SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2008
September 18, 2008, was the opening reception for THE TITANIUM EXPOSURE 2 at the RADIO ROOM (formerly the ZOMBIE LOUNGE) in San Diego. It's my second solo show of all band photography. I know that I once said that I was never going to show band photography again, but thanks to the kind recommendation and encouragement of JUSTIN PEARSON (of THE LOCUST and 31G RECORDS) and full creative control from BETHANY JOHNSON and the staff at the RADIO ROOM, I decided otherwise, and to your benefit. So in order to make it an abundantly worthwhile event, i coughed up the idea to have my opening reception join forces with 31G's release of Sunshine for Shady People — an ARAB ON RADAR documentary DVD of interview footage and live performances that was set to screen at the venue in September. I had planned on showing a photo of ARAB ON RADAR playing the CHÉ CAFÉ in 2001, so this worked out nicely. Those in attendance got to experience five photos that I considered some of the best live photos I have ever taken. A new photo of KING KHAN AND THE SHRINES had only been taken a few weeks earlier. Four of the five were 24" x 36" and my classic LIGHTNING BOLT piece "Guns and Butterflies" was sliced into a mosaic that measured about 40" x 60" for the droolers. The show will be up until December 1, 2008.

I'm on the scene, then I'm on the street... a likely story of riches to rags. But in this case, it's just me taking photos of your favorite rock and roll bands at the downtown party we San Dieganistimosos have called STREET SCENE for the past 24 years. In all honesty, I usually eschew festivals. But I admit that I've seen some great performances over the years at SS including such luminaries as PATTI SMITH, ARTHUR LEE and LOVE, HASIL ADKINS, WILCO and CHEAP TRICK, none of which played this year. A few that did perform? BECK, THE NIGHT MARCHERS, THE MUSLIMS, SPOON, DEVO, THE NATIONAL, EAGLES OF DEATH METAL, DEL THA FUNKY HOMOSAPIEN, HOT CHIP, JUSTICE and many more. See the collection on the SAN DIEGO READER webisite or CLICK HERE for the direct link.

Speaking of streets, I recently shot a photo of the Laurel Street Bridge (a.k.a. the CABRILLO BRIDGE) for the FRIENDS OF BALBOA PARK organization. The photo was originally intended for a "LIGHT THE WAY" project brochure that announced the replacement of the bridge's light bulbs with more efficient LED bulbs to save energy costs. On September 25, 2008, multiple new Balboa Park touch-screen information kiosks were dedicated to the city by the non-profit group, which were funded by $350,000 in donor contributions. Each kiosk has an ATM, WiFi and a map of the park, but statistics have shown that most people just use them to find the public restrooms. At any rate, they included my bridge photo on the kiosks but left my name out, defaulting to "local San Diego photographer ANDREW HUDSON," who is generously credited and personally thanked by the FRIENDS OF BALBOA PARK on his own full page. Seeing this, I have learned that it is not a requirement to be friends with the FRIENDS OF BALBOA PARK in order to do business with them.

JULY/AUGUST 2008
If you hath ever appreciated thee high art that be-ith BUZZCOCKS, consider yourself advised and warned to keep an eye out for THE POWERCHORDS debut CD/LP ...Think I'm Gonna on Single Screen Records (Screaming Apple for vinyl) in the forthcoming months leading up to the apocalypse. This 14 song collection is a timeless teenage rampage that oozes with mighty pop catchiness, themes of tainted innocence and simple, unmetaphorical lyrics like "sweet dreams girl, will you please massage the back of my neck." Singles going steady indeed. The album art is plastered with multiple studio photos I took of the band including one of the notorious silly string shots (see the back cover). This is where I had them spray my insurmountably expensive camera, which — all monetary and sentimental things considered — is worth more than most lives to me. I don't know where I get these ideas from, but in spite of popular belief, it does pay to think once in a while, and I think I'm gonna... rock out to this puppy one more time!

On a related note, did what was the photographer's equivalent to an encore performance by doing one promo shot made up of about 200 non-promo shots for the home grown SINGLE SCREEN RECORDS. The label is run by CRAIG BARCLIFT (of THE POWERCHORDS, etc.) and JACKSON MILGATEN (of THE VISION OF A DYING WORLD, etc.), two musicians who also work at the KEN CINEMA, San Diego's oldest and last bastion of independent film that shows films in a non-multiplex format. The idea for the shoot came to me in a dream not long after reading something about cloning, and the final results are nothing short of fantastic. Now if someone will just do a label profile then we'll be set. See the PROMO/PUBLICITY PHOTOS GALLERY to view the redundantcy.

