Melissa and I are curating Joanna McGlothlin's artwork at Harrison Street Cafe this month.
Check out the article about her on RVAmag.com

Yesterday the WBC sent a dozen hate signs, three adults and a child to Richmond. They were met with hundreds maybe even thousands of people in opposition. It would have been best to ignore them... but you can't stop everyone, and the media was already reporting their actions. Though the WBC did not visit the campus... VCU put together a great anti-hate demonstration with a dozen different faith-based community leaders, GLBT groups and many others. You can see 33 photos from that event here.

Last night I also photographed Pretty & Nice and Title Tracks at Gallery 5. Photos for Title Tracks will be in a new IN THE BLACK & WHITE post next week.

Photographed The Velvet Marias at the National then La Mere Vipere at the Triple last night. Both bands were celebrating the release of their first full length CD. Because of my late night adventures I over slept and was not able to go shoot Jonathan Vasser and David Shultz recording a new record in Ophelia, VA today. Hopefully there will be time for some photos when they get back to Richmond.

IN THE BLACK & WHITE #18 on La Mere Vipere is up!

I'm honored that some of my photos are being used in the Athens, GA weekly newspaper Flagpole. Check out the story on the Vic Chesnutt tribute shows this weekend.

Editing River City Band photos from Friday night. We totally made a punk rock portrait studio in the living room. Turned out really well though.

Photographed 2/5 of the Cherry Bomb collective tonight. Can't wait to get this IN THE BLACK & WHITE post together! Feels good to get some more post going... hope to have a third one started on Clare and the Reasons live at the 9:30 club this weekend.

Check out the new La Mere Vipere "First Command" music video by Warped Theory Productions. Members of Spirit Fingers, Orgone and myself make an appearance in the video.

The snopocalypse is to blame for lack of updates... Back in December I was scheduled to photograph Julian Koster for IN THE BLACK & WHITE, In January I was scheduled to shoot Of Montreal for RVAmag, I might not get up to DC this month for a couple of new shows I lined up.. I've never been more excited about spring in my life!

In between snow storms I've been shooting The Low Branches as they record a full length at the Richmond Ballet building. I walked a couple of miles to see the 3rd show by Richmond "super group" Heks Orkest. This week I start shooting the ladies of Cherry Bomb for a new ITB&W post. I'm very excited to be working with them on this project. They are hands down some of the hardest working people in Richmond right now.

Being couped up in the house gave me time to finally make a new website for Cherub Records. Right now you can get 30% off by using the code "happybirthday" it's my 30th birthday present to you! The code will expire on 2.18

TIME Magazine has published a couple of my Lady Gaga fan photos!

Started a tumblr blog called photo a day: PJ Sykes

Finally getting around to building the new Cherub Records website. Right now you can listen to or download three releases for free! Working on getting the old catalog up before I release some stuff that I've been working on.

SpectrumCulture.com has posted a beautiful Tribute to Vic Chesnutt written by Eric Dennis.

Check out the new RVAmag (print version) for an amazing article on IN THE BLACK & WHITE by Shannon Cleary.

One Way Richmond awarded me with "Best Richmond Music Scene Photographer" in their 2009 Year End Music Awards!

My friends down in Lynchburg, VA just started a new vinyl label called The Harding Street Assembly Lab the first two 7" are out now and are limited to 300 copies!

2009 has been very good to me... but I can't wait to see what 2010 will bring!
Have a happy and SAFE new years!

:( :( :( :( :(

|Vic Chesnutt Confirmed Dead From Apparent Suicide...

I'm thankful I got to see Vic play twice. He was just an amazing talent and powerful artist. He will be deeply missed.

Just heard that Vic Chesnutt is in a coma... Please send your thoughts and/or prayers to Vic and his friends and family.

Each year I make a mix CD for my friends and family.
This year I thought it might be fun to trade with people I don't know.

If this sounds like fun... send your Mix CD/tape or something creative such as your band's new recording or a drawing/painting/etc to:

PJ Sykes
PO Box 4504
Richmond, VA

Make sure you give me your address so I can mail you my Mix CD.
Each mix will come with some random photo prints!

RVAmag asked me to pick my top 5 records of 2009. It was tough... but these records were backed up with great live performances.

Might list some of my other favorites soon...

HOLIDAY ROCK & SHOP
presented by Cherry Bomb
Benefits Gallery 5 and the Fan Free Clinic

$2 donation to enter
12-6pm

Gallery 5
200 W. Marshall St.
Richmond, VA

I'm selling photos and I've got a box of CDs for $1 or free when you buy a print.

Just got my copies of The Harding Street Assembly Lab first two vinyl releases. #1 is a split with Herizon and Virgineola and #2 is The Late Virginia Summers. Nathan McGlothlin and his wife Joanna started the label for her artwork and his music. Previous to HSAL Nathan and I played in the band A New Dawn Fades and even an early version of TLVS for my bedroom label Cherub Records.

