Sohrab Habibion

I started videotaping shows in 1985. Mostly Saturday or Sunday afternoon gatherings at grim bars in bedraggled parts of D.C., where business owners were willing to host loud music for a few hours of potential drink sales. Or the events were at community centers in suburban stretches of Bethesda and Chevy Chase – safe havens for curious teens to learn about Apartheid, farm sanctuaries and nuclear disarmament.

There weren’t a lot of people filming local bands then, so showing up to a gig with a bulky camera was a novelty. Often the lighting was dim and the sound was muddy. I would find a discreet spot and let it roll. Until sometime in 1988, when I stopped.

Please keep in mind that I was a teenager and had zero proficiency with the equipment. What you get here is what was recorded on my Betamax and probably best appreciated with a bit of generosity as a viewer.

Also note that I delete negative comments. There's no room for hot takes or juvenile beefs in my yurt.