In 1995, teenage photographer Todd Pollock and Bridge Nine label owner Chris Wrenn both began documenting their favorite bands. Todd, with his camera, became a fixture on the side of the stage at every show, and Chris sold records he had released for the bands performing.
Thirty years later, they are both still at it.
This exhibition features three decades Todd’s live performance photography, featuring Bridge Nine Records-affiliated artists. Open now through Sunday, December 7th, at Bridge Nine Records in Beverly, Massachusetts during business hours (Tue/Wed 11am-5pm, Fri/Sat 11am-6pm, Sun 11am-5pm).
Bridge Nine Records • 282 Rantoul Street, Beverly, Massachusetts
Todd Pollock and Chris Wrenn at the opening reception for the Thirty Years photography exhibition.
“People will notice that while this exhibition documents three decades of live hardcore shows, if the photos were not labeled, it might be hard to tell what year any of them were taken. There’s some slight details that might give it away, like how fitting the T-shirts are, or if there’s a cell phone in someone’s hands, but the energy and passion remain at the same level throughout.” - Chris Wrenn
Some fun details to note:
• The first person seen using a cell phone to record the action pops up in 2015.
• Jeff “The Wizard” Freeman of Wizard Security is in the 1999 photo, and again, twenty-three years later, in the 2022 photo, looking remarkably the same.
• The venues vary from established clubs (The Middle East, 924 Gilman, Worcester Palladium) to church halls, VFW and legion halls, and DIY spaces.
Special thanks to Larry Kelley for helping build out the Bridge Nine gallery space!