Enter to win a XX Merge T-shirt, an XX Merge button, and a couple of limited edition XX Merge postcards by PJ Sykes. on www.bumpershine.com Contest ends 11/24

Feeling better today... glad I stayed home and rested.

IN THE BLACK & WHITE #17 on Autocue recording their new EP "Epilogue" is now up.

Preorder the new LAMBCHOP "Live at XX Merge"

I'm sick again... I've got some sort of weak flu bug. Rest, OJ, and X-Files will destroy!

I photographed Jerry Fuchs, drummer of Maserati and !!! in Charlottesville, VA back in 2007. We talked for a few minutes at the show... He was a super nice guy, not to mention an amazing drummer. Sadly a few days ago he was killed in an elevator accident. Please visit www.jerryfuchs.net for information on his memorial. I scanned in a strip of photos of Jerry, they are posted under "older photography". He also drummed for Juan MacLean and Turing Machine.

PASTE Magazine just posted my Jesus Lizard photos.

IN THE BLACK & WHITE #16 Vic Chesnutt is now up!

Vic Chesnutt was amazing last night! The blog will go up on Monday. For now check out a portrait of Guy Picciotto (Fugazi, Rites of Spring) and Vic in the 2009 section. A special thanks to Guy for allowing me to photography their soundcheck.

Tonight Melissa and I are nerding it up with our Fringe Halloween costumes here in Richmond. (photos coming soon)

I also would like to confess that I will be watching most of the World Series via my iPhone tonight. Apologies to my friends in advance for all my future tweets...

Go! #Phillies

IN THE BLACK & WHITE #15 on Monotonix is now up!

Coming soon to the blog: Vic Chesnutt and maybe the Wrens!

It's looking like Merge Records will be using some of my photos soon! I can't tell you anymore than that right now... but I'm pretty excited!

A few things coming up for the IN THE BLACK & WHITE blog:
This week I'm going to risk my camera again at the Monotonix show.
Later in the month I'm traveling to DC for the Vic Chesnutt show. His back up band is the Silver Mt Zion Band (Constellation) with Guy Picciotto of Fugazi!

Also... I don't understand why we celebrate Columbus Day.

We're driving down to Chapel Hill, NC to drop off my new Superchunk and Lambchop postcards! If you place an order with Merge Records you might just find the pair in the mailer under your new copy of Polvo's "In Prism" or that Imperial Teen record you finally picked up!

Alternative Press links to IN THE BLACK & WHITE for Heks Orkest show photos.

Over the weekend I shot and posted two new blogs, attended a bizarre market, and still found time to see the new movie The Informant! (which was great by the way).

The new SPIN magazine (Pearl Jam cover) is out now, and inside you can see a two page SUPERCHUNK photo that I took at the XX Merge fest this summer. Check out my tear sheets to see a photo of the magazine.

IN THE BLACK & WHITE 013 - Andalsians
IN THE BLACK & WHITE 014 - Heks Orkest (Sparta, Denali, Engine Down, Avail)

I've finally found some time to scan in some older photos. One of the best things about being a photographer is getting to look back at all the things that have happened. I just found a roll from the Jonny Z Memorial Show + Bizarre Market that had never been scanned, printed or used in anyway.

I had played a few shows with some of Jonny Z's bands but never got to know him that well. About a month or two before his sudden death Jonny and I had some great conversations about music. He booked my band the Graceland Grave Robbers at his shop and a Bizarre Market that he was running. I was recording a few songs with the Grave Robbers when I got a phone call that Jonny had died. I had only just gotten to know him but he already made such a big impact on me.

Jonny passed away on 05.07.07 and the Bizarre Market he was booking was scheduled for 05.12.07. I decided to to call Ward at Chop Suey Books and see if we could keep the Bizarre Market going and that GGR would still play. It ended up being fun afternoon of music and art and stories of how Jonny Z touched so many people.

Seattle Weekly blurb about my photo show: here

WRIR play list:

Avail - "Southbound 95"
Buttercup - "Hellhound Romeo"
The Amoeba Men - "Itcy Trigger Fingers"
Honor Role - "Salty Tears"
Horsehead - "Walk It Off" *
Car Bomb - "Fast Car Girl"
Hex Machine - "Black Skeleton" *
Seven Hearts - "Heart of Swords" *
Ultra Dolphins - "Duck Butter"
Rah-Bras - "No Future" *
Marshall Costan - "I died before I made it home" *
Liza Kate - "Anclote" *
Engine Down - "Second of February" *
[The] K Word - "Grindin' on some Flava" *
Catalyst - "Lar Ulrich's 1986 Funeral"
Timothy Bailey & The Humans - "Sunday Afternoon"
Tulsa Drone - "Huntsman" *
Glows in the Dark - "Through a glass" *
Ultimate Dragons - "Sir Roxelot" *
Fulflej - "Parallel to Gravity" *
Splork - "Applewhite & Nettles"
Orioles - "Try and Fail"
30 Day Warranty - "It's Not You" *
You are the Drum - "Pencil" *
Cinemasophia - "Detailed Night" *
Botox Party - "Scared of Living"

* = stuff I brought in to play

At home with a cold/flu thing... finally watching the Star Wars Clone Wars, Vol. 1 & 2 (the cartoon) on DVD.

I'll be spinning some of my favorite Richmond bands on WRIR this Saturday between 5 and 7pm. You can listen online here: www.wrir.org

Bumpershine has posted more of my Virgin Mobile Fest photos.

Just did a short interview with Seattle Weekly for a feature on my photo show. Should have a link or scan in a week or so.

First batch of photos are up on www.bumpershine.com

Still exhausted from Sunday... might take me a few more nights of sleep to catch up!

Today I'm covering the Virgin Mobile Fest in Columbia, MD for www.bumpershine.com

Follow my tweets here

The One Way Richmond interview is up!

IN THE BLACK & WHITE: 012 - Akron/Family is up!

I photographed the Robot Chicken on Wheels tour on Monday. Should have photos of Seth Green, Matt Senreich, stormtroopers and tons of fans rollerskating up soon.

Ghost Gallery Presents:

PJ Sykes: Stories of the Live Musical Experience

August 16th-September 27th.

SOLO Bar
200 Roy St (between 2nd and 3rd on Roy)
Seattle, WA

Opening party during BUMBERSHOOT
Friday, September 4, 2009
7:00pm - 12:00am

I just experienced My Bloody Valentine last night! For about ten minutes near the end of the last song it sounded like a rocket was launching! I used my favorite Mack's Pillow Soft Silicone Earplugs but still found myself holding my ears at that point. I couldn't tell what was actually vibrating and what wasn't. Listening to MBV live is like eating spicy food.. it hurts so good!

XX MERGE!

Melissa and I are blogging from North Carolina this week.
IN THE BLACK & WHITE
PASTE: 1000 WORDS
Twitter: PJ + Melissa

Links!

The Dead Weather show review with photos

David Shultz & Jonathan Vassar: Live at Ipanema with photos

Starving Artist Showcase interview

Things are starting to pick up once again!

Got to shoot Sonic Youth for RVAmag this week.
Check out the show review / interview / photos here.

I've confirmed with Akron/Family, ILAD, WRIR's Activate, and XX Merge for future IN THE BLACK & WHITE posts! I'm also working on a few other surprise subjects tba soon...

My split photo show with Sarah Cass in Olympia, WA just finished up. Next stop will be Seattle! More info on that in the next couple weeks. I have a couple photos in the RVAmag photo issue show located here in Richmond at Main Street Java. Also talking with a theatre troupe in Pheonix, AZ for a photo show there this fall.

I was asked to be the first presenter in a series of shows called "Starving Artist" here in Richmond. The event is July 17th at Plaza Bowl on south side. I picked Laurel Lane, La Mere Vipere, and Glows In The Dark. I've known Laurel since I was in High School. She was one of about 8 people at my very first "real" rock band show. Other than the guy she was making out with in the dark back corner... the rest of the people included my Dad and a few close friends. La Mere Vipere are the closest thing to a Seven Hearts reunion. The Seven Hearts used to play with my old band Angels VS Aliens back in the Lynchburg days. I learned a lot from watching them and still give credit for helping me to discover some of my music taste to this day. Glows In The Dark are a recent discovery. I've seen many bands featuring the members like NO BS Brass Band, Fight The Big Bull and ILAD. I wanted to feature bands that I had not seen in the local media and that have different genres from each other. I hope this show will bring some of the smaller divisions of the scene together.

Super busy this week... Pontiak was great! Photos coming soon. Helped put up the RVAmag photo show today at Main Street Java. Can't wait to see the final display of work. Other photographers include Tony Lynch, Melissa Koch, Sonic Laura, Karen Seifert, Ken Howard, Ian Graham, and many more. The opening is tonight at 7pm.

Monday I'll be shooting Ume at The Camel for the next IN THE BLACK & WHITE. Really excited to announce some of the other subjects coming up... but I don't want to jinx it.

Staying really busy these days! So far this month I've photographed Joe Lally, The Decemberists, La Mere Vipere in the studio, and The Coathangers! My photo show in Olympia is still up till the end of the month. Working on details for Seattle and Phoenix shows later this year. On top of that this month RVAmag is putting out the photo issue. We have a photo show going up this weekend to celebrate and interviews on the website. More info here: www.rvamag.com

IN THE BLACK & WHITE: 006 - The Coathangers is now up!

