Winter in New York with The Swell Season
This was such a magical trip to New York in January with The Swell Season. When Marketa mentioned they were going to be doing Radio City Music hall and Late night with David Letterman, I had to join in by showing up and documenting the historical events in their career (not as historical as winning Oscars, but still..it was cool).
We all stayed in Time Square at the Hudson near both venues. The first day was a bit like Laurel and Hardy because every time I showed up to Letterman on 57th street, they were at Radio City at 51st Street. So I kept going back and forth between the 2 venues, missing them as everyone kept giving me misinformation as to who was on first! ha, it was funny.
But I got inside Radio City and was able to get these classic shots (if I do say so myself 
of the band rehearsing.
This is Colm, from The Swell Season and Glen Hansard‘s other amazing band called The Frames. Colm always wears Red Socks as he says it’s “more grounding”. This baffles me because red and pink socks were always such a Mod/Weller/60′s/Stones/Who thing, none of which seemed very grounded back when they were wearing them. The best part about this photo is the fiddle, guess how old it is? Guess, seriously…it’s from the 1770′S!!! WTF! how is that even possible..? It still works! Can you imagine having an iphone that long? Or even a car? Hopefully his red socks are not from 1770.
This is obviously backstage in the green room with Letterman. I’m trying to remember who the other guest was..Oh, a very noble philanthropist type woman with the national food bank or something. Glen is having everyone listen to a track on the ipod to get to know it as he is planning something, a cover for all of them to do during a special moment of the evening before the show you will find out later. I’m pretty sure it was a Springstein song knowing Glen, waiting on confirmation from Howard now. Ha! Howard literally JUST texted me back and said “I think you are referring to “Drive All Night” by Springsteen, which is good cause i just realized I can’t spell Springsteen. Thanks Howard!
I love this shot of Mar sitting back, looking, smiling, listening. She’s such a lovely little observer. When you are talking to her she listens as though you have the answer she’s been waiting to hear of the meaning of life and you’re just about to give it to her. She too makes you feel very special, like you belong. Her inquisitive nature makes her seem so much wiser than her 21 years of life. The book sitting next to her is the teaching of numerology. She shared her knowledge with everyone who asked about what she’d learned so far, but the best thing about her is, she’ll share if you ask, but is humble and won’t just give it away for attention. That’s not her, she’s too busy taking it all in, being in the moment and enjoying being in the company of her family.
This shot just HAD To be done! It just HAD to! it was so perfect and we both just felt it and went for it. I love shooting Glen, he’s so easy to want to keep the camera on at all times because of his glorious exaggerated expressions. Because he gesticulates and tells stories and uses words like “GLORIOUS” to explain a loaf of bread. He is also ever so gracious and makes me and everyone around feel like you are supposed to be there, you are one of the crew, the team, the moment. I wish everyone could be that way all the time, so everyone felt special and loved everywhere and never awkward or unwanted.
This was the part that was SOOO fun. Glen decided he wanted to grab the entire band, horns and all and play a few tunes (now’s the part about covering the Springsteen song:) outside for the crowd on the street as they waited to get into the gig. It was seriously magical! I was trying to shoot photos and video at the same time, but being the double fisted shooter I am, i got both pretty good! I will put the video up here as soon as i upload it. They totally killed it and everyone was so stoked they came out and played for them in the cold. What a way to warm up the band and the crowd for what would be a beautiful and memorable show.
There are SO many great shots of the band from this trip and all the other shoots I’ve done with them, I will one day make a book to share them with their fans who deserve to see them and have them. I love this shot of Mar and John Tosch, Howard Greynolds partner at Overcoat Management. Those men take such good care of their artists and me
