This is a fresh start, a fresh entry and a step foreword to following a path I went off of a while ago. It’s been a week after experiencing the busiest, craziest time as a photographer and for myself. As a photographer I get to cover another festival, for the first time for another publication. For myself, to endure the craziest work and social schedule without losing a beat.
In a way, I’m glad I’m back doing this, mainly because I said this to my friend (in drunk) at 4 in the morning on day four: I love what I do and don’t want anyone to take this away from me, not even for the stupidest of reasons from previous experiences. I figure with the media writing their show reviews and ins and outs of the last 5 days, this photographer has her own little story to tell…
And yes, I will include the awesome guy I met on night one.
September 30: I finished another early shift, by day Cindy Lopez works in a coffee shop in the heart of the Plateau, in-between she checks her email as she’s also the Photo Editor at The Concordian: a student run newspaper at Concordia University. This week however, by night she’s Chartattack.com’s newest music photographer.
I met the guys at Chart at last year’s POP last year as I helped them out while doing Concordian work. Chart Magazine was my starting point about the music scene in Canada and now I’m part of it.
I was late to the opening party as I have too many jobs. I managed to run into some Fringe Festival buddies (either volunteering or working or checking out the festival). POP Montreal is a lot of things: music, arts, film, parties and well, one more thing…
The time where we find the most hipsters as the Plateau is invaded even more in ironic outfits and way too cool attitude. You can smell the effort at Espace Reunion (or the lack of showering). I walked around the space, art installations consisted of eating a house cake and a dead chocolate bird. The usual Patrick Watson sighting as he was playing with 16 theremins installed in the room making odd sounds Sounds that bought upon the headache that led me to go outside.
I went to check on my bike when I thought I recognized someone. Nope, it was a total stranger and do I have a habit of striking conversations with people I only met for 15 seconds (which sometimes is my downfall). He was not a hipster in a room full of badly dressed “what the f**k” attitude, in a scene where having a discussion with a musician is as entertaining as giving myself a root canal. I asked if he was a volunteer (in the back of my head thinking, “just great, another musician”). The guy was in no part of any art scene and has a useful role in POP Montreal (he did give me a business card as proof). I think at this rate this was worth having the conversation I gotten myself into. I had to go back in and find a spot for Fashion POP; I did talk to him again while the show was running 45 minutes late. We joked on what the collections would be, “I think it’s nothing but American Apparel tights and cowgirl boots”. Typical hipster wear.
My friend asked me before going in “How do you end up talking to the cute guys, I always see you with one?”
“I think it’s the camera.”
Fashion POP was filled to capacity, with industry people and last year’s winning designer (who all this time I’ve mistaken for a really dirty hipster). Patrick Watson sees my camera and starts making silly faces, for someone who is a well known working musician he can still be a ball of fun. Myself and the other photographers made a makeshift photo pit and started shooting designs outside the hipster milieu. Designs of dark colors, classic cuts and then there was the one collection inspired by futuristic qualities (one outfit had one tight made of plastic and had fringes on it).
I knew there was going to be tights.
My writer calls me about day one shows, “I got turned away at Sala Rossa and Club Lambi”. Not a good sign, that was night one for us. I did find the guy from previous, I told him what my writer told me, he said he was going to Lambi later. “If you have trouble getting in, you can text me.” Digging into my pockets and realizing that I have the worst pockets, he was nice enough to give me a new card.
I headed to Sala Rossa for No Bunny; I’ve seen them before on a night I shot three assignments. I was hoping for another go at them, unfortunately No Bunny was a no go. I headed to Lambi and ran into an industry guy I usually run into at shows; he told me that Lambi was sold out. “Try waiting if no one shows up on guest list”. I went upstairs to take a crack with the media pass, I forgot about the RSVP policy at POP, even if you’re media, you have to reserve a spot. I was about to give up when I went into my bad pockets. In the process of texting when the guy shows up and told him what happened. “Wait here.” He said. I waited in a dark stairwell thinking two things: I can get the shot I need thanks to this guy or there goes my chances of ever doing photos for a large based web site. My confidence lies on the power this guy has over a bunch of hipster volunteers.
