Last week, for the Intonation Music Workshop, I had the lucky opportunity to drop by Engine Studios to photograph the Pop Tots in action.
music
Two recent band promo shots–Eleventh Dream Day and Lamajamal.
I’ve been documenting the vibrant and slightly-under-the-radar Chicago jazz scene lately, especially Umbrella Music-related artists. I shot stills and video at Pritzker Pavillion last month, at Mike Reed‘s Loose Assembly performance. The shot above was made during a rehearsal for that show, which featured (left to right) Reed, Tomeka Reid, Joshua Abrams, Roscoe Mitchell, Greg Ward, and Jason Adasiewicz.
Jason Adasiewicz
Roscoe Mitchell, warming up at rehearsal
Mike Reed at The Hungry Brain, making an introduction during the Umbrella Music Festival last November 17th. (There’s not much light in that venue–this was shot at ISO 6400, f1.8 at 1/50th.)
Update: Jason Adasiewicz and Mike Reed made the New York Times top pop and jazz list.
Don’t miss the 24 hour Letters to Santa fundraiser starting tonight, featuring a stellar lineup of musicians and improvisers, and awesome raffle prizes including Iggy Pop’s original lyric book (!!@#$%^) and two tickets to see SNL with a personal tour from Fred Armisen. Here are a few pictures I shot of Armisen in 2006 in Wicker Park.
More info about the event, from the LTS web site.
The Second City e.t.c. Theatre 1608 N Wells St Chicago, IL
December 14, 2010 7pm concluding Wednesday December 15, 2010 7pmFor the ninth year in a row The Second City has enlisted Chicago’s best improvisors and their musical counterparts in offering twenty-four consecutive hours of the best improvised live art you will see in the city. This unique event raises money and gives hope to disenfranchised Chicago families on Christmas day.
Improvisational games, scenes and songs inspired by sleep deprivation will accompany performances by the following musical acts:
* 8pm Jeff Tweedy
* 10:30pm Groupon’s founder Andrew Mason & Steve Albini
* 12am JC Brooks and the Uptown Sound
* 2am Joan Of Arc
* 5am Jeff Parker
* 7:30am Sally Timms & Jon Langford
* 1pm Robbie Fulks
* 3pm Bill “Sweet Pea” Callahan
* 5pm The BlistersRaffle prizes will be available along with some of the most incredible auction items ever donated. Think…
* Iggy Pop’s original lyric book & artwork
* Two tickets to see SNL with a personal tour from Fred Armisen
* A lifetime pass for two to live events at Chicago’s Lincoln Hall
* A day in the studio with Steve Albini
* A private concert by Jeff Tweedy in your home with 29 of your closest friends (last year this auction item generated $23,000)
This Saturday at Schubas, My Gold Mask is playing a show to celebrate the release of their new album, A Million Miles (From Where We Were Last). You can buy the record on vinyl this Saturday at the show, or download it right now. I shot the cover, which is such a treat to see on a 12″ record. Greta and Jack and I made a video together last year for their song Violet Eyes. Below is the cover shot (top) as well as a promo photo.
John Stirratt and Patrick Sansone’s band The Autumn Defense has a new album, Once Around, that Yep Roc is releasing today. I shot promo photographs to accompany the new record; outtake below.
Also, a book of Sansone’s SX-70 photography was recently published, called 100 Polaroids.
Last July I shot portraits of gospel legend Mavis Staples–with another Chicago favorite, Wilco front man Jeff Tweedy–for a Bob Mehr penned feature in the November issue of Mojo. The duo have quite a rapport together that was really fun to document. Tweedy produced Staples’ new record, You Are Not Alone.
This was not the first time working with any of these folks. Before he relocated to Memphis to write a music column for the Commercial Appeal, Mehr lived in Chicago and wrote for the Reader, where we collaborated on a bunch of articles, including a Wilco cover story and a 2004 piece on Staples. The picture below was shot in Mavis’ home for that 2004 article. I want to be like her when I grow up.
I’m excited to have a double page spread in last Saturday’s Guardian Weekend magazine. This was a really fun assignment–not only did I get to shoot Violent J and Shaggy 2 Dope (aka Insane Clown Posse) in a swimming pool, but I also had a beer and a chat with the article’s writer, Jon Ronson, who wrote one of my favorite books (The Men Who Stare at Goats). For those keeping track at home, this makes two posts in a row about Welshmen named Jon.
If you’re curious about the way of the Juggalo, checkout this video made by Derek Erdman, whose mom was hip to Juggalos before that topic trended.