SAN DIEGO CITY BEAT printed an article on SATANIC PUPPETEER ORCHESTRA with the eponymous STYX title, "Domo Arigato, Mr. Roboto," in the July 8, 2009, issue alongside a half-page-size blow-up of my Professor B. Miller levitation shot. Nice of those guys to even give me a photo credit to boot. I got over bitching about credit years ago when friends stopped calling me. Today, i could care less about seeing my name in print, but instead would like to (1.) create an iconic image that stays with those who see my photos, or (2.) get paid redunculous amounts of money, or (3.) both. However, at the end of the day, I have to agree with HOT SNAKES, who said, "If Credit's What Matters, I'll Take Credit." See the TEARSHEETS GALLERY to see the layout.

MAY/JUNE 2008
Eternal teen KELLY ALVAREZ will release her debut single on TEENACIDE RECORDS this summer. You may have seen her playing with WILD WEEKEND, but she has been doing this "gossipy Brill Building girl group pop" thang for much longer. Sadly, chances are that you'll never hear her perform any of her solo songs in a live setting. And chances are just about as good that you'll own an actual copy of this promotional-only single. And chances are slim to none that you're going to get her phone number. But at least you can download the song at the usual cyber outlets (iTunes, Amazon, emusic), give it a spin, and imagine what it's like to be racing down the PCH headed to the pier with the wind in your hair. Once you find a the CD promo version, you can officially call yourself a stalker, and that's where my photos come in handy. You'll probably notice that, in spite of this single's digital format, MS. ALVAREZ is a tried-and-true vinyl enthusiast. And she says a lot even though it is only a little (no b-sides or bonus tracks to clutter up this fine work). Also of note is that the song — in spite of being from a female perspective — was written by a man (ANDREW CHOJNACKI). Now, I don't say this to steal any fire away from the always beautiful, talented and vivacious MS. ALVAREZ... I say this because it's a fact. I say this the same way one would mention PHIL SPECTOR when gabbing about THE CRYSTALS or THE RONETTES. And I say this with the same emphasis and endorsement that CHRIS CROCKER would for his upcoming single, which, by the way, is the exact same format. Coincidence? I think NOT! Check the ALBUM ART GALLERY for the full spread.

Local gothic/electro outfit VV MORGUE was featured in the Blurt section of the SAN DIEGO READER on May 8, 2008, and a Titanium Exposure taken at CREAM COFFEE BAR in University Heights ran along side it. The band's latest release is a split seven-inch with the equally necromantic DEADBEATS from South Carolina.

We haven't heard from SLEEPING PEOPLE for a while as they have been touring the globe and impressing prog rock fans to the maximus. And OMG! some of them are even girls. I'm actually glad they did not credit me on this one.

I've added another slideshow to the COLLECTIONS GALLERY. This time it's Montreal, Quebec's CPC GANGBANGS tearing it up at BAR PINK ELEPHANT on May 21, 2008. These are easily some of my favorite live shots I've taken in 2008, but sadly, they are now lost forever, swallowed by the vortex of my computer's mainframe and melted down for scrap pixels. This happened the day after I projected some prime selections of night photography at an SSI concert at a car wash on Adams Avenue in Normal Heights (community of San Diego) on Saturday, June 21, 2008. The show was spontaneous, unannounced and featured weeks of my rogue efforts to dodge cross-examination from rent-a-cops in middle-of-the-night public arenas were lost within 24 hours of their exhibition. I wanted to show everything upside-down so that the architecture would look like space ships. In its wake, I harbored countless feelings of despair and disbelief. I could have just punched my dashboard and boiled this experience down to one word: FUCK. But no... once they were gone, they were gone. There was nothing I could do about it, and it didn't take me long to accept that and move on. In a way, I sort of like seeing it as a completely unique and fleeting event that only those who were there had experienced. In fact, it never happened. See the absence of annotation in the TE EXHIBITION LOG for proof.

