Tony Nelson Photography

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2011-12-01T14:39:00.003-06:00

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REM

2011-09-21T21:46:00.002-05:00

REM officially announced their retirement. I had the privilege of photographing them a couple times. These shots are from the last time I saw them in St. Paul in 2008. Though I didn't follow them nearly as closely as I did in their early years, they will be missed.

New work: Maria Isa

2011-08-25T23:44:00.006-05:00

Trying to get back to some blogging.
Just did a shoot with Maria Isa the other day. Partly to get some promo shots for her upcoming CD release show with Muja Messiah at First Av but also just for fun . Here are a few of them.

Some favorites from 2010

2011-01-03T12:58:00.006-06:00

Some favorite photos from 2010.
First, Jenny Dalton studio portrait from September.

And Eliza Blue's photos for her CD "The Road Home" which came out in March.

More from the archives #16

2010-12-15T17:37:00.007-06:00

Here's a favorite portrait of Moby done in Minneapolis a while back.

And a fashion shot from around the same time.

New stuff - Nick Swardson

2010-09-30T22:55:00.004-05:00

Comedian Nick Swardson in Minneapolis, August, 2010

Andrew WK, Austin, 2010

2010-05-11T13:58:00.004-05:00

An outtake from a portrait session with Andrew WK in Austin, March, 2010

Photo ©Tony Nelson, 2010

SXSW 2010 Day 4 - last one!

2010-04-02T11:34:00.057-05:00

Day 4:
Well. despite running on fumes at this point, it's starting to feel like a routine. Get up, eat something, go take pictures of musicians for 14 hours,edit, upload, sleep a little, do it all over again. But this is the last day and here goes. The weather has changed radically from the previous 4 beautiful days to COLD, drizzling and windy. Of course, the first part will once again be outside at Stubb's where Rachael Ray's Feedback party is quickly becoming an annual tradition.

This time there are 2 outdoor and one indoor stage. I missed the first couple but caught the end of Austin fav Bob Schneider's early set on the main stage.

Dr. Dog braves the elements on the second outdoor stage.

OK, so I know I'm a little late to this party but I'd never paid much attention to Andrew WK before but I have to say he does one of the more pure fun shows I've seen. Probably the most memorable set of the festival for me so far.

The front row at Stubb's

Then Justin Townes Earle plays on the indoor stage.

Rachael Ray introduces the bands.

Next, Jakob Dylan and Three Legs featuring Neko Case & Kelly Hogan. Very good stuff. A little higher energy than his set in St. Paul a couple years ago but definetely rootsier & quirkier than Wallflowers music.

Note Neko's down jacket!

Steve Conte of the current version of the New York Dolls cranks it up on stage 2.

And, lastly She & Him play their new material with a full band. Definitely improved from their debut.

After moving on from stubbs, we finally catch Fanfarlo who we'd been missing for days despite several appearances.

Also Ponderosa at 40 Watt Club party.

A few street scenes

As the night shows begin, Jeremy Messersmith plays with the Hang Ups' Brian Tighe at the Central Paresbyterian Church.

Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights play their southern rock at the Glalaxy Room.

I managed to squeeze in part of a set by Visqueen who I'd never seen up until now. Great band!

But looming over everything on saturday night was the Big Star show that was scheduled for midnight at Antones. In the wake of Alex chilton's sudden death, the other members of the band decided to go on with a tribute show of sorts with various singers & guitarists filling in for Chilton. Knowing it would be a tough one to get into I headed over early and spent the rest of the cold night inside.

Getting there early, I caught part of a set from Dwight Twilley.

Also, the Postelles from New York. I really enjoyed these guys. They have a new album produced by one of the guys from the Strokes and the Postelles had a similar cool NYC vibe.

Original Big Star member Jody Stevens along with Posies Jon Auer & Ken Stringfellow then came on after a note from Chilton's wife was read to the crowd. Auer explained that this tribute show was probably the best alternative they could come up with, given the circumstances.

They started off on their own with Back Of A Car. They did a few of the songs as a three piece which made Chilton's absense even a little more poignantly felt. Then the guests came on.

