Tuesday, Jan. 26th 2010
The Northwest Music Scene in Black and White
Photos & Review By Nathan Watters
I’ve been shooting a lot more film lately. While I haven’t been using it to photograph concerts these days, I’ve noticed while sifting through my digital files after a show, that I’m gravitating toward the use of black and white more and more in my music photography. It could be nostalgia for my old college film classes, or maybe it’s the time of year; all of the images in this photo essay were taken during the fall and winter when everything has that cold, grey shadow cast upon it. But concerts are not typically cold or grey. They are bright and loud, full of color and music, and usually packed with hundreds, if not thousands of intensely energetic fans.
Something about a black and white photo allows all of those elements to be seen even more clearly than in a color image. Where colors may distract the eye, the black and white image lends a more intense focus upon the subject itself. Emotion and expression are revealed from beneath the contrasting lights and darks without disruption.
When I shoot a concert, my objective for the viewer of my photographs is to experience the show without actually having been there. Much of the time, this means including in the picture the multitude of bright colors and the ever-changing prism of lights in order for the viewer to see the show as it occurred visually. But there is a moment while watching live music when one sees beyond the colors and lights, finding a deeper connection with the music and musicians on stage. It is this moment I’ve attempted to capture with these photos, a moment that can so easily go unnoticed behind a colorful show of lights and fog, when a musician gives everything they’ve got for something they love. The soul, exposed. Black and white.
The Dandy Warhols @ Neumos - Seattle
Zia's hair was in nonstop motion the entire show. I did my best to capture it here.
Monotonix @ Neumos - Seattle
Charles Peterson has always been major influence to me. He captures a lot of motion and movement in his photographs from the early 90s of bands like Nirvana, Hole, and Black Flag, creating images that are sometimes nearly unrecognizable, except for a few key elements. Those key elements were usuallly instruments or microphones, neither of which you see much of during the first 30 minutes of a Monotonix show, pictured here.
Death By Stereo @ Satyricon - Portland
Death By Stereo never, ever fail to put on an insanely hectic show. I've seen these guys multiple times, and Efram Schulz (pictured) is constantly going full on. At 35, he has more energy than most hardcore and punk rock singers who are ten years younger. It was 106 degrees in Portland the day of this show, and even with so many people packed in to the tiny venue, Efram showed no signs of letting up throughout the entire set.
Propagandhi @ Neumos - Seattle
The message and delivery of Propagandhi's politically charged punk rock has only gotten stronger over the past 20 years they've been together as a band. At this show, bassist Todd Kowalski's energy was incredibly visible with every sweat-spraying thrust of his head. You could tell he was so stoked on the show and being there that night.
Prayers For Atheists @ Studio 7 - Seattle
Having booked this show at the last minute, there were literally six people in attendance, not including the other bands who played. It amazed me to see Jared Paul put so much in to his singing, despite the small size of the crowd.
Hockey @ the Vera Project - Seattle
Ben Grubin seemed to use his hands to sing just as much as his voice. They were constantly in motion. It makes me wonder what might happen if he didn't let some of that energy flow out through his arms.
Visqueen – Deck The Hall Ball 2009
Visqueen kicked off 107.7 the End's Deck The Hall Ball 2009 - they all seemed pretty stoked to be playing to a crowd of 7,500 people.
Lucero @ the Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR
Sometimes at a show, I see things that aren't necessarily music related, but remind me of the sound of the music being played. If a white cotton v-neck and a black leather chain-wallet hanging out of the back pocket of a pair of black wranglers could make music, they would sound just like Lucero.
Squirrel Nut Zippers @ the Triple Door - Seattle
Je Widenhouse rocking the trumpet for Squirrel Nut Zippers, a band I'd almost forgotten about after 1997.
B. Dolan @ Nectar Lounge - Seattle
B. Dolan puts together amazing angst-charged rhymes and he raps flawlessly on stage. I felt like he was really letting down his guard at this show, letting a lot of emotion flow in to his lyrics.
30 Seconds To Mars – Deck The Hall Ball 2009
Jared Leto may be the lead man of 30 Seconds To Mars, but the guitar player was way more fun to watch.
Phoenix – Deck The Hall Ball 2009
Phoenix were probably the best act that played this night and so much fun to watch on stage. It's as if singer Thomas Mars is teasing the crowd here - the reaching, grasping arms seem so desperate. At one point, Mars finally gave in and waded in the crowd for a sing-a-long.
Himsa @ Reid’s Pitstop – Longview, WA
This was taken back in 2005 at Reid's Pitstop, a tiny club in Longview. Himsa and Countdown To Life played together this night. Although both bands are now broken up, they remain legendary in the metal/hardcore scene. Jon Pettibone of Himsa always had a way of getting the crowd amped with his relentless release of energy while singing.
Street Dogs @ the Hawthorne Theatre – Portland, OR
I really like this finger pointing at Mike McColgan. You just know that person is singing along at the top of their lungs and caring about nothing else in the world at that very second. That's the moment.
Hockey @ the Vera Project - Seattle
Hockey's guitar player was completely mellow on stage, but played some of the most technical guitar parts. At the front of the stage with a 50mm lens was the perfect place to capture his mood.
Greg Attonito @ El Corazon – Seattle
Greg Attonito is the frontman for the Bouncing Souls, usually on stage with the rest of his band in front of hundreds of rowdy punk fans. On this night, he and his wife Shanti Wintergate played an acoustic set in front of about 15 people. They even rocked the ukulele on a couple of songs, including a cover of Sick Of It All's “Good Looking Out”.
Broadway Calls @ Reid’s Pitstop – Longview, WA
Reid's Pitstop is to Broadway Calls as Gilman St. is to Green Day. The band have grown a lot in the past 5 years, and so has their fan base. A fan leaps blindly in to the crowd from the stage where it all started. This was definitely one of their crazier shows I've been to.
Macklemore @ the High Dive – Seattle
This was my first time seeing Macklemore live. He's a fantastic performer. Watching him, you can tell he believes so strongly in each word he speaks and genuinely loves every second of what he does.
