Tag Archives: baltimore

Rewind: Club Mutant @ Paradox, Baltimore 2014-07-19

by
SOFT PINK TRUTH

Club Mutant was an underground party that Door did at America, with noise/electronic/avant artists, but (as I recall) this night was a collaboration with Mark Brown, Schwarz (who is now known as So Drove) and Cex who had done a variety of dance parties in the past. This was at the Paradox, and apparently I photographed this for Noisey, Vice Media’s music vertical which no longer exists. The article doesn’t seem to be online anymore, sadly. Hopefully I got paid!

This was a fun night that I remember pretty well because it was such a cool mix of artists and genres – the kind of genre mixing event that Baltimore has always done so well. Soft Pink Truth (aka Drew Daniel) had just released the Why Do The Heathen Rage? album, which was a Black Metal re-interpolation, so he was in full SPT/Black Metal regalia and some metal friends were here for that. Baltimore Club innovator Blaqstarr DJed along with Shawn Smallwood and some others. Shams performed. Gabber Blood Rave artist Kilbourne DJed along with the Schwarz.

This night was also funny because one of my friends disappeared and we thought he had just caught a taxi home, but then it turns out he fell asleep in the Paradox and woke up when the janitors were cleaning up – at like 9am!

If anyone reading this has any memories, details, flyers, etc to add to this, feel free to comment below, or @ me and I’ll add them. I’m “joshsisk” at IG/Twitter/BlueSky/Threads/whatever dozen other new social media sites have been created in the time it took me to type this.

BLAQSTARR, SHAWN SMALLWOOD
CEX
MARK BROWN
KILBOURNE, SCHWARZ
BLAQSTARR
KILBOURNE
SOFT PINK TRUTH
SHAMS
SHAWN SMALLWOOD
SOFT PINK TRUTH

Alms & Murder @ Metro Gallery – 2021/11/12

by
ALMS @ Metro Gallery, Baltimore - 2021-11-12 ALMS @ Metro Gallery, Baltimore - 2021-11-12 ALMS @ Metro Gallery, Baltimore - 2021-11-12 ALMS @ Metro Gallery, Baltimore - 2021-11-12 ALMS @ Metro Gallery, Baltimore - 2021-11-12

ALMS

MURDER @ Metro Gallery, Baltimore - 2021-11-12 MURDER @ Metro Gallery, Baltimore - 2021-11-12 MURDER @ Metro Gallery, Baltimore - 2021-11-12 MURDER @ Metro Gallery, Baltimore - 2021-11-12 MURDER @ Metro Gallery, Baltimore - 2021-11-12

MURDER

Wow, this is my first photo post since the pandemic. And at the first show at the newly opened Metro Gallery. Felt really good to be here. At some point, maybe, I’ll write some sort of bloggy post reflecting on the last year or so, but for now, it’s just cool to post these photos.

SEE ALL THE MURDER / ALMS PHOTOS 2021/11/12 METRO GALLERY PHOTOS HERE

In the studio & on location with SKELETONWITCH.

by

Skeletonwitch
Skeletonwitch
Skeletonwitch
Skeletonwitch
Skeletonwitch

This was a fun shoot – Prosthetic Records wanted some photos to commemorate the addition of Adam Clemans to the Skeletonwitch line-up, and they were in town recording with Kevin Bernsten of Developing Nations, so we did a quick session. They ended up needing to shoot a live video of them in the studio as well, so I helped out with that also, so some of my footage ended up in this:

Great day and what a great bunch of guys!

Skeletonwitch in the studio
Skeletonwitch in the studio
Skeletonwitch in the studio

SEE ALL THE SKELETONWITCH PHOTOS HERE

TRNSGNDR/VHS at the Walters Art Museum.

by

Transgender/VHS @ Walters Art Museum
Transgender/VHS @ Walters Art Museum
Transgender/VHS @ Walters Art Museum
Transgender/VHS @ Walters Art Museum

A little while back, I photographed Baltimore musician and artist TRNSGNDR/VHS at a special performance at the Walters Art Museum. It was part of the Art/Sound/Now series, which brings in artists to do site-specific performances in the Walters’ space. Quite an experience, it was interesting to see the crowd move in and out of the space full of classical works, while listening to Alexandra’s very contemporary piece.

READ THE ARTICLE ON BANDCAMP | SEE ALL THE PHOTOS FROM THE EVENT

We also did a quick portrait session before the show, and I like how some of the shots turned out…

Transgender/VHS
Transgender/VHS

Baltimore Free Ball (Vogue Dancing for HIV Awareness).

by

2016 Baltimore Vogue Ball
2016 Baltimore Vogue Ball
2016 Baltimore Vogue Ball
2016 Baltimore Vogue Ball
2016 Baltimore Vogue Ball
2016 Baltimore Vogue Ball
2016 Baltimore Vogue Ball
2016 Baltimore Vogue Ball
2016 Baltimore Vogue Ball

I recently got a chance to tag along to Baltimore’s annual Free Ball – a vogue dancing event that supports HIV awareness and testing among the city’s LGBT community. It’s a fun event that engages the Vogue community by hosting a free contest, but to enter you have to get tested, and there are a lot of various health resources on site, seems like a great and surprisingly “with it” city-funded event. For more information on Vogue dancing and this event, you can read this article about last year’s event.

