So my pals Standard of Living were in town this past week, on tour with Maverick Records artist Ben Jelen, who you might remember from his hit single in 2005, Come On. With the water coming out of the piano. Good song, weird video.

We hung out a lot in the backroom of the World Cafe Live, playing cards, and watching the guys hit on the various waitresses working at the club. It was great seeing old friends, who I hadn’t seen for the greater part of a year, which is about how long it’s been since I’ve last been in Buffalo, NY.

They played a fantastic live set. The acoustic at the World Cafe Live are really great. I took a handful of photos, but spend most of the time shooting some video on my camcorder. Thought it would be fun to put together a nice acoustic video for the guys. I’ll be working on that over the next week or so, since I really need something relaxing to do in the midst of finals and work. Seriously, I have way too much going on right now, and nothing relaxes me more than sweet piano rock.

Mittens was loved by everyone who stayed at the house, both fans of the band who came to party, and the rockstars themselves. He just loves attention and a good snuggling.

Give Standard of Living a listen on their Myspace. I’ll be heading up to Buffalo, NY for their album release show in June, no doubt about that one.

Standard of Living
www.myspace.com/standardofliving

Happy April everyone! I felt this bun photo was appropriate for Spring. It’s Tim’s bunny, Vada, as a baby.

Back with updates soon. Possibly some cool party photos. I’ve had Farewell (Epitaph) and Powerspace (Fueled By Ramen) at the house recently. Drinks were had, trouble was caused, groupie hearts were broken… good times, all in all. Farewell will be back in Philadelphia in May, on tour with Hit The Lights. I’m gonna need a keg for that party.

Semester ends at the end of the month, my last summer class starts in May, I graduate with my MA in June. Where did all this time go? It feel like just yesterday I moved to Philadelphia to start my MA, driving here with a full head of hair and lots of hopes. Now, I’ll be wrapping up grad school, hopes fullfilled, head missing most of my hair.

I need to treat myself to a stress free tour with a popular band soon, before I lose it all.

Propecia in 2009!

Well, I’m back in Philadelphia, returning to a ton of work and projects.

I’ll be busy over the next two weeks working on three different papers for two of my classes (due next Tuesday), and two additional papers due for my independent study. I have to finish several more non-fiction short stories for my graduate project and fill out my application for graduation. Seriously Arcadia, why do I have to apply to graduate?

Photography wise, I’m heading back to New Jersey to work with recent Universal Records signees Cash Cash, doing new press snaps for Hello Jersey, and planning for a week stint on this year’s Van’s Warped Tour, a week that will be both exciting and miserable.

Geekadelphia will be hosting a party here in Philadelphia for Battlestar Galactica’s series finale. That’ll be all kinds of fun.

And as for vacation snaps, you can take a look at some Hawaii pictures here.

Back to work!

So I made it to Hawaii without any problems, save for the fact that I almost threw up on the guy sitting next to me on the first flight. He understood. He also didn’t care when I grabbed his arm during some turbulence. Or when I fell asleep, woke up, and forgot I was on a plane and started freaking out.

Otherwise… no problems.

I’m staying with my pal Cynthia while I’m here, and she has a lovely place. I’m up early as hell due to the time differences, so I’ve got an excuse to be on my computer. Plus I already locked myself out of her apartment once this morning, while outside taking photos.

Can you blame me though? Look at that! That’s the view from Cynthia’s patio, as soon as you walk out the door. The office buildings are around the back.

Today we’re off to have breakfast with a bunch of her co-workers, and then it’ll be time to wander aimlessly around the island, doing the whole tourist thing. It’s funny, I’m used to being the tour guy, since all my pals request historic tours when they visit Philadelphia. I hope I don’t embarrass her too much.

The fact that I’ve never been on an airplane always surprises my friends, what with my vast knowledge of the United States and Canada. I’ve just been extremely fortunate in my travels with bands, to have seen every single state (except Hawaii and Alaska) and most of Canada without ever having to take a plane. Whenever I go visit Heather, I take an Amtrak.

So I’m going on my first airplane ride… ever… tomorrow morning. I’m heading to Hawaii for about a week and a half. One of my close friends from Ramapo, Cynthia, lives there, and I’ll be crashing with her. So don’t get any crazy ideas about me spending ten days in a resort and blowing tons of cash on a hotel stay. My ass is sleeping on a couch.

I’m excited. Any airline travel tips are more than welcome right now.

… is it bad that all I can think about is posting photos on my Flickr?

A real AIM conversation with my girlfriend…

Heather: Your pictures are stupid and you’re stupid for liking them.
Me: …
Heather: I love you.

Oh Thieves & Villains, you wild and crazy guys. Recently, John (drummer) gave me a ring, saying that their show in New Jersey was canceled, and asked if they could crash here in Philly before their trip down to Virginia Beach. Of course I said yes, and we took a handful of new press images while they kicked back.

