Soda Citizen Defeats The Angry Whale

PHOTOS AND WORDS BY SEAN RAYFORD

Avail was playing an early show that night at New Brookland and Enon, the late, and it was one of many double bills in ‘05 at the West Columbia venue. And it was a perfect place and time for some drinks and to pass my 24-page black and white home laser printer/stapled music zine. At that time it was called “The Whipping Post.”

I hated that name.

Between shows that day I was speaking with Enon’s Toko Yasuda (who now performs with St. Vincent) about some of the band’s merch, specifically, one t-shirt in particular. “Oh that’s the angry whale!” she said excitedly and with a wonderful Japanese accent.

The next issue of the zine was called The Angry Whale.

Seven years ago I transferred that name to the blog on my photography site. Here, I’m relaunching it’s replacement, SodaCitizen.com, an independent home for visual storytelling. And for those who are regular readers, you’ll notice that I’ve taken the new name from the most consistent series I’ve produced over the years at The Angry Whale, featuring somewhat pointless interviews with local artists.

As a bridge from the old to the new, I present a selection of photos made possible with the existence of The Angry Whale.

If you’d like to provide financial support, whether a private donor or a representative from a business or organization, please email me at seanrayford@gmail.com.