So here’s a bit of a diversion from the usual…
Back in 1979 American punk bands had just a pickle of a time getting records made and distributed. One of the most active, influential and notorious of these plucky groups was The Dead Kennedys – true pioneers of hardcore. In the true spirit of the punk DIY ethic, they started their own label, Alternative Tentacles, which rapidly grew to be the home of dozens of varied acts with an eventual catalog of hundreds of ground breaking, important albums. The DKs and many of the other bands that Alternative Tentacles carried were a huge part of my early life and the memories are so vivid that they seem like yesterday…. Well, they weren’t! They were exactly 30 years ago! To celebrate, Alternative Tentacles invited a representative cross-section of acts from throughout its history. My buddy (and amazing photographer in his own right) Nick Adams is the guitarist for one of those invited bands, M.I.A. Nick was kind enough to invite me out for the show! Part 2 is here.
Pre-show anticipation and culture.
Paul noted that punk love is the truest love there is. So true. Paul is wise. He’s like an owl.
This is the back of Jello Biafra’s favorite stage manager, Pete. The man was a machine during the show!
Nick and his lovely and talented wife Signe enjoy a bit of cool air while waiting for drummer Larry to arrive.
Larry experienced some of the inexplicable delays for which SFO airport is so well known and adored and there were a few tense moments
as to whether M.I.A. would get to their soundcheck.
I was under instructions to photographically shame Larry upon his arrival, but he’s so good-natured that he wasn’t buying in.
I include this because once the house-lights go down you can’t get an appreciation of this historic theater.
And then its a waiting game. Here Nick practices his soulful look.
Nick, Larry and one of the members of Houston’s Molotov Compromise (in the mirror) hang out in the dressing room.
Todd (vocals) gets a shot of Paul (bass) during his method-influenced, pre-gig ritual.
It really worked! I actually believed he was a bass player and he never broke character once all night!
Finally, the call to arms…
Punk and thrash bands are particularly tough to shoot because they never stop moving!
While not technically great, I thought this shot conveyed M.I.A.’s kineticism
Todd…so angry.
Yeah, so the focus on this is off, but I really love the expression that Nick makes during heavy string bending!
Jesse at work.
Paul triumphant!
What can I say – these guys still kick out the jams! M.I.A. is available for weddings and bar mitvahs.
Now go check out Star F*cking Hipsters, Citizen Fish & Jello Biafra & The Guantanamo School of Medicine in part two!
Solid stuff man, great shots. Looks like you had a blast!
Really crisp photos for live shots. Well done.
Very nice pictures. Was a great weekend of shows!
Hey, thanks for checking out my pictures. Flash was just a 580EXII Speedlite, with an omni-bounce, on camera. Tried to bounce it of the walls and ceiling when possible. I hate using a flash, but the GAMH is just too dark. Again, great pictures, and cheers!
~Raymond
Pretty sure that Erik would die if he knew you went to this show. He is a HUGE alternative tenticles fan. I think he gave me a button and sweatshirt when we very first started dating.
What a romantic!
It is with great sadness that I report the passing of Todd Sampson last night. Details are sketchy still, but Todd evidently was having some breathing and overheating problems following M.I.A.’s performance in Las Vegas last night. Todd was taken to hospital, but died early morning.
My heart goes out to all of Todd’s family, friends and fans.