That Million Dollar Bash

07/29/2025

Found this new old friend in the wilds of Western Michigan in a Facebook ad posted a few days prior. ‘61 with the slab board and everything looking original. It spent a lot of its life as the house church bass, where at some point some inspired youths decided to bedazzle the headstock of which one rhinestone remains. Bought it from a nice young man who wanted to see it go to someone who’d appreciate it. (I do!!!)

I’m still trying to figure out if the Olympic White is original. It does match similar examples but I’ve had a lot of armchair sleuths decry ‘Refin!’ In some online groups.

When I get it back to NYC i might figure out something fun to do with the headstock, maybe some mother of pearl, or ebony, or something sparkly. A grill for my girl. Will get it to or for further analysis and input.

Oh, and it just feels and sounds amazing, even pre-setup (I did my best).

07/09/2025

Personal favorites from 2 days with for their 50th Anniversary celebrations in NYC at and with , ,
, , , , , Big Bill Morganfield, Lil Ed Williams and many more.

More pictures and the full account at thatmilliondollarbash.substack.com from

07/08/2025

The bass is back in Brooklyn after a 16 hour drive from St. Louis…actually, a 20 year hiatus. This German plywood was bought for, I think, 600 bucks at Music Folk in St. Louis when I was a sophomore in high school ca. 1995. It came with me to NYC for college at NYU but then somehow made it back to my old bedroom in St. Louis. At some point my brother and a friend were fu***ng around and badly busted the neck. A couple years ago I finally took it to to be rehabilitated and they did a fine job. Yesterday, a friend made the drive from St. Louis to Brooklyn in a van and brought her back to me. The ‘USN’ etched on the heel is from the Navy.

After 15 minutes of playing, my hands ache and my intonation is going from really bad to slightly less bad, but I think there’s some music in there. Let’s play!

04/10/2025

From - The first part in a visual series featuring two boundary-expanding guitarists () and () with cameos from and

More from photographer at That Million Dollar Bash. Link In Bio / thatmilliondollarbash.substack.com

04/04/2025

New at The Gig x That Million Dollar Bash: Live from , Ambrose Akinmurise presents ‘honey from a winter stone’ at the Bijou Theater.

More words and photos from this remarkable performance at:
[email protected]
thatmilliondollarbash.substack.com

link in bio

02/23/2025

The master last night at St. Ann’s church in Brooklyn presented by with an opening set by

02/22/2025

And now it can (mostly) be told: My favorite moments from the tribute concert on February 8th at Masonic Hall in San Francisco. An incredible convergence that brought together , , , , , Jackson Browne, Bonnie Raitt, , with m.d.  and his ace band: , Greg Leisz, David Piltch and Gabe Harris.

The songs in the program spanned everything from centuries-old folk ballads to contemporary compositions with many stops, borrowings and interpretations along the way. For a song-by-song recap of the concert plus many bonus photos from the rehearsals, please check out the new Substack feature at thatmilliondollarbash.substack.com, L.I.B.

02/21/2025

If you compiled the bodies of work of along with her near-contemporaries she broke ground for: Emmylou Harris, , , , and Bonnie Raitt, and then added the work that Musical Director produced and the band members’—, Greg Leisz and David Piltch—session contributions, you could easily fill a very large listening room.

As with the program of the concert, within that catalog are songs spanning everything from ancient folk ballads to contemporary compositions with many stops, borrowings and interpretations along the way.

But what materialized visually for me was the love and inter-musical / inter-generational connection between the artists, a rarity at an all-star show, which is what I want to present here: 14 embraces (and one kiss to the audience) from the evening and preceding rehearsal.

For much more, please check out the new deep-dive Substack feature (thatmilliondollarbash.substack.com, L.I.B.) on the wonderful Joan Baez tribute concert that happened recently in San Francisco.

02/21/2025

Inside a special concert interwoven with inspiration, music and protest honoring Joan Baez with Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash, Lucinda Williams, Jackson Browne, Taj Mahal, Tom Morello, Margo Price and many more.

Inside a special concert of Interwoven inspiration, music and protest w/ Joan Baez, Emmylou Harris, Rosanne Cash, Lucinda Williams, Jackson Browne, Taj Mahal, Tom Morello, Margo Price and more.

02/13/2025

During the rehearsals for the Joan Baez tribute I looked over and noticed Joan sitting next to Linda Ronstadt holding her hand. The gesture was so loving and I was able to summon the nerve to ask if I could take this closeup of their hands.

01/27/2025

Griff Print Updates: There were over 30 takers of the Griff print offer who donated $100 and more to various GoFundMe’s of those affected by the LA fires.

I went to start working on the prints and a different image stood out as much more interesting than the one I had initially chosen. (When I launched the fundraiser, I was in the middle of a music festival, working off my iPhone, hastily emailing management, and trying to select the right image to post and get the ball rolling as fast as possible.)

This image means a lot more to me. It shows Griff’s innate badass-ness, and Taylor and Wylie (who both lost so much as well) are in the frame, too.

There are few things better than crouching behind the drum kit while feeling the pulse of a show from the driver’s seat (while doing your best to hide). It’s a special privilege of the fortunate music photographer.

So I’m going to print this one, I hope y’all won’t mind. I think it’s a significant upgrade.

Huge additional thanks to the many of you who also sent me some funds for materials and shipping costs, it is a major help covering paper, ink, shipping supplies and postage.

There’s a more ambitious print sale/auction launching soon with signed prints from some incredible artists to benefit the , stay tuned!

01/25/2025

Wishing the great a belated 84th Birthday. I was fortunate to photograph and interview him in 2016 at in Pawling, NY. I got a private concert in a barn while my wife filled a grocery bag full of shish*to peppers. Forever in my pantheon of all-time favorite singers and a wonderful day. Thank you Aaron, Sarah and Apache.