SUSTO // Louisville, KT
SUSTO and Cereus Bright -- Zanzabar | Louisville, KY | 3 February 2017
Photos Courtesy of: Emily May
SUSTO are in the midst of a tour in support of their latest album & I'm Fine Today. They stopped by Zanzabar in Louisville, KY on Friday night and played a long and varied set to a packed room of enthusiastic fans. They were in good spirits, towards each other as well as the crowd, seeming genuinely surprised at the amount of people who were packed into the venue. The crowd was treated to a fun and energetic set full of their favorite songs, both old and new. SUSTO is a phenomenal live band and I think we can expect to continue seeing great things from them!
SUSTO:
Cereus Bright:
Interview with Jenna Desmond of SUSTO:
1) You all are about to embark on a fairly lengthy tour! Is this your first headlining tour? What are you looking forward to the most?
Yea! We just started tour on January 13th, and will be on the road until April-May, (probably forever). We've done a few small headlining runs throughout last year, but this is definitely our biggest headlining tour. I'm looking forward to reuniting with people we've met along the way, and old friends who live in new places; getting out on the west coast again.
2) For part of your tour, you will have a few dates opening for The Lumineers. To be able to open for such a huge band is a great opportunity! How did that come about?
That's right. We'll be on tour with them for the whole month of March, starting in Texas and headed to Edmonton in Canada. It is a beautiful opportunity, we're all very grateful to be on the tour and to be playing in front of so many people. We share the same booking agency as The Lumineers. They were looking for support on this tour, and heard both of our records. They really liked it so they handpicked us to join their tour.
3) How has the reception been so far to the new album? What inspired you all to create a different sound for this album?
The reception has been really great. We're all really excited about how many people have been coming out to shows and already know the words to the new songs, with the record only being out for two weeks. The sound of the new record isn't different, per se, but a progression and exploration, incorporating more genres of music. Our producer really pushed us in expanding on the sound of the first record.
4) What was the process like when making the new album? Was it a collaborative process or did everyone have specific contributions?
We recorded the album in a storage unit in downtown Charleston. Justin Osborne, as the lead singer and primary songwriter, has created the SUSTO narrative based on anecdotes from his life that depict the painful and beautiful moments of human existence. We all really relate to these songs, and I think it unifies the writing process. Justin will bring a song to the studio and it takes off from there. In terms of collaboration, Johnny Delaware played both songwriter and co-producer, and had a role in creating a lot of the soundscape on the new record; Marshall, our drummer, wrote one of my favorite songs on the new record "Diamond's Icaro." Corey studied music in college, he's a musical wizard. He was responsible for a lot of the instrumentation on record and writing out parts for the strings. Wolfgang Zimmerman, our producer, is also a ghost member of the band, he is a huge part of the creative process, he and Justin have been working together for a long time. As for me, I actually joined SUSTO, right around the time the record was finishing up, but I did get to sing some back-up vocals on the record.
5) How has everyone adjusted to no longer having Johnny Delaware in the band?
It's been a positive thing on both ends. We have a new guitar player, Dries Vandenberg, and we're really excited to have him along. He’s a talented guitarist and people really like his vibe.
Johnny has since started a new project called,'The Artisanals.’ We’re all happy watching him pursue his path as a front man, and hopefully run into him on the road.
6) Which festivals are you playing this year? Are there any that you all are especially excited for?
We just found out that we're playing Pickathon in Oregon, alongside some acts like Charles Bradley, Dinosaur Jr., Deer Tick, Andy Shauf, Sunflower Bean etc. There are some major festival dates in the works, so keep on the look out for us this festival season.
7) How do you all come up with the ideas for your music videos?
Dries, our new guitar player is also a photographer/videographer. He worked with us to come up with some ideas for the "Waves" video. We ended up shooting a lot the footage in our hometown, Charleston, SC.
For "Chillin' on the Beach with My Best Friend Jesus Christ," a lot of the ideas stemmed from Justin growing up in a Christian household, and wanting to release a playful music video for a summertime single.
