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Latest work for bowery presents. #concertphotographer

The New Pornographers Delight Webster Hall with Album Milestone on Saturday

The New Pornographers – Webster Hall – December 4, 2021

The year was 2005. YouTube was founded by a trio of ex-PayPal coworkers. George W. Bush assumed his second term and Hurricane Katrina devastated New Orleans. On the fateful day that hurricane made landfall, the New Pornographers’ third studio album, Twin Cinema, was released. Pitchfork ranked it No. 150 on its Top 200 Albums of the 2000s and No. 18 on its 50 Best Indie Rock Albums of the Pacific Northwest. In honor of the album’s 16th anniversary, the band has taken Twin Cinema and their debut album, Mass Romantic (which turned 21 last month) for a celebratory tour. They arrived Friday night at Webster Hall to play their first album, followed by Twin Cinema on Saturday.

Webster Hall was overflowing with fans on Saturday night. Barreling through the opening track, “Twin Cinema,” the acclaimed power-pop outfit ran through their seminal album track by track. Band leader Carl Newman exclaimed, “You all look the same,” which was received heartily from the largely Gen X crowd. Before her backing vocals duties on “The Bleeding Heart Show,” Neko Case added to the between-song banter, offering that she appreciated the tour so she could wear her “ugliest pants.” It was Dan Bejar who received the warmest welcome as sang lead on “Jackie, Dressed in Cobras.” Frontman Newman playfully remarked that folks see him but aspire to be Dan. Bejar returned onstage several times for “Broken Breads” and “Streets of Fire” to the delight of the crowd. It’s rare that a band plays an album straight through, as lesser-known tracks are often relegated to rarely being rarely played live (or not at all). “Falling Through Your Clothes” was admittedly a song the band “used to give up on” and, similarly, “Star Bodies” is a song the New Pornographers can now hear themselves more on more readily. It’s indicative of what 16 years as a band can produce live.

After playing the entirety of Twin Cinema, the supergroup returned for another hour-long set, kicking it off with fan-favorite “Myriad Harbour,” off their fourth studio album, Challengers. Moving forward and backward through their catalog, the longtime collaborators seamlessly rotated between songs displaying a prowess only musicians playing for years can develop, a camaraderie and vocal unison aged through time. —Sharlene Chiu | @Shar0ck

Photos courtesy of Maggie V. Miles | @Maggievmiles

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Caroline Polachek Is Bewitching at a Sold-Out Terminal 5 on Thursday Night

VCaroline Polachek – Terminal 5 – December 2, 2021

A certain kind of magic is needed to sell out Terminal 5 in December. Essentially a giant metal box near the Hudson, it can get cold. The right artist, though, can turn chilly into a three-floor palace of sweat and body heat, and Caroline Polachek did just that on Thursday, reigning for a night as the Witch-Queen of Terminal 5. After regal opening sets from harp-assisted Pakistani jazz singer and composer Arooj Aftab and French hyperpop vocoderist Oklou, Polachek took the stage in front of the packed crowd. Thrashing and whipping her hair around and filling the night with the gossamer of her soprano, a hair-raising instrument at once uncanny and haunting. She and her band (Matthew Horton on guitar and bass, Chloe Saavedra on drums) sounded like a satanic Evanescence playing the Gothic semi-hyper pop of her 2019 solo debut, Pang, from opener “The Gate” to “Caroline Shut Up,” her futurist version of a 6/8 ballad.

Last night’s set also featured new, unreleased songs: “Sunset,” a bouncy, operatic pop tune, and “Smoke,” plus a duet with Dev Hynes on “Chamakay,” from Blood Orange’s seminal Cupid Deluxe. The stage was alight in soft, shimmering colors, and the sold-out crowd swayed and sang along forcefully to Polachek’s carefree 2021 anthem, “Bunny Is a Rider” (thongs with songs titles were available for purchase at the merch table, perhaps a first), ethereal ballad “Go as a Dream” and of course the indie smash “So Hot You’re Hurting My Feelings.” At the encore, Polachek introduced “Parachute,” a song born, she said, from an actual dream of falling from a plane into the safety of Los Angeles’s strip malls. She closed the show with “Door,” a searching serenade that filled Terminal 5 with a pulsing, warm glow. —Adlan Jackson | @AdlanKJ

