Photographer: Josh Brasted

This photo was shot at Jean-Eric frontman Frank Jones‘ birthday party last year at Studio 3, a Mid-City warehouse for building floats as well as TV and film props. After hosting several successful events there, including the CD-release party for Quintron’s Sucre Du Sauvage, OpenHouseMusic was asked to plan Frank’s “Waterslide Birthday Extravaganza.” Set against a background of old floats and with a continuous party soundtrack provided by DJs Yrs Trly and Jeremy Avegno, this waterslide party was easily the event of the summer.

Soon after the slide was inflated, I captured Kevin Lawrence as he flew down the 12-foot water slide to the pool below. In the background are Frank and Jean-Eric bandmate Karen Wallace, each donning American-flag bathing suits and blowing lifeguard whistles to call people over to the slide. I think they were wearing the American-flag bathing suits out of ironic hipster patriotism.

While I would normally try to avoid water, I risked being in the splash zone to capture this shot.