following in a short time through constant touring, landing
gigs with bands like Alkaline Trio, Reggie and the Full Effect,
and Unwritten Law. Up until now, The Photo Atlas has done
in DYI, recording an EP themselves,and pressing it to them
as well, not to mention booking all their own shows. “Yeah,
this is the first tour that we have had a booking agent.”
Andrews adds.
The story of PA is pretty basic. Teenage friends that never
really lost touch, with their families trekking back and forth
from Denver to Central California; not eccentric enough to
be from San Francisco, and not flaky enough to be from LA,
just there in the center. Taking a look at these young lads you
would be surprised to hear that any of them ever spent
anytime in California, pale and thin, downing pints of Blue
Moon in Ybor City. What do you expect though, being out of
Denver, what is there to do when everything dies for the
winter, save play music, smoke pot and drink beer? It’s truly
a wonder that Andrews every wanted to perform music ever
again after his first concert experience. “When I was ten
years old my dad took me to see the Damn Yankees, which
featured Ted Nugent on guitar. It was fucking ridiculous; he
shot flaming arrows over the crowd into fake deer. It was
hilarious I was like ten years old. What was even more
hilarious was that Jackal opened (the concert) [and] they had
a chainsaw solo. It was ridiculous it was my first show, but
when Jackal came out they had this piece of wood and
during the chainsaw solo they carved Jackal into the big
piece of wood, it was fucking crazy.” Andrews explains with
a smirk, as everyone else roars with laughter. “My second
show was Pantera.” Andrews adds. “And you left that going
what the fuck no one shot any arrows, there was no
chainsaw solo. THIS SHOW SUCKS!” Threkland jokes.
We are standing outside The Orpheum in Ybor City, after
The Photo Atlas set, as Andrews leans against the fire exit
door as he pats himself down through his zillion and one
pocketed jacket in search of a lighter, while Shirley is no
where to be found while Threkland nonchalantly fires up
another bowl with the side doors of The Photo Atlas van
wide open, leaving Hawkins to load the van. “Mark’s an
animal when it comes to take down.” Andrews comments as
he takes a drag off his cigarette. A valid comment, however,
it looks as if he has no choice. Threkland offers me a hit off
his bowl. “Yeah this is our new baby.” Threkland comments,
referring to the Van. “This is the new fifteen-seater, we’ve
had a lot of good times.” He says with a mischievous smirk
as he pets the seat. Threkland hands the bowl to Hawkins as
gigs with bands like Alkaline Trio, Reggie and the Full Effect,
and Unwritten Law. Up until now, The Photo Atlas has done
in DYI, recording an EP themselves,and pressing it to them
as well, not to mention booking all their own shows. “Yeah,
this is the first tour that we have had a booking agent.”
Andrews adds.
The story of PA is pretty basic. Teenage friends that never
really lost touch, with their families trekking back and forth
from Denver to Central California; not eccentric enough to
be from San Francisco, and not flaky enough to be from LA,
just there in the center. Taking a look at these young lads you
would be surprised to hear that any of them ever spent
anytime in California, pale and thin, downing pints of Blue
Moon in Ybor City. What do you expect though, being out of
Denver, what is there to do when everything dies for the
winter, save play music, smoke pot and drink beer? It’s truly
a wonder that Andrews every wanted to perform music ever
again after his first concert experience. “When I was ten
years old my dad took me to see the Damn Yankees, which
featured Ted Nugent on guitar. It was fucking ridiculous; he
shot flaming arrows over the crowd into fake deer. It was
hilarious I was like ten years old. What was even more
hilarious was that Jackal opened (the concert) [and] they had
a chainsaw solo. It was ridiculous it was my first show, but
when Jackal came out they had this piece of wood and
during the chainsaw solo they carved Jackal into the big
piece of wood, it was fucking crazy.” Andrews explains with
a smirk, as everyone else roars with laughter. “My second
show was Pantera.” Andrews adds. “And you left that going
what the fuck no one shot any arrows, there was no
chainsaw solo. THIS SHOW SUCKS!” Threkland jokes.
We are standing outside The Orpheum in Ybor City, after
The Photo Atlas set, as Andrews leans against the fire exit
door as he pats himself down through his zillion and one
pocketed jacket in search of a lighter, while Shirley is no
where to be found while Threkland nonchalantly fires up
another bowl with the side doors of The Photo Atlas van
wide open, leaving Hawkins to load the van. “Mark’s an
animal when it comes to take down.” Andrews comments as
he takes a drag off his cigarette. A valid comment, however,
it looks as if he has no choice. Threkland offers me a hit off
his bowl. “Yeah this is our new baby.” Threkland comments,
referring to the Van. “This is the new fifteen-seater, we’ve
had a lot of good times.” He says with a mischievous smirk
as he pets the seat. Threkland hands the bowl to Hawkins as
he finishes loading the gear trailer, his nightly reward.
Threkland and Hawkins hop out of the van after hiding the
stash and closing up shop, and no sooner then they do so,
when we are greeted by a new visitor. “Hey man, don’t beat me
up!” An obviously homeless black man with a gray beard says
with a laugh. “No worries.” Threkland says. “Could you boys
spare some change for a Veteran?” The man asks, without even
a pause which is usually the likely response from anyone else
from Tampa , Threkland responses, “Absolutely!” As he buries
his right hand deep into his pocket, and takes out a wad of
change, looking to be about six or seven dollars in silver,
reaching over to hand it to the old man. “Go ahead throw it, I’ll
pick it up.” The man says. “I’m not going to throw it.”
Threkland says back. The man comes over to get the change.
“I can sing or dance for ya.” The man says. “Nah, you’re good
man.” Threkland says back. The man blesses Threkland and
walks on down the road. We all pile inside The Orpheum to
catch Young Love’s set, which is interrupted by Tipton (the
one with the dilemma) running to let the guys know that they're
getting a ticket. They all run out at once.“Shit!” Andrews
hollers as he holds up a ticket, and hands it to Hawkins. “Fifty
bucks?!” Threkland exclaims. “And if you didn’t give all the
meter money to that guy, we’d be fine!” Andrews says smile a
quiet smirk. “What was I gonna do?! He was a friggin’ Veteran,
you can’t say no to that shit!” Threkland says laughing back.
“Fifty bucks ahh, fuck it we’re not gonna be here.”
Threkland and Hawkins hop out of the van after hiding the
stash and closing up shop, and no sooner then they do so,
when we are greeted by a new visitor. “Hey man, don’t beat me
up!” An obviously homeless black man with a gray beard says
with a laugh. “No worries.” Threkland says. “Could you boys
spare some change for a Veteran?” The man asks, without even
a pause which is usually the likely response from anyone else
from Tampa , Threkland responses, “Absolutely!” As he buries
his right hand deep into his pocket, and takes out a wad of
change, looking to be about six or seven dollars in silver,
reaching over to hand it to the old man. “Go ahead throw it, I’ll
pick it up.” The man says. “I’m not going to throw it.”
Threkland says back. The man comes over to get the change.
“I can sing or dance for ya.” The man says. “Nah, you’re good
man.” Threkland says back. The man blesses Threkland and
walks on down the road. We all pile inside The Orpheum to
catch Young Love’s set, which is interrupted by Tipton (the
one with the dilemma) running to let the guys know that they're
getting a ticket. They all run out at once.“Shit!” Andrews
hollers as he holds up a ticket, and hands it to Hawkins. “Fifty
bucks?!” Threkland exclaims. “And if you didn’t give all the
meter money to that guy, we’d be fine!” Andrews says smile a
quiet smirk. “What was I gonna do?! He was a friggin’ Veteran,
you can’t say no to that shit!” Threkland says laughing back.
“Fifty bucks ahh, fuck it we’re not gonna be here.”
