We recently went to LA to shoot the promotional photography for the current season of Glee. It was one of those jobs where I had a ‘moment’. We shot on the Paramount Studios backlot and I was surrounded by sets and sound stages where some of the most famous movies of all time were shot. “If I could go back and tell myself I would be here one day” kept banging in my head. Glee’s production where we shot takes up Paramount’s largest soundstage where classics like Rosemary’s Baby and many golden and silver age epics were made.  And across the way was a soundstage where all the interiors for Wayne’s World were shot. Outside the stage was a complex network of streets made to look like New York and other cities. These pics are taken around the sets that were not used for the day, all of them look genuine and real-world (like houses, school cafeterias, etc), except for the rows of lights and scrims over head and the fake scenery out the windows. Also shot a few of the extras that had to hang around all day playing the general high school population. the above cheerleader was my favorite. Click the Read More link for other pics.

2011′s Creators Project took over the space under the Manhattan Bridge in Brooklyn combining art and live music. Last years event at Milk Studios was a bit more of a raucous affair with more upbeat bands and a tighter environment as opposed to this years spread out set up, which encouraged you to really walk around and explore. For a free gig you got Florence and The Machine, Atlas Sound, Queen Sea Big Shark, Aesop Rocky (who tried ever so hard to be as obnoxious as Odd Future), Justice, Four Tet and a few others. It was bloody cold but an overly fun day. And you’ve probably seen that big cube uploaded a million times already as it attracted cell phone cameras to it like flies. After about 10 hours on my feet, I put my feet up at home for ten minutes when dropping my camera home, to get set to party on – and woke up 12 hours later in all my clothes. Ah well.. 

Aint no party like a Bushwick block party. Summer means open up the fie hydrants and get wet, roll out a DJ console and some speakers and boogie. And so it was on a hot Saturday afternoon for some fine sunshine boozing. The rice ball eating contest led to some impromptu vomiting and the wrestling match looked a little painful in the biting afternoon sun, but a fun day was had by all. And some dehydration too. Click on an image below to see a larger version.

The Wellington Papers are an amazingly energetic and seriously funky band that dress in snappy attire, and come across as something like an amazing house band for a super swinging underground club whose name is whispered to those in the know. There shows are quite anticipated around New York, with a loyal fan base and they continue to win new fans with each performance thanks to a blistering live show. My buddy Grieg is the front man, and I’ve had the chance to work with him on a fashion project. It was with pleasure that I was able to document the energy of their recent gig at the Lower East Side’s Mercury Lounge with some high contrast black and white. Make sure you check them out. Click on an image to see a larger version…

Last night was one of those moments as a music fan that you really do give thanks to be living in New York where some of these absolute legends started a music revolution through words and instruments. As part of Steven Siebring’s exhibition opening at Milk Studios honoring the various punk music poets of the 70′s and 80′s, the lady herself, Patti Smith read a devastating series of poems, including a moving piece about the first day of America’s invasion of Iraq that made one think how the bombs that fell affected the simple things in life for the innocents of Baghdad. But back to the music, Patti was joined by members of the legendary Jim Carroll band, her own band, her daughter on piano and Michael Stipe for an incredible rendition of Everybody Hurts (due to, by her own admission, that she forgot the words!) She honored the past of New York’s poetry and punk scene by either reading or singing songs by REM, Joey Ramone (a great acoustic version of Blitzkrieg Pop followed) and Jim Carroll. It was one of those nights you’d remember for years to come. Click on an image to see a larger version.