Alkaline Trio - This Addiction (Photos by Darkroom Demons)

Leave it to one of our favorite bands on the planet to make us look cool. Usually, we like to say its the other way around- but it was the keen eye of Dan Andrianno who asked for us to shoot them for today's release, This Addicition. The results are in the lyric booklet, the album's back and insert (both the regular LP and special edition). We shot all of content on the first day during what we considered our own private concert at their Lincoln Park studio. You can see all the pics HERE. This was back in October so the wait had etched a huge bloody question mark into our curious brains if they would end up using any of the shit at all. To say that we were humbled and grossly excited today upon seeing the final album is an understatement. Thanks to Carlos, Blair, Matt, Dan, and Derek for giving us a shot at getting on shelves with them!

This Week Alkaline Trio plays with Cursive at the Metro on Saturday and Sunday. Both shows are sold out. Pics to follow!

3 "5-Minute Portraits"

So last night I had a cool assignment here in Chicago courtesy of our buddy Dino G from SpyBar. There was a little soiree at Green Dolphin Street with 2 Londoners and one Turkish girl rocking out the house in the main room. Part of my gig was to do some portraits of the artists. I had only a few minutes with each and had to come up with different settings (easy to do in such a large room). The results are coming in the gallery but here's a sneak- All were shot with my protege Gerda holding the flash at various locations to create the dramatic light.Oh, and then there was this chick. Yowza.

Dinner with Jwoww

I woke up today at an ungodly hour after a massive hangover/recuperation from this weekend's frantic schedule/binge realizing a few things: One- I have completely abandoned this blog to the ennui of winter and need to regroup with people that want to read the occasional literary romp that shed light on Chicago's self-indulgent party scene as well as look at our pretty pictures. There's certain perks to our job and its only fair we share the wicked fun shit with everyone we experience. I am guilty of being an introverted 16 year old for the last six months, alone in a love lost with puppy dog drug filled eyes wonderin what happens next. Item number two- After Conan O'Brien's farewell speech, which reinforced how I feel about being cynical, I am determined to take these old bones and cover them in a fresh new sinewy attitude of optimism and hope whilst our world spins periously out of control. This year's first victim of my reinvigorated joie de vivre was Jenni Woww from MTV's mega-smash "Jersey Shore".
There had been a lot of speculation around the appearance of Jersey Shore's Jwoww and Snooki after they canceled to remain in LA the week before from their appearances at Manor and Rino.. Though I have never seen the show, you can't surf the web or see a magazine without some reference to the mega-sensation that is the Jersey Shore. To me, Jersey Shore is an evil place where a teenage boy told me in 1981 the day after I saw the Empire Strikes Back that indeed Darth Vader was Luke's Father. While Snooki opted to attend P-diddy's 16 year old's Sweet-Ass "Got my Maybach" Sixteen, Jwoww and her boyfriend Tom from her hometown came to the a suprisingly balmy Chicago and joined the LGN group's Lauren D. and myself for dinner at the Viagra Triangle's own Tavern on Rush. Despite the hemmoraging crowds in NY that resulted in a few arrests for disorderly behavior the night before, we were more than surprised to hear that just the two of them would be our guests that evening. Usually these things can spiral out of control before reservations are confirmed with agents, hanger ons, douchebags and managers. Instead, it would be an intimate dinner of four strangers, two of whom had never even watched the main attraction's show.
One of the biggest problem's going into a situation like this is the initial awkwardness. Jwoww had just been on a whirlwind tour of LA and NYC with guys like Leo DiCaprio coming up to her and taking pics and citing the lingo of their reality/sitcom. So imagine the surprise behind their calm eyes of coming out of their hotel suite to find two yahoos from the MidWest waiting with a taxi cab, one of whom is wearing eyeliner and sparkling sapphire shoes and neither who had any knowledge of the show's antics. Ok, Lauren was wearing eyeliner too. Moving on...