8) How have things changed for the band now that you all have national managements? Has it been hard to break away from the DIY approach or has the transition been smooth?
Justin until recently had been booking his own tours in bands since he was 16, including SUSTO's tours. So working with Paradigm for booking has been huge for us, in terms of getting in front of people, and playing killer shows all over the nation. We're working with Missing Piece/Caroline too, but this record is still an independent release for us, and there still are a lot "DIY" vibes. We all feel very grateful to have such a strong team behinds us.
9) How long have you been involved in the music industry? Have you found yourself facing any specific challenges as a woman in the industry?
I had played in a few bands before SUSTO, but none that were serious touring bands.
I've had sound guys have to double check with me that I'm in the band, or men say stupid sexual things to me (but that's a given). I think the biggest challenge I've faced is learning how to be more assertive about what I want. A lot of women in their careers and life in general are focused on making other people happy and sacrificing their needs to avoid conflict. I've definitely been intimidated to speak up for myself at times, and then at the the end of the day I'm unhappy. Being on the road and performing every night has definitely taught me to give way less of a shit about what people think, just do what I need to do and be present, instead of projecting fake fears onto myself.
Yukon Blonde // Victoria, BC
Yukon Blonde -- Sugar Nightclub | Victoria, BC | 20 January 2017
Photos Courtesy of: Leanne Green
Frank Turner // Los Angeles, CA
Frank Turner -- The Wiltern | Los Angeles, CA | 28 January 2017
Photos Courtesy of: Kathy Flynn
Three years ago someone gave me a ticket to see Frank Turner at the Fonda Theater in L.A, and my life was forever changed. I watched from the balcony as Frank poured his heart into the audience, and they poured it all back, singing along as one to each and every song. I wondered how I had missed him until then, and vowed to never watch Frank from the balcony again.
Since then I have seen 13 shows, including three I travelled out of state for. When you travel out of state, you sometimes think you are a big deal, “Oh, I travelled a long way for this.” With Frank Turner, you realize most of the crowd has travelled a long way for it. Travelling from show to show is a thing Frank Turner fans do. His audience is fervidly devoted, and after your first show, you understand why. No one, except possibly Springsteen in his prime, puts on a show like Frank Turner.
At the WIltern, Frank Turner took the stage alone with his guitar for his newest song, “Sand in the Gears.” It’s a powerful protest song, turning despair and escapism into action, and, even though the song is brand new, and only played live on this current tour, most of the audience already knew the words, and sang along.
After the simple opening, the Sleeping Souls, Frank’s longtime backing band, bounced on stage, bring the energy up to 11 as they ripped into “The Next Storm,” off of Frank’s most recent album, Positive Songs for Negative People, followed by “I Still Believe” which featured opening act and all around ace songwriter Will Varley joining Frank on stage for a harmonica solo. Frank then proceeded to power through high energy renditions of all his best known songs for the next 90 minutes, while the crowd danced and sang along to everything. The set varies somewhat every night, and the Los Angeles crowd was treated to a brand new rendition of “A Silent Key,” Frank’s ode to Christa McAuliffe, the teacher who died in the Challenger space shuttle explosion 31 years ago to the day.
Opening acts were John K. Samson from the Canadian band The Weakerthans, the Arkells, and Will Varley. All were absolutely wonderful and worth showing up early for.
104.5 Winter Jam // Philadelphia, PA
Grouplove, Phantogram, Judah & The Lion, Capital Cities, LP, Civil Youth, Run River North, Andorra -- XFinity Live | Philadelphia, PA | 15 January 2017
Photos Courtesy of: Alexandra Healey
Grouplove:
Phantogram:
Judah & The Lion:
Capital Cities:
LP:
Civil Youth:
Run River North:
Andorra:
Run the Jewels // Cleveland, OH
Run the Jewels -- House of Blues Cleveland | Cleveland, OH | 14 January 2017
Photos Courtesy of: Judie Vegh
Run the Jewels brought down the sold out Cleveland House of Blues on January 14th. From the moment Killer Mike and El-P stepped out into the lights amidst the thick marijuana haze, the crowd went wild, throwing up the iconic RTJ "fist and gun" hand gesture. The duo, with support from DJ Trackstar, launched their 17-song setlist with "Talk to Me" off of the newest album, RTJ3, released this past Christmas.
