andrickmike

Broken Spoke (2005)

Posted on July 1, 2014February 1, 2019 by andrickmike in Photography

This past weekend, I visited the Annenberg Space for Photography to see the Country: Portraits of an American Sound exhibition. The exhibition included some fantastic images of iconic country musicians by the likes of Elmer Williams, Raeanne Rubenstein and Henry Horenstein. Also part of the exhibition was a short documentary by Horenstein about the Broken Spoke in Austin. The film took me back to the days when I practically lived behind the legendary Austin dance hall. I visited the Spoke a few times with my camera, and here’s an image of a couple before they headed out to the dance floor.

House Show in Austin (2011)

Posted on June 30, 2014June 30, 2014 by andrickmike in Music, Photography

In January 2011, my friend Rebecca was visiting Austin, and invited me to a house show. Rebecca, with whom I went to grad school, is better about being a photographer than me and had brought her camera. When the bands started playing, it felt like old times, and I couldn’t help but borrow the camera and start shooting. Leg Sweeper and ELVIS (who became my favorite Austin band) played that night before the cops shows up — so it truly felt like I was 18 again. Here are some images from that night — first of Leg Sweeper, then ELVIS and lastly the cops showing up and ending the fun. (Note: A post with this same content appeared on my old West Virginia music blog.) Also, check out ELVIS’s 2011 album “Crime of the Scene.” It’s so good.

Photographer: W. Eugene Smith in Pittsburgh

Posted on June 27, 2014July 3, 2014 by andrickmike in Photographer

Photographs by W. Eugene Smith / Magnum Photos

There is a long list of photographers who have influenced me and my work, but near the top would be the photo essays of W. Eugene Smith. It’s easy to point to much of Smith’s familiar work (especially for LIFE), but one of his lesser known projects documenting the city of Pittsburgh created some of my favorite of his images. Born and raised just 90 minutes down I-79 from Pittsburgh, it’s the closest major city to my hometown and it holds a special place in my heart. I love these images for capturing what Pittsburgh was at the time that has made the city what it is today — working-class, proud, gritty and beautiful.

WWII Veteran (2004)

Posted on June 26, 2014June 26, 2014 by andrickmike in Photography

The United States soccer team just qualified for the next round of the World Cup. Since I’m feeling patriotic, here’s an image of a World War II veteran holding a flag at a Memorial Day service at the Florida National Cemetery. This was taken while I was working as a photographer for a small newspaper in Central Florida. One of the few highlights of working as a photojournalist in Central Florida for a year was meeting so many WWII veterans and hearing their incredible stories.

Guadalupe Peak (2013)

Posted on June 24, 2014November 18, 2020 by andrickmike in Photography

Avail (2005)

Posted on June 23, 2014June 23, 2014 by andrickmike in Music, Uncategorized

For about a year from summer 2004 to 2005, I lived in central Florida while working for a small newspaper. It was an interesting experience before I opted to head to Texas for graduate school. One of the few highlights from my time in Florida was living near Gainesville and seeing a number of memorable shows. This image is of Richmond, Virginia’s finest punk band Avail at the Common Grounds. I stood on stage to shoot the performance, but I only took about a dozen frames as I sang along with every song instead. Avail is one of the best bands I’ve ever seen live and this show one of my favorites I’ve ever seen. In column on the right in you can stream their album “Over the James” in the Spotify widget I’ll be updating each week.

Photographer: Builder Levy in West Virginia

Posted on June 20, 2014July 3, 2014 by andrickmike in Photographer

Photographs by Builder Levy

Today is the birthday of West Virginia, which was admitted to the Union as its own state on June 20, 1863 after seceding from Virginia. It is the state in which I was born and raised, and for that I am proud. While I have taken many photographs in and of the state, today I’d rather share the work of Builder Levy. He is one of my favorite photographers to have documented Appalachia and its people — and they are some of the most honest, objective and beautiful images of the subject. I recommend checking out his book Appalachia USA, in which these few images can be found. Also, have a listen to my uncle Jerry Andrick’s song “West Virginia” at the bottom of the post.

Push/Pull (2012)

Posted on June 19, 2014June 19, 2014 by andrickmike in Photography

Taking place on Saturday is the annual Push/Pull at Hyde Park Gym in Austin. Many of my good friends will be competing to outdo one another in the bench press and deadlift. I wish I could be there — it will be the first time I’ve missed the event in four years. Though I, too, was competing, here’s an image I managed to capture of Luke Goebel pulling what looks like 575 pounds. Best of luck to my friends in their attempts to lift heavy things.

Come and Take It (2013)

Posted on June 17, 2014June 17, 2014 by andrickmike in Photography

Mexico are playing Brazil in the World Cup, so I thought I’d share this photograph. I shot this image with my phone at the Austin City Limits Festival because the subject confused me. For anyone who knows anything about the origin of the “Come and Take It” flag, flying it with the flag of Mexico makes little sense — especially in Texas. Then again… irony is in.

Lucero (2004)

Posted on June 16, 2014June 16, 2014 by andrickmike in Photography

This past weekend I was in Austin for a wedding, and got to spend time with my friend (and former bandmate) Tim. It seems that any time I get in Tim’s truck, he is listening to Lucero. So this post is for him for driving me around town, buying beers and letting me crash at his house. This photograph of Lucero was taken at The Fest in Gainesville, Florida, at the now closed Common Grounds. Though the image isn’t spectacular, I just want someone to tell me what that is in the middle of the crowd staring at the camera.