Lauren and I are no strangers to celebrity in our fair city but we were more than excited about Jwoww because of the debauchery displayed by the fans who showed up the week before. I personally was horrified at the blatant displays of fist pumping, pussy grinding and vodka breath that permeated the room at Manor when Snooki didn't show. It was a blight on my swollen spine and aching elbow, fighting these little fucking monsters for two hours as they demanded to be immortalized on the internet. The choice demographic proved that they didn't care about my old age...they would party harder than anyone in honor of the MTV superstars, despite the void of the show's stars.

So when the phone call came earlier that Saturday to attend dinner with Jwoww I knew I was in for something. I had to do a little homework and found a website of an ambitious girl who resembled my slightly accented, tough talking, and down to earth friends from Bridgeport or Harlem Ave . And at dinner, it was all confirmed: There was no pretension, no judgment- Only laughter, commonality and heartfelt friendship. She's like a character out of a Bruce Springsteen or Billy Joel song- just making a living, doing the best she can do and not stepping on anyone in the way. For once, dinner was not filled with people twittering or texting. We all ate and listened to each other like new found friends and I believe we all surprised each other with the ease of our time together. The subject matter of conversation is something left always to be left at the dinner table unless you're a gossip columnist, but the impression is what matters the most. And this is what I've told people for two days: Jwoww rocks and deserves anything she wants.

However, I can say that the stick of Porterhouses and Fillets had a convincing measure of making us want naps, oral sex or more drinks. That being said, the kids from NY went to the hotel for a lay down and I joined Tiger Woods mistress #3 Jaimee Grubbs for some much needed....drinks. Thought I was gonna say oral sex, didn't ya?

More to come on the dinner series...
Thank you to the LGN Group for having the continued belief that I can bring something to their increasingly amazing company and to David, Tom, Morgan, Aaron Collins, Lauren, Irene, Jaimee and of course my new favorite MTV girl, Jenni Woww.

(Yes, That's Jaimee with a Tiger Woods GatorAde!)

Stanley's Kitchen and Tap: Home of the Sticky Stomach

December was a little busy for us. And couple that with egg nog/ grog related illnesses from our exploits in the evening and it partially explains my lack of dedication to updating the blog. That being said, here is one gig we had for our dear friend Donnie Kruse over at Stanley's Kitchen and Tap (1970 N. Lincoln 312.642.0007) where we not only shot but sampled some of Chicago's finest comfort food found in the pictures above. The Barn Burger, Andouille Sausage with Shrimp and Grits, and a mouth watering sirloin with jalepeno mashed potatoes. If you haven't been, make an effort. If you only thought they had live band karoke and awesome drink specials, think again. This time, with your stomach!

Jingle Bell Rock: Q101's Twsted Fest!!

While many are hearing the bells of Salvation Army workers and cash registers, we are getting ready to hear our ears ring for the next five days. For the 3rd year in a row, we are honored to be the official photogs for Q101's Twisted Fest. This year the line up is simply insane and instead of the typical 3 day affair, this year we have a full five days of brilliant music of bands like Breaking Benjamin, The Used, 30 seconds to Mars, The Bravery, and Rise Against. I'd love to advertise it as something you can go to, but with the exception of Tuesday...its all sold out and has been for months.

To see pics from 2007 with Silverchair, Coheed and Cambria, Silversun Pickups and more click here, here and here.


For 2008 with Scott Weiland, Hollywood Undead and Coldwar Kids, here's Day 1, Day 2 and Day 3.

Christmastime at the Ritz

This time of year, regardless of religious affiliations or lack thereof, its always a good time to remember what we're grateful for. With us, its usually clients and our careers. Such is the case with The Four Seasons Hotels who have kept us as the occasional photog of their food, promotions and occasional interior nuance for nearly 3 years. Last week I took on the American Girl Christmas Tree at the Ritz-Carlton, a haunting yet delightful display of voodoo dolls aimed at destroying testosterone across the world. All joking aside, it was a lovely assignment. Thanks to Terri Hickey at the Four Seasons for being one of our favorite people on the planet to work for.

Four Seasons Chicago rocks a Demon pic across the nation!

Today in USA Today's Lifestyle section, an great article about Four Seasons Chicago Executive Chef (and friend of the Darkroom Demons) Kevin Hickey. The photo takes up a quarter page of the paper. And the coolest part? It's in a paper that knows no boundaries and is read in airports everywhere. You check the article out online here.

