It’s Devil’s Night? In Detroit? Welp, it must be time for Fright Fest!
Prologue or how my imposter syndrome was born:
I didn’t really plan on becoming a concert photographer. I signed up for classes at Mott Community College when I turned 30 because I wanted do a podcast and become the next chris hardwick. but Mott’s Media Arts program included a basic photo class as one of their pre-reqs so i had some basic knowledge.
In a previous life Working at The Whiting, i had an understanding of how to reach out to artists and their management to do interview and secure press passes. I saw that Twiztid would be in lansing in February of 2017 and thought it’d be cool to try and get an interview with them. Their PR politely declined my request, but offered a photo pass. I jumped at the chance, despite my lack of skills and a camera. with a canon 5d Mark IV my professor graciously let me borrow, I covered twiztid’s show at the loft in Lansing. The first musicians in my portfolio (Twiztid, Blaze Ya Dead homie, The R.O.C., and Boondox) were dudes that I had been listening to since I was 13 years old. I couldn’t have been more lucky. With that show, I was able to build a portfolio, a website, and get into more shows, which eventually helped get me a dream gig as a freelance event photographer for the Detroit MEtro times.
Over the years I’ve tried to cover all their shows when they are in Detroit, as well as their annual pop culture convention, Astronomicon. I’ve gotten to know many members of their crew and all of them have been cool with me. IT’s surreal to know people in the circle of one of your favorite bands. high school me would be pretty stoked about that.
FAst forward to DEvil’s Night 2021. The yearly tradition of Twiztid and label mates from Majik Ninja Entertainment grace a stage in detroit. This year it was the beautiful Saint Andrew’s Hall. joining the Demented duo (plus their drummer of the last few years, Drayven Davidson) were Oh! The Horror, Alla Xul Elu/AXE, Drive-by, Dropout Kings, and Nonpoint. I had seen Dropout Kings at my first post-Pandemic show when they opened for (hed) P.E. and knew they would bring the energy. Oh! The Horror, AXE, and Drive-by fit the card perfectly in the juggalo scene, and Nonpoint as openers were a fantastic addition to the line up as Twiztid finds their footing within the rock/metal scene.
