Much like her personality, Maggie's music is multi-faceted. We had so much fun exploring Graffiti Pier in search of creative ways to express her sweetness, silliness, and willingness to rock out with her socks out. Now she has lots of new visual content and can update those music sites according to each different mood. Here are some of the shots from our day:
Back when the air was a bit cooler, On the Water let me follow them around for an afternoon to take pictures. They are one of my favorite bands, so I am stoked for the release of their new EP, "Superposition", out April 22nd. I've known Fletcher from the West Philly music scene for years, and he has led On the Water through multiple incarnations. The latest recording represents the current six-piece band, which crafts enchanting arrangements that respect the cosmic balance between darkness and light. Listen for yourself:
Left to right: Lucas Carine (drums, toy piano, glockenspiel, voice), Aubrey VanVliet (bass guitar, voice), Fletcher VanVliet (guitars, mandolin, voice), Evan McGonagill (cello, voice), Robin Carine (guitars, voice), and Jesse Sparhawk (harp, banjo)
Wandering the woods in Cobbs Creek, we tried various settings for their band portrait. They are thoughtful people and serious musicians, but they are also really fun to hang out with, so we ended up with a real variety of shots.
Handmade On the Water flask by Wrong World Ceramics
We headed back to Fletcher and Aubrey's warm art-filled abode, and they proceeded to make us all a most delicious vegan dinner.
This painting by Fletcher served as the cover to On the Water's 2014 EP "Baptism"
Fletcher is also a whiskey connoisseur and has classy large square ice cubes on hand.
Evan the Cellist and Skeleton the Bassist
Robin the Guitarist and a Cat Butt
I think they genuinely forgot I was taking pictures at this point while making each other laugh.
We headed over to Spruce Caboose, one of those giant West Philly Victorian houses where people live and make art and music and host live concerts. There's nothing quite like one of these house shows... makes you wonder about that unassuming neighbor you see walking on the sidewalk and could they be a vessel for the mysteries of the universe, given time to hone a craft and a comforting space to express it in? On the Water was slated to perform that night, and I was able to get a few shots while they set up and checked sound. Photographs can't capture the raw beauty in this music. They won't show you how quiet delicate plucking slowly swells to fill the air with harmonies and mad pounding strums. They won't evoke the imagery in lyrics, lamenting and exulting over the atoms that make up these bodies getting rearranged to dust. They do kind of demonstrate how Fletcher sometimes sings like a pirate, which I consider a high compliment. He is a captivating performer.
If you get the chance to see On the Water live, take it! This Saturday April 22nd at Eris Temple Arts celebrates the release of their new EP. Download "Superposition", and all the other albums too.
