A Tribute to Brendon Whitney

A gathering in New York City honors Alias

By Chad Kamenshine

August 3^rd, 2018

A TRIBUTE TO BRENDON WHITNEY

A gathering in New York City honors Alias

On March 31, 2018, for the first time in a long time, Alias (Brendon Whitney) popped into my head. I'm not sure what triggered it, but intuition suddenly led me down a rabbit hole that afternoon. There was 2002's The Other Side of the Looking Glass, the beauty and the beats album Resurgam, his collaboration with Tarsier on Brookland/Oaklyn, and Lillian, a record with his brother Ehren on saxophone. While distinctive on their own, each feature the sounds and textures that define Brendon's work. They're vivid and soulful. They're signature Alias.

Later that night, I was shocked to learn that Brendon had passed.

I always felt Brendon was a great gateway into all things Anticon. "Well Water Black" hooked me on WHY?, "Opus Ashamed" threw a relentless Doseone in my face, and his remix of Son Lux's "Weapons (VI)" put me on a journey through both time and space. The deeper you dug in, the more there was to find. The Notwist, Styrofoam, Astronautalis, Sage Francis – Brendon's musical connective tissue is vast, and the list goes on.

When I started photography in 2008, Anticon was the first label that approved me to shoot a live show (WHY? at (le) poisson rouge). Since then, I've collaborated with their immediate and extended family. WHY?, Baths, The Notwist, Jel, Astronautalis, Son Lux, Bike for Three!'s Buck 65, and Greetings from Tuskan have all been in front of the lens. These collaborations hold some of the fondest memories in my photographic heart, and I have Brendon to thank for opening that door.

On July 10th, things came full circle as I found myself back at (le) poisson rouge. OG Anticon heads DJ Mayonnaise and Sole were under the same roof, and DJ Thanksgiving Brown, the labels MVP MC’d. B. Dolan, Lady Lamb, Therese Workman, and the rest of the night's performers all gathered to celebrate Brendon’s life and share the impact he had on their worlds.

The laughs, tears and unique memories from that night carry on like a classic mixtape. Whether it was his songs, collaborations, or a celebration of his life, Brendon brought people together. His effect, whether personally or sonically, will be embedded in our minds for years to come.

Buck 65, Sole, Mestizo, and DJ Mayonnaise photographed by Chad Kamenshine

Therese Workman and friends photographed by Chad Kamenshine

Anticon, Fake Four Records and Strange Famous Records merchandise photographed by Chad Kamenshine

(le) poisson rouge photographed by Chad Kamenshine

Ceschi, K-the-I???, B. Dolan, DJ Mayonnaise, DJ Thanksgiving Brown, and Sole photographed by Chad Kamenshine

A GoFundMe was started by a group of friends on behalf of Brendon and his wife and two children. They're accepting donations here.

Brendon Whitney a.k.a Alias tribute shirt photographed by Chad Kamenshine

DJ Mayonnaise (Chris Greer) photographed by Chad Kamenshine

Therese Workman photographed by Chad Kamenshine

Lady Lamb (Aly Spaltro) photographed by Chad Kamenshine

DJ Thanksgiving Brown (Peter Agoston) photographed by Chad Kamenshine

Sole (Tim Holland) photographed by Chad Kamenshine

Pictureplane (Travis Egedy) photographed by Chad Kamenshine

Astronautalis (Andy Bothwell) photographed by Chad Kamenshine

Buck 65's Richard Terfry photographed by Chad Kamenshine

B. Dolan's Bernard Dolan photographed by Chad Kamenshine

Scott Matelic

MC Lars

Sole

Sole's Tim Holland and DJ Thanksgiving Brown photographed by Chad Kamenshine

K-the-I???

Therese Workman

Pictureplane

Spose

DJ Thanksgiving Brown

Kirby Dominant

DJ Mayonnaise

Astronautalis

Lady Lamb

Ceschi

Buck 65

B. Dolan

About Chad Kamenshine

Chad Kamenshine is a NYC based photographer who has worked with Phantogram, CHVRCHES, The Walking Dead's Emily Kinney, Bishop Briggs, NY Mag, Warner Bros. Records, and more.

You can follow Chad on Instagram at @chadkamenshine and subscribe to his newsletter here.

About Stories

Starting from a love of music and film, and wanting to collaborate with those involved, Stories has been the ultimate passport in navigating the world of creatives and their craft. Each project has opened the door to an opportunity that at one time felt out of reach. Moments have been shared, experiences gained, and friendships fostered all through Stories. The freedom of this personal project has given me the chance to express my own abilities alongside those whose work has had an effect on me. Time and time again, Stories has proven that sharing is the true gift of collaboration.