Photos courtesy of Maggie V. Miles | www.maggievmiles.com

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Kamasi Washington Sounds Right at Home at the Beacon Theatre

Kamasi Washington – Beacon Theatre – October 22, 2021

Kamasi Washington, the Los Angeles saxophonist, has a knack for making community. On Friday, over the course of a characteristically transportive and heart-pumping seven-song set at the Beacon Theatre, Washington not only spoke of the importance of coming together through music, but he acted it. His band, which Washington said, “started 37 years ago,” features childhood friends, mentors and influences, and his father, Rickey Washington, a former session player and producer in his own right. In the set’s penultimate song, “Re Run,” off of 2015’s The Epic, the younger Washington even paid it forward, bringing to the stage two teenage saxophonists, who each soloed to standing ovations and a roaring crowd.

Washington is an exceptional talent who has made his name as a stand-alone jazz musician and composer on albums like The Epic and, more recently, Heaven and Earth (2018). But his star rose higher after collaborations with industry heavyweights like Kendrick Lamar and Flying Lotus, among others. Washington’s playing on Friday was a feat to behold—he’s an improviser extraordinaire but he’s also a careful arranger of deeply layered, introspective and climactic songs. His band, too, is incredibly skilled, with notable collaborations of their own. On Friday they moved nimbly from ascendant and dreamy licks on songs like “Announcement” and “Truth” to explosive rock on their cover of Metallica’s “My Friend of Misery,” recorded for The Metallica Blacklist, a 53-track tribute album released this year.

Ben Williams’ bass solo stunned on the opener to “Sun-Kissed Child,” a song Washington composed for his baby daughter. Ronald Bruner Jr.—who, according to Kamasi, bested him at drums at just 1.5 years old (Kamasi was 3)—was in absolute command throughout the performance. Patrice Quinn’s vocals were transfixing, elegant and grounding, and I feel confident saying there is no way Ryan Porter’s trombone has ever not sounded good. The show ended with “Fists of Fury,” the first track off Heaven and Earth and a song that moves resolutely and powerfully toward its message: “Our time as victims is over,” Quinn spoke. “We will no longer ask for justice / Instead we will take our retribution.” Yes, community is key to Washington, but he is clear it is nothing without action. —Rachel Brody | @RachelCBrody

Photo courtesy of Maggie V. Miles | www.maggievmiles.com

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January 2020 | Bryant Park, New York • are you planning a trip? sick of the winter sickness viruses, pandemics, health emergencies, data spewing onto pages of news outlets this is worse that was worse don’t panic dear people we’ve all be through this before influenza yellow fever Bubonic plague remember those fun disease parties? remember vaccinations? remember a status quote for health? Don’t panic people - I’m sure the answers will all be in your phone - Maggs #dontpanic #nyc #iloveny #newyorker #newyorkcity #nyc #love #travel #flu #h1n1 #sars #poet #follow #poetry #pandemic #health #mood #street #streetstyle #streetphotography #fashion #blacklivesmatter #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #bryantpark #color #iphoneonly #sober (at 96th & Broadway) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8M8vjoFFgi/?igshid=lwj9ff4rada6

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January 31st 2020 | Grand Central, NYC • Melt into the ether. Pretend the world as we know it is not in fact ending. Keep pretending that nuclear families cost in the purest form. Television screens hardly are tied to cable boxes. Fire sticks, boot leg systems, all to connect to the networks. Internet. One yer web. Gotta be connected to get ahead. People cannot function without their fix. New York Times editor even says he doesn’t know if the things they said were at the right times infrastructures crumbling truly feels like end times. -Maggs #newyork #nyc #iloveny #color #sober #poet #poetry #mood #street #blue #azul #beautiful #igers #photooftheday #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #love #peace #2020 #impeach #community #night #newyorker #newyorkcity #follow #empower #riseup #architecture #architecturephotography (at Grand Central Terminal) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8AIVy0DMAI/?igshid=ges67vqzjpty

