Iconic Punk Rock Photo Exhibit Opens In Doylestown

DOYLESTOWN, PA — Works by legendary music photographer Jim Saah are now on view at Native Cafe, 12 South Main Street, in Doylestown Borough.

The exhibition titled "Jim Saah, In My Eyes, Photographs 1982-1997," features many of Saah's most iconic photographs from the fertile early Washington, D.C. punk scene and beyond.

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Armed with a camera and countless rolls of film, Jim was ubiquitous within the D.C. scene. "In My Eyes: Photographs 1982-1997" serves as a living document of all of those years of hard work.

The exhibition closes with a "punk crawl" across Doylestown Borough on Saturday, September 19. The event, called Salad Days, will unfold across several downtown locations, bringing together film, photography, music, and community in a shared celebration of one of America's most influential independent music movements.

The documentary film called "Salad Days: A Decade of Punk In Washington, D.C." is the namesake for the event, and kicks off the day-long festivities with a 10th Anniversary Director's Cut screening at the County Theater.

Minor Threat was an American hardcore punk band, formed in 1980 in Washington, D.C., by vocalist Ian MacKaye and drummer Jeff Nelson. (Photo by Jim Saah)

Afterwards, attendees can share a meet-and-greet with Director Scott Crawford and Jim Saah at Siren Records, followed by an in-depth panel discussion with Greg Polard of the "Where It Went" Podcast held at Hops/Scotch,
and a punk rock show with Colossal Rains, Cryptic Swarm, and Sunstroke at Puck to end the day.

While Salad Days chronicles the rise of the Washington, D.C. punk scene, its story extends throughout the Mid-Atlantic. Philadelphia, New Hope, Trenton, Princeton, Baltimore, and New York formed an interconnected network of independent clubs, record stores, college radio stations, and promoters that
helped launch groundbreaking bands and nurture a thriving DIY culture.

For fans throughout the region, these neighboring cities became destinations. Driving from one scene to another wasn't the exception — it was part of the culture. That constant exchange of bands, audiences, and ideas helped shape generations of musicians and created one of the richest independent music communities in America.

Local nonprofit Stage United co-presents the festivities alongside Scott Crawford and Aundroma Projects.

"Salad Days tells the story of Washington's punk scene," says Joe Montone, founder of Stage United, "but its spirit influenced countless music scenes and artists, including Doylestown's punk and hardcore scene, which was my earliest introduction to the world of independent music."

Tickets and more information for Salad Days can be found at stageunited.org. Festivities begin at 1 p.m. on September 19. Each event is open to all ages.

Directed by Scott Crawford, Salad Days explores the emergence of one of the most influential independent music scenes in modern history through interviews with Ian MacKaye, Henry Rollins, Dave Grohl, Thurston Moore, and many of the artists who helped define the era. The film launched Crawford's documentary career, leading to the critically acclaimed Creem: America's Only Rock 'n' Roll Magazine and his latest
feature, Something Better Change.

Jim Saah's career in photography started when he documented the punk scene in Washington, DC, in the early 1980s. Arts and entertainment has been the mainstay of his career.

Photographing for the likes of the Washington Post to Rolling Stone, his shots have been featured in many books and records. Two highlights were the best-selling book, "Our Band Could Be Your Life," and the cover of Fugazi's "Repeater"
record.

Jim has also worked extensively in film and video. He's been a shooter on several films about the band Wilco as well as being principal photographer on two feature films, "Salad Days: A Decade of Punk In Washington, D.C." and "CREEM: America's Only Rock & Roll Magazine." Photography and music have been his lifetime muses.