Dropkick Murphys

There I was front and a little off of centre, in front of me was a stage, behind me were hockey fans and a sea of men wearing flat caps, waiting to see the famous Celtic punk band Dropkick Murphys (DKM) from Boston. lights dimmed and they all walked out some with instruments in hand, and played "Boston". The stage presence was great but not the best. Al Barr (lead vocalist) had a presence that seemed greater than the rest of DKM.

Going to a DKM concert is very different than going to any other kind of concert, in many ways it is like going to a concert for the first time.

This is there 2010 St. Patty's tour, that ends on the 17th, after a week of shows in Boston, MA. Then they hit the British isles.

DKM brings a unique sound inspired by life in Boston, Celtic music, drinking songs, and punk rock. They gained mainstream attention when their song "I'm Shippin Up to Boston" was featured in the Oscar Award winning movie "The Departed". Stream some songs on their Myspace and check out their website, and be on the lookout for their Live On Lansdone album coming out March 16th.

myspace.com/dropkickmurphys

dropkickmurphys.com

The Knight Parade (AKA: The Night Parade)

It is always strange to see families amongst the normal club crowd after dusk in Ybor city, but the families and the club kids had a good reason to be waiting on the side walk and not to be home or in a bar.

It was by far the biggest of the three Gasparilla parades this year was the Knight Parade in Ybor City. I wouldn't doubt that more people made an effort to come to the knight parade that the day parade. Any parade goers that wanted to go to the normal Gasparilla parade a week ago were promised to be hit by rain and high winds, but this parade was spared from harsh weather.

The parade was not spaired from the Jesus Freaks that hang near Centro Ybor, spreading religious propaganda. Their group leader was giving his little rant into a megaphone, saying that anyone that was in Ybor to see the parade had a "guilty conscience". He was met by backlash that started across the street from one of the artist in the Ybor Art Colony yelling from a second story window, "Hey listen everybody! That man. Says your all going to Hell cause your here to enjoy a parade.", people started to verbally attack the Evangelical Christians that were pestering the parade goers, forcing them further down 7th avenue.

The night parade had some of the same participants as the one held in the day hours last weekend, though spirits seemed higher than those at the day parade. It seemed like more beads pelted me in the face this time than at the previous parade, and the higher attendance did not help my efforts to photograph this night time celebration. The girl next to me would spread open her arms and lick her lips, old men would give her beads. The group of people that accompanied me thought low of her, and so did the other parade goers. Her efforts got her beads, and that's all she seemed to be interested in, this was very apparent when she went to kneel down to pick up beads as people left after the parade.

This parade was like Gasparilla turned all the way up to eleven. It had every thing: old men, old women trying to look attractive in costume, professionals dressed as pirates, marching bands, people with unlit cigars, dancing firemen, kids on floats that dont throw beads, and some even fighting over beads. And much like most parades, when they come to a close, many spectators stand around and ask "is it over?", and sadly it was over.

Rising Down

Like in any city, town, or suburb there is always a few good bands, and Tampa has a few handfuls. One of the many is Rising Down, an Indie band that started as an idea between a few musicians and a poet in high school, together they dissolve the negative stigma that surrounds the words "local band".

When they are live, they are at their best, and look as if they have been playing arenas for years, when they have only been playing together for less than one year.

You can stream some of songs of theirs at

http://www.myspace.com/risingdown2009

Gasparilla 2010

This years Gasparilla Parade was different from years past, due to rain, wind, and cold. This deterred many from seeing this local annual spectacle that closes major streets in the down town area and else where, but not I!

My assistant and I arrived early, and found decent parking just as the streets were closing behind us. Both of us running on nothing but overpriced Premium French Roast Coffee we drank just hours before.

We were awake! Are Batteries were full, cards cleared, lenses clean, and rain ponchos at the ready encase the clouds decided to let loose. Now we did look a little funny with clear plastic food wrap around our cameras but it was difficult getting it on, but cheaper than buying a waterproof bag.

Around 1:00pm the clouds let loose, and for 2 hours my assistant and I stood at our spot on Ashley drive shivering while water fell on us from the sky. Time passed and my nose started to make the clear stuff that makes people sick if they stand in they type of weather I was standing in. Thankfully the Sheraton that we stationed ourselves in front of had a restaurant inside, with $2 coffee. I was hesitant at first, though I became desperate. I was not going to let myself become tired and sick, and my assistant was starting to doze off too. So I got to coffees to-go, and they were both worth the $3.99 that I paid for them (but did not get my one cent change).

Many sips later, the police came and went, several more sips and I finished. The caffeine hit my bloodstream and the float became visible in the distance. My assistant and I opened up and never stopped shooting. I shot blind most of the time, but that’s what I do best. I was surprised how many people still participated in the parade despite the weather. The bright jovial attitudes of each Krewe seemed contagious, spreading joy and making me feel like a happy little kid.

Gasparilla was proof that no matter how bad the economic situation of anyone is, they can still go out and get some joy from watching pirates invade their streets and catch some twenty cent plastic beads here and there. I look forward to the next parade.

I got around 32 beads and one feather boa, all of which I gave away to some beadless family I saw in the parking lot.






All photographs in this post taken by Kyle Henderson (me).