R.I.P. B.B. King...

Taken at the Santa Barbara Bowl in 1999, my first time shooting B.B.

Atoms for Peace...

Well, another year went by... and I just shot my first concert in that amount of time again. Felt good.

 

RIP Dave King...

Not being active in shooting live music lately seems to only leave me posting about the sad news of people passing away. I recently learned about the loss of my friend and ex-coworker, Dave King. Another soul gone way too soon... taken by addiction. RIP my friend, it was a pleasure rubbing elbows with you in the photo pit...

Here's a shot I took of Dave shooting Hot Hot Heat at the Santa Barbara Bowl in 2005.

Donavon Frankenreiter - Higher Ground - Burlington, VT...

First time I have shot a show in about a year. Congrats to my buddy, Tim Bramlette, who graduated from doing merch for Donavon to also becoming his U.S. tour manager. Thanks to Donavon and band for continued access...

Shit!... another great lost...

R.I.P. Adam Yauch... 

I shot I took at the Santa Barbara Bowl in 2007.

Life is a carnival...

R.I.P. Levon Helm...

Not sure who took this shot I found on the web, maybe a still frame from The Last Waltz? It's how I'll always remember him.

So True...

garyvarvel.com

Bowl Full of Stars...

The Santa Barbara Independent recently did a cover story on the Santa Barbara Bowl, in honor of its 75 years of existence. I got an email from the paper a few weeks ago stating that I was receiving the email because they felt that my history with the venue was grounds for any tidbits of information I'd like to contribute to the story (favorite shows, memorable experiences, etc.)

I shared the story of discovering one of my favorite bands while shooting there during my first concert season as house shooter in 1999. Check out the quote section from the article below where you'll see my comments and... check out some of the names they lumped me in with...

Click the SB Indi link above and be sure to read the full article as well!

Congrats Donavon F...

Good news for Donavon Frankenrieter who recently became an official Ambassador of Martin Guitar products. The good new for me is... Martin Guitar used one of my live shots from a gig at SOhO in Santa Barbara, CA in a e-card blast and on their website to make the announcement.

It's a nice feeling to be associated with such a great musician and an equally great guitar company...

(Click to make it bigger... my live shot is the color one...)

East Coast First...

Here I am... long time no post. No reason to really... haven't had the time to get myself hooked-up shooting shows. But... just last week, my opportunity arrived from the West Coast. My pal, Tim Bramlette, who is the "Merch Guy" for Donavon Frankenrieter set me up with a pass to shoot his performance at StageOne in Fairfield, CT.

The BIG bonus?... my other pal, Seth Pettersen was on the bus! He's opening up for all of Donavon's East Coast stops. So... I was lucky to see my two buddies, see Seth play, see Donavon and his amazing band play, and hang out all day on the bus like a rock star.

The BIG downer?... the mirror fell out of my Canon 5D half way through Donavon's set. Yes, I am part rookie and showed up to the gig with one camera body. So... I thought, hell with it, I'll shoot from the hip with a wide lens. Nope... the 5D's mirror assists in auto focus.

So... I just got pretty buzzed and hung out with a bunch of cool folks. Below are some of the shots I took before my camera shit the bed...

Thanks to Tim, Seth, Donavon and his band for letting me hang...

Fold in the Wind...

This just in from the West Coast... My pal, Rey, a.k.a. House of Wolves, has a new album out. You can check out FOLD IN THE WIND, and buy it, right here.

Some love from Seth...

One of the greatest emerging musicians... and coolest mo fos I know, Seth Pettersen, shared some kind and funny words about me on his website recently, in regards to my upcoming move to the East Coast.

If you have yet to discover Seth and his music... do your ears and soul a favor by clicking on his name above and visit his website...

Thanks Seth!

The Foo...

I'm still pissed that I didn't get to shoot the Foo Fighters at the SB Bowl a few years back. Due to the band's management company, Nasty Little Man, and their bogus "rights grabbing" photo release... I had to walk from the show. I was especially bummed because I was looking forward to seeing the Foo for the first time.

Well... last night, myself and 299 other lucky people got to see the Foo Fighters live at the little club that could, Velvet Jones, here in Santa Barbara. Starting things off by playing their new, yet to be released, album in it's entirety... the Foo rocked out from the very first guitar lick. The second half of the show was spent dishing out all of the classics you love and know, never losing momentum until the show was over.

I rank this easily in the top five most rocking shows I have ever seen and... I was even able grab a shot for posterity!...

Slash at the Velvet Jones in SB...

Not it person though... just one of my 40X60 inch prints that ended up hanging on the walls of the Velvet Jones here in Santa Barbara. I have three images that size (Willie Nelson and Jam Master Jay are the other two) hanging there and finally made it by to check them out. It was during a show though, so it was dark in the venue... Slash was the only one that had enough light on it to grab a quick shot. I'll have to go back when it's not business hours and document them properly...

Love, Hope, Strenght...

Well... I don't shoot for the SB Bowl anymore (see previous post) but I'm not dead in the water either. My buddy, Tim Bramlette, who manages Seth Pettersen and is Donavon Frankenrieter's "merch guy," recently helped Sanuk produce a free show at the Slide Bar in Fullerton, CA.

The show was put on as a benefit for the Love Hope Strength foundation featuring performances by, none other than, Seth and Donavon. The show consisted of sets by both performers and then a nice little jam with all of the band members for the encore song. I was stoked to be invited by Tim to go down and shoot the show and super happy to see Seth Pettersen get some more of the recognition he deserves...

MC Bramlette

  

This Is The End...

And I'm not talking about a Doors song either. I have officially put in my resignation as house photographer for the Santa Barbara Bowl. It wasn't an easy thing to do... but it had to be done. It has come time for my wife and I to move on from Santa Barbara and seek greener pastures on the East Coast where she is originally from. Buying a home in Santa Barbara just isn't an option and that is on our list of things to do... to become adults, ha!

It is a step that makes for difficult decisions such as letting go of my position at The Bowl and saying good-bye to all of our good friends that we've made here over the past decade and a half. The good news is... Amy will be running her business here remotely and there will be plenty of reasons for us to return often. I am leaving The Bowl on good terms and they say I can just slip right back in to my spot if I ever return permanently. And... if I make visits to town, they will leave room for me in the pit as a "guest photographer."

I had big dreams of having a grand photo exhibit of my work taken during the ten concert seasons at the venue, one that I intended on making happen before I left town. I have found that time for making money to survive and pack have become of the essence and I will have to put that plan on the back burner. I vow to return to SB and have a showing of the work before another ten concert seasons slip by. I don't know if I will be able to obtain a position as a house photographer on the East Coast but I plan to look into it. Even a theater or large club will do.

I don't know when my next concert shoot will even be at this time but I hope to squeeze in a couple here in my stomping grounds before heading out. This blog may sit stagnant for a while but I will post ANY news as it comes to me. Until then... see ya!

Massive Thievery...

That's it!... the SB Bowl season has come to an end. It's always a bitter sweet thing. I hate to think that I won't be shooting there for a few months, but I'm excited to see what the next season brings.

Massive Attack and Thievery Corporation were an excellent way to end things... it was a dance party! Honestly, I had never heard either band before, but I've found that I have serious liking to Thievery Corporation. Besides cranking out some heavy bass and good vibes... they let the photographers shoot the whole set.

By looking at my photos from Thievery's performance, (compared to those of Massive Attack) you may notice what happens when photographers (me) are allowed to shoot more than the usual three songs. You get more first off, the are composed better and the moments are more exciting...

(As alwasy, click 'em to make 'em bigger)

Massive Attack

Thievery Corporation