The ROCK SHOTS class at MOPA is now three years strong, and counting! And the youth of America are better off for it. One of the first lessons I teach is how to take photos without looking through the viewfinder. Once a photographer releases himself or herself from those shackles, and opens up to the wider panorama, his/her photos will look more and more unique and from a perspective that is rarely seen in concert photography. Now that I've paid my dues, I have been invited to name the class with my own words. So here it is in all of it's glory: "SONIC PHOTOGRAPHY: How to Listen With Your Eyes." The next term starts in March, 2009. Register today.

MARCH/APRIL 2008
Early March found San Diego's FANTASTIC MAGIC in need of some photos to accompany an article that had been written about them for FOAM, a women's surf magazine based in Newport Beach, California. Now, FANTASTIC MAGIC is many things to many people, but two things they are NOT are surfers and/or women. We were all kind of scratching our noggins on that one. Some of the confusion could have been because the writer was based in New York City (<-----insert twangy, louder "NEW YAWRK CITY!" cowboy campfire echo here), but it was more likely just some editor interpreting their celestial sounds as oceanic. In fact, the transcendental threesome had been recording "sea of gold" for a seven-inch slated for an early summer release, so perhaps that was reason enough to toss them in the editorial mix. At any rate, it was agreed that we needed to soak in the sun for at least a few golden shots, allowing the radiance and magnetism of the moment come forth and revel. A few of these may have left them looking like petrified burn victims, albeit charming ones with a glowing aura. We did a few more with earthy backdrops and sent them off the same day to meet a tight deadline. Unfortunately, FOAM decided to waste our time and use a less striking photo of them at the beach (see FOAM's myspace page for the resultant photo). There is no accounting for taste. Hopefully, FANTASTIC MAGIC will garner more press with upcoming releases and tours and someone will be able to use one of these gems that I've got lurking in the PROMO/PUBLICITY GALLERY. After all... their music is the stuff that dreams are made of, or at least wet ones.

Speaking of seven-inches of love, many have stood at attention and become fully erect after hearing WILD WEEKEND's two singles on Spain's exquisite MUNSTER label. Their record release party was at BAR PINK ELEPHANT on Thursday, April 10th, and it was a surefire sign that spring had sprung. The anti-color photos with splashes of blood-red ink in the artwork mimics early ZEROS singles, but the songs are only the same for the one with "Don't Push Me Around" b/w "Wimp." The band takes the words right out of my mouth when they sing "you look so good in black 'n' white... YEAH!" Won't you [new records] come home with me tonight? Check them out in the ALBUM ART GALLERY before I foolishly quote any more lyrics in record collector geek-speak.

San Diego fine artist GERARDO YEPIZ (a.k.a., ACAMONCHE) needed some slides done of his artwork to apply for much needed grants so naturally he called a rock 'n' roll photographer to do the job. To be fair, I have been veering away from my usual steady diet of sonic photography in light of making my glass eye more versatile and, well, this certainly isn't the first time I've taken photos of artwork. I take pride in accurately portraying a well done piece of art, and sometimes, if I'm in a good mood, I'll even make a crappy piece of art look spectacular! So I've added a couple to the FASHION/PRODUCT GALLERY to show you what a fully operational space system is capable of.

Oh yeah, I thought I'd mention that I filmed a new video of THE NIGHT MARCHERS performing live at LOU'S RECORDS in Encinitas, California, on April 22, 2008. This was the day of their record release and I admit that it was a treat to see the band play live once more. I started to video "I Want to Deadbeat You" and then they blazed right into "Jump In The Fire" without batting an eyelash. They were rocking so hard that I just let the camera keep rolling. Honestly, I can only say good things about their album See You In Magic. It's a boner-fide gleamer in a sea of rust. Calling it a masterstroke of maturity would be accurate, but hardly appropriate. On a similar, yet less refined note, ROCKET FROM THE CRYPT just released their final show on a CD/DVD set on VAGRANT RECORDS and even they admit that it is not their best moment. But if you're only as good as your worst record, well then this has still got a lot of character. I got over the whole idea of bands playing their songs live as accurately as on their studio records a long time ago. What's the point in that? You might as well be MILLI VANILLI. No, I much prefer the band to be a little rough around the edges in a live setting. Call it FRANK SINATRA syndrome or whatever. The great moments here are the in between song banter, the bone-crushing liner notes by SPEEDO, and the glorious intro by the one and only EL VEZ. If I would have known that something as exquisite as THE NIGHT MARCHERS was going to surface, I probably would have lobbied for RFTC to break up a lot sooner. At any rate, HERE'S THE VIDEO.

