Documenting Hiatus Kaiyote on expired film in Las Vegas.
“Even though the film degrades, my mark is made and the memories I leave will never fade. ”
If you don’t know, now ya know - Hiatus Kaiyote is my favorite band. They are tied with The Funkadelics. I first discovered them from a song called “Laputa" on their 2015 album “Choose Your Weapon” on Apple Music in the same year too. The story on how I got a media pass to document them is pretty interesting and maybe inspirational.
So, not many people know I've taken up film photography as a new hobby, specifically shooting with expired film. I've been documenting life with various point-and-shoot cameras, and recently upgraded to a Canon EOS 630, complete with a 50mm f/1.8 STM, a 28–90mm f/4–5.6, and a 70–210mm f/3.5–4.5 lens. I found everything on OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace for around $250.
It's a fantastic beginner upgrade from point-and-shoots, providing excellent results comparable to those from higher-end SLR cameras.
The Canon EOS 630 camera I bought.
So, I found out Hiatus Kaiyote was playing a show in the early summer through Spotify. I was excited because I hadn't seen many local shows I wanted to attend, and I'd never seen a band perform live. (Perhaps Robert Glasper at a secret show, but I'm not sure if he would classify his live performances as a band's). I kept telling myself I would save up to see them, but life got in the way, and my finances went to more pressing matters. As time went on, their ad promoting the "Love Heart Cheat Code" album kept popping up on Instagram and TikTok, urging me to find a way to get tickets.
So maybe a few days before they were scheduled to come perform in Vegas, I had to figure out who was their manager. Maybe I can try to reach out and let him know that I can document their show using expired film. I did some research and within 5 minutes, I found a gentleman by the name of “Scott”. I shared my gratitude for his contribution to the band’s evolution, and proceeded to let him know my intentions and what I aim to provide using analog cameras and expired film.
He simply responded with a “Yes. Here’s my email. I’ll add you to the list so you can get a media pass. You just can’t get on stage.”
My media pass that was a sticker.. and i lost it.. but i still have my ticket though!
Once I realized I left my flash at home. I knew I was screwed
As soon as I walked into the venue, I was surprised by how large Brooklyn Bowl is! The main stage is located up some escalators, and as you approach the floor, you're greeted with a room full of bars, a main standing area near the stage, and seating upstairs for VIP guests. I quickly loaded up some expired Seattle FilmWorks 400 in my Canon and some expired Fujifilm 400 in my Olympus. About 15 minutes in, we were introduced to a performer known as Clever Austin... more on him later.
The crowd erupted in claps and whistles as people rushed from the bars to secure spots on the main floor. By the time Clever Austin took the stage, the space was packed, shoulder to shoulder. In that moment, I frantically searched for my flash, desperately trying to remain calm - once I realized I left my flash at home. I knew I was screwed.
Clever Austin opening the show
Clever was playing some beats that reminded me of Dilla. It seemed like some of them were improvised on the spot, judging by the way he was messing with controls and bobbing his head as the patterns changed. I had asked a gentleman at the bar if this was Clever Austin, mostly due to me listening to his music on SoundCloud for about 10 minutes the day before the show, wanting to get a better understanding of the opener. The gentleman didn’t know who he was but was intrigued just as much as I was.
I was praying that he would be captured smoothly with whatever settings I had on my camera. I thought I had shutter priority on, but low and behold, it was on Program mode – which essentially means the camera will pick the aperture and shutter speed. (Which isn't always a good thing depending on the environment you’re shooting in.)
After taking a couple of pics, I went to the back and noticed a gentleman with a camera and a media pass sticker as well. He goes by “endvrs” on Instagram. He told me he had a contract with Brooklyn Bowl, and it’s one of his favorite places to shoot at. I knew I had to connect with him because I enjoy learning about how people make a career from their talents.
Soon as I seen this scan come back, I just knew the rest of my photos of Perrin were probably screwed up lol.
Without realizing my mistakes, I kept documenting the show. Luckily, I had my backup point-and-shoot Olympus camera just in case I felt like I wasn't getting what I needed from my Canon. Maybe an hour in, Clever spoke to the crowd, revealing his inspiration and his identity as Perrin Moss, a member of Hiatus Kaiyote! I had a hunch because I caught a glimpse of him, thinking, "That looks like Perrin. Maybe he has a brother?" He played a few more beats before quickly leaving, leaving us anxiously awaiting the band's performance.
15 minutes later, Simon took the stage, followed by Perrin, and then Bender. The crowd erupted in cheers that echoed throughout the venue. I was excited, but knew it was time to get to work. As they settled into their positions with their instruments, the show commenced with the opening notes of "And We Go Gentle."
