I found out recently that a photo of mine was used to create a billboard. It’s one of my images of Nick Hexum of 311. Originally, the photograph was sent to 311′s management a few months ago to be made into a flier for a concert with Nick Hexum performing as a solo act.
It would seem that the concert and the flier were both big hits so the promoter decided to book another concert and upgrade the photograph to a billboard.
It is pretty amazing seeing one of my photographs overlooking the freeway. More so because I was able to spot the picture from half a mile away =)
Hopefully, this is the first of many billboards featuring my photographs. I had a blast going on an adventure with my girlfriend and amazing animator/illustrator, Lindsey Lydecker, to find the location of the billboard. Credit the photograph of me to her. ^_^
Big time thanks to 311 and 311′s management for being so supportive of me. I’m looking forward to the fall tour. Be sure to check out what they are up to at 311.com
Let’s get the bad out of the way. This show was yet another poorly lit, frustrating experience. The few moments that utilized the lights to create an interesting atmosphere in which to see the band was just barely bright enough to notice it happening.
It baffles me how lighting could go to the sidelines in terms of expressing one’s music. It is such an easy tool to utilize in order to increase the way and richness those in the audience can connect to the music.
I did what I could in a horrible situation for photography.
With that said, the show was amazing. Dredg is always a treat to see live. They do a great job with letting it all flow out naturally.
Gavin of Dredg performing at the Troubadour
Gavin is a great front man. His stage presence is reminiscent of Jim Morrison to me. He has this fun swagger about him. His voice is unique and he has great technique with singing powerfully and in control.
Compared to the few outings I caught while they were still writing the new songs that require Gavin to play guitar, he looks a lot more natural up there with one in his hands.
He has never looked out of place playing on his slide guitar which rests on the table in front of him. It did at one point seem as though being strapped to a guitar was a whole new world to him. haha.
Not now. Now, he has that same swagger on guitar as he does the rest of the time without it. It’s quite fun to watch.
Dino of Dredg performing at the Troubadour
Dino is the most calculated person I think I have ever seen play. At times it is hard to not think of him as a robot. If you couldn’t happen to look into his eyes while he played I think you would believe he actually is a robot. The guy hits crazy hard and knows how to lead the rest of the band through dynamic build ups through out their set.
Mark of Dredg performing at the Troubadour
Mark’s guitar playing is probably the most easily recognized element in the music that notifies the listener they are hearing a dredg song. Until this show I was struggling with pinpointing just how far and away the batch of songs on their newest album have come from the last album.
Seeing them live and being able to fully focus on Mark made it apparent that distance is not far at all. His style has not changed although the influences for the music has.
Drew of Dredg performing at the Troubadour
Drew is definitely the ambassador of dredg. He is the guy that is always a beacon of fun. No matter how serious he can look, there are always moments of charm as he finds someone to quickly interact with in the crowd.
It was interesting seeing the addition of a synth in front of Drew.
A lot of times when you see a band member abandon their analog (well, analog enough) instrument for a synth it gets a little nerve racking. I mean, “keyboards have no soul!” Or, at least that is what I have read on numerous bumper stickers. haha.
The way Drew writes and plays quickly disproves that. It is a welcome addition to the soundscape that dredg creates.
Judgement Day on stage with Dredg performing at the Troubadour
The show was amazing. A lot of energy. A lot of heart and/or soul (haha). A lot of great songs. A lot of surprises too. With dredg that means guest appearances by friends. This night it was Judgement Day joining the band on stage to provide strings to a good grip of songs.
For the first time since 2002 the Kings could be playing in the playoffs. This is the first time for many of our current players to actually have something to fight for during the final 25 or so games.
It is really exciting to be a fan. The Kings are currently the youngest team in the NHL. They have a lot of inexperienced players and no one expected much from any of them in terms of rising to the challenge in this first season of Kings being a truly new team compared to its past versions. It is a lot of fun to watch young kids develop into true NHL players and come together to represent our city.
The Kings were also the worst team in the NHL last season and not much better the seasons before that. They have seriously turned all their shortcomings around. In many areas they were last in the NHL last season they are in the top 10. It is great to have hope and be able to see the beginning of things to come for this organization and hockey in Los Angeles. No one expected them to even be a contender for a playoff spot. Yet, here we are. Four points behind the 7th and 8th place teams and plenty of time to disrupt things and take a spot away from one of them.
With the win over the Minnesota Wild tonight there is a lot to be hopeful about. Keep an eye on the team. Show your support. The team needs to know they are not just fighting for their pride but, the pride of LA.
I’ll do my best to make it out to some practices as soon as the team gets back from their road trip.
Be sure to jump over to Rich Hammond’s LA KINGS blog: http://www.insidesocal.com/kings/
He does a wonderful job exposing the players as people and providing something more intimate to cheer for.
Keep www.atdhe.net bookmarked too in case a road game is not televised. Most games are streamed there =)
It would appear I need to step it up on adding content here. Good thing this is an exciting week for me. Hopefully, I can use it to transition into being more productive.
