Upon hearing that Happy Harry’s was having a $.09 print sale, I decided to experiment with Diana’s new 35mm back and some consumer-grade Kodak film.
After 3.5 rolls (one had been previously exposed, aha), I learned my lesson with all the grainy prints I received. The price for professional-grade is definitely worth it.
Anthony's Coal Fired Pizza (Wilmington)
Enter 2010.
I’m not one for year end of the year surveys. Instead, I just want to reflect on 2009 and what I’ve accomplished.
In 2009, I:
It’s been an interesting year and with no concrete plans for 2010, I can only say, “Is this real life?”
Back in February when I was working on a project about Baltimore, I was invited to participate in a music video. I’d never heard of the band (Future Island) until that night, but have since followed them.
Good people.
Good music.
Now can YOU spot the Shlee?
August 4th, 2009. I ventured down to Baltimore to see a post-rock-type band called The Octopus Project. I brought my camera down to shoot for DTR.
The Octopus Project (Shlee Vincent)
(for photos scroll to the end)
Saturday was plagued with clouds overhead and winds that threatened to ruin the day. Just in case, blue tarps were hung over the stages set up at the small MICA parking lot. The fluttered about during the blustery day but the rain never did come. Food, clothing, jewelry and musicians’ merchandise lined the sides of the parking lot. The festival, though, wasn’t restricted to the parking lot. The McDonald’s a bit down North Avenue found its bathrooms victims to Whartscape, while Cyclops, a small bookstore and venue across the street, opened itself up to festival-goers, offering free drinks and food.
Some people brought blankets and chairs, others sat right on the asphalt. It was a long day, but most braved it out and stood – watching the musicians and roaming back and forth between the stages like zombies craving music rather than brains.
Wherever they were, it wouldn’t have mattered. The music permeated the air of North Avenue and the rest of the Station North Arts District. The Creepers serenaded with songs about life and relationships. Little Howlin’ Wolf had everyone sitting down in front of him, as if it were story time and calmed with the jazzy, yet somehow tribal sounds of his drums and saxophone. He continued his performance on a street corner after his time slot. Liturgy, a post-hardcore band from Brooklyn, was playing their first show outside New York.
Despite the “headliners,” Saturday’s highlights had to have been the What Cheer? Brigade marching band from Providence, R.I. and Nuclear Power Pants – whose members hailed from Baltimore and Providence.
Sexy outfits? Check. Attitude? Check. Audience interaction? Check. Drums? Check. Brass section? Hold on. That’s not really a standard when it comes to most things bad ass. It is, however, standard for a marching band and the What Cheer? Brigade marching band brings those two things together. They marched and danced through the crowd with style and soul, screaming and shouting at the crowd to get involved and move around. Everything was in constant motion. They were undeniably Saturday’s biggest and busiest act.
Nuclear Power Pants had this odd, luring stage presence about them. With black lights and bright ponchos and neon lizard heads, they caught eyes and didn’t let go. Back-up singers/dancers made them catchy. Their music had layers and hook, and despite the slower BPM, people still danced.
After Ponytail‘s energetic set, which left some bruised and everyone with an adrenaline rush, it was time to move to the final festival’s third location at the Load of Fun. The LOF/t was a black theater box, which was nice and cool and housing experimental musicians like Ed Schrader with his funny song stories which he accompanied on his tom tom, Spellcaster, who tried to channel Hendrix with his guitar feedback music, and Married in Berdichev who experimented with her voice and loops.
The front of Load of Fun was packed with people who wanted to see the more upbeat acts like Plural MC, Ear Pwr and Adventure. Halfway through the night, the floor was soaked with sweat and the mirrors which hung above the doors had fogged up.
Adventure‘s 8-bit type music splashed with Benny’s interludes on the keyboard had a large crowd dancing, which stayed for Ear Pwr‘s fun, energetic, electric six song set. Devin Booze shouting and fiddling around with electronics in a suitcase while Sarah Reynolds singing and rapping about colors and animals.
There weren’t any visible stresses to the audience. Some of the acts were moved around, others were dropped, but the day went incredibly smoothly. Props.