple more at House List, the Bowery Presents music blog.

Cold Cave at Barnard College

2010-04-26T17:07:00.005-04:00

Cold Cave playing at WBAR Barnard College Radio's annual BBQ.
I've somehow seen four versions of the band so far (changing band membership and what not): (1) during No Fun Fest, (2) during Fashion's Night Out at the Rogan store, (3) at the WFMU fest, and (4) now.

Still on Break

2010-03-29T20:30:00.004-04:00

Delayed | Incheon Int'l Airport, South Korea | March 22, 2010

I had spent a week abroad doing some thesis research.
This image is straight out of the camera, taken on the way back to New York.

A Bit of a Break

2010-02-27T14:47:00.004-05:00

Yeah... a bit of a break here from concerts because of my thesis woes. I don't foresee going to gigs this coming month. Here's a placeholder photo I took the day before Valentine's Day.

By the way, new Joanna Newsom rocks.

Phantogram at Mercury Lounge

2010-02-14T12:35:00.003-05:00

Strobe lights always make fun times.
More to come at the House List site.
EDIT: See the entire set here.

Candid

2010-02-06T13:27:00.002-05:00

Lou Reed | Miller Theater at Columbia University | February 5, 2010

That's what a destroyed iPhone looks like

2010-01-25T17:58:00.001-05:00

Vampire Weekend at United Palace

2010-01-21T17:21:00.005-05:00

It was really good to see these guys again. I also saw the show at Webster the next day.

More photos from United Palace at Brooklyn Vegan!
Their album is now #1 on the Billboard charts! I say this again and again: I still can't believe
how huge they've gotten.

Don't Mess with Texas

2010-01-15T19:36:00.005-05:00

I had to skip the Drums and Gang Gang Dance because of a family trip to Sugar Land and Houston, Texas. Here's my favorite photo:
Kinda crazy, right? As a urbanite who doesn't know how to drive, I felt extremely out of place there. I always forget how spacious America is and how that space is often poorly planned. How many strip malls and cul-de-sacs does this nation really need? I know it is unrealistic for every American to subscribe to high-density city living, but I couldn't help but be disheartened by the urban sprawl and car culture I encountered in the southwest.

Late List-o-Mania: Best Shots of 2009

2010-01-07T09:45:00.007-05:00

Late to the party! Here are my favorite shots (and some honorable mentions) of 2009. I was going to shoot the Drums and Gang Gang Dance next week (and christen my Canon 5D Mark II!!) but I have to be in Texas

Many shots are familiar since I don't post entire sets here, but it's nice to have these pics in one place...

10. The Rakes | Bowery Ballroom | April 19

They broke up. I remember being completely underwhelmed by this show because I felt like front man Alan was just going through the motions. It's easy to speculate about reasons that led to the split, but in this moment, they look like they're having fun.

9. Phoenix | Rumsey Playfield, Central Park | September 25

I always like these little moments of pensiveness.

8. Peaches | Terminal 5 | November 14

I'm fond of this photo because there are great details. Talk about hair piece. The show was entertaining but it was drawn out awkwardly; there were multiple encores, and by the time Peaches left the stage, the crowd had waned considerably. There were also a lot of confused, half-naked people because at one point, Peaches asked people to disrobe. (She later ran off stage with the clothes tossed on stage, ~~joking~~ saying that she always gets new clothes at each show.) A half-full venue with shivering people in various states of undress - a bit disconcerting.

7. Fever Ray | Webster Hall | September 29

Fever Ray was incredibly hard to photograph because Karin Dreijer performs in the dark. Essentially. As soon as I saw how horribly back lit she was during the "brighter" moments in the set, I knew I needed to get a silhouette shot.

6. !!! | Terminal 5 | September 5

That front man was dancing around the photo pit, and I tried desperately to avoid him so I won't be sweated on. Read the piece for Sup Magazine here.

5. Sonic Youth | Music Hall of Williamsburg | May 16

You can't see his bloodied fingers from this angle.

4. Mew | Music Hall of Williamsburg | August 24

If I were doing a top ten concerts of 2009 list, this concert would be, unequivocally, the best concert. Their lighting situation is also somewhat difficult -- the band uses tons of visual projections and they are often back lit. Check out the interview and photo shoot for Sup Magazine here. I knew I had to get an atmospheric shot to capture the ethereal dream state that is the Mew experience.

3. The Decemberists | Terminal 5 | September 19

Oh, Colin Meloy! My camera was somewhat sputtering at this moment because I was taking a slew of photos -- I was so afraid that I didn't catch this! (That is another reason why I'm upgrading.)

2. Peter, Bjorn and John | Webster Hall | November 9

I almost didn't go to this one, so I'm particularly glad I caught an air shot. Write up and more photos at Sup.

1. Pissed Jeans | Music Hall of Williamsburg | October 3

This photo is not particularly well-composed and it's pretty disgusting, but it is sensational. I've had friends randomly bring up this photo, only for me to mention that I took it... Anyway, I've grown to like this band. Prior to seeing them live -and they're a great live act- I was pretty apathetic about this band's brand of sludgy rawk. But no, they're great! If you were wondering, the drummer later told me that he had bad Indian food that night.

Honorable Mentions

Mew | Music Hall of Williamsburg | August 24

Lykke Li | Webster Hall | July 30

I was so jet lagged at this concert. I just flew in from Hong Kong late in the previous evening. I was supposed to shoot this for Interview online but I just couldn't make it through the show. (Knowing that Kanye would make a surprise appearance couldn't assuage my brain dead state.)

Erin Wasson | WBAR BBQ, Barnard College | April 26

I decided to go "street style photographer" to humor some friends who are fans of this model. This photo has been getting a lot of views on my Flickr (considering that I am very selective about how I share my photos).

Talib Kweli | Columbia University | April 18

This printed very well on the front page of the Columbia Daily Spectator. The reason this isn't in the actual top ten is that this is too Columbia-centric; If it weren't for the reflection of Low Library on Talib's sunglasses -something any Columbia student would recognize- this would just be a decapitation.

Vampire Weekend | Low Library Steps, Columbia University | April 18

This was the same concert as the Talib Kweli gig (Vampire Weekend was opening). I still can't believe how big they've gotten. 100,000+ friends on Myspace! I remember when they were playing the dingy basement of the now-demolished Barnard student center. Took this side stage.

Have a happy and healthy New Year!

stellastarr* / The Postelles at Bowery Ballroom

2009-12-17T07:02:00.000-05:00

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.

Arctic Monkeys at Terminal 5

2009-12-16T16:24:00.002-05:00

Photographed for Sup Magazine. More pics & words here. Sup y'all.

Pissed Jeans / Yellow Tears at WBAR

2009-12-05T17:34:00.004-05:00

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.)

Pissed Jeans / Yellow Tears at WBAR

2009-11-26T14:06:00.004-05:00

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.

Julian Plenti at Bowery Ballroom

2009-11-25T17:43:00.005-05:00

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

Peaches at Terminal 5

2009-11-15T12:51:00.003-05:00

Shot this for House List. More shots there ...

Peter, Bjorn and John at Webster Hall

2009-11-10T01:12:00.010-05:00

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.

Fuck Buttons at Bowery Ballroom

2009-11-03T02:56:00.005-05:00

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