After watching the Matt Daniel’s directed video for Damien Jurado’s “Caskets”, I’ll watch anything he sends over to me. That video should have been on everyones ‘best of’ lists last year and it would have been on ours too, if we would have compiled one. Water under the bridge, as the saying goes.

So to my delight, Matt’s new project is for Mt. St. Helen’s Vietnam Band. Quirky name, I know, but they make some beautiful yet haunting music and the video fits nicely into the same adjectives. Again we are treated to beautiful settings that backdrop tails of blood and death.
Watch it.

I wasn’t quite as moved as I was for his previous work with Damien Jurado, but this is still a hit. Matt and his team once again show us that with a little care, time, and vision you can still make a music video that shines through amongst the suffocating dredge that is the rest.

Starring: Benjamin Verdoes, Traci Eggleston, and Marshall Verdoes of Mt. St. Helen’s Vietnam Band
Locations: San Juan Island, Orcas Island

Director: Matt Daniels
Additional Creative Direction: Stefan Moore (thatgo)
DP: Michael Ragen
2nd Unit DP & Helicopter Camera Operator: Mike Prevette
Aerial Video (RC Helicopter Operator): Tabb Firchau (Aerialpan Imaging)
Art Director: Courtland Premo
Costume Designer: Matt Daniels, Benjamin Verdoes, Traci Eggleston
Makeup Artist: Ingrid Pixel
Editing: Apryl Richards, Matt Daniels
Editing Advisors: Joy Andrews, Rob Dalton, Noel Paul (thatgo)
Color Correction: Apryl Richards
Compositing: Matt Daniels
Photoshop: Michael Ragen
Production Company: Thinklab
Producer: Matt Daniels
Location Managers: John Hadac, Devin Coldewey
PA: Matthew Salton
Behind-the-scenes video: Devin Coldewey

Behind-the-scenes video: vimeo.com/6000621
Production stills: tinyurl.com/nw9rlt