Throughout the show, Killer Mike and El-P never let up on their energy, sticking close to the edge of the stage, leaning over into the unrelenting fans who danced and bounced through each floor-quaking beat.
Despite the fun, RTJ came with a message for politically tumultuous times in the encore with "Kill Your Masters". As Killer Mike rapped, "Hell coming and we got about a mile / Until it's over I remain hostile," the crowd pushed closer to the stage, taking in the energy and receiving the message loud and clear.
Joan of Arc // Record Release Show Chicago
Joan of Arc recently had their release show for "He's Got The Whole This Land Is Your Land In His Hands," at the historic Chicago Athletic Association's Stagg Court.
Victoria Sanders was there to celebrate and document the night with the band.
All photos courtesy of Victoria Sanders (Instagram | Website).
Bobby Long // NYC
Bobby Long -- Mercury Lounge | NYC | 14 January 2017
Photos Courtesy of: Stefanie Dabs
Our Favorite Shows of 2016
We asked The Photo Ladies: what was your favorite show of 2016? See the responses below.
Happy New Year!
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Rachel Naomi
Mudcrutch (a.k.a. Tom Petty with two members of the Heartbreakers)
Webster Hall (New York City), June 10, 2016
"Tom Petty is in my top three favorite artists of all time and I've had the honor of getting to know his band through the years and got to photograph a few of their East Coast shows this summer. These shows were amongst the best of the year because these guys simply can't be beat when it comes to live music...they transport you to another world."
Jessica Williams
Twenty One Pilots
Madison Square Garden (New York City), August 11, 2016
"Twenty One Pilots have always been my favorite band and have held a special place in my heard since I discovered them, four years ago. After trying multiple times to photograph them, I finally got the chance to at one of the most historic and monumental venues in New York City!"
Emma Watts
The Struts
The Vanguard (Tulsa, OK), April 23, 2016
"The Struts has to be one of the most memorable and fun shows of 2016. It was only my third time getting a photo pass, I had only heard one of their songs, and it was my first time attending a show alone. I wasn't sure how it'd go and I thought I'd feel out of my element, but I actually ended up having an amazing time. The show was sold out, and I shot from the crowd since there was no photo pit, so it was really cool to see how engaged the band and crowd were. They're a really unique band and give off true '70s rock concert vibes, so I left the show a huge fan (I've seen them again twice because of that night!)."
Ester Segretto
The Cure
Madison Square Garden (New York City), June 16, 2016
"The Cure were at the top of my photography bucket list for years. I'd seen them live many times over the years, but this was the first time I was able to get credentialed for their show. I felt 16 again. I was overwhelmed with excitement and nerves but I stayed focused on the job even when our third and final song in the photo pit turned out to be 'Pictures of You.' After we were escorted out of the photo pit I promptly made my way to my seat, and cried!"
Kelly Young
Grouplove
Bottlerock (Napa, CA music festival), May 27, 2016
"Grouplove's Bottlerock set was their first live performance in a while and it really showed. Along with many other members of the crowd, I had been waiting to see them live for years, and the energy was incredible. Because Bottlerock is entirely outdoors and Grouplove's set took place around sunset, the dusk light made for a really beautiful atmosphere - and good lighting for photos!"
Andrea Massazza
Be The Wolf
Legend Club (Milano, Italy), November 25, 2016
"It was the release party of Be The Wolf's second album 'Rouge.' Being a local band, seeing the crowd knowing every lyric (of both old and new material) and giving back THAT amount of energy to the band, was really awesome. I've known these guys for a while now and seeing them keep growing just give me joy!"