Curt Kirkwood of the Meat Puppets

Chris Stamey

M. Ward

Original bass player Andy Hummel

Mike Mills of REM

John Doe did I'm In Love With A Girl

Sondre Lerche

Chuck Prophet

Evan Dando & Amy Speace

And the appropriate finale, September Gurls with Susan Cowsill, the Watson Twins, Mike Mills.

Jody Stevens says a few words of thanks.

Setlist

And that was it. Till next year maybe.

SXSW 2010 Day 3

2010-04-01T15:23:00.043-05:00

Day 3: This is the day I work for Spin Magazine for the whole afternoon at their big party. Nice to be able to stay in one location for a few hours but frustrating to be missing out on some good shows I know are happening. Plus lots of uploading & editing to be done midday that cuts into shooting time.

Anyway the Spin show starts out well. They've got 9 bands on 2 stages at Stubb's plus a couple DJs & Lou Ferigno at some point.

First up is Foxy Shazam - I've never heard of them before but they're a blast. Total glam rock fun.

Next, on the outside stage is Rogue Wave who I enjoy as well but bring the energy down a bit from the opening high.

The crowd at the Spin show at Stubb's

After some bands on the inside stage, everyone is mesmerized by the punk freak show that is the offensive but quite appropriately named Fucked Up. The pictures prett much speak for themselves here. The one thing I found relieving is that the guy actually had a sense of humor and wasn't the angry GG Allen-esque character it looked like he was going to be. He gives a good hug!

On the inside stage, Free Energy continued their run of shows to an enthusiastic crowd.

Back outside, Sharon Jones changed up the vibe with her retro soul set. Great band, great show.

The headliner was of course Courtney Love & a newly reconstituted Hole. Never a favorite of mine, they were fine & the only embarrassing bits were between the songs. Particularly the point when she told the crowd how lucky & honored they should feel to hear this next song now when it's brand new because it's so profound but, after, hearing she was running out of time, played something else instead.
The photo pit at Stubb's. this shows about 1/4 of the people shooting at the time.

Oh, yeah...Lou Ferigno (& Mini Me to boot).

After some hurried editing & uploading, we're back to the grind and first up is Romantica, our friends from home. It was a relief to have the Spin thing done and be able to sit back & enjoy a show by some friends. And to see a bunch of familiar faces in the crowd.

Duluth's Trampled By Turtles fired up the Bluegrass at the Red Eye Fly and didn't disappoint the faithful.

Japan Night is always a great SXSW tradition. Some of the wackiest & most fun shows happen here each year. You've got to admit, the Japanese artists know something about Presentation. This year, I only had time for one of them, Red Bacteria Vacuum. Not as crazy as the Pugs or some of the others but they got the job done.

Next, back at one of the Beauty Bars was John Doe. Hw was doing an acoustic set backed by vocalist Cindy Wasserman of Dead Rock West. They serve as backing band when Doe tours and Cindy was also singing with Exene Cervenka the next night.

The thing that brought us there really though were the Court Yard Hounds - who are Emily Robison & Marty McGuire of the Dixie Chicks. Considering they're 2/3 of an act that can sell out an arena, it was a little surprising how few people came but the band gave it their all despite being in a little dark room with only 100 or so people.

As we sprint to the end, I stopped to take in Local Natives back at the Galaxy Room. I'd seen them in Minneapolis and didn't love it but was more impressed here with their tight harmonies & complex yet danceable rhythms.

And last for the night was the XX playing in the Central Presbyterian church. A perfect venue for their slow, minimalist tunes. I know people love them but, with 2 or 3 hours of computer work looming, starting at 2AM, they were sapping vital energy out of me. I had to get out if I was going to stay awake.

That was it for Friday. One more to go.

SXSW 2010 Day 2

2010-03-31T14:47:00.032-05:00

So, hopefully a little less words here today or I'll never get through all 4 days of this. Here goes.
Day Two - After not much sleep but, at least well fed, it's off to Waterloo Records at noon on Thursday to check out Titus Andronicus who are opening the day on the stage they've now got out in the parking lot.

