Makin Waves with James Mastro: 'The Passenger'

“Many of my photos are taken from a backseat while moving at 70 miles per hour,” James continued. “It’s a combination of quick reflexes and luck when something catches my eye.”

As a photographer, James brings the same sense of wonder and adventure that resonates in his music: A peeling away of layers, a focus on something in the corner of your eye, finding beauty in a rusted factory as easily as a flowering cactus. The exhibit coincides with a solo acoustic tour in which he will continue to open for longtime friend Marshall Crenshaw. They’ll perform Nov. 8, Narrows Center for the Arts, Fall River, MA; Nov. 9, The Iron Horse, Northampton, MA; Nov. 14, Rams Head Tavern, Annapolis, MD; Nov. 15, Sellersville Theater, Sellersville, PA; Nov. 16, The Birchmere, Alexandria, VA; Nov. 19, Stage One at Fairfield Theatre Co., Fairfield, CT; Nov. 20, Center for Arts, Natick, MA, and Nov. 22, Wonder Bar, Asbury Park.

James also will share the stage with Marshall on Nov. 10 at Sony Hall in New York City during another reunion of The Bongos, the seminal band that helped put the Hoboken scene on the international music map in 1980. Then on Dec. 7 at Mercury Lounge, also New York City, James will perform with his backing band, The Gold Stars, sharing the bill with a reunion of The Silos. The Gold Stars feature, Dennis Diken of The Smithereens on drums, Memphis singer-songwriter Megan Reilly on keyboards and guitar, lead guitarist Chris Robertson of Elk City, and on bass, Health and Happiness Show band mate Tony Shanahan (Patti Smith), who produced “Dawn of a New Error.”

Enjoy the following chat in which James discusses his photography, its connection to his music, future plans for both, and much more:

What sparked your interest in photography, when and why?

I started getting interested in photography when Polaroid cameras came out. It was a great thing to have on tour with you, as you didn’t have to wait to get home to develop the photos. It was instant gratification, watching the picture develop before your eyes. There were tricks you could do, like drawing on the photo as it developed, or getting multiple exposures. More recently, having an active role in directing my latest videos got me taking my photography more seriously.

Have you ever exhibited your photography before or is this your first display?

This is indeed my first exhibit.

Are most of your photos taken while you’re on tour in different cities?

Yes, this particular batch of photos was taken mostly while on tour the past couple of years. You can find yourself with a lot of time staring out a van window or time before a show to walk around the current town you’re in. I’ve found taking photos an effective way to keep a journal of my travels: It’s the same – if not better – for me as if I write it down in a diary. I remember what the weather was like, who was walking by just outside the frame, what I was feeling at the time ...

“Dead End” is among the photography works by James Mastro on display in “The Passenger” exhibit through Nov. 23 at 503 Social Club in Hoboken. PHOTO BY JAMES MASTRO

Which is your favorite photo and why?

Depends on the day you ask. For today, I’ll say ‘Dead End,’ which was taken on an evening stroll at St. Anne's Cemetery before a show in Annapolis, MD. The irony of the sign combined with the evening light on the graveyard was just too hard to resist.

Do you also paint and/or draw, and if so, have you or will you display those works?

I used to paint occasionally, but haven’t in years, and not sure it’s something I'll return to anytime soon. I’m not very good at being stationary, so the ability to move about with a camera as opposed to staring at a canvas is much more appealing to me. But I do feel that once I work with the filtering on my photos, they often end up looking like a painting.

When did 503 Social Club open and why? Is it a nonprofit? What is its mission?

503 Social Club came about by chance. A real-estate agent friend of mine told me about the space and said I should check it out. I did, and said, ‘Thanks, but no thanks.’ But I kept thinking about it, and my wife was the one who convinced me to go for it.

Is it nonprofit? Hah, technically, no, but let’s just say it’s a labor of love for now. As to its mission, it’s totally selfish: It’s a place for me to see my friends display their work or see them perform up close. We’re not your typical venue. We don’t have regular hours or events every weekend. It really is more like a social club in that it caters to my friends visiting from out of town or the locals.

What events are scheduled there beyond those announced through Nov. 22?

Off the top of my head, on Dec. 6, we have Jon Langford and Sally Timms of The Mekons returning, which is always a combustible evening. In 2026, on Jan. 30, Peter Holsapple will be there, and Peter Case is slated for April 10.

When, where and in what configuration will you be performing into the New Year, including as a sideman?