The minute I saw the hooded stranger waved me up, I’ve never been so ecstatic to see a couple acts I only knew about a couple days before in a crowded space. “You’re awesome, I’m so buying you beer!”
Ninjasonik were a New York duo on before Matt & Kim. I talked with the awesome guy about photo and a blog I keep now and then (I haven’t written in months and would usually sidetrack). “Are you going to mention me if you write one on POP Montreal?” (Note: I didn’t start this up because of some awesome guy, I just had an awesome week). I went back into photo mode and climbed on two wobbly stools for a crowd shot and a close up. I went back to the guy and my beer before Matt and Kim. “I dare you to climb the speakers near the stage.” He said. Not normally risky with my shots, however with the implications of my night of almost not happening and letting some guy I met for nearly an hour determine how I do my job, I figure: “Yeah, I’ll do it.” It was packed and was sweating, I ran into the photographer from the Gazette (who made a deal with a girl who was standing on a stool if she can have her spot for a song). Meanwhile, the guy from Ninjasonik saw me and tickled me.
I made a deal with the photographer on the stage if I can have a turn, “When I get my shot it’s yours”. Matt and Kim, a duo on keyboard and drums playing symp pop were the reason why the room was filled to capacity at midnight on a Wednesday. The floor at Lambi was moving, was my music coverage going to turn into a news incident? The photographer on stage got his shot, it was now my turn.
“Holy crap, this is AWESOME.”
Matt & Kim got the crowd going, crowd surfers moving back and forth, nearing hitting the ceiling fan. I was enjoying the moment, the rowdiness, the mayhem, the loss of weight due to sweating heavily.
I got back to the awesome guy and my beer. He told me about a link on the POP facebook and would email me a link (I gave him a business card too). We trekked out, saw my bike.
“Why don’t I ride on your handle bars?” He joked.
“Nah, you can double up and you ride.”
He took a cab home instead and I pedaled home knowing that my first night as Chart’s photog was going to work out after all. Awesome.
October 1st: With 4 hours sleep under my belt, I turned back to Clark Kent in the morning. I managed the day anticipating a nap and hoping to turn into Photochick (my superhero name). Unfortunately the café was busy and became the kryptonite of my day along with covering an e-paper conference. I found time for a nap. At the last minute I decided on Teen Sleuth and the Freed Cyborg Choir. I’ve seen and met them at the Fringe as I did their promo photos. I hopped in a cab and made it. Teen Sleuth added three new songs, the band expanded and had a touch of Arcade Fire in their sound.
I trekked down to Trois Minots to see a friend while the 1st game of the season was going on (a friend gave me slack for choosing POP over hockey). The place was dead, once again I had a choice: hang out in a dead bar or take a chance on Fever Ray at Metropolis.
I left and took another cab.
I was 20 minutes into the set; Fever Ray was a 50/50 chance of being sold out. I flashed my pass and got in. Fever Ray was a Swedish based singer using theatrics such as costumes and lasers. I got a shot from above with her and smoke and lamps. The music was enchanting however wasn’t a big of a fan of theatrics (this coming from the girl who works at Fringe). I ran into some friends and after a 10-minute falafel wait, I trekked to Clues at Cabaret.
Clues reminded me of 1st album Radiohead for some reason. I had trouble shooting from the stage below and opt for the balcony, that’s where I found the guy from last night. Awesome, I got my balcony shot!
What to catch next before Sister Suvi at Balatou, needed to stay on St Laurent.
On the way up I showed the guy from day one Mainline Theatre and the porn place where So Called did his Porn POP show (he accompanied music to gay porn, gay porn became a running joke that night). We went to Balatou for some band and wondered if they were intending to sound bad or were bad (hipsters can be confusing at some times). The lead singer was drunkenly throwing free Cds at the audience hitting a girl on the head. The awesome guy made a joke about the many legal implications that could occur (he’s very familiar with the law). Sister Suvi went on at 1:30AM, had to cut this short as the day job awaits. My writer was going to show however he opted to crowd surf at a punk show at Il Motore. I left, thinking that the next couple of days will be POP heavy. In the back of my mind as I keep running into this guy who helped me, I was thinking am I going to keep running into him only at the festival (because from my experience, I don’t normally run into awesome guys on a normal basis). Just being realistic here.