Then we're off to the VitaMN & Best Buy Co. sponsored Minnesota music show on the rooftop of Maggie Mae's on 6th Street. On the way there I bump into Maggie & Grant of Look Book who will be playing in a few hours.

Actual Minnesotans are in attendance.

Bight Club is on first. This is a truly strange venue in which the bathrooms are located behind the stage and people have to basically walk across it to get there so there's this weird constant parade of bystanders walking along the side of the stage that need to be avoided when photographing.

After a little detour for some more portaits I catch a glimpse of Minneapolis buzz band Solid Gold's billboard. Self Promo is the name of the game here.

Then a quick stop at the NPR day show at the Parish to see Surfer Blood.

We're back across the street at Maggie Mae's in time for Look Book's set.

Followed by Solid Gold.

Through a set of closed doors is Maggie Mae's other room where Gibson Guitars is hosting a show of their own. So, after going outside walking down the street & around the corner & back upstairs, I'm standing 10 feet from where I was watching Solid Gold and waiting for Austin legend Alejandro Escovedo to come on.

Then a little hike to see a couple sort of experimental noise bands, Japandroids and No Age.

Japandroids

No Age

We start the night shows with a bang by seeing Minneapolis punk duo the Birthday Suits on the least impressive stage I've seen so far. Basically just a corner of a room at a restaurant called Jaime's. The side of the "stage" did have a window that open directly to the bar which I suppose has its advantages.

Then just a couple blocks to Emo's when another Minneapolis duo, Peter Wolf Crier is impressing the crowd with their official showcase.

At some point here it starts to become a bit of a blur. There's Leslie & the Badgers, some old fashioned country we saw on the recommendation of Pete Jesperson who was working the conference for his label New West.

There was a really great set by Dawes followed by the very rockin' Whigs at a very dark venue called the Beauty Bar Palm Door - not to be confused with the other Beauty Bar on 7th street (we did confuse them ).

Dawes

The Whigs

There was Minneapolis pop/punk band Off With Their Heads who were a blast at the Red 7.

At some point back at Stubb's to see Band Of Horses but got there a little early (or were the bands a little late?) and found myself watching the Drive By Truckers again. Worse things could happen, I guess!

Drive By Truckers

Band Of Horses (who were great, incidentally)

We wound down the night watching a the electro-dance band Shout Out Out Out Out (not a typo) whip the crowd into a frenzy.

Followed by The Very Best and their Afro-Hip Hop.

So that's it. Half way there...

SXSW 2010 - some belated blogging - Day 1

2010-03-30T23:06:00.040-05:00

It's been over a week since returning from my 15th SXSW and I'm just now getting around to posting some photos. I had high hopes of updating semi-regularly while I was there but, once again, got pretty overwhelmed with trying to juggle multiple clients and keep them all happy on top of shooting as much as I could manage. So, after catching up on the sleep & reacquainting myself with the real world, here goes. Starting with Wednesday, 3/17. *

* I might have started with Tuesday night since I got into Austin in time to catch some pre-SXSW kickoff shows but due to some embarrassingly bad planning, I found myself without a rental car and had to satisfy myself with the IHOP I could walk to from my Best Western.

So, first thing out of the gate after checking in at the convention center were the Walkmen, playing at the IFC Channel "house". IFC was filming events during the film fest and kept going through the music festival too, filming performances & interviews with the artists every day. The Walkmen are a fav of mine so it was fun to see them in the little TV studio there debuting a bunch of brand new songs that were great!

I was covering the festival for the Minneapolis Star Tribune as well as doing some work for Spin Magazine and a couple others. I hung out much of the time with the Strib's writer, Chris Reimenschneider & we had a pretty ambitious agenda from covering the obvious big stories coming out of the festival to checking in with many of the Minnesota based artists who were playing.

Next on the list was the Paste Magazine day party to check out Free Energy, the former Hockey guys who are now based in Philadelphia. Before them was Lissie, from Illionis.

We liked Lissie quite a bit but I'm still wondering about her choice to cover a Metallica song. And Free Energy was great. This was their first of something like seven shows and I'm sure we'll be hearing more from them soon.

Next at the IFC house were the Drive By Truckers who played a solid, if slightly subdued (by their standards) set of new material.

Here's a line you couldn't have paid me to wait in. In fact, I was being paid & we chose to skip the often excellent Fader Fort for now.

We Became Actors from Minneapolis played a small club called Plush in the afternoon.

Roky Erickson played the first of a few shows with Okkervil River - here in the big tent at the Paste Magazine party.

Last of the day shows was Jason Collett of Broken Social Scene doing a day show at a 6th Street club.

After doing some portraits of an artist for a feature article that the Strib hasn't run yet (I'll eventually be able to post but not yet), I started the night at Lambert's, a club that's a little hike from the main area of 6th Street to check out some local bands that went to Austin. First were the Melismatics (who really rocked) followed by Brooklyn based honorary Minnesotans Kaiser Cartel's quieter acoustic pop music. they're favorites of mine too and they debuted new tunes I hope to hear more of soon.

Kaiser Cartel

After a quick cab ride, I was at Stubb's, the very large outdoor venue showcasing some of the biggest names at the festival. Sharon Jones was just winding down when I got there but my two highest priorities for the night were on next.
First, one of the festival's biggest buzz bands, Broken Bells featuring the Shins' James Mercer and a camera-shy Dangermouse lurking behind the drums.

Next was Spoon, another of my favorites. Both bands were great with the only disappointment being the extremely low light for shooting in the normally well lit Stubb's.

Next, just a block or so down the street I was able to catch another band I was making sure to see (again), the Veils. Another band showcasing songs off their soon to be released disk, they were fantastic. As is par for the course, I couldn't stay for the whole show but I'll be lining up next time they come this way.

We ended the night back where I started it - at Lambert's to see Grant Hart close the club with a solo show. Sometime during that first night, we caught the sad news that Alex Chilton of Big Star had died suddenly. They were scheduled to play a show the final night of SXSW as well as be featured on a panel discussion devoted to Chilton's music. This cast a somber tone over much of the rest of the time there. We ended the night back where I started it - at Lambert's to see Grant Hart close the club with a solo show. Grant closed his show appropriately with a version of Chilton's Box Tops hit, The Letter.

Then it was off to the hotel to begin the night's editing & uploading. The 7AM deadline looms as birds begin to chirp outside my window as I wind it down for the night. Each year, at about this point, I wonder why I sign up for it every time but, after a few nights it starts to feel almost normal. Shouldn't there always be 100 bands playing within walking distance?

Archives #15

2010-01-10T16:21:00.002-06:00

A couple favorite performance shots from the '90s.

First, Elizabeth Fraser with the Cocteau Twins in Monneapolis in 1990.

And David Eugene Edwards with his band Sixteen Horsepower in Minneapolis in 1996.

Archives #14

2010-01-04T22:48:00.005-06:00

It's 2010...And here are a few shots from 2008 - from the Miss Gay 90's campetition in Minneapolis.

From the Archives #13 - El Vez & Alejandro Escovedo

2009-12-14T18:20:00.002-06:00

A couple more shots from the archives. First, El Vez, photographed in Austin, Texas in 1996. This was during my first trip to SXSW which I've attended and photographed every year since.

This next one's also from SXSW. This time it's 2002, the last time I shot with film there. Alejandro Escovedo sits for a portrait for Toast Magazine at Maria's Tacos where he hosts a day long show every year. A shot from this session was also used as the promo photo for "Por Vida: A Tribute to the Songs of Alejandro Escovedo".

Jared Allen - for Rebel Ink Magazine, November 2009 issue

2009-12-05T21:25:00.003-06:00

Jared Allen of the Minnesota Vikings - from a photo shoot for the November, 2009 issue of Rebel Ink magazine.

From the archives #12 - Gwen Stefani & John Lurie

2009-11-15T21:46:00.009-06:00

A couple favorite shots from different ends of the musical spectrum

Gwen Stefani, live in St. Paul, 2007

John Lurie, Minneapolis, 1996 - posing for a piece in Cake Magazine

Archives #11

2009-11-04T11:49:00.002-06:00

A couple more recent shots this time.
First, Duncan Maitland in Minneapolis, 2009. This is an outtake from my Hootenanny portrait series.

