The Dandies and Meat Puppets killed it

My brother Brian and I were scheduled to be in Belgium on the 19th. That was, until, we heard The Dandies were going to be performing on the 18th. So we left Paris a day early, took the train to Antwerp, checked into Le Tissu, and proceeded to head over to Trix. As we were walking along we stumbled upon this fantastic tavern. I loved the way it looked from the outside so, without much convincing from me, Brian and I entered Taverne MoreTus. Taverne MoreTus is run by Martine (who’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met) and her husband. After our first drink Martine, Brian and I all got to talking. Before I knew it the guy at the end of the bar joined in and my brother and I were being given directions on the best route to take to get to Trix. The regular local (the guy from the end of the bar) kept insisting while pointing at the map “walk up this street. When you get to the old building make a right …” Ummmm … this is Belgium. Which old building would that be? Needless to say, Martine ended up winning the debate which means she called Brian and I a cab and in a matter of minutes we arrived at Trix’s doorstep. Shortly thereafter The Dandies, finding themselves on the third night of their tour with Meat Puppets, hit the stage and rocked it! They played a number of new songs which I was hearing for the first time. I can say with confidence that the new songs are the best they’ve written to date (aside from my personal favorite “I’m Running”). Here are a few pictures from their set (video to follow):

The Dandies photo by Keena Gonzalez

The Dandies Dimitri and Adi

The Dandies photo by Keena Gonzalez

The Dandies Adrian Weber

The Dandies photo by Keena Gonzalez

The Dandies Fabian Voirol

The Dandies photo by Keena Gonzalez

The Dandies Eric Weber

The Dandies photo by Keena Gonzalez

The Dandies Dimitri Schubiger

The Dandies photo by Keena Gonzalez

The Dandies Adrian Weber

The Dandies photo by Keena Gonzalez

The Dandies Eric Weber

The Dandies photo by Keena Gonzalez

The Dandies Adrian Weber

All images © Keena Gonzalez and photographybykeena, 2011. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Keena Gonzalez and photographybykeena with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Keena’s featuring 8 new photographs in Rumble Above The Clouds – SAVE THE DATE!

I love the idea of showcasing work in alternative spaces. And this is definitely one of the best! I’ll be featuring eight new photographs in the group show “Rumble Above The Clouds” which will be held in a gigantic Catholic church located in midtown Manhattan. Here are the details:

Keena Gonzalez invite

Rumble Above The Clouds opening reception details 

 

Posted in Art, Exhibitions | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Famous in Ireland. Jack Lukeman performs live at the Mercury Lounge

Known as Jack L in Ireland and as Jack Lukeman here in the States it doesn’t matter which Jack you’re watching. His shows are always performative, high energy and entertaining. And MAN can this guy sing!

Jack Lukeman at Mercury Lounge photo by Keena Gonzalez

Jack L at the Mercury Lounge

Jack Lukeman at Mercury Lounge photo by Keena Gonzalez

David Constantine on guitar

Jack Lukeman at Mercury Lounge photo by Keena Gonzalez

Jack L and the tambourine beam

Jack Lukeman at Mercury Lounge photo by Keena Gonzalez

Jack L in motion

Jack Lukeman at Mercury Lounge photo by Keena Gonzalez

Boa, guitar and lights

Jack Lukeman at Mercury Lounge photo by Keena Gonzalez

David Constantine

All images © Keena Gonzalez and photographybykeena, 2011. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Keena Gonzalez and photographybykeena with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Captured! LIVE!!! What will you do?

I’ve always struggled with photographing bands live. I tend to get seduced by the lights. And, for me, there’s always the challenge of how to make the image interesting. Not redundant. And different from the millions of images that have already been done. I don’t know if I’ve succeeded in any of the three challenges I’ve mentioned above but here are some of my favorite shots I’ve pulled from my files.

