I've been taking photos at KEXP (90.3 FM) for over five years now. I've met some incredible musicians and have made so many friends in the process. I consider myself to be so lucky to shoot photos for them, especially during their live instudio sessions.
Last week, I got to photograph the KEXP instudio session for John Maus, one of my absolute favorite musicians. His music hits all of the marks for me - it is fun, it is thoughtful, it is dark, it is humble but also self-serving. A mutual truth can be found in his music, and John Maus' live shows are even more intensely real - he brings emotions to the forefront of the show. His internal struggle on stage is arguably a bigger element in his live performance than the music itself.
I've written twice about how much I love his music which you can read here on SSG Music (2012) and here on KEXP (2017), if you're inclined. Sincerely, there are few live shows I enjoy on the same level that I do of John Maus. That being said, there is nothing quite like one of his shows, either.
Onto my favorite photos I took from the KEXP instudio in Seattle Washington, on January 23, 2018.
What it looks like when John Maus poses for a photo.
He could have walked right off the set of Fargo...
John Maus & co. Gary War was also surprisingly with!
Johnathan (drums), Luke (keys) and Joe (bass), were all so nice! I am glad I was able to meet each of them as well, they all seem to really complement John, and there is a comfort there between them that can't be faked.
View the entire set of photos over at the KEXP flickr.
After taking these photos at KEXP, I went later the same night to the (sold out) show at The Crocodile in Seattle, and it was another stellar performance. I opted not to photograph either of the John Maus shows I went to last week, because I just photographed their live show last August in New Jersey, had photographed them earlier this week at this KEXP instudio, and really wanted to enjoy the shows by fully taking them in these times - yes, without my camera!
On a more personal note, my boyfriend and I essentially met originally because we both liked John Maus. The Seattle show was my boyfriend's first time seeing him live and it blew him away, exactly as I knew it would. The show at The Crocodile was my 7th show (if you count KEXP), and it blew me away too. We drove down to Portland a few nights later and caught them again at Revolution Hall (my 8th show!). The Revolution Hall venue was a huge theatre inside a renovated high school, and also very sold out. It was another fantastic night, with a lower stage, and an extra song (this time the encore included "Bombs Away," which Matt Fishbeck of Holy Shit (this tour's opener) helped co-write. Fishbeck also came out onstage to help sing vocals with John).
After the show, we were very fortunate to speak to John. I have spoken with John on a few occasions before even the KEXP shoot, but my boyfriend had never gotten to interact with him prior. He got to see just how personable John Maus can be. He really made the evening special - I couldn't think of a more meaningful thing for my boyfriend and I to experience together, seeing as it all started with JM!
Sweaty cell-phone selfie with John Maus at Revolution Hall.