Bootsy Collins at the Minnesota Zoo in 2008.

Photos from the archives #10

2009-10-27T13:09:00.005-05:00

Two more from the archives today. First, Vincent Kartheiser, currently starring on the spectacular show Mad Men, back when he was an up & coming Minneapolis actor in 1998. This was for Interview Magazine.

Next, Fluffy, an English punk band that we (the staff at Cake Magazine) all liked & got to know down at SXSW. This shot was taken in the old VIP room at First Avenue.

Archives #9

2009-10-12T15:40:00.005-05:00

A couple more shots from the archives...

David Byrne, Minneapolis, 1999 - This is taken at Java Jacks coffee shop, then the future home of the Mad Ripple Hootenanny. He had a photography exhibit opening that night at the gallery across the street.

Slug, atmosphere, Austin, Texas, 2003. On 6th Street outside of Emo's.

Archives #8 - Lifter Puller & Kristin Hersh

2009-10-05T14:33:00.004-05:00

Reachin' back a few years again here.

First, Lifter Puller at my old studio in Minneapolis for City Pages back in 1999.

And Kristin Hersh in Minneapolis back in 1994 for Cake Magazine.

From the archives #7 - Josh Pearson & Curtis A

2009-10-01T21:29:00.003-05:00

A couple that are completely unrelated to each other...

Josh Pearson, recently after splitting from Lift To Experience, Austin, Texas, 2003

Curtis A, Minneapolis, 1996 (?) - for Cake Magazine's "Toys" issue

Archives #6 - Joe Henry & Chris Mars

2009-09-28T13:22:00.006-05:00

A couple more portraits from the '90s.

Joe Henry, Minneapolis, 1999 - for Toast Magazine

Chris Mars, Minneapolis, 1997 - for Cake Magazine's Underwear theme issue!

Old favorites #5

2009-09-24T20:57:00.002-05:00

More from the archives: a couple from 1997

Mick Jagger, The Rolling Stones, Minneapolis, 1997

Ana Voog, Minneapolis, 1997

Old Favs #4

2009-09-23T15:43:00.002-05:00

Been looking through the archives lately - especially negatives & transparencies I'd more or less forgatten about since shifting to digital. Here are a couple portaits of Chan Marshall (Cat Power) from 1998 & 2000 in Minneapolis.

An old fav and a new fav

2009-09-18T18:28:00.005-05:00

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones at the old Greyhound station in 1997 for Request Magazine.

Tift Merritt in Madison, Wisconsin - last summer.

Old favorites #2

2009-09-15T21:46:00.003-05:00

A couple more old favorites from the archives.

Iggy Pop, Minneapolis, 1996 - at his hotel just before heading to his show in Wisconsin.

Robert Pollard, Minneapolis, 2001 - before a GBV show at the 400 Bar.

Old Favorites - some shots from the archives

2009-09-11T00:05:00.003-05:00

Just thought I'd post some old shots from the portfolio that I haven't looked at for a while.

Starting with a couple from 1997.

GWAR, Minneapolis, 1997 - for the late, great Cake Magazine's wedding theme issue.

Mike Watt, Minneapolis, 1997. Again for Cake - in the basement of the 7th Street Entry.

Hootenanny: A Community

2009-06-18T23:32:00.000-05:00

My photography exhibit titled Hootenanny: A Community opens at The Gallery At Fox Tax in Minneapolis on June 19 and runs through July 25. Here are a few somples from the show.

SXSW 2009 - Day 4

2009-03-31T23:23:00.000-05:00

Saturday, the final day of SXSW. Working on less than 4 hours of sleep for the 3rd straight day so, needless to say, moving a little slower at this point. Fortunately the first event of the day was the Rachael Ray sponsored show with the Hold Steady & the New York Dolls and featured pleanty of good food & free Mojitos.

The Hold Steady show us how it's done.

The New York Dolls at what must be the earliest hour they've ever played.

My new favorite of the festival, Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros playing at teh downstairs stage at the Rachael Ray party.

Minneapolis favs, the 757's at Lamberts.

Craig Finn of the Hold Steady.

