The Wholesome Boys
- Nathan Thompson
- Jun 10
- 3 min read
A whole lot of wholesome fun.
About a week ago I had the pleasure of shooting this group of decent dudes at The Black Buzzard in Denver.
Hailing from Nashville, TN, The Wholesome Boys just wrapped up their first-ever national tour, and I had the pleasure of capturing their energy on the second-to-last stop of that ten-stop tour. Providing a delicious blend of echoing guitars that tickle you from ears to toes, and gritty lyrics that will make you question the meaning of it all, their newly released, self-titled album will raise the bar for any and all up-and-coming bands.
And before I break into the story of the shoot, I have to admit that while their music is fantastic, seeing this group live will force you into a deep state of post-concert depression every time you hear their recorded music. These dudes know how to perform-- but more on that later.
The Shoot
The story behind this shoot is very similar to nearly all my intros to bands-- I DM'd them super last second, and fortunately for me, they were still looking for a photographer. I loaded up my camera gear and embarked on a 35-minute walk to the venue (I'll be damned if I'm paying $20 for parking). Appearing sweaty and disheveled, I was happy to discover I got there early and the ice hadn't melted in the free water cooler yet.
After I slung my cameras on my shoulders, I made my way to the merch table and was greeted by the most enthusiastic rhythm section I've ever met. At first sight, Dylan Douglas Miller (drums) and Andrew Foreman (bass) left their post at their merch stand and greeted me with handshakes and the warmth rarely experienced by photographers before a band goes on stage. In my experience, that enthusiasm is typically reserved to the post-show high.
After sharing stories and taking a few portraits and merch photos, the rest of the band - Nate Fredrick (lead vocals and rhythm guitar) and Frank Patrick James (lead guitar) - approached and greeted me with the same warmth and gratitude.
There is no better way to get excited to shoot live music than having a grateful group of musicians share their mutual excitement for art with you.
The two openers, The Disasters and Gestalt - two incredibly talented local bands - buttered up the crowd and brought a pack of rock-loving locals with them. Stepping backstage to grab a few pre-show portraits, I did what I needed to do, wished the boys luck, and stepped out to patiently await their walkout.
I'm not sure what happened in the minute between leaving the green room and the walk on, but the wholesome dudes I left back stage had completely transformed into a group of decibel-thirsty rockaholics.
The show was filled with back bends, instrument sharing, and a whole lot of headbanging. Imagine if you deep-fried Bruce Springsteen's sound in a vat of punk rock energy and theatrics-- that's what The Wholesome Boys' performance felt like.
After an electrifying performance punctuated by filthy guitar solos and drum breaks heavy enough to collapse a bridge, the boys went back stage and the crowd filtered to the bar, the merch stand, or the fresh air up the stairs.
Heading backstage to assess the vibes, it was evident these dudes knew they rocked it. Stoke was high and the room buzzed with the adrenaline produced by people who just returned from doing what they love to do.
I thought these guys were kind before the show, but their post-show energy was soaked in enough gratitude to make you want to add them into your will. After some promo shots at the merch stand and the obligatory band photo, I packed up my gear and embarked on the half hour walk home with a whole load of pep in my step and a fresh vinyl in my hand.
That vinyl didn't stop spinning until I finished the photo edits around 3 a.m.
Side bar: If you're looking to get your start shooting concerts in Denver, or you just want to see quality acts for cheap, the Black Buzzard is the perfect place to do that. It's a small, 300 max cap basement speakeasy under the Oskar Blues downtown. While the lighting isn't the best for photography, it isn't bad by any means. Plus the lighting and sound crew are always on-point. I'll be sure to write more about it in a future post. Back to your regularly scheduled post...
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