Hiatus Kaiyote
Nai Palm stepped onto the stage, her beaming smile outshining her neon attire. The audience roared with even greater enthusiasm, encouraging her as she moved to the microphone to start "Tell me, can I get a light?". The soft blue lighting created a serene atmosphere, and the combination of Simon's keyboard, Bender's bass, and Nai Nai's vocals produced a truly unique vibe. Observing the crowd, I noticed their bright smiles and expressions of wonder. I then made my way upstairs to document that special moment from an eagle’s eye point of view.
Main Floor - Brooklyn Bowl - Hiatus Kaiyote
Nai Nai's story is incredible. I remember when I didn't hear from the band after some time, and it was likely during a period when I was homeless and less active on social media – this was due to her battling breast cancer and undergoing treatment. I recall listening to Mood Variant around its release, feeling nostalgic hearing her voice on "Slip Into Something Soft." I appreciate it when artists I connect with over time recycle elements of their sound throughout their musical evolution. Naturally, I delved into online research and discovered Nai had beat cancer! She chose to keep one breast as a statement on beauty standards, which I think makes her even more unique. (The Gold Breast Mold story is dope!)
Nai Palm.
“This song is for the guy with the cat ears hat!”
Around halfway through the setlist, Nai sent a shout out to a fan wearing a cat ears hat pointing to him causing everybody to look. “This song is for the guy with the cat ears hat! That’s a pretty cool hat.” They then launched into "Longcat." Before that, I realized I could get quite close to the stage, as I saw two other photographers with media passes capturing photos. One of my close-up shots of Nai turned out alright. Now, I have a much better understanding of the camera settings suitable for these environments. Endvr gave me some helpful suggestions after I shared on Instagram how poorly 80 of my photos turned out lol – it's an expensive hobby, but I still value what I've managed to capture.
By the time we got to “All The Worlds,” (one of my favorites from Mood Variant) I was deeply in a trance. Interestingly, that song gave me some Flying Lotus vibes, especially with the production and the trippiness of Nai’s vocals. Bender’s bass skills are unmatched; he carries “All The Worlds”. I really enjoy his personality – he’s pretty silly and has a comically nonchalant, almost satirical, way of doing things. It makes me think he might enjoy South Park episodes. I even told myself that if he brought “Eric The Shark” on stage, I needed to get a clear shot. Unfortunately, neither Eric nor Bender were captured very well.
Now, let me tell you about “By Fire.” The first 30 seconds of that shit sound like entering the vortex of a beginner's acid trip. I highly recommend listening to that song if you enjoy alternative music. When they started playing, I was immediately drawn to Simon. I watched how he moved his fingers on multiple keyboards, looking extremely poised. It took me back to church, watching the band play, my eyes always glued to the guitar, drummer, and keyboardist. Whomever made eye contact with me is who I would focus on for a bit. Simon jammed, locked eyes with me for a couple of seconds, then looked at his bandmates. Mind blown. I didn't get many good photos of him, but I did enjoy the close-up I got after that moment.
I sensed the performance was nearing its end when “Cinnamon Temple” started. Bender's opening riffs is like you’re getting ready to battle for the Spartans and when combined with Perrin's drumming, it sounds like they're about to shatter the sound barrier – you’ll understand as a first time listener and you’ll playing it in the car on max.
The transition to “Shaolin Funk Motherfunk” was incredible. It felt like a rollercoaster. Simon's keyboard intro was like getting buckled in, and Perrin's snare and Nai's guitar riff provided the initial build-up. By the time Nai started singing, Bender was already in sync with the rest of the band, and it was an unexpected, exhilarating drop, full of twists and turns. That feeling stretched on until they changed the beat, and then the ride truly began.
I'm deeply connected to this song; especially since I've even written music to match that intersection though I haven't released it due to copyright concerns. I've always envisioned collaborating with them, similar to Kendrick and Imagine Dragons, or Jay-Z and Linkin Park, or Run-DMC & Aerosmith. I truly believe I can make that vision a reality.
“Encore! Encore! Encore!”
They thanked the crowd with bows and a graceful wave before departing. The audience responded with a well-deserved, lengthy standing ovation, complete with enthusiastic whistles and claps. I tried to document the rest of the experience on my phone after using up my film, but unfortunately, I ran out of storage. The standing ovation lasted about five minutes, eventually prompting the entire building to erupt in chants of "Encore! Encore! Encore!" Witnessing this as both a performer and an attendee has always been a dream of mine. They returned, waving and smiling, appreciative as they took their positions, with Nai Palm announcing that the next song was called "Building a Ladder". It's become a more recognizable track due to Drake sampling it on his song, "Free Smoke."
They concluded the show with “Borderline with my Atoms,” another one of my first favorites along with “Laputa” from the same album. They once again took their respective bows and waves, and I watched as they walked away and vanished into the backroom. I was curious if I could go back and ask questions to take some pics. A part of me wished I could have, but I could only imagine how those photos would have turned out, lol. A beautiful experience nonetheless, and definitely a trial-and-error experience during my beginner stages with film photography, expired film photography at that. I will never expire however. But shit, even though the film degrades, my mark is made and the memories I leave will never fade.
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