Phoenix (de la France)

Live in-studio. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony


Thomas. (Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

A few weeks ago, while flipping through channels on a Saturday night, I was pleasantly surprised to see the French band Phoenix performing as the musical guest on Saturday Night Live. I had photographed them back in April of 2005 in New York for KEXP 90.3 FM. Their in-studio was mid-week, way too early and downright, unapologetically incredible. It was about 8am, the band looked hungover and there were about 12 people there. Half of which had never heard of them. The whole front row was empty. But you'd never know by the way lead singer Thomas Mars performed. All out.

Now, four years later, they're on SNL, Letterman, Jimmy Kimmel and a slew of other big, national spotlights. Kudos to them. And for their first release from the new album, 1901, they've created one of the most creative, beautiful music videos I've ever seen.

Flashback - John Edwards

(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony

Funny how sometimes, images look different through the prism of time. I photographed the former Senator John Edwards for SEIU back in August 2005. The shot above was always my favorite because of the intensity on Mr. Edwards' face and his piercing blue eyes. In the photo below, there was something so innately populist about the podium in the public square, the attentive crowd, the can-do rolled-up sleeves, the inexpensive, utilitarian wristwatch, and—of course—the gold wedding band. Symbols, all of them.

In retrospect, the recent events with Sen. Edwards sadly reminds me of something Thomas Jefferson once said:

"Whenever a man has cast a longing eye on offices, a rottenness begins in his conduct."


(Click image for full size.) © William Anthony