Live Concert Photography: High Waisted at Sea 5 8/16/19 feat. High Waisted Nicky Ottav Grits and Thick
Founded back in 2014 by Jessica Louise Dye (vocals, guitar) and Jono Bernstein (drums), the New York-based JOVM mainstays High Waisted have received attention across the blogosphere and elsewhere for a sound that draws from surf rock, garage rock, psych rock and lo-fi rock, for their annual DIY concert showcase/booze cruise High Waisted at Sea, tiki-styled pig roasts and acid-fueled pizza parties.
The band’s Bryan Pugh-produced full-length debut On Ludlow further cemented their reputation for scuzzy, party ’til you drop rock — but under the surface, the material revealed vulnerability and ache. Since the release of On Ludlow, the the band contributed “Firebomb,” a scuzzy, ass-kicking, power chord-driven Lita Ford and Motley Crue-like single to a split single with The Coax, toured a bit with the likes of Hundred Hounds, Beechwood, and have been working on their much-anticipated Tad Kugler-produced sophomore album. During that time, the band has gone through a series of lineup changes — but one thing has remained: they’re a non-stop party machine.
The JOVM mainstays headlined what was the fifth and sadly final High Waisted at Sea Cruise last month. I’m going to miss it dearly — particularly walking off the boat and heading back home fucked up, sweaty and as though I rolled around in glitter. The night featured two local acts Grits and Thick, as well as a drag queen performance by Nicky Ottav. Check out photos from the night below.
Born Nick Ottaviano, Nicky Ottav is a Los Angeles-born, New York-based visual artist, nightlife personality and photographer. Ottav contributed an amazing drag queen performance, dancing and lip syncing to Whitney Houston and others.
With the release of their debut single “Darlin,'” the Brooklyn-based indie rock act
GRITS — Eric Breeding (vocals), James Ruffino (lead guitar), Nolan Williams (keys, guitar), Connor Jones (drums) and Mike Straus (bass) — quickly received attention for a nostalgic, beer soaked sound that draws from classic soul, R&B and rock.
Tracing their origins back to the local DIY/all-ages scene, the members of the New York-based indie act and the night’s opener, THICK — Nikki, Shari and Kate — have developed a sound that meshes the defiance and in-your-face nature of punk with pop melodies and tongue-in-cheek lyrics, a sound that the band has dubbed girlwave. With the release of their self-titled third EP — their Epitaph Records debut — the band attempts to capture their live sound on wax while adding new textures. Lyrically, the material reportedly finds the band calling out the stupidities and unfairness of the status quo with the trio claiming their own space apart from the masses
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For these photos and more, check out the Flickr set here: https://flic.kr/s/aHsmGACc4q
