We’re a global music and pop culture site, so we’re occasionally caught napping when something’s brewing closer to home.  We first blogged about hardcore/straightedge kids in Atlanta when Adriane wrote about this funny/cute video of tatted guys dancing and singing joyfully to Miley Cyrus’ “Party In the USA.”

That generated so much interest, we started poking around a bit and here’s the first thing we discovered: these AMAZING performance photos by Most Precious Blood bassist Matt Miller.

Matt lives in Atlanta full-time since the band stopped touring, and his career transition to photography is (in our opinion) nothing short of stunning.

Check out these pix from his photoblog:

I’ve never seen a hardcore show look this…good.

The filth, the screams, the sticky sweat and spit…these pictures elevate that moment into something like a state of grace. And would you effn believe that the kids moshing in the photos above danced happily to Miley Cyrus and Lady Gaga after a Trapped Under Ice/Foundation/Cruel Hand/Naysayer lineup?

Maybe it’s the sXe aspect — remove alcohol from the equation and people are just…nicer? I don’t know. I’ve only ever been to boozy hardcore shows.

More of Matthew Miller’s Atlanta hardcore/straightedge pics:

Believe it or not, Matt also shoots weddings. How punk is that?

In case you’ve missed it, here’s Matt Miller’s YouTube vid of the kids at the January 15th Atlanta show dancing to Lady Gaga’s “Just Dance.” How come this never happened at any show I’ve ever been to?! I feel robbed!