Jenn Kostesky
Henry Wagons
Interstellar Rodeo (Winnipeg, Manitoba), August 14, 2016
"Henry Wagons had the difficult task of opening the last day of the three-day Interstellar Rodeo festival, but he came out and delivered the set of the festival! He drank a bottle of the wine that was paired with his music, stole a beer from a server in the audience, tossed an audience member's hat across the festival, and covered Bruce Springsteen, all before 2 pm. Needless to say, Henry Wagons was a photographer's dream, really making my job easy. It was really great seeing an artist take a 1 pm set on a hot Sunday in August and turn it into a real party!"
Carolyn Lederach
Daughter
Union Transfer (Philadelphia, PA), March 3, 2016
"Daughter has been one of my favourite artists for years. I’ve seen them at least five times by now, but the show in March was the first time I got to shoot them since I started doing concert photography. There’s that weird nervous / excited feeling of wanting it to be perfect, and also trying not to cry cause it’s Daughter. I also knew like ten people at that show which never happens. We all cried together afterwards, it was great."
Laura Sedor
Ghost
The Castle Theater (Bloomington IL), April 19, 2016
"I love the drama of a heavy metal act with costumes. Every photo is telling a story, and looks so different from your average rock show. Ghost had just won a Grammy a month or so back and there was a huge crowd. So fun. I'm a fan of metal."
Victoria Sanders
FKA twigs
Pitchfork Music Festival (Chicago, IL), July 17, 2016
"FKA twigs puts on the most amazing show, audibly and visibly. Every movement is carefully calculated, and in union with the music."
Kathy Flynn
The Struts
Fonda Theater (Hollywood, CA), November 3, 2016
"I have been dying to shoot The Struts since they first came to the States. I saw one of their first U.S. gigs at the Troubadour in 2015, where they shot to the top of my bands-I-want-to-shoot list due to their style and presence. The Fonda show, which was my fourth time seeing them live, did not disappoint. The Struts are true rocks stars and put on a helluva show. And they are incredibly fun to shoot."
Whitney Hensley
Brand New
The Field at Verizon Theatre (Grand Prairie, TX), July 22, 2016
"This was a bucket list shoot for me. Theres absolutely nothing better than getting to photograph your all time favorite band. Hearing that they will be calling it quits in 2018 makes having that moment that much better. Another reason this show was so great was that I finally got to meet one of the band members before the show!"
Sara Feigin
Romes
Mercury Lounge (New York City), June 16, 2016
"This band completely blew me away, their energy completely filled the room. While the lighting wasn't the best, I created some of my favourite shots at this show just due to the bands insane stage presence. This was one of those concerts, where when they finished, I wanted to quit my job and follow them around for the rest of my life."
Vanessa Jertschewske
Gabrielle Aplin
Albert Hall (Manchester, UK), January 28, 2016
"It was the first show I got to photograph in Manchester, a city I really adore. Gabrielle Aplin is one of those artists you just cherish for the fantastic songwriting. Shared the pit with some wonderful photographers and got to shoot the entire show - so it was just a dream for all the obvious reasons."
Jordan Hefler
Knuckle Puck
Scout Bar (Houston, TX), March 4, 2016
"I had been obsessively listening to Knuckle Puck's 2015 album 'Copacetic' and heard they would be part of the AP World Tour with Neck Deep, Like Pacific, and State Champs. I'm from Baton Rouge, so my boyfriend and I were determined to make the drive to Houston to see them. I was so excited about seeing/photographing Knuckle Puck that I actually found photos where my arm was in them....because I must have been punching it up in the air so frequently (oops). There were so many stage divers and crowd surfers that kept knocking me over in the pit but it was the most exciting show I've shot to date!"
Clarissa Villondo
Brand New
Merriweather Post Pavilion (Columbia, Maryland), July 12, 2016
"Brand New has been one of my favorite bands for over a decade. Honestly, 'The Devil & God Are Raging Inside Me' was such an influential album on me and so it was great that they allowed photographers this year. I was finally able to photograph one of the most influential bands in my life and the light was actually cooperative."
