Rhythm Corps at St. Andrews Hall 2019
The Paradise Follies
Damned Exhibition XII
6th Annual Michigan Burlesque Festival
EVENT: Boundless in Hamtramck
CONCERT: Beck at Fox Theater
EVENT: ‘Stroke’ by Satori Circus
EVENT: Detroit School of Burlesque Showcase
VIDEO: The Last Show at The Park Bar Detroit
Event: 2018 Michigan Burlypicks
Spoken Eroticism in Pixel Form
Damned X
Detroit School of Burlesque Grand Opening 2017
Thunderdome – Detroit Style
Detroit Grand Cabaret Debut Revue
5th Annual Michigan Burlesque Festival
Rebecca Goldberg – Artist & Musician
Rebecca Goldberg – Artist & Musician
If you don’t know of her, learn.
If you’ve never met her, find.
If you’ve never heard her, listen.
In An Electronic State-of-Mind
In An Electronic State-of-Mind
Memorial Day Weekend always equates to a weekend of global electronic music centered in Hart Plaza, Detroit, whether it’s called the DEMF Detroit’s Electronic Music Festival, FUSE-In, or Movement Electronic Music Festival, one thing always remained constant: it is a phenominal weekend filled with music, people of all types, and is a photographers mecca! It was truly an experience being able to photograph and capture artists like Richie Hawtin, Plastikman, Kevin Saunderson, Derrick May, Carl Craig, Carl Cox, Moby, Deadmau5, Glitch Mob and so many more in their environment!
Since I am not going this year, sadly, and I am feeling quite nostalgic, I am going to post a series of my favorite images from each of the years I took my camera down there, whether for personal use, shooting for MOTORCITYBLOG, or Red Bull Music.
If you are a musician, DJ, or a performance artist of any sort and are looking to have your performances captured for personal, marketing or business use, please do not hesitate in contacting me.
To see the complete sets of images from each year, click one of the following:
All images © Brett J Lawrence. No reproduction permitted.
Getting my Depeche Mode Fix
Josie Pace | New Industrial Goddess
The Beauty in Shadow & Light
Beauty can be found in the darkest of Shadows
or in the brightest of Light.
It is for You to decide where to look.
I offer you a compilation video of a series of Butoh performances done by my Friend, and Artist, Satori Circus at The Damned Exhibition in 2016. Accompanying him, creating the beautifully dark aural landscape, is the very talented Dixon with his violin.
This was my first real attempt at documenting… in real time… a performance artist. It was a challenge. I need to expand my reportoire… find new ways of expressing myself… new ways of capturing the moments of my Life. Every time I watch this it feels like I am there again… in that space… feeling every emotion…raw. Perfect.
Tell me. How do you feel? What do you see?
Rhythm Corps + Sponge wsg The Beggars
Royal Oak Music Theater
11-26-16
This photo series is dedicated to my Friend, Joe Grassi, who passed away too young. It was Joe that originally introduced me to Rhythm Corps back in the late 80’s when we were both students at Cousino High School in Warren, MI and were aspiring DJ’s in the schools radio station, WPHS. My first concerts were with Joe seeing Rhythm Corps at such iconic Detroit venues as The Ritz…and then many a time afterwards at any festival or college bar we could attend. Anytime I hear Fathers Footsteps, Revolution Man, Broken Halo’s, Satellites, or any of their other songs, Joe comes to mind. So much so that on Saturday night after capturing The Beggars fantastic opening performance, as Michael Persh was in the middle of their 2nd song, and I had him dead-center in my viewfinder, I was suddenly and unexpectedly overcome with a flood of memories and emotions from all our years of Friendship and just lost it. Eyes filled with tears…I couldn’t see clearly…and it took my breath away. All I could do was just honor the moment, the memories, and the music. I cleared my eyes and continued to shoot…capturing some of my all-time favorite images of any musical group I have ever shot in my 10+ year career. So, to Joe, I miss you old Friend. You should have been there with me singing along to every single one of those songs just like the old days instead of leaving so soon. It wasn’t the same, but, I will have to say I definitely felt your presence there. Thank you for all the memories that I can look back on and cherish.
As for the performances by The Beggars, Rhythm Corps and Sponge,… simply put, The Beggars killed it with their energetic performance, Rhythm Corps turned in what I would qualify as one of their BEST performances that I have ever seen without missing a step, and Vinnie and the boys of Sponge continue to hold up the mantle of Detroit Rock, always putting on a great show.
Thank you to Dana Forrester for the last minute photo credentials. It is always a pleasure working with you and helping promote our mutual love of Detroit music!
If you are looking for imagery of your band at an upcoming gig, please contact me. I would love to work with you and help you get some hi-quality images for your marketing needs or just blog coverage. I work exclusively with MOTORCITYBLOG and can offer you excellent coverage.
Theatre Bizarre 2016
Titties for Pitties 2 Fundraiser
Michigan Burlesque Festival 2016
OK, seriously. If you haven’t been to downtown Detroit, or any of the other midwest cities with a vibrant and exciting Burlesque scene yet, get off your ass and get out there! My images here should speak to exactly what I am talking about.
For an inside view of the shenanigans, click HERE.
