CMJ Begins with the Bad Suns at The Knitting Factory

Rock ‘n Roll…The next generation…

by Josh Madden

Here at NYLON HQ we're huge fans of rock legends like Iggy Pop, Lou Reed, David Bowie, The Ramones, U2 and Depeche Mode (who isn't?). We're equally big fans of rock photographers like Mick RockBrad Elterman and Anton Corbijn who helped create the iconic imagery around all of this rock royalty. As another #NYLONCMJ season begins it's not only time to for us to become fans of the next generation of artists, but we're meeting some new photographers and video makers as well.

We met Justin Bettman backstage at the Knitting Factory as he was intermittently photographing LA band Bad Suns, who are in town for a slew of shows. The young lensman started taking photographs in high school, and he told us it's pretty much what led him to his position as an art director at Ogilvy and Mather. While the members of Bad Suns tuned guitars and looked for power outlets to charge phones Bettman snapped photos and told us "I met these guys in LA with The Neighbourhood, do you know them?" We don't actually know the band personay, but yes, we do like them." Yeah, I've photographed them, Usher, T- Pain, Gym Class Heroes, Young the Giant, Neon Trees a bunch of stuff." It's really rad to see this next generation arrive with their own Jonathan Mannions and Glen Friedmans.

The Bad Suns set and the Joywave set that followed officially kicked off our #NYLONCMJ 2013 and for the next week we'll be running mad through Manhattan and Brooklyn trying to make as many shows as we can. For more of Justin Bettman's photography go HERE and check below for Bad Suns CMJ show info.

10/17 - @Mercury Lounge - 9p10/18 - Communion Music @Morgan Hotel - 7:45p (acoustic)10/19 - Baeble Music @Spike Hill - 7p10/19 - Communion Music @Milk Studios - 10p