GET BENT!

Photo: Kandi Champagne Cook

The Spits

These days, anyone can snap a shot on their smart phone or whip out some Holga or point-and-shoot, but to be a real rock photographer, you have to have more than just equipment. You have to have perspective. So meet the first in this series that goes one-on-one with the people who capture the bands we love doing what we love, which is having a good time and rocking the fuck out. More of Kandi’s work can be found on kandicook.com.

Guitar Wolf

Hey, my name is Kandi Champagne Cook (yep, that’s my real name), and I’m a photographer in Memphis, TN. I’ve been very passionate about photography as a means of documentation and artistic expression ever since I can remember. Over the last decade I’ve experimented with a lot of different types of photography, dipping my toes into everything from cheesy family portraits to shooting stills for an independent movie, from developing film in a darkroom all the way to the digital world. But then rock photography grabbed a hold; it knocked the wind out of me and it never let go.

Jay Reatard

Before I got married, I didn’t really go to a lot of shows; in fact, just thinking about being in a dark, hot crowd of people sent me into a spiral of anxiety and panic. And to consider bringing my precious camera into such chaos was laughable. I dealt with that for many years until one night in 2009 when I saw King Khan and the Shrines play at the Hi Tone in Memphis. When I think about it, I don’t know how anyone could see King Khan and not have the time of their life. That night was a huge turning point for me—I never wanted to go to a show without a camera again.

King Khan

For me personally, shooting shows is as equally exciting as just being there, and now the two go together hand in hand. If I ever find myself in the freak occasion where I’m at a show sans camera, I can’t escape thinking about what would have made a good shot or nerdy things like lighting and shutter speeds. I have a sickness. However, seeing bands I really love has its pros and cons: familiarity with the songs makes great predictability when something awesome might happen, but when you’re really into the music, sometimes it just feels good to lose yourself and dance dance dance.

Thee Oh Sees

I haven’t lived in the Memphis area for very long but the music scene here definitely stands apart from any other city I’ve visited because the Memphians I know really get into the music and make it a complete experience. If you’re going to go to a show here, you’re gonna get bumped and danced all over, you’re gonna get sweaty (yours or not), and you might even get a little beer splashed on you… and you’re gonna love it. Folks around here like to have fun, and I’m proud to call this city home.

Abe White