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January 2020 | Bryant Park, NYC • when your head is up when your eyes are open mind reversing images right side up bulbs flashing glass breaking cold temperatures condensing the film new friends happen all the time off screen when you put down the screen real life happens. -Maggs #poetry #poet #words #follow #legends #photographer #bnw #louismendes #jj #nyc #newyorker #travel #manhattan #iloveny #writersofinstagram #writingcommunity #writerscommunity #blackandwhite #blackandwhitephotography #noir #film #iphoneonly @louismendesphotography #style #2020 #friend #polaroid #photoaday #sober (at Bryant Park) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7qg66vjt-f/?igshid=3g5qu82002ph

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January 2020 | Grand Central, NYC • news moves fast all the news not the good news only the bad moves faster than a speeding tweet faster than thick designer soled shoes can turn an about face into the Oval Office word will travel hair will defy gravity as the Chrysler building stands above Grand Central Station news will travel. Somewhere above it all truth will prevail. Truth in justice never fails. -Maggs #nyc #impeach #impeachment #trump #mood #poet #poetry #follow #words #sober #writers #writersofinstagram #architecture #architecturephotography #buildings #ny #nyc #newyorkcity #newyorker #iloveny #chrysler #jj #igers #politics #travel #2020 #photooftheday #sky (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7m2DF0Df1f/?igshid=1iekvnolrbtlr

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January 2020 | Times Square, New York • I had to talk about trauma today. I have a lot - Compounded over the years. Starting in the womb. Continuing for my first year. My mom told me all I did was cry. Last year I found myself crying all the time. I hadn’t dealt with the nitty gritty even though I was in therapy even though I wasn’t drinking even though i wasn’t living there anymore. I would still get these flashes. Flashes of light and color. Different days. Different nights. I thought I could do it all on my own. I’ve found there are many things that require help. Sobriety. Mental health. Relationships of all kinds. What did you struggle with last year and hope to work on in 2020? Mine? You guessed it. Traumas. PTSD is real and not just for those that have fought in battle. I cannot thank those enough who have experienced a war of which I can only imagine. PTSD needs to be talked about. Chances are you know someone misdiagnosed. Someone who might think they were broken. There is a lot of healing out there. I’m here if you need to talk. -Maggs #ptsd #trauma #street #photography #mood #streetphotography #lights #nyc #timessquare #42ndstreet #newyork #newyorkcity #ny #iloveny #newyorker #winter #style #sober #follow #writer #words #sobriety #travel #night #jj #fineart #photoaday https://www.instagram.com/p/B7Zf5SGDHZy/?igshid=h574z59k3ic8

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January 2020 | New York, New York • modern day couples house slippers and left over salmon sign says don’t walk don’t want to walk home don’t want to say the wrong thing sign is broken talking is an art - Maggs #igers #travel #couple #sober #ny #newyorker #nyc #newyorkcity #mood #street #streetphotography #streetstyle #portrait #fashion #style #words #follow #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #poetry #photooftheday #iloveny #love #color #streetwear #cutecouples (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7Um1pIDCQ-/?igshid=1ht22y7iocdy1

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January 2020 | Midtown, New York • The figures are astounding how can humans comprehend numbers in the billions overwhelming agony for beings I have never seen in real life being I have never touched beings that have been cartoons beings that have morphed into stuffed versions of themselves for children to do eat well at night. All of these images pouring in. Feels all upside down. Can’t see color. Feels all upside down. How do we build firewalls for the world? -Maggs #igers #travel #fire #heartbreak #mood #bnw #baw #bw #lines #nyc #newyorkcity #ny #newyorker #iloveny #help #sober #writers #poet #poetry #words #instagood #jj #australia #globalwarming #devastation #animals #environment #follow #writersofinstagram (at 7th ave Fashion District) https://www.instagram.com/p/B7R3HgJD2Dm/?igshid=moaw5zdua9e8

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January 2020 | East Village, NYC • Swing both ways sides of the street linguistics murals change in the night take the bus to the other side of town where does it come from the feeling or lack of protection split in the middle buildings for sale exiting in droves moving in kale. -Maggs #Igers #jj #ny #newyork #newyorker #iloveny #nyc #newyorkcity #manhattan #mood #poet #poetry #words #writersofinstagram #writerscommunity #village #mural #art #follow #street #streetphotography #travel #travelphotography #style #january #photoaday #fashion #2020 #architecture (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/B69UVAAjcZj/?igshid=1wr6jzkird2mt

