The last time I took a photograph at a punk rock gig was Black Flag at the Vex on July 23rd, 1983. It would be over thirty eight years later that I got back in the game. Fuck that is a long time between shots!

July 3rd, 2021 was the first time that I took photographs of a band. Con 800 was playing at the annual Lot Dog party at The Hanger Inn in Manhattan Beach. Con 800 was Fletcher Dragge’s first punk rock band from the early 1980’s in the South Bay. The band also included Doug Carrion of Field Day, Dag Nasty, and Descendents fame on vocals, Hank Jacobson of the Nip Drivers and American Jihad on drums, and John Allds on bass. I think the last time I saw them was in 1982 at a local kids house who somehow wasn’t well liked by the local punks. As soon as the music started kegs were flying through windows and the house was basically destroyed. They might of been remodeling it but it looked like a tornado tore through it. This poor kid’s parents were out of town and when they came home is father chased him down the street for blocks If you were there you remember how crazy that day was.

Con 800’s Lot Dog party was more of a get together than an actual gig where there was a photo pit, waivers, and the other things that now come along with shooting a gig. They played in the parking lot so easy access!

It was a fun time where I saw a bunch of my old friends from back in the day.  Being with a camera felt very normal and I actually got some decent shots.  The best one I took was of Fletcher hammering his Ibanez guitar.  I showed my shots to my publisher Frank Coiro at Fathom Gallery and he said “you need to be taking photos again because you have an eye for it.”  It was a very nice complement and I thought to myself “ya know what…why not!”.  I was getting back into the world of punk rock through my photos that I took when I was teenager in the early 1980’s and now it was time to get back into shooting gigs as a fifty six year old father of two adult daughters.

I was very fortunate to know Bill Stevenson and Milo Aukerman because we all went to the same high school, Mira Costa High, in Manhattan Beach.  Keith Morris also went there as did both of my older siblings and my daughters…Go Mustangs!  Bill and Milo were part of the Class of 1981 and I was Class of 1983. I had taken a bunch of photos of the Descendents and also of Bill when he was the drummer in Black Flag.  They were my first connection to getting a photo pass to their gig. Bill dialed me in with the photo pass but added a special treat…the coveted “All Access” pass. This was going to be an awesome night!

I was super psyched about seeing The Descendents live after so many decades.  I put on my official Descendents t shirt and grabbed my camera and I was on my way to The Five Points Amphitheater in Irvine.  As I got closer to the venue my nerves definitely kicked up a notch.  “I hope I still got it!” I thought to myself.  I didn’t know much about the proper camera settings that are needed for shooting big venues with multi color lighting. Back in the day, it was a Minolta camera, a 35mm fixed lens, a couple rolls of film, flash, and auto settings. Between those thirty eight years camera technology has increased by leaps and bounds. Back then it was easy but now…we will see!

After I picked up my passes I saw two photographers who looked like they knew what they were doing.  It was two of the best in the business…Steve Brazill and Matthew Belter.  I introduced myself and told them I was shooting a gig after thirty eight year break. They were super cool and welcoming.  Then I started to peppered them with questions like “what f-stop and ISO settings do you recommend and how does this photo pass thing work?”  That is the first time I learned about the three song rule.  “The first three songs? Seriously? WTF!”  I know I said “that is bullshit..only the first three fucking songs? “What do we do after the three songs?”.  Their answer was simple…”they kick you out of the photo pit.” Welcome to the new world order rookie!

Having an “all access” pass did have its benefits.  Back in the old days there was either no back stage, a room with beer and a bag of chips, or the band van in the parking lot.  The backstage at the Five Points Amphitheater at a whole different level.  One of the highlights was the food tent or should I say the fine dining tent…grilled salmon, marinated chicken, filet mignon, roasted potatoes, heirloom tomatoes, etc.  The set up was like nice restaurant with table clothes and all the food you could eat. I said to myself “I could really get used to this!”

The first band was the Menzigers. I had never heard of them so they were the perfect “crash test dummies” for taking photos. There were a lot of photographers in the photo pit that night.  To be honest I didn’t know what the fuck to do.  I really felt like A DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS.  I tried to keep out of the way of the other photographers who take photos for a living.  There was a lot of zig zagging, ducking, and a lot of “sorry” because I was in the way. I asked a lot of questions before the the band started. The guys and gals in the photo pit were awesome. As for the Menzigers…meh!

After my three song experience with the first band, up next was the Descendents and the mood and the crowd size started to increase.  One thing that I learned recently is that I am the bands guest and when I am shooting in the photo pit, side stage, or back stage I am in their office so respect it.  There are some bands who are chill and chatty before their set.  Then there are some who are fully jacked up on adrenalin and probably caffeine.  Advice to everyone, do not try to talk to or even be in eye contact with Bill Stevenson prior to their set.  He is in his zone and shouldn’t be disturbed.

Well it was time for the Descendents.  I was nervous and excited.  I had a plan to go back stage to take shots after after the photographers got kicked out of the photo pit by security because of the annoying three song rule.  I am not sure how many shots I took that night but it was many.  I got some good ones and was able to reconnect with Bill and Milo after the set. It was an incredible learning experience and I am grateful to the other photographers who gave me great advice and were patient with my naiveté.

I guess Frank was right…I think I still got it!