I will be going to Vegas on Thursday for Halloween. Friday night should be great fun as I run around in my Animal (from the muppets) costume and attend a Steel Panther concert. Halloween is by far my favorite holiday too. SO EXCITED. I just need to finish making the body portion of my costume so I am ready to rock at the show.
(If you know who took this promo shot tell me. It is on their myspace and I’d like to credit the photographer)
This is Steel Panther if you don’t know. They started out as a metal cover band playing gigs around Hollywood. After a few name changes, great success, and some time writing their own original tunes they became Steel Panther.
I have NOT ONCE held any real respect for a cover band until I saw these guys a few years ago. They put on an amazing show, are incredible musicians, and just get it. They get what they are doing. It is exciting to watch these guys transition from cover band to artists. I’m excited about the release of their upcoming CD and will be sure to keep you informed about it. Conveniently, I play pick up soccer with the drummer these days. I never would have known until someone told me it was him though. haha.
After I get back from Vegas on Saturday I’m immediately heading to the Palladium which has reopened. I am going to be photographing Thrice! I can’t wait for that. Those guys are keeping with this theme of transitions. They started out as this kinda thrashy metal punk band and now I would rank them up there with Dredg in terms of artistic vision. They have been creating some really amazing concept albums and put on an crazy energetic show. I haven’t seen them in about three years now too. It will be a great night for sure!
Sunday will have me waking up at 8am to play some hockey. I have just started to play goalie for a friends’ team at the Tri Valley Roller Hockey League. Playing on this team is another transition move to help me recover from surgery and hopefully get myself ready to play on an ice hockey team. I really need to figure out a way to work that into this blog more too.
I am working on sending a proposal off to AEG. They own the LA Kings and I’m looking to gain some access to be able to photograph the team in more intimate moments like in the locker room. I will be sure to keep an update on that as it progresses. Even if I fail I am sure someone could walk away knowing a bit more of how to go about doing such a thing.
The second night of Far was much like the first. The main difference was I got to spend it with two great friends that are big Far fans too. I met up with Dave Levine and Andy Ellsworth right as the first band was getting off the stage.
I forget their name but, what little I saw was pretty awesome. They were kids and maybe 17 at the oldest. They put on a wonderful show and had great interaction with the crowd. One of my favorite parts of the night was watching them scurry through the Troubadour holding their ears during Bangkok Five’s set, watching Far with HUGE smiles, and observing other people.
Far’s set changed a little bit. I wish I had photographed the set lists from each concert. I’m a little rusty and it totally slipped my mind. It felt like there were more songs from “Tin Cans With Strings to You” than the first night. I started out in the mosh pit and had to fight my way out. I never thought it would be so intense. I’ve been to metal shows plenty but, it was pretty crazy to say the least. I think I had a 200lb guy on my shoulders singing into Jonah’s face at one point haha.
The Troubadour show felt a little bit more energetic than the Glass House. That is more of an incredible feat than a dig about the first night lacking energy. Maybe it was because the Troubadour is smaller and was a lot more dense with people. In any case, it was amazing. A lot harder to photograph though. I was just as stuck in my position to photograph the concert but, no afforded a nice spot to do so like at the Glass House. I think the images came out alright non the less and I did get to play with my smaller lens a little bit.
It was a joy to watch these guys together. I dunno what happened or if there ever was any bit of animosity when the band decided to break up. It really doesn’t seem that there was. The guys all seem to be having a wonderful time on stage together and very excited to be playing to their fans again. There is not a lot of things more inspiring to me than watching people do what they love and know their heart is in it. If these first two shows are a preview of things to come I have no doubt Far will be back for long enough to create a new album and tour the states.
Now if only Sunny Day Real Estate and Underwood could follow this trend…
If you do not own a FAR CD be sure to check out “Water And Solutions.” It has influenced countless bands since its release that range from Thursday to Deftones to well probably your favorite band.
And, to be quite honest I’m fighting off a boner due to excitement.
Jonah just ok’d me for photo passes to both shows. I have been a huge fan of Far since I was 15. The band broke up shortly after my friend showed me who they were. Thankfully, I didn’t have as bad of luck after that same friend showed me At The Drive-in. I at least got in two ATDI shows before they imploded.
The last 11 years have been a bit depressing each time I found myself listening to Water and Solutions or Tin Cans With Strings to You. I have seen Jonah play in a few other bands since that fateful day and knew how energetic and fun he is as a performer. The depressing part is that all those other bands didn’t come close to the intensity that Far’s music was. I knew I was missing out on an incredible experience.
Finally, thanks to Dave Levine, I am getting a chance to say “I SAW FAR!!!!!!”
Expect some fun photos from The Glasshouse and The Troubadour next week =)
As one could guess from the title this is a work in progress. That is not as much a description of this blog as it is about my real project, aRefuge.com (or my entire life for that matter, haha).
The goal for this blog is to provide a fun little stream of creativity to the world as I work as a freelance photographer, come across art and artists, and of course explore Los Angeles.
Expect some random photos from my social life too. For being a hermit at heart I do find myself in some fun social situations with my friends.
From time to time I will probably post small updates about A.Refuge and my pursuit of funding.
Well. That’s it as far as intros go. Stay tuned for more.
