Monday, June 3, 2013

Retiring the blog!

Since I've started this blog, a lot of things have happened. A lot has changed. I can look back and see some of the photographs I've made and think fondly about times past, and I look at a lot and think, "Why did I even show that!?"

That's only part of the reason I've decided to streamline my website. Squarespace (my website provider for the past 2+ years) has made some leaps and bounds in making their service a serious, robust, website provider. When I started with them, their blogging tools were awful. You couldn't post more than one photo at a time! Since then, it has gotten a lot better, and even beat Blogger here, which seems to have languished a bit since Google took over (strange, that sounds more like a Yahoo! thing).

So this is going to be the last post. The blog.thomaslawn.net address will now redirect to my blog on www.thomaslawn.net. Thanks again!

Sunday, February 10, 2013

Looking for documentary subjects!


Hi All,

I'm doing a pair of personal documentary projects I need help finding subjects for. The first:
People that live on boats. I grew up on a boat in Sausalito, California. It was a great way to grow up and has left me with a unique perspective on life. Sadly, I haven't lived on a boat for some time and as such, don't know many people that do. I'm looking for people that live on boats so I can document parts of their lives that are different from the majority of other people (landlubbers). If you have any friends, enemies, acquaintances, etc. please pass on my information.

I'm also looking for twentysomethings that either have graduated from college or are still in college but have to live with their parents because they cannot find a job that will pay them enough to move out, or are unemployed. There's an epidemic of college grads moving back in with their parents, and I would like to photograph their lives.

Thanks for any and all help!

My contact info:
Thomas Lawn
studio@thomaslawn.net
408-634-9861

Saturday, February 9, 2013

Two Gallants, Akron/Family at The Fillmore, 02-02-2013

 Believe it or not, this was the first time I'd been to The Fillmore. Going in, I pretty much knew what to expect: gorgeous venue, floor and packed balcony, and expensive beer. The sound was fantastic until the middle of Two Gallants' set, and then something awful happened.

At some point it became obvious, even with earplugs in, that one of the speakers was blowing out. During the crescendo on a couple of songs, when the bass drum and Adam Stevens guitar were both blasting, the stage right speaker would just make a brittle "wooomp" sound.

I'm pretty sure both Stevens (guitar, vocals), and Tyson Vogel (drums, vocals, clapping, crowdsurfing) heard it, didn't allow it to dampen the spirits of the crowd or the musicians. The set featured mostly songs from the last two albums, and a new (presumably unreleased) song that featured Stevens on Piano and Vogel on guitar. All together, it was a great performance from one of my absolute favorite bands. I heartily suggest everyone go see them!

Also on the bill was Akron/Family, a band I knew by reputation only. Not knowing their music, I spent most of the set trying to figure out exactly what was going on. I certainly didn't know what to expect, and not knowing the songs I got lost in a couple of places, but I have to commend them for generally knowing what they're doing and for putting on an interesting and unique show that managed to appeal to even non-fans.

Two Gallants



Akron/Family







Saturday, February 2, 2013

Standard Poodle, The Lower 48, and Rin Tin Tiger at Cafe Du Nord, 01-30-2013

In what they're claiming is their first headlining show of the year (and last until the summer!), Rin Tin Tiger (website | facebook) played a hoppin' Wednesday night set with The Lower 48 (facebook | bandcamp) and Standard Poodle (facebook | bandcamp).

All three bands played fantastic - Standard Poodle's opening was so forceful and energetic that it set the mood for the entire show. The Lower 48 was a breath of fresh 60's rock, and Rin Tin Tiger showcased their energetic brand of folk-rock that included a little stage dive from the bassist, Sean Sullivan to accompany his brother Kevin's (guitar, vocals) trademark bass drum jump.

Rin Tin Tiger:
















 


The Lower 48:












  

Standard Poodle: