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Charles Bradley & Menahan Street Band in the Australian Outback -- Exclusive Photos

Kisha Bari

Charles Bradley knows what tragedy and hardship feel like. After the untimely death of his brother, the new-to-the-scene soul sensation was left with an incredible amount of pain. But music became Bradley's saving grace and, after spending many years as a short-order cook and James Brown tribute singer, Bradley was discovered in a dark night club by members of Brooklyn's Daptone records.

Now, at the age of 62, the singer has taken his act to this year's SXSW and venues around the world. Australian photographer Kisha Bari hit the road with Bradley and the Menahan Street Band back in 2009, photographing the band's tour throughout the country's beautiful terrain. What follows is her account the adventure, during which Bradley got to come face-to-face with his favorite animal of all time, the Black Swan. The book of photos is also available for a limited time via Daptone Records.

I received an e-mail one day from my friend Tom [Brenneck of Menahan Street Band]: "We're coming to visit! And we're bringing Charles!"

I was living back in Melbourne for a year after a brief stint in New York, where I had met Tom, Homer Steinweiss and Charles Bradley. I fell in love with their music and the whole family at Dunham Records in Brooklyn, where I had been a kind of a resident studio photographer for a bit.

In addition to performing in my hometown of Melbourne, Bradley and Menahan Street Band were going to Wave Rock in Hyden, Western Australia and I just couldn't help but imagine Charles in that superbly unique and contrasting landscape.

"Can I come?!"
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I spent five days touring with the boys on their first-ever Australian tour in September of 2009. This was not the first band tour I had been on, but it was so great to be able to introduce my New York family to my Australian home and do what I love most along the way, photographing everything from intimate offstage moments to dazzling live bits.

Charles Bradley is probably the most amazing person I have ever met. Words could never portray this remarkable man's soul, voice, uplifting energy and immense love. I am hoping that coupled with the incredible music of his debut album, 'No Time for Dreaming,' with the Menahan Street Band, my imagery can provide some insight into the character of this special man.

Charles Bradley & the Menahan Street Band Perform at SXSW

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Matthew Corbett

Here is a great Live Charles Bradley video from Montreal's Osheaga Festival, by Guerrilla Remote. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leprDpQXAGQ&feature=plcp&context=C450c83aVDvjVQa1PpcFNpEv32-AxRGwRnMgY6uCny9ew2ZgoQB9o%3D

March 13 2012 at 5:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Matthew Corbett

Here is a great Live Charles Bradley video from Montreal's Osheaga Festival, by Guerrilla Remote. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=leprDpQXAGQ&feature=plcp&context=C450c83aVDvjVQa1PpcFNpEv32-AxRGwRnMgY6uCny9ew2ZgoQB9o%3D

March 13 2012 at 5:16 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
zbvmn

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April 24 2011 at 7:40 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply