Empty Fest 6 jams in Sarnia

You know what photographers do when they’re grieving?  That’s right: they shoot.

After an awesome tribute of a funeral service for my Pops in the morning, Friday night found me ready to snap out of my weeklong hiatus from shooting.  Pop, the original photographer, always offered the same advice on photography when shown my work: keep going.

My cousin Kari had mentioned that her son Kraig’s band Substream was opening downtown at 10pm if we wanted to get out.  When I heard the show was at the former Cheri Champagne’s strip bar of my youth… well, that clinched it.  Off to the Trinity Lounge in downtown Sarnia went Brohemus and I…

(above: Sebastian Shinwell of The Holy Gasp out of TO)

The lineup: Substream, Dorothy’s Hazarai, and The Holy Gasp.  Only $8.

Yes, all the charm of the former venue remains, along with massive roof leaks dripping(mostly) into very large buckets all around the floor. This was the best joint I’ve been to in a long time.  Here’s Substream (L-R): guitar – Brandon Johnston, lead voc/guitar – Spencer Charleton, drums – Kraig Durco, and bass – Brad Parent.  Great set, guys.

Guessing (L-R): Eric Woolston, organizer, and Benjamin Hackman of The Holy Gasp. 
Sound check.

Brohemus talking to our pal and cuz Cheryl’s main man, Tony Cossa. I was visually digging the Christmas lights strung all over the place.

Kraig banging.  Drummers are always hardest to shoot.

Spencer, Brandon, Brad.

In addition to the excellent upper body workout of hauling around a D3 with big glass all night, you always look like you’re supposed to be wherever you are.

Spencer.

Kelly and Kari of K2Fitness… too fast to photograph.

Next up… (oh hey, bokeh Christmas lights as visual riff, non?)

Dorothy’s Hazari.

I can’t find a damned concrete thing about these guys on the net, but they played a great set.  Unique sound.  Would see again.

They sounded like this.

Caught Kraig’s face lit from the stage.

This kind of thing must be happening in Waterloo Region too, right?  I found Tessa’s Thursday Open Jams, but hey WR what else is going on?

Such a great, spare sound.  Hey, DH, leave a comment and tell me something about yourself.

Eric Woolston(?) promoting…

Empty Fest 6.  More music, check it out.

The Holy Gasp (L-R): guitar – Sebastian Shinwell, voc/bongos – Benjamin Hackman, flute/sax – Christopher Weatherstone, bass – James McEleney.  All educated guesses.

These guys out of Toronto were great to photograph.  Very animated.

Shooting in near-darkness pushes the edge of my skill and gear.  Shot wide open with f/2.8 lenses as low as 1/15 at ISO6400.

Drums – David Osorio.

Holy Gasp delivered. Rocked the whole place.

Happy to find my bro still in the crowd after I spent a few hours hopping around this shoot.  He was my ride home, and it’s been 25 years since I made the long walk back to Point Edward from the Sarnia bars.

So, another successful adventure, and this time outside of Waterloo Region.  Another quasi-serendipitous foray into the music-o-sphere. And this further fuels my thoughts on gentrification of Kitchener/Waterloo that would turn something like the Trinity Lounge into high-priced condos before you can say Sarnia Bay.

Photo: David G. White

Dave White shot this new profile photo of me (Darin White) against the stainless steel facade of the Alix Art Gallery in the heart of downtown Sarnia.  Thanks Brohemus.  I support more honesty in profile photos: this one is only 3 days old and I look exactly like this.

DW