Luciano Laredo Ratto

Seattle Washington

Between 2022 and 2024, I’ve had the pleasure of documenting and participating in the chaotic, sweaty, frequently too loud, and unmistakably grunge ecosystem of shared cigarettes, bad wiring, and great community. Seattle has a history of rooms that don’t show up on any venue list, bands that exist for only eleven months and leave behind one EP, and a handful of people who still talk about that one show. I had the pleasure of photographing some of the people keeping that torch alive, and what started as a project pretty much became my life. All my friends were in bands or went to shows, and every other day, I was out taking photos at basements, backyards, living rooms converted into dance floors, warehouses, under bridges, or any space where the cops would not bother us. The images eventually culminated in two gonzo-like self-published books called Taste the Floor and Aftertaste. I eventually got fired for being late to serve brunch and had to get a real restaurant job, and that meant fun was over. Thursday through Sunday is the day I have to work to pay my bills. It’s when the fun happens, too.