NOTE: All photos are copyright of Howard Shiau Photography except for setlist photo thanks to Gabrielle Pires
I have to admit that for much of the late 1990s / early 2000s, I was working so much that I didn’t pay too much attention to music that was coming out during that time. It wasn’t until the Guitar Hero/Rock Band games came out that I started to listen to newer music. Silversun Pickups’ “Lazy Eye” was the song that got me going. Between Brian Aubert’s high voice and Chris Guanlao’s crazy drumming, I was hooked! And I’ve followed the band closely since then.
Fast forward to 2020; I have all their records on vinyl and have seen them many times, in full concert settings and at intimate shows like at the iHeartRadio Theatre and SoFar Sounds. However, I had still not shot them as a concert photographer. That changed last Friday. Besides the photo pass I had obtained for their second night at Brooklyn Steel, I was also happy to see them on the schedule at the Paste Studio.
As often happens, only Brian Aubert (vocals/guitar) and Nikki Monninger (vocals/bass) attend acoustic sessions but it’s always great to hear the stripped down versions of their songs. Brian’s constant interaction with the fans via the video camera provided high entertainment. Prior to their session at Paste, I had been listening to their latest record “Widow’s Weeds” non-stop. Besides their classic sound, I thought I heard influences from Duran Duran and Smashing Pumpkins in a couple of songs. In between songs, Paste Studio’s Brad Wagner asked about musical influences on the new record and Aubert said they don’t really think about writing with influences in mind. They may come out through the subconscious but ultimately just become Silversun Pickups songs. Monninger did admit she had been listening to quite a bit of Duran Duran, Tears for Fears and Spandau Ballet and I thought “Hey!!”. As the session was closing, Aubert ended it in his own comical way (yes, check it out).
You can catch the full Paste session here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gAsFI9ThP4Y
Click on photos to enlarge
Several hours later, as I waited in the photo pit at Brooklyn Steel, I could feel the excitement building within me and with the fans in front. As the band entered the stage in the shadows, shrouded by smoke with only a little blue light, we heard the first strains of Aubert’s guitar, then throbbing of Guanlao’s kick drum with the urgent sounds of Monninger’s bass. The crowd went nuts as Silversun Pickups kicked off the show with “Neon Wound”, one of my favorites off the new record. While Joe Lester (keys) often sits in the dark out of the spotlight, the underlying melodies of the keyboard are one of the most important components of the band’s music.
Silversun Pickups played five songs off the new record but there was really something for everyone, as they included tracks from each of their albums. Their encore brought another level of energy as they played “We Are Chameleons” and finishing with fan favorites “Well Thought Out Twinkies” and “Lazy Eye”. This photographer was completely amped and was ecstatic, even whilst walking home in the rain.
Click on photos to enlarge
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