(Behind the scenes photo by Paul Kjelland.)
I recently visited Jon Langford at his art studio and filmed a performance of Strange Ways to Win Wars, a track from his new Bloodshot record, Old Devils. His talented accomplices here are Jim Elkington and Tawny Newsome. Thanks to Nancy Bardawil and Aadam Jacobs on camera and audio, respectively. If any music journalists are reading this, 1) god help you, and 2) if you ever interview Langford, you can be the first to ask: “Why are you such a fat Welsh bastard?”
I shot Chris Black, frontman of Dawnbringer, for this week’s Reader. The top picture is the one the Reader published; the photographs below were alternates I submitted.
Joel and Ruth of Bastardgeist recently stopped by my studio for pictures. They’ll be playing at the Iceland Airwaves festival next month. Brainlove Records is releasing their debut.
Last Saturday’s Mad Decent Block Party at the Hideout, shot for the Reader.
Michelle and Nat with panty cannons
Fans
Maluca
Freddie Gibbs
Bosco Delrey
Bunny Delrey
Blaqstarr
I have a few photographs in the Art of Touring show (“A multi-media exhibition of work by musicians, inspired life on the road while touring”) that opens tomorrow night at Johalla Projects in Chicago, including the two above: The Artist Sometimes Known as Prince, from a 1993 Chicago Theater performance, and Cat Power at the Pitchfork Music Festival in 2007.
Participating artists include Ken Vandermark, Pat Sansone (Wilco, Autumn Defense), Tim Rutili (Red Red Meat, Califone), and Steve Krakow (Plastic Crimewave Sound, The Secret History of Chicago Music). A list of all artists can be viewed here.
Opening Reception: July 16. 2010, 7-11pm
July 16. 2010 – August 7th. 2010
Johalla Projects
1561 N Milwaukee Ave
Chicago, IL 60622
Very sad news: Chicago jazz legend Fred Anderson has died. I had the honor to photograph Anderson several times; above is a shot taken at the new Velvet Lounge, and below is the album cover for Duets 2001 which I shot at the original location (both pictures shot for the Thrill Jockey label). Fred was beloved by countless fans and fellow musicians–Chicago won’t be the same without him.
Update: Check out Peter Margasak’s obit at the Reader.
Been really busy–I just finished moving my studio to the Little Village neighborhood on Chicago’s south side, and have been working a lot: last month I shot a doozy of an assignment for the Guardian‘s Sunday magazine (which I’ll post once it’s published); I’ve been photographing regularly for the Reader; shot promo pics for Claire Massey; took pictures for Lula and Nightwood restaurants; and last weekend I took production stills on the set of Jim Sikora’s film “I’ll Die Tomorrow” as well as shooting video for Plush and My Gold Mask. Also did the camera work for “Cousins,” a short film by Mike Finch that debuts tonight at Webster Place.
Here’s a photo from an assignment I had a couple weeks ago, shooting promo shots for recording artist Vegaz Taelor. His mom, Cheryl Lynette did a fantastic job as stylist and wardrobe designer. Vegaz, Cheryl, and the models were all really fun to work with. (Update: Vegaz’s father, B. Murphy, is also a talented and prolific musician who has performed with many outfits including Chocolate Syrup, The Osmonds, and The Platters.)
Earlier this month I shot some swell metal bands at the Bottom Lounge, for the Reader’s Photo Pit. Top two are Black Breath, bottom photo is Coalesce.
Last November, in my pal Brian Belknap‘s San Francisco garage, I filmed the abundantly talented singer/songwriter/multi-instrumentalist performing his song Junkyard. Bill Paxton’s character in Adam Rifkin‘s strange film The Dark Backward was based on Brian. You can check out his music here.
Update: you can download 3 albums from Brian’s band Turpentine, for free (!) here.
(The resolution of this clip is very high. It should help to click play and then click pause, then wait for the video to load before hitting play again. Also, if you click on the arrows next to the word Vimeo you can watch it full screen.)
I met my good friend Daniel Carlson in a high school photography class–we bonded over a mutual snobbery for Ilford film over Kodak. He was just in town so we took press shots to promote his stellar new record Aviary Jackson. It’s available now for download, and in June you can get the CD, which features gorgeous artwork (including a 20 page booklet) by Karl Jensen.
I shot the lovely and talented Samba Mapangala and Nathaniel Braddock of the fabulous Occidental Brothers Dance Band International for the cover of this week’s Chicago Reader. In addition I shot Mission of Burma and Orquestra Contemporanea de Olinda for the Photo Pit page in the same issue.
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