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January 3 2020 | West 43rd Street and 5th • Strangers don’t look at him like they did before the world stole away everyone’s minds eyes they look down they look up they nearly walk into the street to avoid looking at themselves in something other than a digital device -Maggs #poet #mood #love #signs #street #portraitphotography #streetphotography #ny #newyork #newyorkcity #poetry #words #follow #photoaday #travel #god #sober #sobriety #igers #jj #shotoniphone #color #photooftheday #picoftheday #portrait #iloveny #2020 #newyear (at Manhattan, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/B64kOnHDqjd/?igshid=10wf4jhubank6

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January 2020 | HSK Salon, Manhattan • I don’t live in Miami my skin has been lacking sunshine early nights haven’t learned how to be tidy but I’m starting to learn how to care for myself as the finest guest crisper digs warm sips whiter canines tighter thighs fitness at 29 shouldn’t be a surprise. -Love, Maggs What will make you a happier YOU this year? Is it internal or external? #igers #bnw #bestoftheday #blackandwhite #baw #travel #mood #nyc #writersofinstagram #newyears #newyear #2020 #iloveny #ilovenewyork #salon #style #beauty #follow #poet #jj #shotoniphone #haircut #noir #poetry #selfie #sober #sobriety #dryuary @his.ny (at HKS Himitsu Kichi Salon) https://www.instagram.com/p/B61oEXpDZWs/?igshid=kg2b4we80eoc

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December 2019 | Manhattan, NYzc • lets say for one moment you could disappear into a nothing that resembles every place you may ever hope to be. Walking night shine headlights on. Beep beep. • #poetry #mood #bnw #shotoniphone #bw #street #publish #writer #ny #iloveny #nyc #newyorker #travel #architecture #magic #streetphotography #newyork #newyorkcity #manhattan #sober #sobriety #love #noir #words #night #newyorknewyork #disappear (at New York, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6exJ7CjisA/?igshid=18m6is09g7iz7

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Times Square, NYC | December 2019 • give yourself some daps you made it to the end blood pouring out of cuts too fresh to heal from hard harder labor of the mind of a soul you didn’t know sat at the core of you. Hands out. Hands up. Strip yourself for a while. Start fresh - Balance New • Love, Maggs @newbalance @newbalancelifestyle #freshkicks #timesquare #ny #nyc #newyorker #iloveny #bestoftheday #travel #street #streetstyle #fashion #mood #igers #newyorkcity #iphoneonly #photoaday #poet #writersofinstagram #writersociety #poetry #follow #30under30 #sneakerhead #newbalance #architecture #sober #sobriety (at Times Square, New York City) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5_ZO1cjMlZ/?igshid=1bnyiconjcp6a

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November 2019 | The Vessel, NYC • perspective allows space for gaining ideas rights inside a silver spoon gold yesterday yet gone too soon which one is your mother which one is your brother perspective makes you look inside kick off winter nights • Maggs #thanksgiving #mood #style #vessel #vesselnyc #hudsonyards #ny #newyorker #poet #poetry #writer #lines #travel #fashion #architecture #words #follow #iphoneonly #photoaday #jj #igers #ilovenny #photographer #sober #blue #color #winter #manhattan #city #newyorkcity (at The Vessel) https://www.instagram.com/p/B5byrB1jaHG/?igshid=1emje4f2oncfb

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November 2019 | Hell’s Kitchen, Manhattan • holidays may make weary hearts bake like the turkey they cannot afford cold feet slumped on hot train grates waiting for a hot something the darks comes faster waiting above the lights cast down setting the city glowing in an orchestra of winks. -Maggs #lines #street #mood #igers #iphoneonly #bestoftheday #dark #noir #film #nyc #newyorkcity #newyork #ny #newyorker #urban #streetphotography #travel #winter #dark #style #fashion #buildings #sober #writersofinstagram #sobriety #poetry #poet #follow #iphoneonly https://www.instagram.com/p/B5Xvkl_jfIE/?igshid=1w3ulo0y6cwpi