A history of musical photography—a journey through the lens with Ken Pordes

Promoting Community Through the Lens

It might be hard to believe that the guy you see behind the lens at damn near every live music (and other) events gets his kicks riding a motorcycle and a jet ski whenever he can. But there it is and there he is, Chico’s own, photographer Ken Pordes, beloved by every band in town. No matter who you talk to, the praise runs deep.

We all take pictures, right? The cameras on phones these days are incredible. Hey! Point and shoot. Fuhgeddaboudit! And you can edit the pics right on your phone. Helpful hint here: Taking quality music pics is about fifty times harder than it looks. As an event photographer, you have to step in and step right up and shoot—doesn’t matter what the crowd thinks. You have to get the shot, again, and again, and again. You might have to take fifty shots to get five worth publishing. Ken Pordes has this art perfected, and better yet, you probably won’t even know he’s there. As Ken says, however, “I want my subjects moving—I’m not a nature kind of guy.” Like many Chicoans, Ken made his way to Chico from another place, in this case Brooklyn, New York—a place he visits every year—and then the Bay Area. Like other young people in the Bay, Ken came to Chico to attend Chico State in the 1980’s. He hit the tail end of the big name performances the college hosted for thirty years.

“It would be nice to see the college bring back some big name acts,” he said. “Why can’t we do that?’ Ah, the one hundred dollar question. While the Sierra Nevada Big Room did bring in many outside acts over the years, the pandemic put that on a hiatus that is still in effect. Meanwhile, Ken is out there taking his pics.

“Photography started out as a hobby,” said Ken. “Then it became a passion. I thought, If I’m not out there taking the photographs, then who’s going to do it?” He recalls shooting local groups way back when, like Peter Berkow, The Hats, and The Night Nights. He spoke about shooting Dixon, Haley, and Dixon, with Pat Hayley, who later played in Mossy Creek. Just a few weeks ago he shot Pat’s birthday party held at Alemendra in Durham.

“I enjoy getting it out there and getting people to know about the music,” he said.

Many call Ken “Chico’s Ambassador of Music,” but he’s also an ambassador of anything local. Recently, he photographed the Salmon Festival in Oroville, the Hangtown Festival, the World Fest, and For the Funk of It in Concow. You’ll also see him at local theater performances and other events. The cat is just all over the place!

He also takes pictures for the Downtown Chico Business Association, Chico Performances, and has had photos published in Upgraded Living, The Chico News and Review, The Orion, and for KZFR events. Ken has shot photos in all the local music venues, including Naked Lounge, Secret Trail, The Barn, Alemendra, the El Rey, and The Union in Oroville. As a matter of fact, he took the photos for the Smokey the Groove feature in this issue.

As for the future, Ken is excited about the local comedy scene being held in part at Mulberry Station, Gnarly Deli, and the El Rey Theater. He’s also hoping to see the downtown mural project up and running,

From the bygone days of mega band Chico State concerts, the local gigs at the many venues in Chico’s past, and events produced by the likes of Bob DiBono, Joe Hammond, and Bob Littell, to the newer talents of today, Ken Pordes has been and will be the man behind the lens. Check it out on Facebook at Ken Pordes Photography.