This was the second show in a two-nighter in Portland. Another that was also packed with a high energy and sizable crowd for a cold Monday night in Maine. It makes me extremely proud when these bands visiting from around the country get to witness our audiences and our talented local acts (Shabti and Ethereal Rot).
Thanks Ghoul and Necrot for an awesome night. Don’t be strangers.
This was one of those crowds where you turn around and ask yourself, “How many fucking people are here?” It’s not that you don’t think these bands deserve this amount of people, it’s just that you feel grateful that there’s a scene this big in our little state and they all showed up.
It’s just great. That’s all. Also this show was nuts.
First time at the Rockwood venue in Boston. Intimate in the best way and especially for bands that call you to action. Whether it be to rock out to authentic grunge like the old days (superbloom) or to dance in the face of the army of vengeful neckbeard incels (soft cult). We demand connection and this tour holds your hand tight and tells you, “it’s okay, we love you.”
“I shot these for the Podioslave Podcast on January 26th, 2024. If you want to know if it was loud, don’t ask me because I am now deaf.” - Shawn
Cave In with Mouth Washington
I finally got Jonah Matranga to play in Portland Maine. Alongside some pretty awesome bands as well. Such a great show.
Shot for Dredge The House
Probably the most stacked line-up I’ve seen in Maine in a while. Just an insane show.
Greet Death / Wait / Beers Brosnan - Geno's Rock Club - April 3rd, 2023
“Life is hard, Be harder”
My favorite aspect of hardcore is the community. It’s a cathartic dance of expression that explodes with all that pent up shit we deal with on a daily basis. This specific tour of SMTB, Jesus Piece, Scowl, Zulu, and Trippjones emphasized that various sub-emotion of release. An out-of-body experience that fills the space above capacity. Essentially showing you, “You’re not alone, we’re all fucking sick of this shit. Lets explode together.”
Every act on this tour was at the top of their game. This was simply a special tour that spoke volumes of the state of heavy music.
If there’s one thing I look forward to shooting, it’s local hardcore/metal shows. That’s where I feel the most creative freedom and get to have my photos be a direct representative of the music. This show was no exception.
It had its own set of challenges. How do you photograph a band that sits on the floor? What if it’s all red stage lighting? How do you dodge crowdkillers while making sure your shit doesn’t break?
Ya know, just another day.
Bonus: I love the last show of Eddie from Body Void eating an RX bar on stage.
When your brother asks you, “You want to see a local metal show?” you say “Yes.”
This is Crusader, a thrash metal band that takes you back in time to dirty 80s dive bars filled with cheap beer and quaint hedonism.
It’s the kind of metal I want to hear that’s both fun and demonic; they nailed it.
I haven’t photographed a show in (thinks for a long time) almost a year. So when I got the opportunity to shoot not one but two bands that I grew up listening to as a teenager in Fishkill NY, I was pretty excited.
Both bands are, without a doubt, in peak form. Jumping around on stage, hitting all the right notes, and bringing a kind of enthusiasm and work ethic that you don’t see with younger bands these days. It made me admire their music even more.
Bastardane
Bastardane
Bastardane
Nonpoint
Nonpoint
Nonpoint
Nonpoint
Nonpoint
Nonpoint
Nonpoint
Sevendust
Sevendust
Sevendust
Sevendust
Sevendust
Sevendust
Sevendust
When I arrived to my new job in Portland, ME, I mentioned I liked to hike. What my coworkers heard was “I want to hike the tallest peak in the North East please!”
So on July 22nd, myself and 6 others from work started at 0900 and began climbing Mount Washington in New Hampshire.
Carrying my equipment proved to be…challenging. However the views at the summit, the experience of climbing a mountain, and sharing the moment with like-minded people was worth it all.
While the first hour was not exactly perfect photographing conditions (no clouds, too much shade), the midway point provided some nice cloud cover for some epic shots.
Anyway, I’m still hurting. I can’t wait to do it again.
I decided to do a complete overhaul of my website simply because I seeked advice on Reddit from fellow photographers on r/photography. What I got was brutal honesty and it was exactly what I needed. Sometimes you have release yourself to criticism to see what you’re not seeing.
Does that make sense?
Anyway, I’m back on the blog even if, like, one person is reading it.
So hello one person. I hope you’re okay. Keep on being awesome.
/Shawn
this was one for the books (as they say). probably one of the best shows of the year for me.