ThatWasThen and The New Peter Gabrielz | The Viper Room, LA | Music Photography

ThatWasThen was furiously rocking as I walked up the stairs at The Viper Room and I was stoked to hear loud genuine rock fill the room. ThatWasThen’s dirty guitars and soulful harmony provide an earnest fusion of modern and vintage rock in an electric live show.

Next up was why I was there, The New Peter Gabrielz.  They were a new to me band, having only heard their video on youtube and I was hooked instantly.  This band makes me happy.  This band makes everyone in the room happy.  This band IS happy.  I’m listening to their single “Rewind” right now on their website.  You should go listen too.  Their website says that they are “a progressive folk electronic group that combines percussive dance beats with a back porch flavor.”  They are uplifting, you want to bounce up and down with a big smile while watching them gleefully dance around the stage.

The Gabrielz | The Viper Room, LA | Music Photography

Back in April, a friend invited me to join her for a show at The Viper Room.  She had won tickets and knows my adoration of music and asked if I wanted to join her.  Heck yeah!  Ended up that she got sick  and couldn’t make the show but I decided to go anyways.  I’m so glad that I did. (blog from that night) That band was The New Peter Gabrielz, now they are known as The Gabrielz and my new favorite band in LA.  I was instantly hooked and  excited when they reached out to me about photographing one of their residency shows at The Viper Room.  I wanted a 2nd listen and look.  Would they be as great as I remembered?

That and more so, by the end of the night I was grinning like an idiot and super high on the goodness of life.  The Viper Room was packed with smiling and joyous spirits.  The people that come to see this band are as upbeat and positive as The Gabrielz.  Their music empowers and uplifts with a message of self acceptance and love for others and reminds people about the possibilities of dreams and happiness.

I LOVE THIS BAND.

A.R.T./New York 2015 Spring Benefit | Event Photography

I look forward to the A.R.T./NY gala every year. The evening is full of wonderfully talented and passionate people. A.R.T/NY works tirelessly as a supporter of NYC’s non for profit theatres. They do everything to ensure that Off Broadway always exists and that performers, directors, designers have places to create and work their craft. A.R.T./NY awards grants for funding, provide rehearsal spaces,  and help the emerging voices in theatre.
This year, they honored Lisa Cleff Kurtz and Pam MacKinnon, two very influential women who have dedicated their lives to excellence in theatre.
Lisa received the 2015 Honoree of the Kathy and Howard J. Aibel Award for her philanthropic efforts on behalf of A.R.T./NY. Lisa Cleff Kurtz has worked all sides in the theatre world as an actor, dancer, writer, casting, producer and investor. She ensures that the talent of the theatre continues by her tireless efforts and her sparkling and engaging personality make her loved by all.
The 2015 Honoree of The Abe L. Blinder award was presented to director, Pam MacKinnon for her work in the nonprofit theatre field. Her successes on Broadway with “Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?” and “Heidi Chronicales” (among many others) have never kept her away from the non profit Off Broadway theatres. We all hung on her every word as she gave a passionate talk on the importance of these small non for profit theatres that are giving artists the opportunities to become great! I could only imagine how captivating she is as a director.
The evening was hosted by Christine Lahti with awesome performances from CAP21 sprinkled throughout the evening.