Julien Baker and Eskimeaux at the Mercury Lounge - January 21, 2016

Julien Baker put out one of my favorite records of 2015. Sprained Ankle (6131 Records) soundtracked the last few months of my year with "Go Home" and "Vessels" receiving a lot of attention. Her spellbinding performance - punctuated with well-timed humor and banter - at Thursday's sold-out show was the first of two New York area shows. She'll play the small, but less intimate, Rough Trade records in Williamsburg on January 25th. And I'll be there as well.

But, I'm glad I caught her at the tiny Mercury Lounge because, despite its horrible lighting, a singer-songwriter of Baker's caliber, coupled with a packed venue makes for a special evening. Especially for a storied venue such as the Merc. Even if it was the early show. Working through all of her material from Sprained Ankle, Baker also trotted out a brilliant cover of Elliott Smith's "Big Nothing"

 Opening for Baker was Eskimeaux, fronted by Gabrielle Smith, a member of the Brooklyn-based collective, The Epoch. I'm always happy when I discover new bands by way of the supporting acts. It does a couple things: 1, it justifies my decision to get to the venue early which - as I get older - happens a little less frequently. Not to mention that when I'm not on assignment I have even less motivation to get to the venue early. And two, I get turned on to more good music and have my faith restored that there's always going to be great tunes to be unearthed.

Eskimeaux's brand of indie pop (or bedroom pop or DIY pop or whatever) ticks all the boxes for me. I don't think they would be out of place at New York City Popfest for example. I've spent the last few blizzard-filled days absolutely crushing on 2015's O.K.

The Blizzard of 2016

I love a good, menacing weather event. "Bad weather makes good pictures," says Sam Abell. And I couldn't agree more.

I missed last year's snowstorm and was back home for the holidays when the Boxing Day snowstorm hit a few years ago. I felt like Lt. Dan in Forrest Gump in that I should have been in the city making pictures of a city completely shut down, not chilling in the suburbs of Chicago watching everything unfold on websites and Facebook posts.

So, I ventured out yesterday. I made a full day of it. Liverpool had the early kickoff over here at 7:45a and there The Besnard Lakes were trekking down from Canada to play free show in the early afternoon at Rough Trade in Brooklyn. Both of those events I had planned on attending regardless of a snowstorm. And as the models all began to show that we were about to get walloped, I resolved to go out on the world and see the football and make the concert. And then, travel conditions permitting, make it down to somewhere like Coney Island.

Out the door by 7, my plans for a perfect day were knocked slightly by the announcement at 168th Street that my A train was running local all the way through Manhattan. Getting to the 11th Street Bar in the East Village on time was now unlikely. I arrived ten minutes into a match that would ultimately become one of the most entertaining matches of the season. Norwich 4, Liverpool 5. A fantastic, breathtaking match with two stoppage time goals and a celebration for the ages.

After killing time at the bar, completely empty by the time I left, I made my way up to the L train, running with massive delays in each direction. Fortunately, Rough Trade was one stop across the river and easy to get to. The Besnard Lakes were wonderful and super appreciative of the few dozen of us who braved the conditions to see their set. (The storm would ultimately claim almost all of the evening shows scheduled throughout the city.) It was my first time seeing them and I'm glad I made it.

From there it was off to East River Park to make some pictures, then an understandably long wait to get back into Manhattan via the L. I love my neighborhood when it snows. The geography up here is unlike anywhere else in Manhattan and I made sure I photographed here as well. Can't wait for Sunday and an opportunity to make some pictures in a city completely transformed.