Alternative Tentacles 30th Anniversary Show | Part 2

Mitch — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 10:43:17 +0000

Continuing on from yesterday’s post… after M.I.A., New York’s Star F*ing Hipsters (hey, its a family blog) took the stage for a high-energy and varied set. After that came U.K.-style political-tinged commentary from Bath, England’s own Citizen Fish, featuring former frontman of the influential Subhumans, Dick Lucas. And finally it was time to make way for the man himself as Jello Biafra and the Guantanamo School of Medicine took the stage to demonstrate once again why Jello is such a legend. Stirring performance.

~ Star F*ing Hipsters ~

Stza!

First an impression of a bunny, and then a knock-knock joke. It was a variety show!

Quick jump outside to visit the culture between sets.

~ Citizen Fish ~

This is Max. He flew in from Quebec City for this. He seems happy.

The Guantanamo School of Medicine’s axes lie in wait. They seem so peaceful…

Nick (M.I.A.) talks shop with Phil (Citizen Fish) while clearing the stage for Jello.

Because there’s always room for Jello.

~ Jello Biafra & the Guantanamo School of Medicine ~

The many faces of Jello Biafra…

Jello is a great motivational speaker.

Reach out and touch someone.

Here’s the crowd participation part of the show.

Surveillance photo of friend Skøt enjoying the beautiful chaos.

Members of Citizen Fish enjoy from the sidelines.

And then it was over…

UNTIL, M.I.A. returned to the stage to back Jello in some Dead Kennedy’s classics.

They were well received indeed.

Even Pete smiled on the proceedings.

Happy Birthday, Alternative Tentacles.

Alternative Tentacles 30th Anniversary Incest-A-Thon | Part 1 – M.I.A.

Mitch — Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:20:02 +0000

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!

ZumaPhoto » concert

Alternative Tentacles 30th Anniversary Show | Part 2

Alternative Tentacles 30th Anniversary Incest-A-Thon | Part 1 – M.I.A.