Smashing Pumpkins - The Roy Wilkins Auditorium - 10.20.12

The last time I saw the Smashing Pumpkins was in 1994 at Lollapalooza on Harriet Island. Coming off their release of Siamese Dream the year before, they were at their peak. Seeing that show was one of the biggest pieces cementing my interest in seeing live music.

Fast forward to 2012. I get the call to shoot Smashing Pumpkins for Jam Magazine at The Roy Wilkins Auditorium. Knowing it couldn't hold a flame to the show I saw in 1994, I accepted with low expectations. But any chance to shoot a band whose old music still means something to me, I could not pass up.

The press pass situation for this show was like none other I've experienced. Typically you are allowed to shoot the first 3 songs or first 15 minutes. And unless it's a small club there is usually a photo pit from which to shoot from. There was a pit at this show (and a quite large one at that), but the photographers were not allowed in it at all. The show had to be shot from the general admission audience. The trade off was that we were able to shoot the entire show.
This should be interesting.

Thanks to a small mosh pit (against security's wishes), I was moved fairly close and was able to get a decent spot. The first half they played their new album, Oceania in it's entirety. It was mediocre at best. The second half, much to the crowd's delight, they visited some of their old hits, however left out some of the staples you'd expect to hear. Every time they'd get remotely close to taking you back to a taste of the 1994 magic, they'd play something out of left field. Like encoring with a cover of KISS's "Black Diamond". What?

All in all, it was a fine show. Good to hear a few of those old tunes and a fun experience to shoot a show amongst the masses. I'd do it again.

Extending the Family

I figured I'd give maternity photography a whirl - after all, I had the perfect model to do so. My wonderful wife was more than willing to pose and listen to the direction I gave her which made it very easy on me. Not to mention, she's very photogenic. Over the past eight months she has dealt with a lot changes, emotionally and physically. I can't imagine what it would be like. But she's been a trooper through it all. One month to go and I know she'll do great when the big day arrives. Then I'll have a whole new subject to constantly be shooting!

Phish - Alpine Valley - 06.30.12

In the summer of 1996, after getting shut-out for tickets to Red Rocks, a couple of good buddy's and I made the trek across Wisconsin to Alpine Valley Music Theatre to what would be my first Phish show. 16 years and 65+ shows later, I found myself leaning against the stage of the massive shed with a photo pass pasted to my shirt anticipating the entrance of one of my favorite bands.

Ever since Phish started playing here on that fateful day in '96, immediately I was hooked and I haven't missed a single stop of theirs at Alpine. This venue has been such a special place for me to visit each and every time. The music, the atmosphere and the fantastic friends that gather here from across the country is something I hope to never miss.

Special thanks to ScottyB and Hidden Track for giving me the opportunity to shoot this show. I will never forget this experience and hope to have many more like it.