Lights - We Were Here Tour in Nashville 2/19/18

     I have been a fan of Lights for many, many years. She has always been a source of inspiration for me, but even more so over the past year with her latest endeavor, Skin&Earth. After years of simply wishing she could create her own comic, she decided to stop wishing and start doing, and so she drew an entire comic series herself and made an album to go alongside it. It is my favorite album by her to date and has been an album I have played over and over. I listened to it while driving to and from my first few dives after being SCUBA certified, I listened to it to and from university, I listened to it late at night to keep me awake while studying. I have looked up to Lights a lot: she is an artist, a musician, a storyteller, and a mom, and I am constantly impressed by her. I'm honestly really proud of what she has accomplished, and I truly do admire her spirit and drive. 

     Unfortunately, I had not seen Lights in three years. The last time I saw her was just a few days before I left the country for the first time in my life. Actually, it was also my first show that I ever shot. I didn't know what I was doing, I don't even know how I got the photo pass, but I figured I should start somewhere and so I went out on a limb and sent a request for a pass that I was so thankful to have received. That night, Lights was meeting the first few people to purchase her most recent album at the show, and I jumped at the opportunity. When my turn to meet her came, I was nervous and shaking but Lights was warm and friendly. I told her I was so happy she came that day because I was leaving the country for the first time in a few days and she was immediately interested in what I was doing and asked where I was going. I told her I was going to Chile for preliminary marine biology research and she responded enthusiastically, "WOW! Well you do lots of research while you are there, ok!" and gave me a big hug.

     Three years later, I've been to Chile three times, performed a lot research, and have shot several more shows and greatly developed myself as a photographer. However, I still had not seen Lights again. Every time she came back to Nashville, I wasn't able to make it to the show. By the time the most recent tour rolled around, I assumed it would be the same outcome as always: she would come on a day I couldn't go and I would be out of luck again. But this time, I got lucky.

     It is so fulfilling to see and photograph an artist you deeply admire after years of not seeing them. The Nashville show was everything I could have hoped for and more, and I had the biggest smile on my face the whole show. Lights was electric, with her vibrant red hair flashing in the incredible light display and overall girl power vibe. The audience felt it, too, and both fed off each other. She played old songs and new ones, and there was a glimmer in her eyes the entire time that never ever left. She put on an even better show than I had seen those three years ago and I left feeling so fulfilled and happy. Everything was moving full circle for me and it reminded me of how far I have come in the past three years. I think both of us have changed, for the better.

     I gush every time I think about the show. I probably will never stop. After such a long time, I finally had a second go (pun intended), and it was everything I hoped for and more. And I just have to say: Lights, I am so, so very proud of you. You are so powerful, so inspiring, and so incredibly talented. Thank you for the encouragement so many years ago, and thank you for living up to your name and being kindness and energy to so many people. Thank you for everything you do and I can't wait to see you again. 

HalfNoise Nashville 11/17/2017

     I first discovered HalfNoise almost an exact year ago while photographing the Paper Route tour stop in Nashville. I had never heard of him previously and decided to give him a listen. I was immediately hooked. I adored the indie-vibed tunes, lyricism, and overall feeling of the tracks, and HalfNoise very quickly became one of my favorite artists. A year later, I've shot three HalfNoise shows in Nashville and I can promise you that they never get old.

   HalfNoise shows are truly special. I've never been to a show that is quite like a HalfNoise one. There is always so much energy and it truly feels like a shared experience. Zac Farro really knows how to get people to "get out of their heads a little bit" as he puts it and enjoy themselves. He knows how to connect with his audience and how to make it an extraordinary night of music. I don't think it's possible to go to one of his shows and not have a blast. 

     Nashville HalfNoise shows, however, are even more special. Since Zac is from the area, he has a lot of talented friends who are able to attend the shows and it's like a big jam session. As "Scooby's in the Back" began, everyone crowded onto the teeny stage and jammed for several minutes of pure musical bliss. I'm always so impressed by how supportive his friends and family are, and it is so fulfilling as an audience member and as an artist myself to see a group of people band together to support their friend's art. It's incredible.

     I brought my prism along for the ride so that I could use what little light was available to get some shots. These feel very raw to me and I'm really happy with how they turned out.

     This was such an amazing show, but all HalfNoise shows are amazing. I think the moral of the story here is this: support your friends and get your tail to a HalfNoise show sometime. Cheers to the next one!

Violents with Monica Martin - Nashville, TN 12 October 2017

     Some moments are so, so rare and so, so precious. Having the opportunity to be in the midst of one of these moments is even more special.