The last time they were here, back in April, was again, for a last minute photo shoot. I didn’t have anything planned, so we just shot around my house and went outside with my bright studio lighting.

But, who am I to say no to close friends? We had a good time, even if the pictures weren’t as great as they could have been.

I’m really excited for these guys. They recently signed to Victory Records, one of the biggest indie labels in the country. Their roster boasts stars like The Audition, Hawthorne Heights, Taking Back Sunday, Thursday, and my buddies, Silverstein, whose video I starred in last summer. They have some insane tour plans in the works, and chances are, they’ll be taking a certain photographer with them in the Fall. *hint hint*

Give them a listen!

Thieves & Villains
www.myspace.com/thievesandvillains

The guys in Return To Arms and I have been trying to work out a press shoot for a long time. I met a few of them while on the Farewell / Forever The Sickest Kids / Upper Class Trash tour when the tour hit Philadelphia, and at various other shows through out the past year. They’re an incredible talented group of guys and write some very catchy tunes.

In fact, you should check out their new demo over on their myspace, entitled “Retrospect”. Sounds fantastic.

My blog’s been quiet lately, I know, but I’ve been pretty busy settling into my new place. Queen Village is a fun neighborhood, and luckily for me, I’m friends with people who know the area (sup lex!).

These new press images were taken in the empty room of my house, which I’ve dubbed “the studio”. Those globes? Ikea lights.

Return To Arms
www.myspace.com/returntoarms

Shut up and dance!

I love the guys in You, Me, & Everyone We Know. They write some truly catchy tunes and great things are happening for them. When I worked with them and did their press photos back in October, they were on tour with Casting Out (former members of Boy Sets Fire) and most of the guys had less than a few dollars to their name. Throwing your life into a tour van and hitting the road, it’s a risky thing. And now, it’s all paying off.

After an awesome tour with The Color Fredww (Fred of Taking Back Sunday) and Island Records’ The Pink Spiders, You Me & Everyone We Know are releasing a free digital EP via Rushmore Records, the sister label to the pop punk giant Drive Thru Records, famed for bringing acts like New Found Glory, Something Corporate, Finch, and The Starting Line into the music industry.

I’m proud of these boys. They’re making it happen. Download their EP for free over at Absolutepunk. For fans of sugary pop punk, served up a la I Am The Avalanche mixed with the dancey hooks of Panic! At The Disco and The Higher, and the clever, often naughty lyrics of Say Anything.

Good luck guys!

On January 12th, 2008, at around 4AM, Scott Hasbrouck of the local New Jersey band, Belafonte, passed away in a car accident. I did some photo work with the Belafonte guys, the singer Zachary West being one of my close friends, and I can’t even imagine what they are going through right now.

Scott was a great guy who I had the pleasure of meeting during a photo shoot. We talked on AIM now and again, and the conversations were your usual bro-dude convos, lasting a few minutes, discussing music, girls, and how I had to get my ass to a Belafonte show / how they had to come play in Philadelphia.

When the away messages and text messages started flying around that something had happened to Scott, I IMed his screen name, which had been idle for a few hours. It breaks my heart to know that, at 20 years old, he’s gone, and far too young.

He was fortunate to have some amazing people in his life. The guys in Belafonte, Zach, Chris, Bobby, Kevin, and their old drummer Steve… I can’t even express how fun, genuine, and kind these guys are.

They’ll be playing a benefit show on January 18th, at a small venue in Red Bank, New Jersey. All proceeds are going towards Scott’s family. If you’re a scene kid (there is a huge chance you are if you’re visiting my website) and happen to be from New Jersey, make it out to the show, and show some support.

Stay strong Belafonte, and stay afloat like the ship you named your band after. You’re in my thoughts.

It’s a little known (and those who do know hardly remember) fact that I played in a band for a long time. Junior year of high school through sophomore year of college, I was jamming in ska bands. We opened for lots of huge groups, went on some ill-fated tours, and sometimes I found myself filling in on saxophone for some of my favorite bands. There was a point where we had songs topping the MP3.com charts above groups like the RX Bandits and The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.

You know, I could name drop forever, but really, who cares. It was a really fun time in my life.

The silly picture you see above features four of the guys I played in a ska band with. Their new band, Team Hudson, is a really dancy-pop-punk project that has some serious potential. Feels a lot like Hit The Lights mixed with electro-beat sensibilities of Baumer.

We took a lot of fun pictures, but I have to admit, we were all incredibly drunk. In fact, I’m not even sure how I managed to put the lights up and take them down without burning myself or setting something/someone on fire.

Without these crazy guys, I wouldn’t have started taking photos in the first place. It’s because of them an entire chain of events occured that led to me going on tour with signed bands and working with some of my favorite artists.

I’m looking forward to their songs being released online. Til then, give my old ska band a listen. It really isn’t that bad, and I’m still proud of what we managed to accomplish in our short time playing ska.