I’m on break for a little bit in October, which means just a few gigs! I'll be sitting in with Bob Perry (from Winter Hours) on Jan. 19 at 503 Social Club; playing guitar in the house band for a Cramps tribute night on Oct. 30 at Bowery Electric, and then out for most of November opening solo for Marshall Crenshaw, but this includes The Bongos with Marshall at Sony Hall in NYC on Nov. 10. I'll be finishing off the year with a show at Mercury Lounge on Dec. 7 with my full band, The Gold Stars, on a co-bill with The Silos.

Are you playing any new unreleased songs live? If so, can you share any details about them?

I've been writing on these tours, so it’s possible I'll sneak a new song in. I kinda have to live with them a bit before doing so.

Are you working on a follow up to ‘Dawn of a New Error?’ If so, do you know when you will be releasing the first single for it and if it will be on Empress Records again or another label?

This record has had a longer life than I expected, so at the end of this year, I'll start thinking about working on the follow-up, but I’ve got no definite start dates in mind. It’ll happen when it happens. And I’m certainly happy with everything MPress Records has done. It’s a label owned and run by women, and I find that a big positive in their approach and perspective on music.

How did you connect with Rachael Sage and Empress Records?

I first met Rachael at SXSW in Austin about 15 years ago. We were on a bill together, and I became an instant fan. We became friends, and I’ve played on her past six albums.

What records by other artists have you recently produced or plan to, and for what labels?

Two artists I’ve recently produced have just released albums on Magic Door Records, Greg Amici’s ‘TragicComic,’ and from France, Laurent Moitrot’s ‘Donne-moi du Temps.’ Both are great songwriters and singers that I have tremendous respect for.

How did you connect with Ray Ketchem and Magic Door Recording?

Years ago, Glenn Morrow at Bar/None Records had told me about a new band, Elk City, he was thinking of working with and wanted to introduce us. I went to a rehearsal, met Ray and Renee LoBue and the rest of them. We kept in touch over the years, and when Ray opened his studio, I went to check it out.

What is your favorite recording studio to work in and why?

I love Tony Shanahan’s place, Hobo Sound in Weehawken, NJ, where ‘Dawn of a New Error’ was recorded and mixed. Great gear, and a fantastic sounding room for the band to play in. The same goes for Magic Door Recording in Montclair. But I think if both these studios only recorded onto an old Panasonic cassette recorder, you’d still get good results. Both studios have excellent engineers and vibe!

What did you enjoy most about the recent Bongos reunion, why, and will there be another one live and/or on record any time soon?

Anytime the four of us get together for a Bongos show, it’s a guaranteed riot. When you’ve worked and toured together as much as we did, you develop your own language and understanding that is unique to just the four in the room. So, our rehearsals are usually spent talking about events we remember as opposed to practicing the songs. But somehow it works, and we always get through a show and enjoy ourselves. Fortunately, the audience appears to, too. As mentioned earlier, we’re doing a one-off show in NYC on Nov. 10 with Marshall Crenshaw at Sony Hall. There’s a ‘new’ live album that just came out on JEM Records that was recorded 40 years ago. As for the future, we shall see!

What was the recent health scare of your Bongos band mate Rob Norris, how is he doing now, and how did the music scene support him?

Thanks for asking. Rob suffered a cardiac arrest caused by a pulmonary aneurysm. He’s incredibly lucky to have survived, but that’s a testament to his healthy living prior to this event. He is now home and recovering very well. The outpouring of support from fans and fellow musicians has been incredibly helpful and appreciated. He faces a bit of recovery still ahead – along with medical bills; so all these donations help immensely. If anyone would care to donate: https://mealtrain.com/lg7yvr.

How and why did your recently departed older brother, John, influence you musically?

As my older brother, John influenced me in many ways – and still does. But it’s safe to say I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing if it wasn’t for him. I distinctly remember the day he brought home the first album he bought from our paper route money, Creedence Clearwater Revival’s ‘Cosmos Factory.’ He started playing drums, and he said we needed to start a band. So, I picked up the guitar, and we started writing together. He was the lyricist then, and I learned so much about writing from him.

How many kids do you have, are they musical, and if so, how often do you play music with them?

I have two daughters, Lily and Ruby. Both are musical, and daughter Lily has albums and singles out under the band name Long Neck. They don't live nearby, so the only family jams usually just happen around Christmastime, kicking off with The Pogues’ ‘Fairytale of New York.’

Bob Makin has produced Makin Waves since 1988. Follow Makin Waves on Facebook and Instagram and contact Bob at [email protected].

About the author:

New Jersey Stage is proud to be the home of Bob Makin's Makin Waves column since 2017. His Song of the Week column comes out every Friday. He also writes an Album of the Month and Interview of the Month as well.

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