At the end of each year since I started this site and got back into the world of music photography, I like to pick my favorite shots that I took that year and do a little post. Now, as I prepare to look at my 2015 work, I am filled with emotion. Due to unexpected serious illness, I wasn't able take any photos -- or do much of anything with my eyes at all, other than walk around in a blur -- for the first two months of the year. It wasn't clear (black-humored PUN there) if my eyes were permanently damaged or not, or whether I'd ever be able to photograph anything again. Music photography is so much of my core, my identity, how I relate to the music I love, that the thought of losing the ability to do it decades before I expected to was profoundly worrisome.
BUT HEY GUESS WHAT? My eyes settled the eff down, I got stable sight back, and got back to shooting in March! Woo hoo! So, my two criteria as always for selecting the shots for this post remain the same: 1. Do I love it?, and; 2. Is it beautiful? This is what I strive for, no matter the conditions or challenges: to make something beautiful that you will please to enjoy. Thank you for viewing my efforts, very especially for 2015. (You may click on the photos to see them all large and in charge on Flickr, and can peruse all my photos there should you be so inclined!)
Tweedy, Neptune Theater, Seattle, WA, March 12, 2015
What makes this lovely for me is that here we have a picture of father Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) and his son Spencer on drums, and that this image sums up the tone of this show: the relaxed, funny, experienced frontman who spent a lot of time interacting with the crowd, and the son who was performing on his first major tour and kept a very close eye on his Dad. Sweet.
What makes this lovely for me is that here we have a picture of father Jeff Tweedy (Wilco) and his son Spencer on drums, and that this image sums up the tone of this show: the relaxed, funny, experienced frontman who spent a lot of time interacting with the crowd, and the son who was performing on his first major tour and kept a very close eye on his Dad. Sweet.
The Sonics, Silver Platters Records, Bellevue, WA. 3/30/15
Pacific Northwest garage rock legends The Sonics were my heroes of the year, snagging my Album of the Year nod with "This Is The Sonics." Here at Silver Platters, I got to see them holding the vinyl press of the record for the very first time as they arrived for a signing session for fans. What a moment.
The Sonics, Moore Theater, Seattle, WA. 4/2/15
That time when Krist Novoselic of Nirvana joined The Sonics onstage and drummer Dusty Watson shook his hand.
Steal Shit Do Drugs, The Sunset, Seattle, WA. 4/8/15
The post-processing choice for this explosive new punk band was the centered double exposure. You can look at this photo and hear and feel the music, no?
The Sonics, Easy Street Records, Seattle, WA. 4/18/15
That time when Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam and Freddie Dennis of The Sonics were so close to you that your camera lens hood got bumped off.
Steal Shit Do Drugs, Spin Cycle Records, Seattle, WA. 7/15/15
Moody red light theirs, post-processing double exposure mine.
wimps, The Center for Wooden Boats, Seattle, WA. 7/14/15
When your fun friends play on a pier in sailor gear and you decide to porthole them.
Stallion, Chop Suey, Seattle, WA. 7/30/15
When your other fun friends form a band dedicated to pro wrestling, arrive in a white Mercedes wearing your own silver leggings and a full-length fur in summer, and you paparazzi them.
The Gooch Palms, Pizza Fest IV, Chop Suey, Seattle, WA. 8/7/15
Beer on me and my camera? CHECK. Worth it? OF COURSE.
Gazebos, Pizza Fest IV, Chop Suey, Seattle, WA. 8/7/15
For a split second, lead singer Shannon Perry turned into a marvelous platinum poofy creature on tattooed stems.
wimps, Bill and Melinda Gates Amphitheater, Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle, WA. 8/27/15
"Preschool punks party in park; proud parents psyched."
Thee Oh Sees, The Crocodile, Seattle, WA. 8/30/15
Shooting Energizer Bunny frontman John Dwyer is the best. This time, I shot from behind the stage; interesting perspective, very challenging task. What I like about this one is that the silver of light outlining Dwyer is so minimal, but so effective.
Partman Parthorse, The Highline, Seattle, WA. 10/28/15
Now there's a true fan of PMPH lead singer Gary Smith! (P.S. The twirling little boy with the Cupid curls in the wimps photo above is Perseus Smith, son of our minimally-attired fake-bloody friend here and Lisa Smith on the orange drums.)
Steal Shit Do Drugs, Chop Suey, Seattle, WA. 11/4/15
Their red lighting, my contrast and color boost, Kennedy Carda's big shout.
The Intelligence, Frye Art Museum, Seattle, WA. 11/15/15
That time when one of your very favorite bands play a local art museum on a Sunday afternoon and gives you lighting + performance that gives you a photograph that's pretty art-y.
Dancer and Prancer, The Funhouse, Seattle, WA. 12/19/15
And to close it out for 2015, your friends who play in a Christmas surf rock band bringing goodwill to all.
© Copyright 2008- Marianne Spellman