Major props to Terri Hickey and Kevin Hickey (No relation. Seriously) at the Four Seasons for keeping us in the mix.

Layne Staley has been dead for 7 years...

Last night on my way home from a gig shooting food at Market, I was admiring the massive amount of umbrellas that were carrying legs beneath them. And then it made me think about Seattle. I wondered if everyone there had an umbrella attached at their belt like a lightsaber. And then I was working away today and "Nutshell" came on by Alice in Chains. What a downer of a brilliant song. And then it hit me. Layne Staley died this week 7 years ago. April 5th, 2002.

We chase misprinted lies
We face the path of time
And yet I fight
And yet I fight
This battle all alone
No one to cry to
No place to call home

Oooh...Oooh...
Oooh...Oooh...

My gift of self is raped
My privacy is raked
And yet I find
And yet I find
Repeating in my head
If I can't be my own
I'd feel better dead

Oooh...Oooh...
Oooh...Oooh...

Couldn't have seen that coming. Layne, you are missed.

Spring Preview @ Bonnie & Clyde's: The "Rose Tint My World" Edition

A little mixer at Couture Botique Bonnie & Clyde the other night led my substitute camera to overexpose every photo taken that evening. Hence, I have adjust the night's catch to look as the world looks through my eyes after watching Rocky Horror Picture Show: Rose Tinted.

Thanks to Stephen, Sharon, Eric and Kenneth for making me feel fashionable and poor.

P(R)eview: Booka Shade @ Metro Chicago

No words can possibly describe the energy that pulsated with every beat thrown down by the German electronica wunderband, Booka Shade at the Metro on Thursday night. In an effort to remain completely irrelevant, I only discovered them three weeks ago when I was combing through the Metro's amazing-as-always spring lineup. Once I gave the Mp3 a listen, I was transported to a world that Moby only wish he could create.

It was a strange night. I had just come from the fashion mixer at Bonnie and Clyde. Dressed in my standard Ben Sherman/ H&M hybrid hippie suit, I reckon I must have looked like a clockwork Victorian rockstar with all those cameras hanging off my dapper vest driven ensemble. Upon my emergence on to the venue floor, just past the sign warning "Tonight's Performance will contain Intense Strobe Lights", people looked at me like I was Darth Vader boarding their trip. Its been a long time since I was at a rave, and I soon realized that I had become the old man/ police officer/ voyage destroyer I so desperately tried to avoid back in my dumber days. Fuck it. At least I had a Kamera! My shoot probably would have gone smoother had Booka begun on time and not 40 minutes late. By the time they went on, I was surrounded by the sweet smell of exxed-out peaking frat boys and a few unruly Germans. I actually became concerned for my recently reconstructed elbow and fled to the balcony like a little girl with a scraped knee after getting thrashed by some douches with light hoops around their necks. Luckily, the kind gentleman Aaron and his buddies gave me a prime spot at the balcony where I got the best of the photos for the night. Cheers to them!

Granted that an act like this attracts a "water drinking "crowd, but the fact is that the sinister dance party that ensued rivaled those found at a Tiesto, Chemical Brothers or Crystal Method show. And with a siezure inducing light show, I sincerely thought the roof was going to blow off the Metro during "Charolette." Electronica groups can be hit or miss, especially if the performers lose themselves behind keyboards, Macbooks, and mixing boards. Fortunately, Booka Shade is not that group. The incoroporation of psychadelic video mixing, strobes, and rockstar energy reminded me how great those kids on the floor must have felt. Next time at a show like this, I might have to leave my battle scars and Sith outfit at the door.

Nah...Fuck it. I have a Kamera.
I need to give thanks to the anonymous tatooed bar maven upstairs for keeping me stocked with ice for my elbow. It was my port in the storm.

The Importance of Dark Wave Disco, Kuroma, and Primal Scream: An Essay

Over at le chateau de darkroom demons, we are in full recovery mode. It seems that every day it gets warmer, we are getting busier and more squirrels are terrorizing little old ladies. As Sir Reeves coddles his body back from the supernova rockstar shock that was SXSW, I have begun to re-learn how to shoot with these infernal contraptions known as "Kameras". I have been in the warm lull of my wife's delightful pampering and a heavy pharmaceutical hum for four months now and need to break the habit of doing nothing. I figured its time for a little introspection about the importance of three bands that were at the Metro last Sunday.

