stefano giovannini’s journals

A  selection of photos I took in the past couple of years at Sonic Youth shows. For the most part of these gigs the band on stage was in the shade. Moving images being projected in the background and spot lights from behind. The audience in the front was often lit up and I started to take photos of these faces that could appear joyful, ecstatic, raptured.

from the Colette show Release:

http://www.colette.fr/#/a/581/now/5/galerie/13/bientot/

Music Loves You” April 6-30, 2010

Colette Gallery – 213 rue Saint-Honoré 75001 Paris  www.colette.fr

Concerts Crowd Photography by Beck, Drew Carolan Josh Cheuse,  Lenny Kravitz, Nick Zinner, Philip Andelman, Poppy De Villeneuve, Stefano Giovannini.

Music Loves You began from a desire to talk about music, artists, fans, and in a larger sense, all that surrounds concerts. The desire to show all those moments where an artist and his public become one. Here is an exhibition that deals with all these things, through snapshots taken by photographers, but also by the artists themselves. A tribute to all that contribute to make a concert so special and unforgettable.”

May 22, 2009
131 Chrystie st, New York , NY

click play or use manual controls to view the slideshow. button to the right for full screen [you can't watch the above flash slideshow on the iphone].

Sonic Youth’s The Eternal release party.

Art gallery at 131 Chrystie street in the lower east side. The chatter is louder than the music. Free indian beer and pizza slices from Two Boots.

Bands cover Sonic Youth songs at the bar downstairs but the nice evening after the long winter and cool wet spring makes me  want to hang out in the street.

Photographers Richard Kern and Michael Lavine are there too.

I think I haven’t hanging out outside in the Lower East Side for a long time. It feels like it was a few years ago. This stuff now happens more in Brooklyn, apparently.

Brooklyn NY

May 17, 2009

click play or use manual controls to view the slideshow. button to the right for full screen.

Sonic Youth at The No Fun Festival organized by Carlos Giffoni at the Williamsburg Music Hall.

Bill Nace joined the band as Lee was away.

Could not catch many bands as I had some very busy days with various assignments.

It was a night I would rather be home taking a hot bath than at some busy venue in Williamsburg.

Some guy downstairs was demontrating his synth and others were selling records. The Sonic Youth set was a wild jam of feedback and improvisation.

Stage was dark. Used 2 flashes with one a bit on the side on top a stage monitor. I could then see in the photos Thurston cut his hand somehow and his fingers were bleeding. Blood in the music.

click here for 99 photo slideshow on picasa

http://picasaweb.google.com/stefanog/July4thSonicYouthRara/photo?authkey=bKTqlQMLtxo#s5219743772306463042
4th of july 2008
between prospect park brooklyn
and battery park in lower manhattan

the radio predicted rain
and possibly storms

in prospect park
i was invited by the haitian rara band people for a barbecue -
it is early
i see trays with marinated chicken -
take a few shots

at 2 45 i start riding to manhattan to catch the feelies the opening band -

riding over the brooklyn bridge is insane with all the distracted
pedestrian tourists invading the bike lane

I get a crew pass from sonic youth’s tour manager -
there are some issues with the passes -

the “artists” can’t go to the VIP / guest section that has slight;y
better free food -
pulled pork and mac and cheese -
and with the crew pass I can go just everywhere!

the feelies look aged after all these years but they sound just the same.
after all they disappeared for 20 years or so.

sonic youth sound great
i like these summer open air loose and fun shows -
like a picnic in the park with old friends -
hanging out outside rather than in a cramped windowless room backstage
with too much bread and cold cuts.

at 8 I ride back to brooklyn hoping i can make it across the bridge
before they close it for the fireworks / safety.

I see cops and yellow tape at the entrance of the brooklyn bridge.
“i have to ride to brooklyn” i tell a cop -
he asks me for ID to prove i live there and
i am free to go.

the bridge is deserted and i see the macy’s fireworks barge being pushed
by a tugboat.

I ask 3 cops if i can take their photo at the roadblock
but the captain tells me photography is not allowed on the brooklyn
bridge “because of 9/11].
he looks around for a sign to confirm what he is saying
but I can only see one that states “NYPD video surveillance on the bridge”.
I tell him that probably every year the tourists that visit the bridge
take millions of photos and if i were a terrorist i would probably use a
concealed video camera instead.

I see a girl walking up on the bridge pushing a stroller with her kid to
see the fireworks.

I ask her how did she get thru
“my boyfriend is a cop!”
she replies with a smile.

prospect park
there are 2 big rara bands playing near parkside and flatbush avenue -
by the pond -

this vodou lady introduces me to some musicologist that is studying
haitian drumming -

there is a guy playing melodies on a regular trumpet -
sounds like a vocal part.
it gives some sort of jazz flavor -

–
i go to rehab – the new old club on avenue b and
3rd st

thurston moore is playing with 3 kids from northhampton mass -
2 guitars
2 drum kits

symmetric on the stage -
sometimes furious

feels like 2 channels of a stereo
competing and blending in

–
have to weed thru 12 GB of stuff 1300 images
down to 450 now -

been taking L-Carnitine supplement for a month
helps me focus -
helps me ride miles and miles with less fatigue
makes it all easier -
and i feel i dont need coffee as much anymore
energy without the nervousness and the crash of starbucks cups