IN THE BLACK & WHITE: 005 - Joe Lally is now up!

Sarah Cass and I have a photo show opening tonight in Olympia, WA!
Unfortunately I will not be attending the opening...

I have 20 photographs in the show, listed bellow are the included bands:

...And You Will Know Us By The Trail Of Dead
Beastie Boys
Brendan Canning
Marshall Costan and the Awesome Few
Daniel Johnston
DD/MM/YYYY
Denali
Edie Sedgwick (live)
Edie Sedgwick (promo)
The Fiery Furnaces
Gull
Hex Machine
Iron & Wine
Jason Loewenstein
Medications
Mogwai
Monotonix
Peelander-Z
Swell Season
The Walkmen

IN THE BLACK & WHITE: 004 - Moruza is now up!

Sarah Cass and I have a photo show opening this Sunday. It's also the grand opening of the new venue/gallery NORTHERN! Unfortunately I can not be there... I hope to have a second show booking in Seattle soon. I'm hoping to fly out to visit both places in July.

05.31.09
NORTHERN
321 4th Avenue
Olympia, WA
5pm / FREE
www.olympiaallages.org

I BIG thanks to Judy Baumann for asking me to show my work! Also a BIG thanks to everyone who worked on the gallery! The place looks great!

On a side note... thanks to SP Media Militia for the sweet "Black Sunshine" tee!

The new RVAmag (Volume 5 Issue 2) has some Enon photos I took back in April. Great show!

Last night I shot Horsehead for their live record. Not sure when this will be out yet.

On my way hope I stopped to pick up the new Liza Kate CD from her release show. Can't wait to give it a spin later today.

Paste Magazine has been kind enough to let me shoot some great concerts for them over the last year. We have a few more in the works too... but only if we can keep them afloat. Music magazines and record stores are having a terrible time keeping things going right now. Id hate to see Paste slip away too. If you want to help visit www.pastemagazine.com and donate to win some cool stuff from lots of different artist or just simply subscribe to the magazine.

IN THE BLACK & WHITE: 003 - Buck Gooter is now up!

Going to see a Phillies game this weekend with the fam. Hope the weather is as nice as the last few.

On the 22nd I'm shooting photos of Horsehead's live record!

Follow me on Twitter

IN THE BLACK & WHITE: 002 - CJ Boyd is now up!

The new RVAmag is coming out soon. Be on the look out for the Enon interview. I can't wait to share the photos from their set!

The fine folks over at Richmond Rampage asked me to curate a local music showcase next month. This is going to be a tough pick... more news on this soon.

The first post of my new blog, IN THE BLACK & WHITE, is now up!
You can see photos and listen to songs by Rapid Cities, Title Tracks, The House Floor, New Rock Church of Fire, The Fordists, Edie Sedgiwck and Fin Fang Foom!

Finally made it to a show at Plaza Bowl, located on the southern side of Richmond. Plaza Bowl is one of the few duckpin bowling venues still around. Located in the center of it all is a stage for bands to perform.

Last night I was there to photograph Enon for RVAmag. I was able to take them back to where the reset machines are to take some cool group shots. You'll have to wait for the article to see them....

Still working out the kinks with the new RVAmag website. I was hoping to kick start my new blog, IN THE BLACK & WHITE, this week... no word on when the adjustments will be completed.

While that project is on hold... I'm working out the details of a split photo show on the west coast. I can now tell you the other photographer is Sarah Cass. She has photos in Rolling Stone, SPIN, Paste, Venus, HARP, AP and many more. Take some time and visit Sarah's website you might even recognize her work!

Dropped off a display of prints at Speaker Tree Records in Lynchburg, VA on the way to my Grandmother's wedding. Great new record store that has shows too!

My new blog, IN THE BLACK & WHITE, has been pushed back a few days while we tweak the new RVAmag website. The first post is on my trip to MACRoCk earlier this month. Newer posts will be more timely and subjects will vary, but mostly hover around music and art.

I'm working with my friend Judith Baumann on a split photo show on the west coast this summer! More details to come very soon. I can tell you the other photographer is amazing, and a good contrast to my work.

Speaking of... it's not cheap to put on a photo show or fly out to the west coast. If you're in need of some photos for any reason... my rates are reasonable and yes I can shoot in color too!

CONTACT

IN THE BLACK & WHITE: a photo blog by PJ Sykes
coming to the new RVAmag.com soon!

Every Easter I like to listen to Slow Roasted Dog's song Zombie Jesus

Got my ticket for XX Merge! Looking forward to sharing photos from the 5 day fest in Chapel Hill.

Just posted a photo of The House Floor from MACRoCk.