SEE ALL THE PHOTOS FROM THE 2016 BALL HERE

Noisem photo shoot.

by

NOISEM
NOISEM
NOISEM
NOISEM
NOISEM
NOISEM
NOISEM
NOISEM

I love this band. One of the brightest spots on the Maryland heavy music scene, and a bunch of really awesome dudes as well. It’s been super cool to watch their careers rise, and it’s totally deserved as their records rip (and each one is better and more nuanced than the last). Always fun to hang out and take photos for a couple of hours with this crew, and I think this set shows it.

VIEW THE WHOLE PHOTO SHOOT HERE | Noisem Bandcamp

Carcass & Crowbar @ Baltimore Soundstage

by

CARCASS @ Baltimore Soundstage
CARCASS @ Baltimore Soundstage
CARCASS @ Baltimore Soundstage
CARCASS

CROWBAR @ Baltimore Soundstage
CROWBAR @ Baltimore Soundstage
CROWBAR

Another catch-up post! Two classic metal bands who have been touring a lot lately, it was good to catch them at Soundstage, though, one of my favorite places to see shows these days. Crowbar really put on a good show this evening, was stoked since there were issues with their MDF set the last time I saw them in Baltimore. Great band. Carcass is a band I never expected to be touring again like this, and each time could be the last time seeing them so I was super stoked to catch them again as well… right now feels like the best time to be seeing heavy bands play since the late 90s or early 00s.

SEE ALL THE PHOTOS HERE

LISTEN: Carcass | Crowbar

If We Shout Loud Enough (Double Dagger documentary) now streaming!

by

Double Dagger's last show.

Gabriel Deloach‘s documentary about Double Dagger, one of the all-time great Baltimore punk bands, is finally streaming on Amazon. I am biased since I am friends with everyone involved in this project, and contributed photography which appears in the film (and was even interviewed, though I unsurprisingly did not make the cut), but I truly think this is a great music doc and worth watching even if you are somehow going in not knowing who Double Dagger was. It’s full of insightful moments and plenty of great live footage from the band’s last tour, a tour I also documented:

“An inside look at the Baltimore underground music scene through one of its most pivotal bands, Double Dagger, this intimate and entertaining portrait follows the band as they complete their final tour and album, tracing the history and growth of the band and of Baltimore’s underground music scene.”

Streaming on Amazon | Buy the physical LP+DVD

Brujeria & Cattle Decapitation @ Baltimore Soundstage.

by

Brujeria @ Baltimore Soundstage
Brujeria @ Baltimore Soundstage
Brujeria @ Baltimore Soundstage
Brujeria @ Baltimore Soundstage
Brujeria @ Baltimore Soundstage
Brujeria @ Baltimore Soundstage
Brujeria @ Baltimore Soundstage
BRUJERIA

Cattle Decapitation @ Baltimore Soundstage
Cattle Decapitation @ Baltimore Soundstage
Cattle Decapitation @ Baltimore Soundstage
Cattle Decapitation @ Baltimore Soundstage
Cattle Decapitation @ Baltimore Soundstage
Cattle Decapitation @ Baltimore Soundstage
Cattle Decapitation @ Baltimore Soundstage
CATTLE DECAPITATION

Another catch-up post. This was a great show, two modern classic bands that I hadn’t ever seen before somehow (or, at least I don’t recall seeing them before, anyway!) Brujeria led the crowd in a Fuck Donal Trump chant and brought out a fake Trump on stage, pretty fun antics for the election season. Cattle Decapitation showed off their ever-broadening sound, they really impressed me live, and their newest record backs those live chops up.

SEE ALL THE PHOTOS HERE
LISTEN: Cattle Decapitation | Brujeria

Pure Junk @ Ottobar (plus a cool GIF)

by

PURE JUNK @ the Ottobar, 2015.
PURE JUNK @ the Ottobar, 2015.
PURE JUNK @ the Ottobar, 2015.
PURE JUNK @ the Ottobar, 2015.
PURE JUNK @ the Ottobar, 2015.

Digging through the stacks on this Thanksgiving eve and finding lots of old gems I haven’t posted. Here are some photos of my pals PURE JUNK from last year, playing a show at the Ottobar. Perhaps opening for Fred & Toody of Dead Moon? This was a fun night. Look for more posts soon (I always say that, but for real this time).


Also, this GIF!!!

SEE ALL MY PURE JUNK PHOTOS (EVER) HERE | Pure Junk

Thou @ Sidebar, 10/3/2016.

by

Thou @ Sidebar - 10/2016
Thou @ Sidebar - 10/2016
Thou @ Sidebar - 10/2016
Thou @ Sidebar - 10/2016
Thou @ Sidebar - 10/2016
Thou @ Sidebar - 10/2016

Managed to escape from the recent Green Day show I shot for the Washington Post and make it back to Baltimore to catch one of my favorite bands, Thou, at the Sidebar. Bryan Funck, Thou’s vocalist, is an old friend and one of the best people in punk & diy. Thou’s work ethic is really inspiring, they’ve released so many great records and toured consistently without any sort of compromises. Love seeing bands who still do it right.

SEE ALL THE THOU PHOTOS HERE

Dope Body: 8 years in photos.

by

dope body @ whartscape 2010.

Baltimore band Dope Body played their last show this past Saturday. I’ve been following their creative output for years, having met Andrew, the vocalist years ago at Sonar and quickly became a fan of their wild live performances, as well as their sound which developed from album to album. A great group of guys who managed to capture a specific and primal sound with their band and also build a devoted following in the area. Sad to see them go, excited to see what they all come up with next. Here are some of my favorite photos of the band I’ve taken over the years, both live shots as well as band photos. UPDATE: City Paper published these as a gallery!

Dope Body @ whartscape 2010.
Dope Body
Dope Body @ SXSW 2012
Dope Body @ SXSW 2012
DopeBody @ Scapescape 2012
Dope Body @ GW
Dope Body @ GW
Dope Body @ Scapescape
Dope Body @ GW
Dope Body @ GW
Dope Body @ SXSW 2012
Dope Body @ Fraziers
Dope Body @ Fraziers
Dope Body
Dope Body @ Fraziers
dope body.
Dope Body @ The Compound
Dope Body @ The Compound
Dope Body
Dope Body @ The Compound
Dope Body @ The Compound
Dope Body's last show @ the Floristree
Dope Body's last show @ the Floristree
Dope Body's last show @ the Floristree

SEE ALL MY DOPE BODY PHOTOS HERE

Dope Body’s Last Show. Floristree. 2016/05/15.

by

Dope Body's last show @ the Floristree
Dope Body's last show @ the Floristree
Dope Body's last show @ the Floristree
Dope Body's last show @ the Floristree
Dope Body's last show @ the Floristree
Dope Body's last show @ the Floristree
Dope Body's last show @ the Floristree
Dope Body's last show @ the Floristree
Dope Body's last show @ the Floristree
Dope Body's last show @ the Floristree
Dope Body's last show @ the Floristree
Dope Body's last show @ the Floristree

The end of an era. RIP to one of Baltimore’s longest running bands. This was a great show at one of the city’s best DIY venues. Lots of feelings about this, but it was a really nice way for four awesome people to put a cap on eight years of creativity and musical expression. Wonderful to see so many old heads come out for this, what a good night. Go start your own band.

Also: I was going to add them to this post, but it’d be too much so check back tomorrow, when I’ll be posting a retrospective assortment of photos I’ve take over the band over the years.

SEE ALL THE PHOTOS FROM THE LAST SHOW HERE

Integrity @ Soundstage.

by

Integrity @ Soundstage.
Integrity @ Soundstage.
Integrity @ Soundstage.
Integrity @ Soundstage.
Integrity @ Soundstage.
Integrity @ Soundstage.
Integrity @ Soundstage.

I shot Integrity (featuring Dom Romeo from A389 Records/Pulling Teeth/etc on guitar) awhile back. Great show, as always. Integrity is one of the bands from my youth that have stuck with me. I wouldn’t have guessed in then, but I find myself listening to them just as much or more now as I did when I had first heard them. Dwid also is always a fun frontman, and obviously really gets his audience. Good show!

SEE ALL THE PHOTOS HERE

Concerts with the x100t: Watain, Mayhem.

by

Mayhem @ Soundstage
Mayhem @ Soundstage
Mayhem @ Soundstage
MAYHEM
Watain @ Soundstage
Watain @ Soundstage
Watain @ Soundstage
WATAIN

I’ve been using a Fuji x100t – a rangerfinder-esque camera – as my walk around camera, and also doing some concert shooting with it, with what I think are some pretty decent results. Here are some shots from the recent (and awesome) Watain & Mayhem show at Baltimore Soundstage – pretty good for a little camera, I think.

You can see more of these and compare them with my DSLR photos from the show HERE.

Watain @ Soundstage : 2015/11/25

by

Watain @ Soundstage
Watain @ Soundstage
Mayhem @ Soundstage
Watain @ Soundstage
Watain @ Soundstage
Watain @ Soundstage
Watain @ Soundstage
Watain @ Soundstage
Watain @ Soundstage

Watain never disappoints. Always a great show, always a terrible smelling show. I had heard they wouldn’t be as vigorous with the blood and animal carcasses on this tour, but that proved to be wrong. The next day at Thanksgiving Dinner, someone asked me if I had spilled food on my jeans and I had to admit that it was congealed pig’s blood.

SEE ALL THE PHOTOS HERE