Darkwave Disco

DJs Greg Corner, Mark Gertz and Trancid have been part of our blood lines for as long as we've taken pictures in Chicago. Kill Hannah took me on the road when I didn't even know how to shoot. (The only thing that has changed is now I have bigger cameras that I don't know how to use.) I knew the night at The Metro was going to be mentally misappropriated by all parties involved when the first words upon Darkwave's arrival were "What are you drinking?" and "We're going to go out on the roof next to the marquee and shoot a picture."

'Wonderful.' I thought. 'I haven't taken a picture in 3 months and now my boys are gonna hang me over a ledge 16 feet off the ground." Friends like these, indeed!

In fact, if it wasn't for an off-hand remark from Greg years ago, I would still be shooting douchebags in Ed Hardy and Affliction for some small local nightlife pamphlet.

On a dark and stormy night outside Crobar in 2006, Mat Devine, Greg and I met up and he said "You just missed The Cobrasnake. You need to do something like that." (Until then, I had always thought a Cobra was just a fairly lethal reptile in India or Sylvester Stallone character lost in time.) Obviously, I didn't follow his advice directly , but I heeded his words and soon went on to blackmail Sir Reeves into becoming the better-dressed half of our demonic endeavors and embarking on this indulgent photographic sojourn.

KUROMA

Reeves called me from Austin to tell me about this amazing group fronted by former Whigs founder Hank Sullivant. Widely considered the brother of MGMT, this alternate universe 1960's pyschedelia scorcher quickly has become my remedy for the Kings of Leon fever from last year. Their appearance at the Metro was preluded by a deafening silence and muddled confusion from the audience waiting for Bobby Gillespie and his sonic screamadelica. So I took it upon myself to walk over while they we greeted by the silence to tell them I heard they lit Austin on Fire. Hank looked at me and a nostalgic "pfffft" came out. behind a smirk of satisfaction. They looked at each other and began whispering "Austin was just sick." "Man, you have no idea." By the end of the set, the crowd had shifted from mild appreciation to full blown frenzy, screaming their heads off for a band that is proving to be the one to watch in Rock and Roll this year. Not since the late great Wolfmother's only album have I been so intrigued by Kuroma's first effort "Paris". (Fact: Hank Sullivant had recorded the album before putting the band together. Wow.)

Primal Scream

On July 2nd, 1994 my parents threw a lavish dinner party for myself and my college mate in honor of his first trip to Chicago. After the yorkshire puddings, rare roast beef, beet salad and sorbet, my buddy quietly slipped me a hit of the year's best LSD, "Jesus Christ". It would be an evening of unforgettable firsts: It would be the first time I would attend a concert at the Metro in Chicago; It was the first time I had taken acid; It was the first time I would see my then favorite band, Primal Scream; and most importantly, it would be the first time I would see a T-rex in my rearview mirror. While I could wax on how Bobby Gillespie turned into a 6 -foot reptile and the crown moldings of the Metro are actually living and breathing creatures, its more important to know that I will never forget the day I fell in love with the Metro. And to be invited to shoot Primal Scream 15 years later is a feeling of such serendipity that I can finally ignore all the terrifying Jacob's Ladder moments that have haunted me ever since.

Thanks to the Metro, Dark Wave Disco, Oliver Thomas, and SmartBar for a seriously amazing night.

Our little Secret is finally revealed!

The cat is finally out of the bag....Sir Reeves was asked to be Perez's official photog for the One Night in Austin at SXSW on Saturday night. We couldn't jinx it by telling anyone but now we are so psyched to have over 50 party pics on Perezhilton.com! Be sure to check back here for the full posts tomorrow night...

Sneak Preview: SXSW and Tokyo Police Club

Little Boots

Flosstradamus

Ellei J. "ShadowScene.com"

Tokyo Police Club

Tokyo Bath House

Andrew & Andrew

Kid Sister

The Fader Fort aka Megaton from "Fallout 3"