Photo by Keena Gonzalez Alphabet City New York

They Walk In Line at Alphabet Lounge in NYC

photo by Keena Gonzalez Alphabet City New York

montage of They Walk In Line

Lucero at The Casbah photo by Keena Gonzalez

Lucero at The Casbah in San Diego

Ben Nichols of Lucero at The Casbah photo by Keena Gonzalez

Lucero at The Casbah in San Diego

Lucero at the Casbah photo by Keena Gonzalez

Lucero at The Casbah in San Diego

Ben Nichols of Lucero at The Casbah photo by Keena Gonzalez

Ben Nichols with Lucero at The Casbah in San Diego

Rita D'Albert performing with Human Drama photo by Keena Gonzalez

Rita D'Albert performing with Human Drama

Johnny Indovina with Human Drama at the Troubadour photo by Keena Gonzalez

Johnny Indovina with Human Drama at The Troubadour in LA

Johnny Indovina with Human Drama at the Troubadour photo by Keena Gonzalez

Johnny Indovina of Human Drama

Johnny Indovina with Human Drama at the Troubadour photo by Keena Gonzalez

Johnny Indovina of Human Drama

Tammy Faye Starlite at Maxwell's photo by Keena Gonzalez

Tammy Faye Starlite with the Mike Hunt Band at Maxwell's in NJ

Tammy Faye Starlite at The Knitting Factory photo by Keena Gonzalez

Tammy Faye Starlite at The Knitting Factory in NYC

Rick Wilder with The Mau Mau's at subculture photo by Keena Gonzalez

Rick Wilder with The Mau Mau's at Subculture in LA

Bugs In The Dark at Cake Shop photo by Keena Gonzalez

Karen Rockower with Bugs In The Dark at Cake Shop NYC

Bugs In The Dark at Cake Shop photo by Keena Gonzalez

Zach Glass with Bugs In The Dark at Cake Shop NYC

Bugs In The Dark at Cake Shop photo by Keena Gonzalez

Julia with Bugs In The Dark at Cake Shop in NYC

Bugs In The Dark at Cake Shop photo by Keena Gonzalez

Bugs In The Dark at Cake Shop NYC

Brendan O'Shea at the Irish Repertory Theater Photo by Keena Gonzalez

Brendan O'Shea at the Irish Repertory Theater in NYC

Ed Harcourt at Irving Plaza photo by Keena Gonzalez

Ed Harcourt's audience at Irving Plaza NYC

All images © Keena Gonzalez and photographybykeena, 2011. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Keena Gonzalez and photographybykeena with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

ALICAT Avril Lemieux handbags – you want one, you need one

On Friday August 19, 2011 ALICAT will be, for one night only, featuring and selling bags from “The Hunt Collection” at Openhouse Gallery. Details are:

Openhouse Gallery

201 Mulberry St. (b/w Spring & Kenmore)

Cocktails & Shopping 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm

212.334.0288

Last year ALICAT, Emmy award-winning make-up artist D’angelo Thompson, model extraordinaire (and I’m not just saying that. She felt awful the entire day but held it together & was a consummate professional) Chantele DiBrava and I collaborated on an all day shoot which produced these images.

Alicat Avril Lemieux photo by Keena Gonzalez

ALICAT Print Epaule bag

Alicat Avril Lemieux photo by Keena Gonzalez

ALICAT handbag

Alicat Avril Lemieux photo by Keena Gonzalez

ALICAT Yellow Snake Skin Cigar Clutch

Alicat Avril Lemieux photo by Keena Gonzalez featuring Chantele DiBrava

ALICAT handbags

Alicat Avril Lemieux photo by Keena Gonzalez

ALICAT Yellow Snake Skin Cigar Clutch

Alicat Avril Lemieux photo by Keena Gonzalez

ALICAT Purple Snake Skin Cigar Clutch

Alicat Avril Lemieux photo by Keena Gonzalez

ALICAT (inside detail) Purple Snake Skin Cigar Clutch

Btw – I can’t wait for the ALICAT “Grease And Metal” collection to become available! Think rubber and spikes. Yes … it’s tactile and sensual and she’ll even be introducing a men’s line. Coming Soon!!!

All images © Keena Gonzalez and photographybykeena, 2011. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Keena Gonzalez and photographybykeena with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Posted in Fashion | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Going through the archives

Over the years I’ve worked with some really amazing musicians. From the likes of Bobby Long, Jesse Malin, Goldenboy, Stew from the Broadway musical “Passing Strange” and Adam Turla from Murder By Death… here are a few of the images we’ve created.

Bobby Long photo by Keena Gonzalez on the Lower East Side

Bobby Long on the corner of Ludlow and Canal St.

Goldenboy from Elliott Smith's band photo by Keena Gonzalez

Goldenboy at the State Theater in Pasadena

Goldenboy from Elliott Smith's band photo by Keena Gonzalez

Goldenboy at his studio in Diamond Bar

Stew from the Negro Problem photo by Keena Gonzalez

Stew – the creator & star of the Broadway musical “Passing Strange”

Adam Turla from Murder By Death photo by Keena Gonzalez

Adam Turla from Murder By Death

Goldenboy from Elliott Smith's band photo by Keena Gonzalez

Goldenboy in Brooklyn

Jesse Malin at Don Hills photo by Keena Gonzalez

Jesse Malin backstage at Don Hills

AV NYC Fashion Week photo by Keena Gonzalez

Nameless, Faceless

All images © Keena Gonzalez and photographybykeena, 2011. Unauthorized use and/or duplication of this material without express and written permission from this blog’s author and/or owner is strictly prohibited. Links may be used, provided that full and clear credit is given to Keena Gonzalez and photographybykeena with appropriate and specific direction to the original content.

Posted in Music | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Keena’s album artwork and very first post!

My very first post! And so I thought I’d start with album artwork that’s incorporated my images over the years. Since I’m hoping this blog will inspire all of you art directors, managers, musicians, etc. out there to hire me I figured this would be a good place to begin:

Jesse Malin Fine Art Of Self Destruction photo by Keena Gonzalez

Back cover of Jesse Malin's record "The Fine Art Of Self Destruction" {French release}

Jesse Malin Fine Art Of Self Destruction photo by Keena Gonzalez

CD insert for Jesse Malin's record "The Fine Art Of Self Destruction"

Mendoza Line Lost In Revelry photo by Keena Gonzalez

CD insert for The Mendoza Line's CD "Lost In Revelry"

Keena Gonzalez photo of Wildwood on Travel By Sea cd

Back cover of Travel By Sea's CD "Two States And The Blindness That Follows"

Photo by Keena Gonzalez on Selectracks Steven Stern cd

Cover of the Steven Stern & George Krikes release "Soul Of A Man"

Trio West photo by Keena Gonzalez

Insert for Trio West's cd "An Upper West Side Story"

Trio West photo by Keena Gonzalez

Back cover for Trio West's cd "An Upper West Side Story"

Posted in Music | Tagged , | Leave a comment