P.J. Harvey, our big event of Saturday night.

Solange Knowles at Buffalo Billiards.

Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros. I don't know if I've ever seen such a display of pure, unmitigated joy on stage. If you ever have the chance, go see them.

Sylvain Sylvain of the New York Dolls

Tad & Craig of the Hold Steady

Polly Jean Harvey

Justin Townes Earle at Red 7

Solange Knowles (who went on a full hour late, causing the 1AM band, who was the reason I was there to have to start their 20 minute set at 1:50. I imagine there were some interesting conversations going on backstage!)

Zacchary & some of the guys from Solid Gold out on the street, Saturday afternoon

David Johansen of the New York Dolls

Black Joe Lewis & the Honeybears, starting late at Buffalo Billiards.

More of the Hold Steady

The Pains of being Pure at Heart at Emos, Jr. (I actually went through this entire sxsw without going into Emos main room, La Zona Rosa or Antone's. bizarre.

P.J. Harvey with John Parish at Stubb's

More New York Dolls

Despite going on late, Solange was really quite fun.

Craig & Tad of the Hold Steady

Jade from Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros

And one more of local friends, the 757's in the not-so-well-lit Lambert's.

I think that might be it.

SXSW 2009 - Day 3

2009-03-30T13:44:00.001-05:00

SXSW 2009 - day three
Friday was a big day at SXSW for me because I spent the entire afternoon shooting for Spin at their big party at Stubb's. Here are a few highlights from the Spin show and the rest of the night.

Adam Levy hanging out on South Congress. This is actually in the morning!

Echo & the Bunnymen headlined the big Spin party.

but before that started, I managed to catch a few more songs by the Wrens playing across the street.

Black Lips at the Spin show.

Lookbook playing on the outdoor stage at the Ca$hmoneyapolis show.

Of course, the big headliner Friday night was Metallica at Stubb's.

Ian McCullough of Echo & the Bunnymen.

The Monthlies are a band from L.A. I'd never heard before but really enjoyed - here on the indoor stage at Stubb's.

Glasvegas outside at Stubb's for the Spin show.

The Passion Pit at the Spin party.

More Metallica.

The photo pit at Stubb's where I spent more time than I care to remember. It's pretty calm at this point.

Solid Gold playing at the Moneyapolis party.

Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo at the Austin Music Hall.

Tricky hanging out at the Spin party.

The Crystal Method D.J. at Spin.

Either the Black Lips or the Outlaw Josey Wales.

I always imagine some band coming from Europe or someplace far away & getting their only gig in the same time slot as Metallica, thus insuring zero press coverage.

Au Revoir Simone closed out the night for me at Maggie Mae's, one of the strangest venues there - you actually have to cross the stage behind the band to get to the bathrooms.

Crystal Method

Someone knows how to pose for the cameras.

The Monthlies at Spin.

Devo at the Music Hall.

John Swardson hanging out at the Moneyapolis party.

Mark Mothersbaugh of Devo.

Lookbook again at the Minneapolis show.

D.J. from N.A.S.A. between sets at the Spin party.

Solid Gold again at the Moneyapolis show.

One more of the Wrens because they're the best band on the planet!

Glasvegas again.

One last Metallica shot.

And one last Devo shot.

One more group of shots to come.

SXSW 2009 Day 2

2009-03-29T13:27:00.001-05:00

Some SXSW photo highlights from Thursday 3/19

From the photographic perspective, Janelle Monae at the Austin Music Hall was a real favorite.

Somewhat less photogenic but, in my opinion, the best band there at SXSW, The Wrens - here at the Paste Magazine party.
Trail of Dead at a record company day show.

Justin Townes Earle - my next door neighbor at the beautiful Motel 6 in South Austin.

Blitzen Trapper plays at the NPR day show at the Parish.

The Sam Roberts band played at the Cedar Street Courtyard.

The Wrens play their second show of the day - their official gig at Club Prague.

Janelle Monae can strike a pose!

King Khan & the Shrines play one of their many shows.

Trail of Dead played a private day show at the Lucky Lounge.

Blitzen Trapper again at the NPR show.