No photos from the Neko Case show... I was suppose to have shot photos to go with an interview/article but was denied a photo pass at the door.

I really enjoyed her set minus the terrible feedback issues. I've never seen a show like this where the sound person couldn't handle a little feedback. It's pretty bad when you have to hold your ears in the balcony!

Despite all that... I've become obsessed with her song People Got A Lotta Nerve.

I posted a few photos from MACRoCk of Rapid Cities, New Rock Church of Fire, and The Fordists. Still working on Title Tracks, Edie Sedgwick, and Fin Fang Foom.

more photos here

We had a lot of fun at MACRoCk this weekend. I'll be posting some photos very soon.
It was nice to talk with people at the Label Expo... saw some friends I hadn't seen in years!

Just posted a photo of Cinemasophia and one of the Medications.

We are packing it up for MACRoCk!
Looking forward to the Label Expo tomorrow.
Hope to meet lots of great people and hear some great bands.

I posted some photos of Vic Chesnutt, DD/MM/YYYY, Edie Sedgwick, and a few others this week... I hope to upload a bunch more this Monday after the festival.

I'm selling all of my photography equipment and going to culinary school!

Just got engaged !

Last night I went to see Snack Truck and dd/mm/yyyy I missed Antler's set... Both bands were on tour back from SXSW and it was great to see a band like dd/mm/yyyy without knowing anything about them. I got some great photos and will share in a few days.

Next weekend is MACRoCk weekend! If you missed SXSW and need your fix, this two day fest is a great way to see a slice of what Virginia has to offer. I'll have a table set up with my photography and some Cherub Records releases at the label expo.

Well it's good to be home. Not much to speak of, just catching up on stuff. Almost got in to NME magazine... working on stuff for MACRoCk, going to have a table a the label expo.

HOME! Vacation was great! The drive was fun; other than the last 250miles in the rain... Thank you for all the comments and emails. I hope you enjoyed reading these posts and checking out the photos.

Now I've got a lot of work to catch up on!

Yesterday we explored Tampa's thrift stores. Found a few LPs but nothing amazing. Later we bowled a few games of real bowling before going to USF for some Wii bowling on a huge inflatable screen.

Today we had a lot of fun at the Tampa Aquarium. It's been a long time since I've been to an aquarium, so it was nice to get the chance to go. I posted a few photos over on my flickr account.

After the aquarium we went back to Ybor City for some food and walked around a little more. Really neat place, reminds me of the Bottom of Richmond a little.

Tonight we made our way back over the bay to St Pete for the Dali museum! This is the second time I've been there but the first for everyone else. They have one of the best gift shops of any art gallery. Highly recommend stopping there if you're in the area.

After our fill of surrealist paintings, we visited the pier to see the sunset. Great way to end our stay in Florida.

The Yuengling tour was ok. The normal tour guide had her daughter do the tour. She was not as knowledgeable and she had on flip flops in a factory! My friend Edwin was our tour guide and even explained a few things to the rest of the group (25 snow birds).

The Phillies game was great! The temperature was about 74-76. Our seats were so close that I used my 50mm lens to capture the batters.
Right before the first pitch of the game, a huge gust of wind hit the 3rd base side of the stadium, lifting up 2 huge picnic-table umbrellas. The first one fell after about 10ft or so. The 2nd one went wwaaaay up into the air then sort of closed up and fell 15 feet then opened up and soared up 20ft and into the field area, then circled around towards the crowd, then up, then down, then up then down nearly hitting people before going way up in the air a few more times. Finally crashing down without harming anyone. I've never seen 7,000 people ohh and ahh in delight/terror like that before.

On the way back we stopped at Taco Bus. I was not expecting the name to literately mean "bus" But, as you can see in my photos.... The food was amazing!

Last night went walked around Ybor City. Mostly bars, tattoo shops, venues, and other entertainment. Cobble stone roads with a trolley. We stopped to take photos of Ybor City Cinemas, which looked really cool with tons of neon lights, when a security guard on a 3 wheeled Segway informed me that I was breaking a rule/law. Apparently they do not like to have their photo taken... I swear I wasn't stealing the Ybor City Cinema's soul.

It's Monday and I'm not at work!
This morning we are touring the Yuengling Brewery and going to a Phillies spring training game. Photos posted later.

Pie Town was amazing! If you're a pizza fan and in the Charlotte, NC area it's a must.
Time to hit the road to Athens.

update:
Stopped to see the Peachoid in Gaffney, GA
Athens is great so far! We ate at The Grill and shopped at Wuxtry Records. We also found this cool thrift mall full of vintage clothes, records, furniture and instruments.

also check out Melissa's photos

Today Melissa and I leave for vacation! I will be posting blogs and photos as our adventure unfolds. Some of our plans include: Eating at Peter Reinhart's restaurant, checking out The Music Tapes play the 40 Watt, catching a Phillies spring trailing game, and visiting the Salvador Dali Museum.