October 2nd: Last day at the day job, I have the weekend off. I’m good for heavy coverage (Chart will like this). I then forgot that I had to take a portrait of a city councilor for the municipal elections (goodbye nap). My writer was kind enough to give me a ride home. I rested then got my bike ready for a night of trekking in the east Plateau. I reached McGill when I heard a hissing sound, my front tire was slowing running out of air. I had to be at Kid Koala by 9:15PM. I quickly called JR to see if he was open and rode on a flat to his bike shop for an emergency repair. I made it to La Tulipe and pushed through the crowd and made it to the front. Oh no, it’s red lighting. Red lighting is a photographer’s nightmare, where it creates saturation in the images to give a weird arty effect that is impossible to work on in Photoshop.
Thank god they changed lighting, still good to go.
There is a sense of genius where you get a guy with six turntables and a rhythm section consisted of ex members of Wolfmother. This has to be the highlight of my POP; the sounds of scratching and bass lines were pure genius and energy. Best show.
I had time before Japandroids and opt to go to Esgo for Whiskey Trench, side project from The Saint Catherines. After coming from a show like Kid Koala, anything else becomes a disappointment. Seeing a punk band in bad lighting, on no, red lighting.
I left and went to La Gymnaise and waited for Final Flash however running late, I didn’t want to miss Japandroids and left.
I reached Divan Orange and got turned away at Japandroids; I’m sure I RSVPed (or did I? I’m on very little sleep). As I was about to leave and anticipating the rainy bike ride home, the volunteer yells out my name: “We just found you on the list, get in.” I found my Concordian music writer along with the photographer. Japandroids are a BC based duo with a punk style and an audience that likes to push. I ran into my writer (who hasn’t RSVPed the entire POP) and got in through my name. I got pushed by a hipster and got fed up. I was about to leave when the merchandise guy decided to crowd surf and challenged the Montreal crowd to see if they can hold him up the longest. He went back and forth at the Divan Orange; I grabbed my camera and caught this grizzly looking guy surf the bar. He then came towards me and I got out of the way as fast as I could. The things I do to make it as a photographer, holding up a sweaty lumberjack isn’t one of them.
Oct 3rd: Got some sleep and uploaded. I had time(!) to check out World Press Photo in its final weekend. Looking at images of war, human interests and portraits had me thinking that there was a time one of these guys started covering music and weird events before making the leap. Hoping that one day I’ll be going somewhere with this.
In the meantime I don’t seem to be going anywhere. Because of last night’s rain, my bike lock is stuck and I can’t get my bike out. I struggled then a band walking by helped but it was no use. I was near POP Montreal headquarters when I remembered they were renting bikes for the artists, which means there has to be a toolbox. I asked the guy repairing bikes if he had lube; he gave me a powder like version that I put into my lock and worked.
The BBQ got moved because of the weather and caught D’Urbervilles at Green Room; I’m back in Hipster country. I ended up talking to a guy in a granny hat by the name of Beaver and well… I really should stop talking to strangers.
Correction: strange hipsters.
I met up with my writer over at the Copacabana for hockey and beer. We talked of the shows we caught and the strange stories we endured. Overall, it’s been a good experience this time, last year felt too much like work. Mainly because I was still recovering from a wrist injury. After two periods and a pitcher, I headed back to Hipster country to the Ukrainian Federation for FAUST. I submerged into slew of Hipsters sucking their cigarettes and got into the venue. I ran into (you guessed it!) the same guy from day one, whose head was throbbing from constant concerts and countless sleepless nights. I hoped to see him later at Think About Life; I had to do my job first.