Charles Bissell from the Wrens.

Janelle Monae again at the Music Hall.

Haley Bonar plays on the acoustic stage at the convention center.

Toki Wright plays at the Rhymesayers showcase.

Another Wrens shot from the Paste day show.

The Delta Spirit at the Cedar Street Courtyard.

Yet another Janelle Monae shot - who am I not to?

The Wrens rock! Really!

(...and You Will Know Us by the) Trail Of Dead

Greg Whelan of the Wrens.

M. Ward plays a show at the Auditorium Shores festival stage.

King Khan & the Shrines again.

And one last shot of Janelle Monae. I'm guessing we'll all be a lot more familiar with her in the next year or so.

SXSW 2009 - Day 1

2009-03-28T20:37:00.000-05:00

Here's a belated selection of photos from last week's SXSW music fest in Austin, Texas. Starting with Wednesday, 3/17.
All photos © Tony Nelson, 2009 and may not be reproduced without written permission.

Kaiser Cartel prepare backstage at Threadgill's

Doomtree crew hanging out before their gig.

Romantica backstage early in the day.

Hacienda at the Parish

St. Vincent at the Central Presbyterian Church

Vivian Girls at Red 7

Romantica playing at Threadgill's

St. Vincent again

The Devemberists at Stubb's

Mark Olson & Gary Louris play their official gig at the Driskill Hotel

P.O.S. with threst of the Doomtree crew at the Back Alley Social

Vivian Girls after their afternoon show

All of Doomtree on a very small stage

M. Ward at the Paste magazine party

Ladyhawke at Stubb's

More Mark & Gary

Heartless Bastards at the Paste party

Cepartment of Eagles at the Central Presbyterian Church

Elvis Perkins In Dearland at Mowhawk

Decembersits at Stubb's again

Jeremy Messersmith at Threadgill's

Ben Kyle of Roimantica at Threadgill's

Kaiser Cartel

A couple sort-of recent portraits

2008-12-05T09:46:00.000-06:00

Fran King, Minnesota, 2008

Steve McClellan, St. Paul, 2008

Robert Pollard

2008-10-14T08:03:00.000-05:00

Robert Pollard with his band Boston Spaceships at the Turf Club in St. Paul, 10/7/08.

Jakob Dylan

2008-09-24T18:09:00.000-05:00

Jakob Dylan at the McNally Smith River Rocks Music Festival in St. Paul.

Vinegar Tom

2008-09-24T18:04:00.000-05:00

A few promo shots & production stills from Frank Theatre's production of "Vinegar Tom" by Caryl Churchill playing at the Ritz Theatre through the end of September, 2008.

Jenny Dalton & Eliza Blue at Jenny's CD release party at the Ritz Theater

2008-09-24T18:03:00.000-05:00

New photos 9/08

2008-09-11T15:30:00.000-05:00

Put your hands in the air...
Some photos from the week the RNC was in St. Paul - from a bunch of shows around town that were mostly organized to counter the message coming out of the convention - some quietly & others, not so much.

On Labor Day, the big concert was at Harriet Island, across the river from the convention where Tom Morello (The Nightwatchman), Billy Bragg, Alison Moorer, Steve Earle, Mos Def, The Pharcyde and Atmosphere played.

Billy Bragg , special guest at the "Wake Up World" filming at the Parkway Theater.

Then came the Mad Ripple Hootenanny with Jim Walsh, Billy Bragg, Tom Morello, Ike Reilly, Eliza Blue, Jen Markey & Boots Reilly.

Rage Against The Machine & Anti-Flag at the Target Center in Minneapolis.

Hootenanny #2 with Jim Walsh, Terry Walsh, Stook!, Brianna Lane, Martin Devaney, Jeaneen Gaultier and, once again, Billy Bragg.

The Kills

2008-07-24T19:36:00.000-05:00

The Kills at the Triple rock in Minneapolis. Favorite show of the year so far.

Post #1: Barack Obama

2008-07-24T17:58:00.000-05:00

Barack Obama in St. Paul on the night he accepts the Demcratic nomination for President. I was honred to be there!

2008-07-23T22:46:00.000-05:00