Created by Robot House Creative
My photography was used in this new advertising campaign for The Spy. The online radio station and NPR affiliate is close to my heart, and I’m super happy to be working with them and Robot House Creative.
You can find a print copies in the Oklahoma Gazette and this summer in Oklahoma Today.
Tim Katz and I teamed up with Samantha Crain and Co. to shoot this video of a recent rehearsal. Time was limited, but we squeezed in a few takes before the band continued readying songs for upcoming run of album release concerts.
A special thanks to Brine Webb for making this sound dandy.
Sam’s new album landed today, and it’s really great. Find yourself a copy of “You Had Me At Goodbye” ASAP.
Photos by Nathan Poppe
I was taking photos so hot that my laptop exploded.
Actually, that was due to ancient MacBook battery but it felt cool to type. Last week, I returned to Spicewood, Texas for my second Luck Reunion. What’s that? Well, country legend Willie Nelson hosts a festival on his Luck Ranch near a bunch of Western facades and buildings he built for an ’80s western called “Red Headed Stranger.”
The boutique Americana-leaning festival hired me to shoot the main stage, and I teamed up with my great friend Adam Kemp to shoot the headlining acts. I ended up with nearly 200 GB worth of photos and edited things down to a more manageable figure.
I’ve got shots of Margo Price, Willie Nelson, Conor Oberst, M. Ward, Shovels & Rope and a lot more great talent. Also, I replaced my laptop because of the amazing freelance gig. I guess you call that balance.
Take a look at all my photos from the Texas festival here.
I dare you not to get chills.
Photo by Nathan Poppe
I shot a vinyl unwrapping video for Samantha Crain’s beautiful new album. A special thanks to Guestroom Records for lending me a record player when mine busted before the shoot. Also, to my buddy Brian for lending his time and living room.
You can still pre-order “You Had Me At Goodbye” here. It’s really really really good.
Be on the lookout for the vinyl video and a live music video my friends and me shot.
Photo by Justice Smithers
I’m not crying. It’s just a really beautiful song.
You’re crying.
Photo by Nathan Poppe
Parker Millsap knew he was home.
In a packed Sooner Theatre, the native Okie songwriter performed to a full house. His friends and family were peppered throughout the sold-out crowd. How could I tell?
One of Millsap’s cousins requested a song and shouted a thank you from the back of the venue. The night also was full of tight performances and a rowdy room. Well, as rowdy as a seated venue can get.
Photo by Paul Hellstern
I couldn’t resist that production pun up there.
One of my favorite things to do for The Oklahoman is visit movie sets and this is one of them. Fun fact: I unknowingly interviewed a Playmate of the Year and Shelley Long mistook me for a production assistant. I focused my story on the film’s director and Rascal Flatts guitarist Joe Don Rooney.
Read it here.
This is one of the good ones.
Turn it up. Woah, not that loud.
That’s better.
Photo by Ben Rothstein
I was surprised to learn that much of “Logan” is set throughout Oklahoma.
How surprised?
Find out here.
Photo provided
“Soda pop commercials from the mid-’70s and all those things from my childhood, I’m trying to get back to ’em. I’m always trying to go back and get something from then and bring that into my life and into the music I’m making now. … I can say we thought we had something special, and we should pursue that.”
That’s Steven Drozd talking about his collaboration album with Steve Burns of “Blue’s Clues” fame.
Read the full story here.
Ticket stub provided by Joe O’Shansky
I chatted with Okie concertgoers about their favorite concert memories from today and yesteryear. I heard stories about The Who, Nirvana, Tom Petty and Phish. There’s even a great story about Vince Gill mooning a KISS crowd.
Read it here.
Photo by Daniel Muldiar
“For us, I think it was an eye opener. There’s people that really care about the music and really care about this band. The least that we can do is to keep it going.”
Cameron Neal reflected on getting robbed on the road and a lot more during our recent interview.
Give the story a read here.
Photo by Nathan Poppe
The sound of fist hitting face stopped me dead in my tracks. The fight happened and ended quicker than I could cradle my camera and take a couple steps back. A few friends stepped in between the brawlers and it was back to the music.
A couple women tried to explain to me what happened but all I could hear was hoots and hollers for the Turnpike Troubadours. Oklahoma is known for some rowdy acts but nothing compares to a crowd at a TT show. I’ve never seen so many empty beer cans in my life.
This was my first time catching the band, and I have a feeling I’ll be back to see an even bigger crowd sing along to every word. I especially enjoyed catching opening acts Charley Crockett and BC & The Big Rig. It was the most bustling, sold-out crowd at The Criterion to date.
See all my photos here.
Photo by Rambo
“I don’t really know what folk music means anymore. And I don’t think of myself as a folk musician so much as a storyteller. I want to make something honest and imaginative first.”
That’s Austin-based songwriter Adam Torres talking about being labeled as a folk musician. I caught up with him before an upcoming concert at Opolis.
Read the full Q&A here.
Photo by Cortney Kelley
“I didn’t know what I was doing. I paid for parking, and it cost me $15 because the NAMM trade show was going on at the same time. I think we made $10 that day, so I was in the hole $5. That sums up my Nashville experience.”
Things don’t always go as planned. Take it from David Leach. I spoke with him and his bandmate Kate Dinsmore about the road to their debut album, working with John Fullbright and gambling.
Read the full story here.
“I still consider myself to be an amateur filmmaker. And I say that because in the Latin origin of the word amateur is the word love, and it’s love of a form, whereas professional implies something you do for money or for work.”
Check out this great Fresh Air interview.
