The writer Pete Brook posed a question last year at Pickathon for a Wired.com story: What makes a good music photograph? I’m quoted in the story, and yet, a year later and another Pickathon in the books, I still don’t know the answer. But last weekend, as I scurried around and split my time making pictures, managing… Continue reading Post Pickathon 2013
Category: music
T-Model Ford
My boys call each other Chicken Head sometimes when they’re arguing. I don’t really know if it’s an insult or not, so I let it slide. It could be worse. Their choice of words always reminds me of seeing blues man T-Model Ford work the crowd into a trance as he howled an extended version… Continue reading T-Model Ford
On pianos, organs and singing a song
We bought a piano a couple of years ago from a little shop in Southeast Portland called Immortal Piano. It was not for me, nor for Sara, but for our boys. We simply want them to enjoy having a piano in the house, to learn to read music and be able to pull out a… Continue reading On pianos, organs and singing a song
Post Pickathon Post 2012
The Barr Brothers on the Starlight Stage Here we are again. It’s been more than a week since Pickathon and I haven’t quite figured out what to say about the whole thing. It happens to me every year. But time passes and moments emerge. I was at some dear friends’ wedding the other night at… Continue reading Post Pickathon Post 2012
Pickathon 2012 – Now it begins
I’ve been watching and photographing the build up to Pickathon for the past two weeks, but it really only hit me last night that it’s about to happen. This amazing collaboration of talent will explode into action tomorrow. And though I’ve been saying “I can’t wait” for months, it’s only now that I really mean… Continue reading Pickathon 2012 – Now it begins
Heartbroken twice, years apart, same night
Frank Fairfield at Pickathon 2009 Frank Fairfield sat alone on stage this past Sunday night. There were three monitors and a microphone, but none of that gear was plugged in. His quiet voice was sincere as it drifted over the banjo. His right foot kept time, his left leg swung freely. He sang of poor… Continue reading Heartbroken twice, years apart, same night
Revisiting the house concert
Enjoying the potluck, waiting for the As Faiscas show. Last summer, right when things were crazy with warm weather everything, I threw out a request to let me know if you knew of a house concert at which I might be able to make pictures. I love the house concert. I made it to a… Continue reading Revisiting the house concert
From farm to fame
Jill Andrews watches as The Avett Brothers warm up in the parking lot at Pickathon 2006 If the Avett Brothers pulled out their instruments and starting playing tunes in a parking lot at a music festival today, I believe there would be a few more people perched on that tailgate with Jill Andrews. But that’s… Continue reading From farm to fame
Langhorne Slim – Hard to Miss
I knew this year Pickathon would be different than any previous: More bands, fewer sets by each band, more friends at the event than ever, more decisions. I was going to miss music and I wasn’t super happy about it. So looking at the schedule, I started to do triage. I mentally crossed out Langhorne… Continue reading Langhorne Slim – Hard to Miss
Unplugged
Just last night, Portland band Blitzen Trapper played an acoustic show at the Portland Playhouse in front of about 150 people. The audience was silent. The air was still. Vocal harmonies filled the room and sent chills across my skin. It was a different vibe than the past times I’ve seen the band. Those guys… Continue reading Unplugged