| James Rexroad is a photojournalist living in NYC. Growing up in Oregon, James learned about photography at the local bookstore, and was working full-time by his 18th birthday. He has worked for Life, the NY Times, Outdoors Magazine and many other publications worldwide. |
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The four black-and-white pictures were taken at the Melody Ballroom, Portland, Oregon, early April 1991, in a show where Nirvana were the opener for Sonic Youth, just before Nevermind was released. It was an exciting time for the struggling northwest music scene, since it seemed that with Nirvana signing to DGC for three records, one of our own had actually made it. And this was the first show for Nirvana to showcase the new material that would later be going onto their first DGC album. The band had a new drummer, show number four with Dave Grohl, and a tighter, more focused energy that was certainly not as dark as previous material off Bleach, the band's first full length effort with Seattle's Sub-Pop records.
As for this night, I had taken to sharing a whole bottle of tequila with Joe Preston, then bass player for the Melvins, and made the stage just as the buzz started kicking in. The band came out to a sold out crowd, and unleashed a new rock that would soon set the standard for what was to become Grunge music. By the time that the band broke into it's third song, I was nearly too trashed to stand, and was forced to stay leaning against the monitor at stage left. It's really a miracle that any of the photos from this night are in focus.
The band's performance ended in the obligatory smashing of the set, at which point Kurt lost his balance and tumbled backwards with his hands behind him. The picture of him on the floor, looking up to me, was just before he asked me to help untangle his cords which had wrapped his hands. Myself and the laughing roadie then picked Kurt up and sent him on his way into to the crowd, guitar plugged in and all.
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