Menomena!...

So, last nights season opening performance by the New Kids on the Block at the SB Bowl left me yearning for something more. Being stuck at the soundboard for the first show of the season wasn't much fun.

After my brief blog about the NKOTB show last night, I went onto local show promoter Club Mercy's website to see what might be happening musically around town. I needed to scratch the itch to shoot near a stage. While on their website, I made the personal discovery of the band Menomena, from Portland, OR who were playing at the Velvet Jones here in town. I checked the clock and it was 11PM, I thought hmmmm... I just might make it in time. I rushed down to the venue and arrived with just a few minutes to spare. As it turns out though, I was late on finding out about these guys, the place was packed with folks.

It was shoulder to shoulder next to the stage, the place was hot as hell, drunk people were stepping on me and bumping me while I was shooting and the music was awesome. It all reminded me that I need to get out and shoot in the clubs more often! Here's a few pics from the show...

To see more of my pics and read reviews of the show go HERE and HERE.

NKOTB 1ST of the season...

Tonight, the Santa Barbara Bowl concert season kicked off with New Kids on the Block. Here's a couple pics from the show, including one of the opening dance act, Jabbawockeez.

I'm back!...

Where I have I been? Around mostly, just keeping my distance from the computer. I did manage to slip away for two weeks on my first adventure outside of the United States. I spent the last two weeks of March hanging out in Pairs, France with my wife.

It was nice to not sit in front of the "box of wires" staring into cyber space for that amount of time although, I must admit, I did pop into internet cafes a couple times to check email and yes... facebook a bit. Also, while I was there, I was thinking about my music blog and some things I could post when I returned. Like these little music related tid bits...

This was literally the first picture I took, on the way to Paris from the airport on an RER train.

Above are a couple of street performers. The puppetier was doing some sweet Nirvana covers.

And... this fro'd out French kid was listening to music on his headphones... does that count?

If you wanna see more images from my trip to Paris, visit my other blog here.

R.I.P. Lou Genise...

Old stomping grounds...

Not much has been going on in the way of shooting live music for me lately. Not a whole lotta shows going on, especially paying gigs, and I've been a bit slack. I did recently scan a bunch of images that I took in the beginning of my concert shooting quest. The ones I chose were of local Santa Barbara musicians, the people who I used as targets while gaining my knowledge of how to expose a piece of film under sub par lighting conditions.

I am still friends with many of these folks today and reached out to the majority of them using facebook. I posted the images and tagged all the people who's names I could remember. The feedback was tremendous and I am glad that after 12 years (on average) they finally get to see the pictures, many for the first time.

Below are some samples of the work I was doing back then, I am glad I took a look back because it has inspired me to move forward...

Allstar

Marko72 - Sugar Cult

Chart Toppers

Blazing Haley

Big Bad Voodoo Daddy

The Ataris

Lapdog (feat. members of Toad the Wet Sprocket)

Jeff Pevar

Dishwalla

Steve "The Cougar" Sherlock - Nerfherder

Nerfherder

Randy Gus and son - Chart Toppers, Toad the Wet Sprocket

Zach Gill - Django (pre formation of ALO)

Sugar Cult

Charlie Hitchcock - Mama Llama (pre formation of Particle)

Summer Camp

Spitting Bull

Romper Room

Glen Phillips - Toad the Wet Sprocket

Blazing Haley