You are INVITED: South Florida Fine Art

Just a Reminder: New Music

As you may know, Invisible Music's album is now available. I dropped off the first batch of albums at Radio-Active Records just a couple weeks ago. 

You can listen to the album here, but you gotta buy the album if you want the artwork with it ;)

South Florida Concert Photography: Behind the Scenes with Kishi Bashi/of Montreal Part I

Last weekend I had quite a busy schedule. Four concerts in a row that included driving from Miami Beach to Orlando. Just wanted to share those links for those trying to keep up. :)

Wednesday, March 7- Hank III at the Culture Room in Ft Lauderdale for Salty Eggs.
Thursday, March 8- Kishi Bashi/of Montreal at the Plaza Live, Orlando.
Friday, March 9- Jacuzzi Boys, Love Handles, and Honey Train at the Snooze Theatre for Broward Palm Beach New Times.
Saturday, March 10- Jacuzzi Boys at Churchill's for Salty Eggs.

Since the Kishi Bashi/of Montreal show was a personal project, I've yet to process all of the images. Work has a way of coming before fun. :) But I know K has a few shows coming up tomorrow (Friday) at SXSW so I figured I'd put a few together as some can't make it to the festival, and those who are there need this schedule!

xo
Monica

Backstage

Great to see the audience singing along!

David and Clayton from of Montreal. Touring is rough. It's good to have people around that you know will scratch your back.

More photos when I get a chance...in the meantime, look up Kishi Bashi and the oM crew if you're in Austin!! OR check out these photos from the last time oM came through South Florida.

South Florida Concert Photography: Great News!

Just got official word that I'm going to be published in the Netherlands! Muziekkrant OOR Magazine is the oldest currently published music magazine in the Netherlands. As a leading resource to everything happening worldwide in music, I am honored to be published in their glossy monthly.

Especially intriguing to me is that legendary photographer, Anton Corbijn actively works for the magazine. Who is Anton, you ask? While his contributions as an artist are vast, for me what comes to mind are the iconic images for, U2's The Joshua Tree, and Achtung Baby , R.E.M.'s Automatic for the People, and Losing my Religion, and of course this little video here:



(Speaking of Nirvana, check out some photos I did this weekend with photos of a Nirvana cover band, "Teenage Angst" for brand new blog, Salty Eggs!)

I'll let you know more about images when I know what the editor's final selections are. For now, I just wanted to share the excitement of the news!

Tonight, the concert photography continues at Propaganda for Broward Palm Beach New Times.

Cheers!

South Florida Live Music: John and John at the Speakeasy

It's been awhile since I've posted and I've got so much to share! Does anyone ever feel like they're so busy that just by waking up in the morning they're running late? Luckily I have yoga and a meditation practice to keep things in focus. Speaking of meditation, there's an event slated to happen on October 11th (11.11.11)  at the Bubble in Ft Lauderdale that I was invited to participate in. I'll be exhibiting some artwork and leading a guided meditation or two throughout the event. More details to come...

Last night was a great show for live music at the Speakeasy in Lake Worth. It was my first time there and as always Reed Fischer, of the Broward Palm Beach New Times, adequately summed up the the very eventful evening.Here's my pictorial commentary:

John Ralston attempts to rock his own face off.

Twinsies!


John, Dan Bonebrake (bass), and Jeff Snow (drums).

Jesse Dalton receiving applause for his drumming and memorization skills.

Jonathan Wilkins providing the tunes between sets.


Dan Bonebrake attacking his guitar.

Chris Horgan appreciates all fans. Here he plays for some ants walking across the stage...

An unkown person reads a sweet paper...

David Vanderslice begins his set. Wow, look at that rembrandt lighting! My instructor at the Art Institute of Ft Lauderdale, Mr. Sheffield, would be proud.
ET audition?
Then John invited this guy onstage....
...to PROPOSE to his girlfriend!

She said "yes!"
Luckily there was a photographer to capture the moment! :)
John invited them to dance while he played his next tune
in celebration.

And they all jammed together happily ever after.

The End.


For more images from the night, visit my flickr page.

South Florida Live Music: John Ralston and Invisible Music at South Shores

Last night was fun! Someone needs to make a documentary already...

