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

Donavon Frankenrieter @ SOhO...

My days of shooting shows at SOhO, here in SB, have been few and far between lately. My latest dry spell was recently broken when Donavon Frankerierter came to town to play the humble venue.

I've always joked that I am the "Unofficial House Photographer" for the venue and usually acquire photo passes by simply using the barter system with the owner. Well, this time I made my way in using another avenue, a new connection with band.

My good buddy, Tim Bramlette, was recently picked up as Donavon's new "Merch Guy" and is on the road with band for their current tour. So... he was my easy insider on making the guest list and getting the camera ok'd. Getting permission to shoot a few songs these days almost seems comical since everyone at shows lately, especially in smaller venues, are right up front with their little gadgets... shooting stills and video the whole time.

None the less... here's a few that I took...

2nd to last...

Tomorrow night I will be shooting the last show of the 2010 concert season at the SB Bowl. Thievery Corporation and Massive Attack will have the honor of closing things out.

Coming in at 2nd to last was Stone Temple Pilots with Black Rebel Motorcycle Club and Jetstream for support. It was a rocking show, needless to say, and here's a few pics from it...

Jetstream
B.R.M.C.
Stone Temple Pilots