The Family Hemerlein at Asylum -- 30Dec09

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2009 whizzed by to a phenomenal end, where I got to expend some creative energy at The Family Hemerlein show at Asylum.  As I've said before, Matthew Hemerlein is an incredible musician, who truly knows how to perform and puts his own beautiful perspective on popular music (his Radiohead covers give me chills).  Not only does he know how to play countless instruments, he's also quite the curator!  The Family Hemerlein was an amazing melding of music and comedy, which certainly isn't seen much in stuff old DC.  The night held two sets, which had their up's and down's and featured comedy segements from Seaton Smith (who gets my rousing endorsement as my favorite comedian ever) and Hampton Yount (another brilliant DC comic), plus music from Bird Lips and of course Mr. Hemerlein himself.  Check out the photos... and do yourself a favor, get on this gravy train the next time it takes off.  You won't regret it!

Hampton Yount:

  

Bird Lips:

 

 

Seaton Smith:

 

Matthew Hemerlein:

 

 

Post-Show Antics:

All photos are copyrighted by Shauna Alexander and cannot be used without expressed permission.

Free Energy energizes DC9!

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This Thanksgiving Break I had quite a lot to be thankful for... aside very fortunate tidings of good health, great friends and a loving family... I got to cover Free Energy at DC9!  This is the second time I've shot the energetic (ha!) Philly band who's totally taken DFA records by storm.  Listen to their tunes here, and browse through the photos below.  It really is a pleasure shooting Free Energy... time and time again they entertain not only with their infectious music, but with the sheer sights of the show.  Love them.  Love shooting them.  Can't wait for opportunity #3.

 

 

  

All photos are copyrighted by Shauna Alexander and cannot be used without expressed permission.

Hello, Babies -- 01Dec09

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I'm incredibly fortunate to be able to combine my passions (photography, music) into a rather exciting second career.  The bonus comes when I can help out friends as a part of this.  Needless to say when my friend Alec's band -- Hello, Babies -- was doing a set at Asylum, naturally I couldn't resist bringing my camera.  The beauty of shooting "off-duty" is the ability to enjoy the atmosphere fully and discern when and where I can grab the right shots.  And let's be real, I can also engage in a higher level of alcohol consumption...  So enjoy the following shots, all taken by Jameson-loaded hands.  It's too bad Alec doesn't perform on the regular anymore, the show was definitely worth attending (not to mention the first shot is so good it is totally be album cover-worthy... all thanks to my favorite jacket.) 

 

 

 

 

All photos are copyrighted by Shauna Alexander and cannot be used without expressed permission.

Creativity is at an all-time high!

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Days have been extremely busy here... from moving from Logan Circle to Columbia Heights, covering next to a billion events and shows, to coordinating my first (food) photoshoot, there hasn't been a dull moment!  So just to keep things fresh and until I can fully organize myself this weekend, enjoy some of shots I took on June 26th of Jordan Davidson, frontman for The JeanMarie, when they rocked Jammin' Java.  They're a Great band with amazing energy.  Definitely check them out, you will not be disappointed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now I'm off to go shoot the Arctic Monkeys tonight at the 9:30 Club for Brightest Young Things!  Screaming Females open, and after seeing with The Dead Weather I know this is definitely going to be a show to remember!!

All photos are copyrighted by Shauna Alexander and cannot be used without expressed permission.

US Royalty make me swoon at Darlington House -- 19 Nov 2009

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Despite having gone to the doctor early in the morning on the 19th and finding out that I was knee-deep in the throws of walking pneumonia, I couldn't pass up a chance to shoot US Royalty -- DC's hometown heroes.  The idea of hosting a show in a location like Darlington House had my interests peaked, plus the chance to snap beside my photog mentor (and boss for BrightestYoungThings.com) Dakota Fine only sealed the deal.  So I went, pumped up on antibiotics and caffeine (5 cans of diet cokes pre-show, countless others when I could pull myself away from the set). USR are brilliant live and definitely worth battling the rain and my plague to see  for the second time. Their music is highly infectious, delicious indie rock and just incredibly fun to shoot -- I mean, who knew so much energy and talent could fit into jeans that tight...  The crowd absolutely love love loved it.

All in all, the ambient candle light, a spinning disco ball, some helpful tips from Dakota and the vibrant street lights that filtered through the gorgeous windows... combined to make Darlington House by far the prettiest concert location I've shot a show at to date.  Also check out Matthew Hemerlein, who joined in on an incredible cover of the Talking Heads "This Is The Place" with his violin. For sure a highlight of the evening. And I'll admit it, I've got a new musical crush.  Can you blame me?

 

 

The XX, sad but beautiful at DC9 -- 15 Nov 2009

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It's not often I find myself wishing to relive an entire show.  Sure, a moment, a song, an instant where everything feels electric and I suddenly feel alive... but never an entire show.  I've been taking concert photos (publicly, anyway) for several months and Sunday night's show was quite literally like no other I've experienced.

When I connect with music, it tends to be intense beats, crunching guitars, and just an all-out spectacle of sight and sound.  It's only within solitude do I really sink my teeth into bands like Interpol, with their quiet confidence and broad sweeping sounds.  The XX, they stunned me.  Their music is so simple, harmonic and elegant that I was afraid this show would be too dainty for me to enjoy.  I frequently found myself putting down my camera and just watching in awe.  There was chemistry and comradrie, swelling emotions and heartache, earnestness and experience... It was quite simply put as one of the most beautiful shows I've attended.

Unfortunately the DC9 staff was quite on the ball about making sure the "No pro photo/No flash photography" rule was enforced (strange for that venue, as you'll see from my Amazing Baby shots a couple of months ago).  Regardless, I'm happy with the set.  So happy I felt inclined to write paragraphs about it.  This is one show I'd like to relive over and over again.

 

 

 

Le Loup / Pree kick it at the Black Cat -- 07Nov09

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Le Loup:

 

 

 

Pree: