My connection to Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes goes back to not long after Katrina. A friend brought me to the Maple Leaf for the first time to check out Johnny Sketch. I didn’t realize it then, but that show would be my introduction not just to the band, but to the entire New Orleans funk and jam scene. The energy was unreal, grooves that pulled you in, a crowd that felt like family, people hanging out back like they’d known each other forever. It was one of those nights where you feel welcomed into something bigger than you, and it stuck with me.

Fast forward to this show at Tipitina’s, and it felt like things had come full circle. Getting to photograph one of the bands that shaped my early love for the scene made the whole night feel personal. It didn’t feel like just another gig, it felt familiar, almost like a reunion with the community that raised me musically.

I was locked in the entire time, watching everything unfold through the lens. What always stands out with this band is the way they play off each other — the quick glances, the smiles, the way their energy bounces around the stage. You can see how much they love what they’re doing, and capturing that is what makes shooting them so rewarding.

The lighting wasn’t easy, heavy backlight and a constant wash of red — but that’s part of the challenge I enjoy. Those tougher conditions force you to anticipate the right moment, when the haze breaks just enough or the silhouettes hit just right. Sometimes the imperfect light actually brings out the feeling of the room, and I think that’s true for this set.

Shooting bands like this makes me proud to be from New Orleans. There’s a sense of history in the music, but also a sense of evolution, like the scene is always growing while staying rooted in what makes it special. Photographing Johnny Sketch again felt like reconnecting with that history — with the people and the energy that first pulled me in all those years ago.

What I hope people feel when they look at these photos is the same thing I felt back then: the joy, the energy, the sense of community on that stage. This band has always delivered that. And if you’ve never seen them live, the only thing I’d tell you is to show up and let the night surprise you. They never disappoint, and sometimes the best shows are the ones you walk into without knowing anything at all.