Images are on my flickr page. Or just watch this slideshow:

Orange Door and Record Store Day Recap 2011: South Florida Music Photographer

First off, congrats to the GIVERS who made it into the Bonnaroo line-up. Their infectious and upbeat tunes have cycled regularly on my "Monica Mix" CD's since I saw them play live at Propaganda last year. Just a few days after my wedding! Hadn't left for my honeymoon yet and Steev from theHoneyComb.com kept talking about this show so I had to go. So glad I did! Listen to "Up, Up, Up" while you check out a couple images from the Prop show:
Up Up Up by NYLONmag
The GIVERS on Fire!




Even the Dewars had to dance!!

If anyone would like to send me to take photographs of them plus all of the other bands live at Bonnaroo, I have the dates available. Just putting that out there...

Friday eve I caught the show at the Orange Door in Lake Park;
Love Handles kills it @ the Orange Door.

Love the Jameses!



I left around 1:30am before the Blank Dogs went on. I heard that's what a lot of people did. Hope they didn't take it personally. My excuse was that I was planning to catch them at their next gig, the Record Store Day celebration in Ft Lauderdale. Drove there early just in time to photograph the mad rush of people getting first grabs at new/limited releases.
Following Images Originally Shot for Broward Palm Beach New Times.

Upon my recommendation, this guy bought John Ralston's new album, Shadows of the Summertime. Very cool! The album and this guy ;)

Another cool person I met amongst many throughout the day is Phil, from Consequence of Sound. Photographed below, doing his share to document the day.


Then I had a brunch/coffee/nap/ice cream break before I went back to the store for the live music. Who said the Blank Dogs don't like photos?? They were very kind to let me do a mini-photoshoot before their set.
Don't Laugh!

"Do you guys know anyone named Jimmy?"
"No."

Love their feet in this photo.

From Blank Dogs to a cute dog.

Speaking of cute...

Jacuzzi Boys (Go to their show tomorrow!!)


Congrats to Mikey Ramirez and staff of Radio-Active Records in Ft Lauderdale for a truly successful event.


Did you get your Radio-Active sticker yet??


GOOD NIGHT!

(Thank you to Travis Newbill and Courtney Hambright for the tea and wine!!!)

(more photos on my flickr page...more to be added...)

Breathe, RELAX, Let Go and DANCE!!

So much going on this weekend! The perfect kick-off to the week started off with another installment of 1810 Yoga. While I enjoyed spending time with everyone who came out to the event, the only photos I took were of this frog:



I was especially grateful to see fellow New Times freelancer Alex Rendon and his wife, Catalina, attend for the first time. His unofficial review via Facebook message stated:

"Just wanted to drop you a line and say thanks for being such a great yoga sensei (don't know the yoga jargon.) My wife and I had a great time. We had been so stressed out for a multitude of reasons that a little relaxation was just what we needed. It was a blast. You made a believer out of me."

Thanks again to everyone who attended! YOU are helping me to manifest my vision of creating a space for artistic minded people to re-connect and focus on their internal source of power and inspiration. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

So after a little relaxation, then what? Live your passion!! I've been told many times that people enjoy watching me take photos because I look like I'm having fun. Clearly I can't hide the truth :) Tonight is going to be a very fun night of dancing/photography/awesome music! That's because of this event going on at the Orange Door. View my photos from the last event there of a mix of some of the same bands.

While I'm not shooting this event officially i.e. getting paid, they def deserve the attention as it promises to be an amazing night. Oh well, nights like this help to keep my blog pretty and where else can you let go and dance on a huge orange and white checkerboard floor??

FYI there's always the option to click the little "Donate" button if you feel so moved to help me along my journey of documenting the South Florida music scene....the truth is, I'm going to do it anyway. BUT we could all use help along the Way!!

Another event deserving of press is the Top Five Records line-up going on tomorrow in downtown Lake Worth. Unfortunately I won't be able to see some of my favorite local acts as I'll be covering the Record Store Day celebration at Radio-Active Records in Ft Lauderdale. Here are some photos instead of the most recent Invisible Music show at the Bamboo Room, to help you get your John Ralston fix.

Lake Worth's Musical Savior...

Seriously great music. Dan Bonebrake and Tiffany Jezek.

With Jeff Snow on drums!! Download Invisible Music's "Let Me Be" single to support the Snow family with their son's road to recovery :)


If this isn't enough, check out a great review by Arielle Castillo with images by Ian Witlen from the Further Seems Forever/Legends of Rodeo show here.

One of the bands performing tomorrow at Radio-Active is the Jacuzzi Boys whom I last saw live on the Bruise Cruise!! Here's a Polaroid I took of them with an SX70.


Really looking forward to this weekend....see you on the dance floor!