PASTE magazine has posted my Trail of Dead photos in there blog.
Thanks Austin!

Snow day! We actually got enough snow here in Richmond to close schools. Melissa, Tim and I walked around for a few hours and snapped photos in The Fan. It was great to have the day off, but because of the snow I will not get to shoot Blitzen Trapper tonight in DC.

Just posted a handful of photos from the Cats Cradle show. If you know who the guy and girl are in the crowd shots, please send me an email.

Also check out Red Collar and Funeral Party!

The last two nights were amazing! Trail of Dead have been one of my favorite bands since about 1999. I've only seen them once, just as Source Tags & Codes came out. I had a lot of fun, met lots of great people along the way, and was almost crushed under a 6 foot stack of monitors and amps! I should have a teaser photo up by tomorrow... and the rest you'll have to wait till Paste posts them online. ...for now it's time of work(s).

update:
I have posted 1 photo from Cats Cradle and 1 photo from Rock and Roll Hotel.

Spoke to a 400 level photography class today here at VCU. My friend Hassan teaches the class and asked if I would speak. I've never done something like that before... love to do it again!

I posted a couple of random photos I took in the backstage area of The National. I shot Fuck Buttons in the "creepy kids" room a few months ago. The other photo is a light over a pool table. The reason I was there, to shoot The Velvet Marias.

I'm looking forward to seeing Trail of Dead in a couple of days. They have been one of my favorite bands for about 10 years! Last time I saw them was right as Source Tags & Codes "dropped".

Dear website blog... I need to write to you with a more personal touch. The last few times I typed to you I've been short and to the point. I promise once things slow down a bit I will try harder to entertain you with some longer stories...

A few things coming up...
The Velvet Marias have requested my services tonight at The National.
Next week I travel to Chapel Hill and DC to document Trail of Dead for PASTE.
Might see Blitzen Trapper a week from Monday in DC.
Two weeks from today I leave for Florida! Many adventures to speak of then.

The new RVAmag is online. Brand new, full page, photos of NO BS Brass Band, Hail Hydra, Diamond Black Hearted Boy, and PLF!

PASTE used one of my Santogold (now Santigold) photos today. The feature is a fun one about name changes. Check it out here. To see a screen shot of the website check out my "tear sheets" (Thanks Austin!)

PM update:

I just posted a a photo of Gull busking in front of Plan 9 last Friday night. Some people were really into it, others... well didn't know what to think of a skull-masked-one-man-band.

My triptych of yndi halda is the "Picture of the Day" on RVAnews.com

Tess Dixon wrote a review of the Best of 2008 Photo Show for RVAnews

My friends The Andalusians came to town on Friday. Took some promo shots and some live shots at Rumors. Basla brought me a copy of The Onion that they are in with one of my photos. I posted the clip under "tear sheets" Catch them on tour the next two weeks and get the limited run 7"! It comes with a free 6 song download from Dischord.

The Best of 2008 Photo Show reception went great! It was a ton of fun hanging out with all the photographers and their family and friends. The ladies of ART180 hung out. However... the VCU homecoming game prevented some people from finding parking... I'm truly sorry for the poor planing on that one... first the Super Bowl then homecoming!
If for some reason you couldn't make it, the show is up for the rest of the month.

This is the last day of my 28th year... the countdown to 30 starts tomorrow.

...time for the Grammys.

Hex Machine postcards are in! They are limited to 1,000 copies. If you want one you can (A) check out Hex Machine on their tour to SXSW or (B) send me an email and I can mail you one.

Check out the Zero Hour on WRIR this Friday the 6th at 12:30 - 1:00pm. I will be talking with Tim Bowring about the Best of 2008 Photo Show and my own work. You can get WRIR in Richmond on 97.3FM or online from there website.

Best of 2008 Photo Show opens today!
Free reception on Feb 7th from 6-9pm

Pancake Mountain vol 6 is now on DVD!
See me attempt to dance behind Daniel Johnston.

BRICK weekly has posted a story about me online.
You can check it out here. www.brickweekly.com

Style Weekly ran a blurb on the Best of 2008 Photo Show. I posted a scan in the press section.

MASHup just posted a video interview and some photos about the Best of 2008 Photo Show. You can check that out on their website.

Limited edition Hex Machine postcards are on the way! Recycled 100lb matte paper just like the Edie Sedgwick ones. Once they are gone, they are gone! If you want one, catch Hex Machine on tour to SXSW or contact me soon. You can see what they look like in the "tear sheets" section of this website.

update:
Jason Loewenstein is using a photo for his new project Circle of Buzzards. They are doing some recording and a few shows. Check them out.

