Earlier this week, one of my favorite filmmakers, John Hughes, passed away in New York while visiting family.

Not only did he write and direct Ferris Bueller's Day Off, easily one of my favorite films ever, but also Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and wrote and produced Pretty And Pink.

His films represent some of the most memorable American Cinema of the 80's.

It's truly sad to see him go, but his influence will live on.

Here's a great clip I found on YouTube looking back at some of Hughes' great work throughout the years:

Labels: death, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, film, John Hughes

Quickly, due to the wettest summer on record, All Points West became one of the messiest U.S. festival since Woodstock '99, but the crowds and the bands pulled through.

Over three days I was soaked under torrential downpour, splatted with mud, bruised and blistered, but difficult situations tend to produce great photos so it was all worth it.

Many thanks to Todd at Sony Alpha U.S. for sending me the second A900 body and extra lenses to help me document the festivities this year. The new Carl Zeiss 16-35mm F2.8 for Sony Alpha might be the sharpest zoom I ever shot with — INCREDIBLE glass!

Here's a few selections documenting my festival experience. I'll post more to my site in coming weeks.

Labels: All Points West, Davey Wilson, festival, Fleet Foxes, Jay-Z, music, Postelles, Sony Alpha, Yeah Yeah Yeahs

A cool look at Magnum Photographer, Bruce Gilden.

Loving the new video!

Check this out:

Modest Mouse - Satellite Skin from Old World Monkey on Vimeo.

The Littl'Ans made their first bit of hype when Pete Doherty picked the band to tour with Babyshambles, and since played fashion parties for the likes of Dior and everybody else.

The band looked right at home headlining the party for UK fashion brand, Ben Sherman, in New York earlier this week, and packed the store with local hipsters, mods and fashionistas.

As always, Josh Madden delivered a sick DJ set for the night.

Check out my photos from the party here.

Labels: Ben Sherman, concert, fashion, music, party, The Littl'Ans

Once in a great while, a new band comes out of nowhere that immediately demands attention. Many will say "I've heard it all before," but somehow this band manages to do it differently.

Back in January, I met a band playing under the name, Frankpollis. Although they received a bit of press attention from SPIN.com and abroad from NYLON Japan, they were still relatively unknown. A close friend, formerly of Columbia Records, signed on to manage them and invited me down for an early look. These guys were all in their young 20s, but performed with a maturity well beyond their years.

Immediately, I booked photos with their management. So rarely do I get to work with a talent this early in the game, and it's been exciting documenting everything — capturing their evolution.

In the few months that followed, they evolved into Your Nature, the Brooklyn band that promises to be one of the most sought after new acts this year. Their sound is a unique brand of Berlin-era Bowie proto punk gone psychedelic prog rock à la Dark Side Of The Moon-era Pink Floyd with a Pavement undertone — all without sounding the least bit retro and with a fresh approach and energy that is unmistakably now.

Your Nature booked a special residency at The Annex, each Wednesday in May. See these guys now and be in the know early.

The Annex schedule is as follows:

YOUR NATURE residency at The Annex this May
5/16 with Wildyaks
5/13 with The Extraordinaires and Invisible Hand
5/20 with Space Camp
5/27 with Real Estate
$7. Doors 8 PM.
Open Vodka Bar 9 PM till Gone.

Listen to Your Nature at myspace.com/yournature.

Labels: band, Brooklyn, music, New York, residency, The Annex, Your Nature

Feathers flew as hundreds gathered in front of the New York Stock Exchange yesterday for the annual pillow fight. This year, the demonstration marked protest for many against so-called "corporate bail-outs.".

I'm not sure what my position is on all of that, but when I heard of the pillow fight I had to see it with my own eyes. I couldn't believe it was for real.

Here's a few photos from the event:

Labels: activists, demonstration, New York Stock Exchange, photos, Pillow Fight, protest, Wall Street