music

DCSPC and Chris Suspect presents Jim Saah's In My Eyes and Matt Cabani's Anthem at Slash Run, 11.10.23 by Chris Suspect

Fugazi - Photo for the cover of Repeater album on Dischord Records ©Jim Saah

Join the DC Street Photography Collective and Chris Suspect in presenting the work of Jim Saah’s In My Eyes - Photographs 1982-1997 and Matt Cabani’s Anthem at Slash Run in Washington, DC, on Friday, November 10 at 9:00 pm.

Jim Saah’s career in photography started when he documented the punk scene in Washington, DC in the early 1980’s. His photographs have been featured on many books and records, including Our Band Could Be Your Life and the cover of Fugazi’s Repeater album.

Cover for In My Eyes Photographs 1982-1997 by Jim Saah

Jim will be presenting In My Eyes - Photographs 1982-1997, a massive hard cover art book of his early music photography featuring hundreds of never before seen photos of Fugazi, Minor Threat, Void, Black Flag, Circle Jerks, Dead Kennedys, Jawbox, Government Issue, The Faith, Iron Cross and more.  

Jim’s work has been featured in the Washington Post and Rolling Stone, and he has been the principle photographer for two feature films, Salad Days: A Decade of Punk In Washington, D.C. and CREEM: America’s Only Rock & Roll Magazine.

Cover for Anthem by Matt Cabani, courtesy of King Koala Press

Jacopo Buranelli from King Koala Press in Milan, Italy, will be presenting Anthem by photographer Matt Cabani and published by King Koala Press. From Milan, Italy, Cabani is the founder of Hellfire Booking Agency. He has shot his way through every corner of the music world over the past three decades. His work can be spotted on album covers, international fanzines, books, music videos, and even hardcore fans’ bedroom walls.

Call for Entries

In celebration of Jim Saah and King Koala’s Anthem by Matt Cabani, we have a call for entries for your best music photography shots. We are looking for anything associated with music, whether it’s the ultimate stage dive image, a candid of audience members, a band setting their drums on fire, or a contemplative portrait of a band or artist. All music forms are welcome.

Please send no more than 5 photos 2000px on the long edge at 72dpi to gratuityincluded1@gmail.com by Midnight EST on November 3rd. Please label your files in this manner. First Name-Last Name_Band/Artist_Name-Date_Shot-Number.jpg.

E.g. Chris-Suspect_Taylor-Swift_021423_1.jpg

About the Event

On Friday, November 10 selected photos will be shown live in front of an audience to a jury of artists and professional photographers. Jury members include Cynthia Connollly (curator, photographer, and one of the authors/publisher of Banned in DC), Lisa Walker (House photographer for Anthem, 9:30 Club and Merriweather Post Pavilion), Jim Saah, and Jacopo Buranelli from King Koala. Each judge will briefly comment on the image and give it a rating from 1-5. The winner, who must be present in person, will receive a copy of In My Eyes - Photographs 1982-1997. Second place will receive Anthem.

Following the photo slam, Jaco from King Koala will give a presentation on Matt Cabani’s Anthem and Jim Saah will discuss In My Eyes - Photographs 1982-1997.

To top off the evening, we will have a special performance from one of DC’s most currently beloved hardcore bands. For now, it’s a secret. The band will be announced the day before the show.

Also, books will be available for purchase from Jim Saah, King Koala Press, Cynthia Connolly, and Chris Suspect.

Schedule

9:00 - 10:00 pm Music Photography Judging

10:10 -10:40 pm Jacopo Buranelli presents Anthem

10:45 - 11:30 pm Jim Saah presents In My Eyes - Photographs 1982-1997

Tickets are $20. All ages. Arrive early as there is limited seating.

Location

Slash Run is located at 201 Upshur St NW, Washington, DC 20011

 

Did you know?

Slash Run has some of the best burgers in DC (including vegan options). It’s true - just ask Washingtonian Magazine. It also has an ample supply of micro brews and top shelf quality booze.