The Elf Power / Vic Chesnutt show was outstanding! Photos coming soon....

update: the home page photo is a teaser from last nights show. I will post the link here when the rest are done.

Last night I shot a promo of The Party Liberation Front having a "tea party". I can't wait to share them! The main image will be in next months issue of RVAmag. The close up shots will start showing up next week.

Tonight Vic Chesnutt with Elf Power at the Black Cat! It will be interesting to see how DC looks after millions of people took it over less than 48 hours previous.

On the 20th I finally got to see Frankzig play! Frank and I go back a few years, but for some reason I keep missing his flamenco sets... The night Johnny Cash died, we were playing guitar and drinking beers at his house. For some reason I remember we just sort of started to play Cash songs for an hour or so... the next morning we found out Johnny passed away...

Congratulations #44!

The new RVA magazine is online. It's the year in review issue! They used about a dozen of my photos, plus a bunch from many of the photographers in the "Best of 2008 Photo Show"!

Spent most of the day outside shooting Diamond Black Hearted Boy and Hail Hydra for next months RVAmag. I posted a portrait of DBHB, you'll have to wait for the rest!

It's freakin' cold out! Too cold to ride my bike!
I posted a photo from earlier today. First photo post of 2009!

Basla's new band, Andalusians, just signed with Dischord Records! If you're not familar with her music, you might have seen her play with Beauty Pill, Del Cielo, or Edie Sedgwick, among others...
They are currently using a photo I shot of them for their bio page.

The Best of 2008 Photo Show is really starting to look incredible! The best part so far has been getting to talk shop with all the great photographers. Mark your calendars, Feb 7th, Harrison St Cafe + Rumors Boutique, Richmond!

If you live close to Richmond, VA mark your calendars!
The Best of 2008 Photo Show goes up 02.01.09 with a free reception on the 7th.
I'm curating the show this year and have selected 24 other local photographers.
More details on the website...

Tomorrow I get to shoot the No BS Brass band promo for RVA magazine. I'm really excited to work with them. I've seen them play live more than a few of times, and it's always great! Also, some of the members played with Broken Social Scene when the stopped here last October.

I hope everyone enjoyed the holidays!

Things have been a pretty busy, but I did manage to catch the National Feather do a reunion show last week. Miniature Giants opened the show. Lynchburg has this growing pocket interesting people hiding out.

I'm working hard to scan in older photos for the website. My goal was to have a few up by now, but things are going a little slower than I hoped. ...I guess you'll just have to check back more often!

I've been sick the past few days... nothing major, just enough to make me slow down.
Currently working on a few projects as well as normal holiday business.

- Casey from Rumors asked me to do some live shots of bands wearing local clothing lines. The shots will be in the fashion section of RVAmag this coming January.

- Hex Machine are using some photos I took for their forthcoming album "Omen Mas". The album is slated for a Feb 09 release.

- I'm curating the Best of 2008 Photo Show that will take place here in Richmond Feb 1st - March 1st 2009. The show will have 25 local photographers showing their best work from this year. Should be a great mix of styles and subjects. More info on that after the holidays.

- I made some postcards for Edie Sedgwick (Dischord). He has a couple more shows this year, and he will be hitting the road again in March with Medications. Make sure to visit the merch table for a this limited run postcard! You should be able to get one from Dischord if you buy the LP (If you missed out, contact me, I've some left)

If you're in the Richmond, VA area check out Chop Suey books in Carytown. Upstairs you'll find the Holiday Bizarre Market featuring 48 different artist, crafters, painters, and photographers! I've got some prints for sale, and some of the money goes to benefit Art 180.

If you're not in Richmond, VA or just want something you see on this website... please contact me!

Paste Magazine posted my Beastie Boy, Santogold, Sheryl Crow, Jack Johnson photos from Rock the Vote!

SPIN posted an article on Edie Sedgwick and used one of my photos.

President Elect Barack Obama!
President Elect Barack Obama!

The Bad Brains were a great disappointment. HR carried his bags to the mic and stood there without intensity. He wouldn't sing during their hardcore songs. Some of the dub songs were ok. Most of the crowd cheered, slam danced and crowd surfed as if we were transported back to the early 80s. The rest of the band were amazing! Seeing Ian and Henry on the side of the stage, we hoped one of them would have stepped up and saved the show. Lets hope HR can get his head together.

President Elect Barack Obama!
President Elect Barack Obama!

Last night we got to hear Henry Rollins at the Birchmere. Great set, better than when he came to Richmond last year. I got up around 5:30 and voted. Much longer lines than the previous two times. In a few hours I will make the drive back to DC to see Bad Brains destroy the 930 club.

I posted a photo of the Beastie Boys from the Rock The Vote tour. The rest of my photos from that night will be featured on the Paste Magazine website early next week.

