Valerie's Favorite Show Photos of 2009

Both Chrissy and Valerie helped build a pretty elaborate portfolio of photo sets from shows in Baltimore this year. Chrissy already shared her top memories, and here are Valerie's top ten favorite photos she took in 2009, with her thoughts on each shot.

I've been shooting for Bmore Musically Informed since April, and I've loved being a part of it. I have met so many awesome people over the past several months. Similar to Chrissy, I chose the following based on the experiences tied to the show and on the photos themselves. 2009 hosted some of the best concerts I've ever been to, I can't wait to see what 2010 will bring

10. The Faint at Sonar

This was the first show I shot for Bmore Musically Informed, and even though I have taken many better pictures since this one, I feel it is an appropriate place to start.

9. What Cheer Brigade at Whartscape 09

Definitely the most fun I've ever had watching a marching band.

8. Carsick Cars at Open Space

I love taking pictures like this. I have no idea if anyone else likes them as much as I do.

7. Dustin Wong at Soft Fest

I really like the tone and composition of this photo, I think it conveys the way everyone felt that night. Soft Fest was a brilliant idea, and one of the singers during the night (although I forget who) put it perfectly: "I have never seen an audience at a show be so quiet, for so long, for such good reasons."

6. Ponytail at the Ottobar

I have no idea how I survived this show, or how my camera survived it. Ponytail fans are dangerous.

5. Abiku at MT6 Fest at the Hexagon

I can never see this band too many times. I'm sure you can see why.

4. Le Loup at the Ottobar

Le Loup is one of my favorite bands, and they played beautifully at this show. I love almost all of the shots from this night.

3. Lightwriting with A.K. Slaughter

Hanging out with Aran and Emily of A.K. Slaughter in a creepy alley, while they figured out a way to vomit light in photographic form. What else can I say?

2. Celebration at Load of Fun

Celebration playing in an ice cave. Everything about this night was fantastic.

1. Future Islands at Floristree

Probably one of the best photos I've ever taken. Sam is so theatrical when he performs, it's easy to get good shots of him.

Photos: Carsick Cars / P.K. 14 / Dustin Wong at Open Space

This Tuesday at Open Space, folks in town were given the chance to check out some bands that represent the indie rock scene in China. I feel extremely lucky to have been a part of this, as it seemed like a pretty rare opportunity... especially for Baltimore.

Show-goers here completely embraced it, coming out in full force to an event that was hardly advertised and at a pretty new venue. This was the kind of a show that really made you appreciate how small our world has become, with bands that sounded quite familiar for coming from the other side of the globe.

Carsick Cars were pretty fantastic. They played a melodic form of rock, not at all unlike the swirls and croons of Deerhunter's Microkingdom. With elements of krautrock soaked in with some heavy builds that lead to some euphoric peaks, these guys were impossible not to tap your foot to.

P.K. 14 were also nothing exotic, drawing from familiar forms of punk to create some pretty good jams. These guys were way into it, and really had me wanting to play some Richard Hell when I got home that night. Local favorite Dustin Wong capped off the evening, with yet another mind-bending arrangement of looped guitar notes.

Valerie's photo set from the night is below, and next time you're somewhere in China, don't sleep on P.K. 14, Carsick Cars, or Xiao He.


Photos by Valerie