joshsisk.com

Every year I like to pick (with a little help from friends and readers) my best photos of the year. I’m posting it a little late this year, but it’s a fun tradition and a good exercise, looking through a whole year’s worth of output. I recommend it to any creative/craft type person. It’s also a good excuse to present my newly launched photoshelter page, where you can buy prints of mine (this set is the top gallery/slideshow there).

So, that out of the way, on with the post!

Lemz, promo photo

Janelle Monae, 9:30 Club

Fucked Up, RNR Hotel

DJ/Rupture, Big Ears Festival

Near Croakeye, North Dakota

Billy Idol, HFStival

Joanna Newsom, Big Ears Festival

Lords of Acid, Bourbon Street

Andrew WK, Big Ears Festival

Usher, Verizon Center

Dope Body, Whartscape

Arab On Radar, Whartscape

The Spark, CCAS

Paramore, Merriweather Post Pavilion

Bmore Original Crew, promo photo

Dancer, Deep Sugar

Double Dagger, Whartscape

Burning Car, Mount Vernon

Slayer, First Mariner Arena

Lake Isobel, Colorado

Benny Stixx, promo shot

view the whole set on flickr.

as i mentioned above, you can buy prints of all of these at my new photoshelter site.

if you are really curious, here are all the photos i considered for inclusion here.

also, here are my best of lists from:

2009 | 2008 | 2007

I love the Ex. I am a late-term fan, I first saw them with the new line-up, so a lot people may think less of them now with their more guitar-oriented sound… but I think they are terrific, and they are always spectacular live… this was definitely one of the best shows of the 60 or so shows I have seen so far this year.

• Buy Prints from this The Ex show
• Read the Washington Post review
• See the whole the Ex photoset

I was supposed to shoot her concerts in DC and Bmore for the Baltimore Sun and the Washington Post, but apparently at the last minute her people decided no press coverage. In Baltimore, I just didn’t go, but the DC-area one I showed up, and was even in the club when the word came down, no photos of the show… on my way out I spied a bunch of guys with cameras and was asking them who they shoot for and they were a bit evasive… I realized after a minute they were paparazzis! So I hung out with them for twenty minutes or so and then snapped these, my only examples of paparazzi photos I’ve ever done (and likely ever will do). The paparazzi guys were cool, and had some REALLY funny stories!

These photos aren’t that great, but I’m posting them just because of the story.

Caught Robert Glasper’s RCDC Experiment at the Bohemian Caverns the other day on assignment. Fun place to see music, go here if you haven’t… This group is made out of a bunch of accomplished players more well know for working on other artist’s albums, all jamming together. Fusion jazz/hip-hop type stuff. Not my normal bag, but they sounded good and were obviously having a great time.

• Read the Washington Post review here
• See more photos in my March Shows photoset

I also was assigned to shoot Chateau Marmont, a Parisian band playing as some sort of French Culture Festival in DC… at the Velvet Lounge of all places. Remember when that place was the dive-y-est spot on all of U Street? Weird to rub elbows with a bunch of internationals at this show.

• Read the Washington Post review here
• See more photos in my March Shows photoset

The best rock band in Baltimore. This show was great, their shows are always great. See them when they play near you.

• See the whole Double Dagger set
• See all my Double Dagger photos

Last week, I was able to go see The Pogues for the first time, along with New Jersey band Titus Andronicus. TA was pretty fun, a really lively, together band. I understand they are about to be big, or so several people are telling me, it’s well-deserved if so.

The Pogues… were good. I’m glad I saw them. But Shane Mcgowan was pretty hard to watch… he sort of shambled onto stage, clutched his mic stand for dear life and sort of mumbled his way through their set. The rest of the band was animated and put on a good show, and Shane did… okay. Just sad to see someone who was once so talented and full of life just sort of be an echo of their former self.

• Buy Prints from this Pogues / Titus Andronicus show
• See more Pogues / Titus Andronicus photos here

Last weekend, Dana and I stopped in at NOVELTYHAUS, the brand new retail space owned by Noel Danger (pictured above). Located at 1036 Light Street in Federal Hill in Baltimore, Noel stocks a variety of cool pop culture goodies, crafty items, imported Japanese toys, records, books… stop in!

• See some more photos from NoveltyHaus

Last week, I had Baltimore Club artist B-Eazy in the studio for some promo shots. Get in touch if you need some promo photos.

This was a fun show. I was probably the youngest person in the room by several decades, besides the Birchmere staff. Herb was in a great mood, and great form. Him and his wife performed a variety of original duets, spanish ballads, and traditional classics. Totally not a show I would normally go to, but fun!

• Read the Washington Post review.
• View the whole Herb Alpert set.

Detroit rapper Black Milk.

Outlaw country star David Allan Coe.

California pop punk band Vanity Theft.

Rosie Ledet & the Zydeco Playboys.

Arboretum & Secret Mountains @ the Ottobar.

• See more photos in my February 2011 Shows set.