2019 Twin Cities Music Photographer Showcase – Day 1

For the 5th year we have asked our photographer colleagues and TCM staff to share their favorite music pictures they have taken in the last 12 months. 

DAY 2     DAY 3

If you are curious about past years, you can find them here 2018 2017 2016 2015

Seth Steffenhagen

is a multi-interest photographer focusing on a wide range of subjects including his favorites sports, live music, and wildlife. 2019 was his first full calender year at Twin Cities Media which provided a number of great opportunities to shoot live music. You can see more of Seth’s work on his website and Instagram.

1 – Baroness – March 29,2019 – Skyway Theatre:

Rather quickly during this set I figured one of these photos would end up as a favorite on this list. The lighting was great and the stage antics and camaraderie between the band made for an exciting one to shoot. 

2 – Bridge City Sinners – May 2, 2019 – 7th Street Entry:

This was a wild bunch and all 7 of them were packed onto the small stage at the Entry. It was great to capture the enthusiastic playing of the fiddle with the bow shredding up like this. 

3 – Murder By Death – July 25, 2019 – The Shitty Barn:

This was a rustic and intimate venue with only 100 tickets sold. This old barn provided a number of unique vantage points including this one shot on a infrared modified camera from the outside looking in. 

4 – Flogging Molly – September 8, 2019 – The Armory:

These guys put on a great show and with a large ensemble it’s great to get a wide variety of shots. All the stellar lighting that highlighted their abundance of energy yielded a large amount of enjoyable photos. 

5 – Delain – September 30, 2019 – The Cabooze: 

This one is definitely my favorite shot of the year. The energy of the crowd and signer interacting together along with a good portion of the band’s moniker on the backdrop. It’s always great when bands bring extra lighting with them, that really helped with getting the silhouettes of the crowd so well defined. 

John Oakes

I’m John Oakes. I live right here in Minneapolis and I am one of the staff photographers with Twin Cities Media. I am usually lurking in the shadows at Mortimer’s. You can see more of my stuff by stalking me on Instagram @johnoakesphoto if that is your thing.

 Here are my top 5 photos from 2019 in no particular order.

1.     Have Heart at Belasco Theater during Sound & Fury Fest ’19 in Los Angeles. This show and the whole fest was just crazy. I’m not sure how I made it out in one piece. This was a reunion show for Have Heart.
2.     Daikaiju at Palmers Bar in Minneapolis. Stage? What stage? Daikaiju needs no stage. They just set up their gear and start playing whenever and where ever they want and when they are done, they set their gear on fire and drive off to the next town. I’m not joking. They really do this. This band is an experience.
3.     Murf at Mortimer’s in Minneapolis. One of the most exciting bands going right now. I forget what their theme for the night was, but I guarantee you that there was plenty of blood and body parts flying around Mort’s.
4.     Conflict at Mortimer’s in Minneapolis. Legendary punk band Conflict was coming to the U.S. from the U.K. to play just a couple of shows, Chicago and Minneapolis. The demand for the Minneapolis who was so overwhelming that they added a second night. They left their mark all over Mort’s.
5.     Off With Their Heads at Mortimer’s in Minneapolis. Off With Their Heads released a new album and then brought it to Mort’s. This show was intense, intimate, aggressive and LOUD. 

Jon Behm

Covering live music in the Twin Cities for nearly fifteen years for Reviler

Helen Teague

I’m Helen Teague, part of the local radio and music riff raff here in the Twin Cities, and I’ve only been regularly using a camera since about April of 2019. Since then, I’ve joined Reviler and The Current, shooting photo and video all over town. When I look at what I was doing with my life even just a year ago, I wasn’t anywhere near the level of passion and drive I have for my work like I do this year, and I can’t wait to see what comes next in 2020. When I’m not shooting or enjoying shows, I’m probably drawing or animating or dancing at Dark Energy/Transmission/Gothess/etc. You can find more of my work at helenteague.com and on instagram!

1. LUKDLX @ 7th Street – The whole composition I was able to capture here, the twist of the mic, the spit, the lighting, the whole flow of the image. As soon as I reviewed it on my camera at the show I knew this was gonna be a money $hot. Every time I look at this I think “wait, I took this? Me? No way!!”
2. Kitten Forever @ Fine Line – This whole lineup (Black Widows, KF, Shonen Knife) was a privilege to watch, and I got some of my best and strongest photos from this gig. But this shot, the way I was able to capture Corrie schooling these two old guys, and the reaction this photo received when KF posted it on their insta, the discussion that it brought up… it was a powerful moment.
3. Vagabon @ Mainroom – I always aim for intense color and lighting in my photos, intense angles. I hate the boring typical close ups and shit that have no energy. This feels like it’s underwater, it’s a MOMENT! The lighting at play here makes my heart beat very fast.
4. Angel Olsen @ Mainroom – I’m not a huge fan of wider shots/angles (even tho they’re important/it’s required to capture them for my job), but the energy and silhouetting I was able to get from this makes for a very fun composition.
5. Negative Gemini @ Fine Line – Lindsey French was giving me the BEST angles at this show (the band opened up for Kero Kero Bonito). But for some reason I always come back to this shot, despite it being pretty dark and a little out of focus. I love the negative space (HA). The curving of the arm to bring your eye back around again and again, and that scream in the face.

Courtney Deutz

I’m Courtney, a recent Photojournalism graduate from the University of Minnesota. I’ve always had an interest in photographing live music and love learning every show.

You can find more of my live music work, as well as other work on my website courtneydeutzphoto.com