The 4th Annual Michigan Burlesque Festival is an exotic, erotic, classy and sexy celebration of all things burlesque. Having only caught the 2nd night of this weekend festival, I was still able to capture the true essence of the performers. Thank you to the following performers for sharing your artistic visions with all of us:
Ginger Rockwood, Leena Allure, Boobs Radley, Ed Venture/Fae La Flame, Lottie Ellington, Honey La Fae, Mister Twister, Shrimp Cocktail, Chaz Boudoir, Josephine Rebellious, Satori Circus, Lolo Lombard, Eliza Sidecar, Dahlia Deluxe, Ophelia Coeur de Noir, Lily Rascal, Holly Hock, Scarlette McBain, Nada Von Daring, Nakita Kat, Gin Fizz, Kevlar Lighting, Ray Gun and Dangrr Doll
Event: 2016 Michigan Burlypicks
It is my heartfelt opinion, and recommendation, that you never pass up an opportunity to see a Burlesque show in Detroit. The local talent is exceptional, and the national talent that visits is equally entertaining.
These images were captured on April 29th 2016 at the Tangent Gallery in Detroit, MI at the 2016 Burlypicks Competition – Michigan Regionals event. Hosted by last years winner, Magenta Demure, the winner of specific categories would go on to the Burlypicks Finals in Pittsburgh in September.
Enjoy my images…
Thunderdome in Detroit
War Boys, War Girls, War Wagons and Wasteland
RELOADED Events delivers once again. The Mad Max cosplay event of the year: DROPZONE – The Fury Road to Thunderdome
Only in Detroit can this kind of event be pulled off with such success and authenticity. Truly impressed and proud to call many of these Artists and performers my Friends. In addition to having a great time attending this, I feel like my images have done a pretty good job of capturing the ambiance and vibe of the evening. I’m very interested in reading your thoughts so please leave comments.
Thank you to Satori Circus/War Daddy, Eva Lynn, Holly Hock, Leena Allure and Eprom Colony, to name just a few, for entertaining us all!
Event: Valentine’s Variety Show
Valentine’s Variety Nuts and Chews Show, Northern Lights Lounge, Detroit MI
It felt so good to finally get behind my lens again after the Holidays and New Year! And what a perfect event to capture with the likes of Konrad Lee, Lushes LaMoan, The Big Icky and two of my favorite non-Detroiters Pinch & Squeal! Hailed as a perfect evening of entertainment for Valentines Eve, it surely was a great time.
If you are looking for someone to photograph your Concert or Event, please contact me today to set up a consultation. -BJL
Concert: Sponge wsg Solid Frog
In the mood for some Detroit rock and roll, one of my favorite bands ever, Sponge, played an intimate gig at The Ritz Detroit Saturday night. Always a great show, albeit kinda short one that night, Vinnie and the boys never disappoint. And, to make the night even better, I finally got to see Solid Frog live! The Ritz, even in its new location still retains its classic gritty Detroit rock venue status, and is always a great place to shoot local acts even if the LED lighting makes the acts look alien, forcing me to shoot black and white.
Scott Weiland: A Loss Too Soon
Scott Weiland
October 27, 1967 – December 03, 2015
May your demons have finally exited stage left so that you may now experience Peace. Yours will always be one of the voices of my youth. Thank you for sharing yourself with us.
And to honor him in the only way I know how, here is the one time I was fortunate enough to see STP live (wsg FAIRCHILD) at The Fillmore Theater in Detroit, MI. This was one of those must-see shows, both as a reflection of my youth, as well as from a photographers viewpoint. While it was evident he was battling demons at the beginning of the show, as the consumate entertainer and artist, he worked through it and put on a stellar show.
EVENT: The Monster’s Ball 2015
I was asked by Regina Stocco of The Social Connection to capture the night’s festivities at the Fillmore Detroit, located at 2115 Woodward Avenue, on October 30th for Detroit’s most exclusive Halloween party, The Monster’s Ball! This event featured Metro Detroit’s finest DJs, live performers, and stage entertainers. When Regina stated in her email to me “…no one catches the soul of (an) event the way you do…”, I couldn’t pass up this opportunity. Plus, Halloween is my all-time favorite time of the year. So it was a win-win all around!
Thank you Regina for your trust in me. My door is always open to you.
If you are looking for someone to photograph your Concert or Event, please contact me today to set up a consultation. -B
Check out my DAMNED images!
This is by far my favorite time of the year in Michigan because the weather starts getting colder, the nights get longer, Hallow’s Eve is just around the corner and the Damned Exhibition at the Tangent Gallery/Hastings Ballroom in Detroit opens its doors! If you ever get an opportunity to attend this 3 day event, do it. It’s a cerebral and visual overload run by some very passionate Artists and Performers.
Having attended since the original Damned Exhibition 8 years ago, each year progressively grows in quality. From a photographers viewpoint, as you will see from my Gallery below, it is a beautiful evening of dark and enlightened performance art. I actually get excited when the middle of October rolls around knowing what’s ahead.
Click on the Gallery below and leave your feedback on the imagery.
If you are in need of a photographer to capture the true essence of your event, please do not hesitate to contact me.
-BJL
DAMNED VIII | The Darkness
If you ever get a chance to attend one of the annual 3 nights of any Damned Show, do it.
You won’t regret it. It is, by far, my favorite event of the year.
More images to come…
B