Edwina Hay
The Damned
The Gramercy Theatre (New York City), October 30, 2016
"The Damned celebrated their 40th anniversary with three US shows. I attended their final one in New York and the band played for nearly three hours (two sets with a 20 minute intermission in between and an encore). Photographers were allowed to shoot the first three songs of both sets. I ended up being really happy with all of my shots and it was the perfect way to spend the night before Halloween. Plus, the legendary band ended up sharing my gallery for Impose Magazine with their fans which was another highlight."
Annette Holloway
Skillet
The National (Richmond, VA), October 16, 2016
"Incredible show featuring songs from my favorite album of 2016. The new production made for great photos, plus the new music and great friends made this my favorite show of 2016."
Kate Scott Daly
Motion City Soundtrack
The Metro (Chicago, IL), September 18, 2016
"This was the band's final show after a nearly 20-year career. Photographing this show felt like I was actually snapping a little moment in history."
Abi Raymaker
Coldplay
Made in America Festival (Philadelphia, PA), September 4, 2016
"I was super bummed that I got turned away from the photo pit for Coldplay's set, but it ended up being a blessing in disguise, because this crowd shot is one of my favorites! The whole festival was so much fun to shoot and attend!"
Carter Howe
Dragonette
Royale (Boston, MA), December 11, 2016
"I shot this show for Bandsintown, and hadn’t had a lot of previous knowledge on the Toronto-based band Dragonette. I only knew of the band from a few tracks they’d been featured on. What astounded me was their ability to bring an arena-type visual and sonic experience to a 1,000-cap venue, and a crowd of about 100. They incorporated LEDs and mirrors in an incredibly refined and enticing way that rivaled the visuals of artists with exponentially larger fanbases. Their light show with eclectic, clean dance music made the crowd go crazy, and eventually made me fall in love with their music and the experience of shooting them."
Erika Reinsel
Kid Cudi
The Fillmore (Philadelphia, PA) and Terminal 5 (New York City), February 8 and 10, 2016
"I was asked to shoot by Kid Cudi & his team, which was pretty honoring in itself considering he doesn't usually allow photographers at his shows. I was first asked to shoot his Philly date, but then they also invited me to his NY show. Recently, Kid Cudi used three of my images for his merch from these shows. Aside from that, he puts on an amazing performance with so much energy, and has some of the most passionate fans!"
Sophia Ragomo
The Struts
TLA (Philadelphia, PA), December 16, 2016
"The Struts never fail to disappoint me. Their music is the perfect mix of old and new, and their energetic stage presence captivates fans of all ages. Having loved their music for about two years now, it was such a treat being able to see them perform and photograph their fabulous show."
Krystina Gabrielle
Halfnoise
DC9 (Washington, D.C.), November 9, 2016
"It was hard to pick a favorite show of 2016 but I will say this show put me in the best mood while shooting. It was the day after the election and all day I felt pretty bad and didn't even want to be in a room full of people. Shooting Halfnoise's show was such a nice break from reality and Zac put on a really great set. I also loved the shots I got from the show and briefly spoke with Zac afterwards and it was nice to interact with such a positive and upbeat person."
Judie Vegh
Juliette Lewis and the Licks
Riot Fest (Denver, CO), September 4, 2016
"Riot Fest Denver was a phenomenal weekend this year. So many great acts. Although I didn't have a press pass, I decided to take matters into my own hands and capture all the bands that I really wanted to see. Juliette Lewis & the Licks were playing on Sunday, and I had missed them when they rolled through Cleveland the previous month. Hearing such great things about her, I wanted to see Juliette live. She exceeded my expectations. What a show woman! I ended up getting really close to the stage, and was able to snap a photo just as she nosedived into the crowd. That moment was complete luck, but caught the attention of Juliette Lewis and is now the cover of her latest EP, 'Future Deep!'"
Brigid Gallagher
Patti Smith
The Riviera Theatre (Chicago, IL), December 30, 2016
"Patti Smith celebrated her 70th birthday in her hometown performing "Horses" in full with her band. To witness this special moment, let alone photograph it, was a dream. Seriously, I wish every night was a Patti Smith concert. It's church, a rally and a show rolled all into one. Much thanks to the birthday girl for ending a tough year on the highest of notes."