EAT YOUR GREENS
The word “legend” gets thrown around a lot. Maybe it’s the infiltration of English slang (“Wot a fookin’ legend!”) or just internetforward hyperbole, but regardless, anyone who makes a funny TikTok or a half-decent vegan cheese sandwich nowadays could be classified as one.
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EAT YOUR GREENS
Served fresh in photographer Chris Boarts Larson’s Slug & Lettuce
The word “legend” gets thrown around a lot. Maybe it’s the infiltration of English slang (“Wot a fookin’ legend!”) or just internetforward hyperbole, but regardless, anyone who makes a funny TikTok or a half-decent vegan cheese sandwich nowadays could be classified as one. But Chris Boarts Larson? An actual goddamn legend.
Larson started the zine Slug & Lettuce in 1986, concluding with its 20th-anniversary edition in 2007. Although the zine featured a host of articles ranging from radical parenting to veganism/vegetarianism to politics, it was all held together by incredible photography of the underground East Coast punk and metal scenes shot by Larson. She would later helm a column for Maximum Rocknroll. This recurring feature, just like the pages of the legendary (I said it) zine, dripped with a love for the genre, its people, and music en masse.
“As a 16-year-old kid, I got into photography and punk rock at sort of the same time,” reminisces Chris. “When I started the zine, it was the perfect forum to share my photos, contribute to the scene, and keep in contact with other like-minded individuals. Over time, the photos definitely became the backbone of the zine. And my outlet.”
You’ve probably seen tons of her photos gracing merch, album art, and other music ephemera over the years, with iconic shots of greats ranging from Refused to Tragedy to Poison Idea at classic venues like CBGB’s, ABC No Rio, and so many more in the ’90s and beyond. In the following photo set, we asked Chris to choose a few favorites, and she came back with the iconic shot of Amy from Nausea at Tompkins Square Park and a fire-breathing Jerry A of Poison Idea at the Pyramid Club.
“1990 was early for me in NYC and finding my place. Seeing Nausea in the park was a big deal. That moment where Amy threw her fist in the air was an impactful moment in the song. This photo has become iconic...because of who she is and what the band stands for. But it’s even more than that.
“Poison Idea playing the East Coast in 1990 was a big deal! Their first NYC show at the Pyramid was intense! Jerry stuck the mic up his ass, cut his face and it was dripping with blood. But that fire shot was so perfectly timed—it was indicative of how wild Poison Idea were and really captured that night.”
We promise not to show any mic-ass shoving.
FRED PESSARO
