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  

Sunsets in Bushwick

I love a good sunset when I am in the middle of nowhere, and the cities always surprise me with their glory in reflections and silhouettes. Brooklyn sunsets are glorious. Whenever I would glance up and see this view reflected in the apartment building next door, I knew to stop whatever I was doing, grab my camera and run to the roof.

Moon over Agoura

I love the hours between dusk and dawn.  Sunsets, Sunrises.  Those mysterious colors that happen before in the hour leading up to the explosions of colors.  And the dark.  The dark when the only light is from the moon or a sliver of the moon.  Stars.  The hours between dusk and dawn are some of my favorite for my personal photography.
The other night there was a half moon peeking through a cloudy dark night.

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.