half•alive at The Fillmore Silver Spring | Concert Photos & Review

who is half•alive?

Formed in 2016 in Long Beach, California, the indie indie-pop trio, half-alive, consists of lead vocalist Josh Taylor, drummer Brett Kramer, and bassist J Tyler Johnson. The band is known for blending alternative rock and electronic sounds with infectious, danceable grooves, introspective lyrics exploring themes of identity, personal growth, and the complexities of being human, and carefully choreographed performances.

The trio gained widespread attention with their 2018 breakout single, still feel., which introduced listeners to their distinctive sound and visually captivating choreography. Since then, they've built a catalog of fan favorites, including arrow, RUNAWAY, creature, and What's Wrong. My own introduction to the band began in 2019, when still feel. unexpectedly found its way into my Spotify recommendation and thus started the beginning of my appreciation for the band.

On April 13, 2025, half•alive brought their Persona World Tour to The Fillmore in Silver Spring, Maryland, just outside Washington, D.C. Having followed the band's music for years, I was excited to finally experience their signature blend of music, movement, and storytelling in person. Singer-songwriter mehro joined them as an opening act.

Discovering half•alive

My first encounter with half•alive was thanks to a Spotify recommendation back in 2019. The song was still feel. — a catchy, groovy track that immediately pulled me in with its infectious beat. What really sealed the deal wasn’t just the music but the choreography in the music video to still feel. Josh Taylor’s dancing was so mesmerizing that I found myself hitting replay over and over again. The choreography has since become a signature part of the band’s live performances, making it just as captivating to watch onstage as it was in that first music video.



half•alive — still feel. (Official Music Video)











Fast forward to February 2022, when half•alive released Give Me Your Shoulders, Pt. 1. After finally giving the project a proper listen, I was hooked. I had it on repeat throughout the entire summer, adding nearly every track to my playlists and putting it on repeat, with Back Around quickly becoming one of my favorites.

The project introduced me to a different side of the band, blending intricate rhythms, infectious melodies, and thoughtful lyrics in a way that felt fresh and genuine. It was like discovering a hidden gem, and by the end of that summer, half•alive had become one of my favorite bands. From that point on, I knew I had to experience their music live. I was so enthusiastic when the opportunity to see them at The Fillmore in Silver Spring, Maryland, finally came around.

An Unexpected Favorite: mehro

When I arrived at The Fillmore, my mind was set on half•alive. But the night had a surprise in store. The opening act, mehro, caught me completely off guard, and in a good way. Their performance was so engaging that I walked away as a new fan that night. One of their songs, You're So Pretty had quickly became a soundtrack for my summer that year.

On my way to the bathroom during the break, I ran into mehro’s drummer and told him how awesome their set was. It felt good to share that little moment with someone who clearly loved what they were doing. Unfortanely, I didn’t take photos during mehro’s set because I intended to save it for half-alive. I was too caught up in the music to think about snapping pictures anyway.

half•alive: Music in Motion

Seeing half•alive live was a whole different experience compared to watching their videos on repeat for years. The choreography was one of the reasons I became so drawn to them. Like the videos, the live choreography was every bit as captivating in person. The way the band moved together with the synchronized steps and danced to tell a story helped to add a powerful visual layer to the concert.

I had listened to their album Persona in full before the concert, and I was especially excited to hear Sophie’s House live. When they finally played it, I couldn't help but getting completely caught up in the energy of the crowd and jump around and sing along like everyone else was.  Being surrounded by complete strangers who share the same excitement when a song they love starts playing is one of my favorite things about going to concerts.

Photographing half•alive on a Disposable Film Camera

Since concert venues typically don't allow professional cameras inside, I brought a disposable film camera to the concert, which turned out to be a bit of a challenge with the constantly changing stage lights. Since I wanted to avoid using the camera’s flash, I had to pay close attention to when the stage was illuminated. The lights were constantly flashing on and off throughout the performance. Timing was everything I had to be deliberate about when I pressed the shutter so that I could try to catch moments when the stage was bright enough to properly expose the film.

Another challenge was simply trying to get a clear view of the stage. At 5'2, photographing over a crowd of people isn't exactly easy. I ended up with quite a few heads making their way into my frames. I can't say I was surprised. Between trying to see over everyone, finding a decent angle, and timing my shots around the stage lights, getting a photograph where everything actually lined up felt like a big achievement. I did my best to work with the view I had, but sometimes there was only so much I could do from where I was standing.

Unlike shooting digitally, I couldn't take a bunch of photos and immediately check which ones turned out. I had to be patient, anticipate the lighting, and hope I pressed the shutter at the right moment. Sometimes the stage was almost completely dark, and other times the lights were so bright they filled the frame. Add a few unexpected heads in the foreground, and photographing the performance became even more unpredictable, especially with such a simple camera.

Looking at the developed photographs afterward, I actually liked how they turned out. The grain, warm stage lights, and silhouettes of the performers gave them a nostalgic look that felt fitting for the concert. I also loved the unexpected light leaks that appeared in some of the frames. Those washes of color and streaks of light added another layer of character to the images. They're certainly not the sharpest or most technically perfect concert photographs, but I think that's part of what makes them interesting and highlights my perspective from the audience.

Looking Back on the Show

After discovering still feel. through a Spotify recommendation in 2019, I finally got to see half•alive perform at The Fillmore six years later. Their choreography was easily one of the highlights of the night. Quirky, slightly awkward, and strangely mesmerizing, the movements have a way of looking both spontaneous and meticulously rehearsed. Seeing them performed live, alongside the band's infectious rhythms and theatrical stage presence, made it clear why choreography has become such an integral part of half•alive's identity.

Photographing the night on a disposable camera made the experience even more memorable because instead of trying to focus on getting the right settings, I just snapped the shutter and hoped for the best.  I had no idea what I'd actually captured until the film was developed. Not every frame turned out as planned, but the grain, unpredictable colors, and occasional imperfections gave the photographs a raw, nostalgic quality that suited the atmosphere of the show.

And then there was mehro, the unexpected highlight of the evening. I'd arrived excited to see half•alive, but I left with another artist whose music I couldn't stop playing after the show. I had You're So Pretty stuck in my head for WEEKS afterward. I'd happily see both artists again. Though next time, I'll definitely be bringing more film for mehro, too.

Live music is one of my favorite things to photograph, whether I'm shooting digital or bringing along a roll of 35mm film. I love capturing the energy of a performance and the little moments that happen between songs. You can see more of my live music photography from concerts and festivals I've photographed throughout Maryland and Washington, DC.