Top Ten Music Photos for August 2022 by Chris Suspect

Death Valley Girls at Mortimers in Minneapolis, MD © Chris Suspect 2022

August is typically one of the slower months for shows in the summer, but this one was jam packed with action. For the first week, I was in Minneapolis where I got to see Death Valley Girls play a midwest rock and roll dive called Mortimers. They killed it and the crowd was great.

Audience for Death Valley Girls at Mortimers in Minneapolis, MD © Chris Suspect 2022

Later in the month I got to witness the return of NYC’s CumGirl8 at DC9 in Washington, DC. They put on a wild show and their onstage antics at the end of their sets are pretty out of control.

CumGirl8 at DC9 in Washington, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

CumGirl8 at DC9 in Washington, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Next up was Damages, a local 3 piece hardcore band from Maryland who tore it up on a Sunday evening at a bar off Rhode Island Ave. in DC called The Public Option. This is a really cool space owned by the same folks that run The Pug and Brookland’s Finest. Hopefully there will be more shows there.

Damages at The Public Option in Washington, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Damages at The Public Option in Washington, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Hell House in Takoma Park hosts legendary metal shows often with crazy side shows from amateur wrestling to fire dancing and even BDSM demonstrations. This was just one of those nights featuring Ixias, grind core from Baltimore, MD, and entertainment from Nymph the Enchantress.

BDSM demonstration by Nymph the Enchantress at Hell House, Takoma Park, MD © Chris Suspect 2022

Ixias at Hell House, Takoma Park, MD © Chris Suspect 2022

A relatively new DC band PsyOps played The Runaway. They have an awesome raw, hardcore sound and are really good live. They are a must see!

PsyOps at The Runaway in Washington, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Topping off the end of the month was Suzi Moon at Slash Run. She is an absolutely cool punk rock and roller. This was a last minute show on the way to playing with The Damned in Cincinnati, OH.

Suzi Moon at Slash Run in Washington, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Top Ten Music Photos for July 2022 by Chris Suspect

Ethan Spalding and the 422 Band at DC9, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Just when I thought June couldn't have been topped, July came around the corner and kicked its ass. Top Ten Music Shots for July! Featuring - Ethan Spalding and the 422 Band, Tim Cappello, Loud Zombie, Thelma and the Sleaze, Menstrual Tramps, Los Saicos experience, No Mas, Total Maniac, Electric Grandmother and Aertex.

Menstrual Tramps at Slash Run, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Thelma and the Sleaze at The Runaway, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Audience during set by No Mas at The Pie Shop, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Electric Grandmother at The Runaway, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Los Saicos Experience at The Runaway , DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Aertex at The Runaway, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Queen Cookie of Loud Zombie at a warehouse party in Brentwood, MD © Chris Suspect 2022

Tim Cappello at The Runaway, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Total Maniac at The Runaway, DC © Chris Suspect 2022

Interview with Abbey Road Studios by Chris Suspect

Katie Alice Greer from The Priests in Washington, DC, 3.1.2015 © Chris Suspect 2022

Abbey Road Studios’ website has featured an interview with me and 21 of my photos from 11 years of music photography. This year I was honored to win the award for their Zeitgeist category for their first annual Music Photography Awards.

This category tasked photographers with capturing the image that defined music in 2021. The picture that makes you stop. Makes you think. Makes you feel. A visual statement of music the year that will be remembered for generations to come.

You can read the interview and view the photos on their website here.

Zeitgeist Award Winner for Abbey Road Studios Music Photography Awards 2022 by Chris Suspect

Darkest Hour at 20th Anniversary Show at DC Brau in Washington, DC | © 2022 Chris Suspect

I am pleased to report that I just returned from London where I won the Zeitgeist Award from the famous Abbey Road Studios this past Saturday for the best photograph that represents music in 2021!

A big thanks goes to Abbey Road Studios for hosting what has been a long overlooked genre of photography. I have been to many photography festivals around the world, but Abbey Road Studios is the first to my knowledge to dedicate an entire event around music photography. It was so cool to meet all the other music photographers there.

The image above is the winning photo and it features the DC metal band Darkest Hour playing their 20th anniversary show at DC Brau.

It was an amazing whirlwind of a trip and I never imagined I would ever get to party like a rock star at Abbey Road Studios!