My main camera died this week... hope to have a replacement back sooner than later.

Happy Halloween!

I got into the Obama rally with my camera. Sat in the upper upper deck center back. Got some decent shots... but my card reader died on me and now my images are trapped inside my compactflash card. Thankfully my friend Nick Kessler is hooking me up with some recovery software tomorrow! On day's like this I miss my 35mm...

I uploaded some shots of Brendan Canning of Broken Social Scene. What a great band!

I had fun hosting Edie Segwick for a couple of performances here in Richmond. I uploaded two photos from their sets. Tonight I'm headed over to see Broken Social Scene with Land of Talk. Tomorrow on my lunch break I plan on walking over to hear Barack Obama speak at the coliseum. At the very least see the thousands of people hanging out trying to get in....

I experienced Monotonix last night. I'm not sure I can describe it well enough so here are a some of videos: one two three

Last night I checked out the Carnival of 5 Fires put on by Gallery 5 here in Richmond. So many wonderful performances and artwork. For now I will leave you with a Hellblinki photo and encourage anyone reading this to come out tonight and see them play again.

I also posted a photo of Mogwai, Tulsa Drone and Fuck Buttons.

Over the weekend I saw Buck Gooter and long time friends La Mere Vipere play at Nara Sushi. I met the Buck Gooter guys a couple of years ago when I displayed my work at the Little Grill in Harrisonburg, VA. Since that time they have drawn some high profile fans such as Henry Rollins, who plays Buck Gooter songs on his radio show.
The guys in La Mere Vipere have roots in the mid to late 90s scene in Lynchburg, VA where I grew up. Specifically The Seven Hearts who played lots of shows with my old band Angels VS Aliens.
A couple of photos are posted from the weekend... tonight Tulsa Drone, Fuck Buttons and Mogwai at the National! ....stay tuned

Last weekend we took a trip up to Washington DC. Saw The Walkmen with Golem at the 9:30 and did some promo photos for Edie Sedgwick. Other than the leftovers of Hanna, the trip was a lot of fun. I posted some photos that you can check out, plus the Edie promo will show up on the Dischord website soon.

Last night: The Awesome Few, Liza Kate (with Curtis and Josh Small) and Bellafea rocked Rumors here in Richmond, VA. I've seen each of these bands play many times and they just keep getting better. No matter what band Heather, Nathan or Eddie are playing in, go see them, you will not be disappointed.

photos coming soon....

Saw the Smashing Pumpkins last weekend. You can read my review of the show, with photos, here: www.rvamag.com

On Monday, I had the pleasure of seeing yndi halda all the way from Canterbury,UK! They are one of the newest bands on Burnt Toast Vinyl, also home to Saxon Shore, Unwed Sailor and Bosque Brown. They pretty much destroyed the Ghostprint Gallery with The Late Virginia Summers, who have really crafted their art since the last time I saw them play. I will post photos from this show very soon.

Scoot Richmond has hired me to take a bunch of photos for them. We started a flickr page so please be our guest and have a look: www.flickr.com/photos/scootrichmond

This week I will be shooting The Hotdamns as they record a new EP at Sound of Music studios here in Richmond. The photos will be paired up with words by Lauren Vincelli in a new issue of RVA magazine.

I just got back from Chicago! I will start posting some photos soon.
I got to see Polvo, an acoustic instore performance by Aaron Espinoza of Earlimart,
Prefuse 73, a Cubs game, and on the way home I saw George Clinton in the airport!
We had a great time, and look forward to going back.

While I was gone, MashUP posted a video interview with me.
Check it out here: www.mashuprva.com

I just added a handful of older photos to the website. Including the Mermaid Skeletons, Rah Bras, and lots from the 2007 Durham Duo Fest.

Last night was the Denali Reunion Show here in Richmond.
I used to see them play for rather small crowds, but last nights attendance was somewhere been 800 to 1,000 people! Fans traveled from as far away as Mexico City to see the show. The sound was amazing, and the songs seemed as fresh as the first time I had saw them play live.

Last night I saw some great bands at Nara Sushi here in Richmond.
ONiON opened the show trowing paper mache onions full of candy and real chopped onions in the crow!
FIYA, a No Idea band from Florida, were pretty good.
Gull had some problems with his mask, but still rocked.
I uploaded a photo of Ultra Dolphins, they continue to blow me away!

fun facts for today:
Congress established Independence Day as a holiday in 1870.
In 1938 Congress reaffirmed it as a holiday, but with full pay for federal employees.

Welcome to the new www.pjsykes.com
I will update this blog with news, stories, and links to things going on.
New photos will be uploaded more often as well.

A big THANKS to the folks at Other Peoples Pixels for helping me get this website up and running!