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 2008
If you would have told me a year ago that I was going to be taking photos of a band called SATANIC PUPPETEER ORCHESTRA I probably would have said something like, "Oh yeah, that'll be right after my photo shoots with BONGZILLA and EARTH, WEED AND FIRE." I mean, what a literal donkey punch of a name! Uttering it initially gave me visions of hesher mimes with raver hats playing funky rap metal and tearing me a new asshole with their new and "improved" slap bass ICP covers. To my surprise (and relief!), it wasn't like that at all. Primarily the brainchild of PROFESSOR B. MILLER, yet somehow incomplete without the impaled brain of robot sidekick vocalist SPO-20, the idea for this band has been over ten years in the making. Only recently have they blown their conceptual wad in the form of a magnum "four CD debut box set" opus and started playing out live. During my TITANIUM EXPOSÉ publishing days, I once got so fed up with writing record reviews that I said that I wouldn't review anything that wasn't in box set form because, well, they just haven't proven themselves yet. Funny that someone would actually take me up on that dare after I stopped writing record reviews. I still felt compelled to rise to the occasion with my photography and help him/them out. Besides, I couldn't pass up the devilishly good fun (and sexy) opportunity to hang out with a life-sized robot and, y'know, shoot the shit in binary while taking notes with the dot matrix. But what does one do with such logical beings as a scientist and a robot? Well, we put them in vicaroius situations that defy logic, of course! One idea was to drop Mentos into Diet Coke two liters and do a sequence of shots to make a flip book. This seemed like the most impractical publicity photo, yet cool nonetheless. Just to cover our asses, we set up another scenario where the robot was a magician that was making the professor levitate. The large-and-in-charge B. MILLER only added to the impressive nature of this feat, and the Frankenstein/Mad Scientist role reversal also provides some food for thought. And once more, we also made him dissappear through a hula hoop just for kicks. It all was quite splendid. Check them out in the PUBLICITY/PROMO GALLERY while I prepare to field phone inquiries from DURAN DURAN DURAN [sic] and I HATE YOU WHEN YOU'RE PREGNANT.

WILD WEEKEND was written up in the LA WEEKLY for a show they were playing with NIKKI CORVETTE and a TITANIUM EXPOSURE was in tow (see TE Tearsheets Gallery). It went uncredited, but at least they didn't spell my name wrong like they did on the puny little ST. VINCENT photo by TOD SEELIE. Furthermore, the target background that we used in the WILD WEEKEND photo shoot found an extended life in a public access special out of Los Angeles called the PRIMAL STOMP HOUR. Short segment interviews were woven into the program after each live song performance and there is even a bonus interview with original ZEROS bassist HECTOR PEÑALOSA at the tail end.

It's time once again to dive head first into the TITANIUM EXPOSURE photo collections page. New slideshows from THE NIGHT MARCHERS, THE HEARTACHES, and THE BAJA BUGS playing a rare show with Australia's JAY WISEMAN (THE TREBLES, THE HOODS, THE MACH 5) one January night at THE TOWER BAR.

Speaking of Australia, I don't think I ever mentioned that THE SLITS were featured down under in theage.com with one of my latter-day shots. I'm also very proud to finally have one of my photos in the exquisite music webzine PERFECT SOUND FOREVER next to an article called "Typical Slits" by KURT GOTTSCHALK.

The ATOMS debut seven-inch is already sold out. I'd like to think that what put it over the top was when a TITANIUM EXPOSURE appeared alongside an article by MICHAEL HEMMINGSON in the January 23, 2008, issue of the SAN DIEGO READER. The band is currently negotiating a second pressing with German label P.TRASH.

Finally, the long awaited photos of VAGINALS have arrived and they look like... ummm, for lack of a better description... a period piece. An antiquated fascade was utilized and stoic expressions were the name of the game. The only thing we were missing was a family rifle as the centerpiece. So instead, I had each band member pose with their instruments. Primary songwriter MARIA VANVILLE's drum kit was a little too cumbersome to be reckoned with, so she opted to hold fireplace bellows, perhaps to fan the flames of her billowing creativity. One assemblage is currently in the PUBLICITY/PROMO GALLERY and another is the default photo on their myspace profile.

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