After FAUST I swung by Green Room for the last two songs of a set. I noticed that there was a baby in the bar. I found out that her dad was playing in the last set and that it was her first birthday. I told her mom about Kids POP, where it’s an afternoon for kids. She’ll love it.
I arrived at Espace Reunion for Parlovr and Think About Life, I shot these guys a month ago at M for Montreal sur les Quays however my CF card got lost during the Duchess Says set when she went got the crowd going nuts and almost broke the fence. I get a second chance at this, Parlovr brought back the human microphone and head banged their way into the night. My writer wanted me to get a shot of Homosexual Cops, a duo wearing all white and dancing to early 90’s hip hop.
Think About Life were on at 1:30AM, there were about five photographers and the infamous Susan Moss, a well-known music photographer on the Plateau. I forgot that Think About Life crowds were rowdy and pushy so it got really intense for the entire set. I removed layers of clothing and got pushed onto the stage over and over, making sure my gear was still intact. Martin Cesar grew closer to the crowd; I got my shot however I couldn’t get out of the crowd. The girl from The Concordian wanted to crowd surf out, good luck!
This was my version of photojournalism, fighting the elements and a whole lot of risks. I was tired and sweaty, hanging onto a pole, a wave of crowd surfers to the left of me, the audience running up on stage to the right. I’m stuck in the middle of possibly the largest crowd of hipsters I’ve ever been in.
And one of them is wearing a cape and holding a plastic owl.
I did run into the awesome guy, whose head was feeling better. I told him about the after party at Mainline theatre (I don’t think anyone would forget an aluminum door with flames on it). I had a feeling that this might have been the last time I see this guy, I don’t know why but I doubt that I would see him on the last day. The nights are long, the shows are so many, I'm doing a job, there will always be complications. Maybe I'll see him around one of these days. The city is quite small, he would stand out as for one thing: he's not a hipster. My work has to come first however there was an after party to check out. The party was a mesh of musicians and Mainliners and partied until 4AM.
Oct 4th: I thanked god that this was a five-day festival. I had a quiet afternoon checking out the gear swap/vinyl sale then went to Kids POP at Metropolis. It was lots of kids and balls, mainly kids throwing balls (at me). Martin from Think About Life was hosting with a cowgirl and was dressed up as a Frenchman (with a beret and a baguette). Hard to believe how he had the energy to play a show late at night and host and event early in the afternoon, then again look who’s writing this. He did hit me with a ball by the way.
So Called did a set involving a magic trick and led a parade while playing his accordion. I found it strange as I saw him last year doing Porn POP. Nevertheless, it was a fun afternoon.
I went to the last Piknic Electronik of the season, with Mike Simonetti spinning. I ran into someone from the Quays show and he invited me to his international students picnic where I fell under the criteria of “hot looking international girl.” On behalf of my Chilean background, I guess it’ll come in handy when it comes to things like free food and added perks. The last day for POP is always the quiet one, too tired to catch shows.
I decided to go to The Hoof and the Heel at Il Motore where my writer was. I ran into a friend who was heading up there and we doubled it up on my bike (he was not on my handle bars however). The venue wasn’t opened yet and for the first time since my days of underage drinking, we bought beers and drank in an alleyway. With the last of my energy I got my last band of the festival. I was glad it was over.
I was hoping for another party however I never heard back about one. I think I would have been too much of a zombie and less of a photochick. I gave my friend a ride home (as in he did all the pedaling as I sat in the back) then finally went home.
This was a step foreword; this was possibly one of my better festival experiences in a long time. The fact that I was able to do all this and juggle the Cindy Lopez lifestyle of work and produce some work I appreciate (and surviving Hipster country). All I can say is this: Awesome.
So now it’s a week later, still uploading and recovering on sleep. Wondering what does one do after enduring a week like this, do we move foreword or look back on what happened. Either way, it was a great experience and will never complain. In my world, a regular photo assignment or even grabbing a beer with someone always seems to get me into a series of strange yet interesting stories. Glad to be back in the game.
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