2015 Music Recap w/ Favorite Photos

In 2015, John Brandon of San Fermin, Ty Taylor of Vintage Trouble, Colm Querney, Kellindo Parker (who plays with Janelle Monáe) and Al Kooper (who plays with Bob Dylan) were among some of the musicians I photographed who sent me personal messages to let me know they appreciate my work. It’s a great feeling to have the artists themselves find your work. And though I didn’t hear from her, even Mariah Carey probably saw my work on the Village Voice.

One up and coming band, Secret Weapons, found my photos and reached out, inviting me to come check out their show. After seeing them a few times and getting to know Danny and Gerry, it was great to hear they signed to a label before the year was out. Congrats fellas.

In the same period, I’ve gotten my work published (even if it was just once) in more places, including in and on Noisey, Pancakes & Whiskey, Fangoria, ReverbNation, Rockin’ On, Open Ears, the Sundance Institute and who knows where else.

It helps that I’ve been seeing a lot of music. Although I don’t have an auditor, I try to keep track of what I’ve seen in a year. Returning to the Newport Folk Festival and seeing a ton of great music in Fort Adams State Park was one of the highlights. I look forward to going again in 2016.

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Apollo Theater Spring Gala with Nile Rodgers

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The Apollo Theater is a legendary music venue and on June 8th they held their 10th annual Spring Gala event featuring “performances by Nile Rodgers and CHIC, Ne-Yo, Rosanne Cash, Luke James, The Soil, and Kimberly Nichole as well as presentations of awards for civic leadership to The Madison Square Garden Company and The Ford Foundation and a post-event party.” I photographed the main event (not the red carpet or after-party) for The Village Voice. It was the first time I photographed any of the aforementioned artists in performance, but capturing Rodgers was the real treat for me.

As Lindsey Rhoades put it in the review, “Truly, though, the Apollo Gala belonged to Chic. Rodgers lovingly described his initiation into the Apollo family at the tender age of nineteen, when Screamin’ Jay Hawkins popped out of a coffin onstage to prank the unsuspecting guitarist. Delighted to finally play his own tunes on stage, Chic began with a rousing version of “Everybody Dance,” the first song he ever recorded.”

Check out some of unused performance photos after the jump.

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