The Young Dubliners | House of Blues, LA | Music Photography

I was ridiculously excited as I headed to The House of Blues, Sunset Strip the other week. It was going to be my first time making images at the legendary HOB (as well as being one of the last times as their doors are closing.) That thrill was small compared to the joy I felt getting to watch the boys of The Young Dubliners rock in front of my lens again. The last time our paths crossed was back in 2011 at a bar called Mexicali’s in NJ.  It had been ages and I couldn’t wait to hug everyone again.
My excitement was already at the max when I found out Eric Rigler would also be joining them.  Eric Fucking Rigler.  He is the badass of all badass pipers. You know who he is, well, you know his Uilleann pipes anyways. Titanic, Braveheart, etc etc..if there are Uileann pipes being played, it is probably him. I cannot even remember the last time I got to see his magic.
The show was fucking awesome. The guys rocked like they always do and the crowd ate up every moment. I LOVED the venue and I hate money since that is the reason they are closing the amazing space, seriously?!?! why would anyone want to live in condo’s on what used to be the HOB’s??  Isn’t Sunset Strip cool >because< of the landmark spots?  Why people gotta destroy awesome??  but i digress, this night was awesome.  Great music, great crowd, great reunions *Erica n Gretchen*, great space, great guys.
Fantastic night!!!!

LGBTQ Task Force Pool Party | Event

My friend, the wine guru and maker of the best granola you have ever tasted, Patrick Trovato and I headed into the hills for the summer pool party for the Task Force. The task force is dedicated to improving the lives of the LGBTQ community. Fantastic day creating images for an incredible group of people.

Wild the Coyote | The Viper Room, LA | Music Photography

When I edit images from a show, I like to have the band’s music playing, especially if it is a  new to me band!  It is interesting to hear the studio sound right after seeing them live.

The other night I got to catch the last few songs of Wild the Coyote before The Gabrielz took the stage at The Viper Room. I enjoyed their set. It was loud, it was rocking. Energetic drummers are my absolute favorite to create images of and Wild the Coyote’s drummer ecstatically and ferociously pounded away on his drums. The guys delivered a solid set of alternative rock sliding towards the rock side on that seesaw in the live show.

Their studio recordings seesawed in the other direction, heavier on the alternative side. The songs sound like that song, you know the one, the song you find yourself singing along to while listening to the radio on an afternoon drive without knowing how you know the lyrics.  Several, I thought I knew already, maybe I caught that song at the show?  No, but seriously, I feel like I know the song that just started playing in this moment that I am typing…. “Everybody Knows.” (and no, it is not a cover of Leonard Cohen; but I must go listen to that right now).  Wild the Coyote’s studio work has an air of familiarity about it though I prefer the harder sound of their live show.

(what can i say? the dirtier the guitar, the rougher the bass, the harder the drums, the more i like… any wonder that People’s Blues of Richmond is tops for me – their cd has been on permanent repeat in my car for months and their live show is ridiculous, on the edge energy that fuels my desire to make that one image that shows what it sounded like and felt like to be there at that moment, that is always my goal with music photography. PBR, PBR!)

Thanks for the night of music, Wild the Coyote, I’m happy that I was able to catch a bit of your set. Y’all got the energy pumping at The Viper Room and you have made me miss my chain wallet