Because tributes typically honor the departed, they’re usually lost on the one who matters most to the occasion. They’re a day late and a holler short. That’s why I’ve long been a big proponent of living tributes, a point driven painfully home by the fresh loss of Orlando culture mover Dave Plotkin (RIP, dear Dave).
Well, there will be one such event this weekend for one of the most important extant figures in Orlando music history. To honor our own rock photographer Jim Leatherman, local punk producer and scene-maker Joshua “Danger” Dobbs has organized Jim Fest (7 p.m. Friday, April 11, Will’s Pub, $20). By “our,” of course, I mean not just Orlando Weekly but the Orlando music scene at large, which has been directly enriched by Leatherman’s defining work.
“Josh Dobbs kind of tricked me,” says Leatherman.“Late evening one night he sent me an out-of-the-blue text with one question: ‘Hey Jim, who are your favorite current local bands?’ I didn’t think anything of it and responded with a list of 10 to 12 of the current local bands I dig. Fast forward a few weeks, he messages me a flyer for the show‘ celebrating me’?… Dude, it’s so odd — I’m not dead yet! I don’t feel I am worthy of such praise.”
Such a sweet, unassuming and quintessential- ly Leatherman response. But I (and the Orlando music community) disagree with him.
Regarding the inspiration for Jim Fest, Dobbs says,“I was just thinking about how Jim has literally put every band he’s ever photographed into rock star status with his pics, no matter what kind of following or reputation they have. Whatever the hell he’s doing with a camera, it’s otherworldly! So this is a way for all of us to come together to celebrate him. And coincidentally, this year also marks 40 years of him taking concert pics!”
The Jim Fest lineup is an all-star Orlando continuum that spans generations and includes garage-rock idols The Tremolords, melody punks The New Lows, new shoegaze royalty Saucers Over Washington, feminist hardcore squad Stiletto and live indie-rock jukebox New Eagles.
“You truly won’t meet a kinder soul than Jim Leatherman,” says New Eagles drummer Michael Lothrop. “I’ve known Jim since the Murmur Records days and his unwavering support of Orlando’s music scene has continued to be an inspiration to all who know him.”
Stiletto bassist Tia Milan says, “I think everyone knows it really isn’t a show if Leatherman isn’t there!”
As someone who’s covered local music for a long time, I know how crucial photographers like Leatherman are in a special and personal way. As hot shit as I think my words are, I know nothing captures the scene or a moment like the looks from a good photographer. There is only one Jim Leatherman.
Leatherman isn’t simply a straightforward documentarian. He’s an artist, a master whose work has signature, attitude and terroir. Put another photographer in the same pit and I’d be able to pick out Leatherman’s snaps. High-contrast, best in black and white, oily and gritty at the same time, it’s street poetry. Yeah, pure punk rock.
Leatherman’s one of those photographers who’s more legendary than many of the artists he shoots, but you wouldn’t know it from the way he works. He’s a true-blue music fan who treats his subjects — from living gods to buzz bands to underground locals — with equal gravity and reverence.
Although he’s shot canonical indie bands like Sonic Youth, My Bloody Valentine and countless others in their subterranean prime, Leatherman still has an evergreen drive to capture young risers in his native scene with the same ardor. To this day, no one can match Leatherman’s hunger and hustle.
As they say,“Pics or it didn’t happen.”Without Leatherman, there would still be a music scene here in Orlando. But there would be so much less history and legacy. That’ll be the difference between fleeting and forever. So gather ye rosebuds while ye may, and let’s give some of those due flowers to a man whose work proves we were here. Viva, Jim Leatherman!
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This article appears in The 420 Issue 2025.