     I had the opportunity to experience one of these moments at the Violents with Monica Martin show in Nashville. Only one other show had been played in New York City for the initial Awake and Pretty Much Sober album release, and another one didn't seem likely. Jeremy Larson, the mastermind behind the luscious Violents project (in which he writes and records the instrumentation, writes the lyrics, and then features a female vocalist) has been on the music scene for a few years, but live shows were incredibly rare. I've been a fan of Violents for about two years, and I had cherished the gorgeous EPs and now the first full-length album, but I was doubtful about ever seeing a live show. To my great surprise and excitement, a Violents show was announced for Nashville and I knew I had to go.

     Fans of both Violents and Monica Martin crowded into The High Watt upstairs venue to share the rare occasion. The night was absolutely ethereal. Martin's haunting vocals backed by a string quartet and Larson's exquisite skills on the keys captivated everyone in the room. It felt like everyone was somewhat in a trance-like state, absorbed by the music. Beautiful projections played behind the artists as well, adding to the overall mood (I absolutely adored the blowing grass visuals). I was in awe. They were also "a little chatty" throughout the show, engaging with the audience and showing a refreshingly humorous side. The show was lovely, and by the end it felt as if the audience had been taken on a journey or had eavesdropped on a story. I don't really know how to fully describe it, but it was a rare moment and you could feel it. I am so thankful to have had the opportunity to attend and shoot the show.

     Who knows, perhaps this isn't the end of Violents live shows. I certainly hope not. But for now, I am still honored to have been able to attend and experience something so exquisite. 

The Velvet Face EP Release Party

     I had never been to a concert in a Chinese restaurant before. I had also never been to a concert before where the only light source was literally a heating lamp that you use for chickens and reptiles. The HalfNoise The Velvet Face EP Release Party was certainly a mix of firsts.

    I had first been introduced to HalfNoise through the Paper Route show that I shot back in November, and since then he has become one of my favorite artists. I jumped on the chance to see him again when I heard about the EP release party. Having never been to a release party nor a concert in a restaurant, I wasn't sure what to expect. I brought my camera along for the ride and was eager to see what was in store.

     A mix of well-dressed twenty-somethings and a few less than twenty-somethings crowded into the lovely little Lucky Bamboo restaurant in West Nashville. Everyone was excited and happy to be there, the room just emanated with excitement and bliss. I was quite thrilled myself, except for one little issue: the lighting situation. I've shot in pretty bad light before, but this was an entirely different animal. Between one and two heating lamps with an orange glow lit the entire stage, and later a projector helped with the lighting some, but that was it. I have a personal vendetta against flash, especially in the concert setting. I'm not trying to blind the poor people on stage and plus it's usually not allowed, although I will admit that many people have great luck with flash photography even in the concert setting (My friend Marcus, who was the official photographer, uses flash and his shots turned out INCREDIBLY, they literally look like he took them in the 60s and it's fantastic: http://www.marcusmaddox.co/music). For me, though, I just don't use it, so instead I had to get creative and use my beloved prism to bend the light that was next to me in my direction (actually, some of the shots look like I flashed them, but I promise you that is just because I was next to the light, so I had the advantage of a little direct but alas weak lighting).

     The first band was Skyway Man, the eclectic musical outfit of James Wallace, and the set really fit the retro vibe. He put on a fun, groovy set that had everyone dancing and smiling (especially the live band members!). Complete with a telephone for a mic and groovy backgrounds, Skyway Man put everyone in an even better mood and quite frankly gave me some of my favorite shots I've ever taken.

     After Skyway Man's super-fun set, it was time for the long-awaited HalfNoise set, and my gosh, he did not disappoint. What I noticed the first time I saw him during the Paper Route show is that he has so much ENERGY and so much FUN on stage. If his audience isn't having enough fun, he'll make sure that they are, and it makes for an incredible show. The energy and excitement in the room this time shot through the roof the second he came out. Zac was all smiles (and so was everyone else) during the entire course of the show, and I don't think I've ever seen someone that happy to put on a show. He played a mix of songs from his Sudden Feeling album (my favorite), and then he played the entire new The Velvet Face EP with a little help from everyone who contributed to the collection (yes, everyone!). I've never seen that many people on one stage, let alone on such a small one, but seeing that many people who worked together on something special sharing in that moment and having the time of their lives was more than fulfilling for me as an audience member. The whole room was bathed in elated retro exhilaration for what felt like a period of timelessness. There was something so special about this show, something you can't possibly put into words or even feel secondhand from video footage or seeing photos, you simply had to be there. For a few hours, it was like those of us in the very Lucky Bamboo were the only ones in existence, reveling in a 1960s/70s vibe that made everyone feel a little bit lighter. Zac was simply overjoyed the whole show, and his joy was infectious and transparent.

     Absolutely no one wanted the show to end. As everyone left the stage and the restaurant began to settle down, the mood never left but hung warmly in the air, so much so that you could probably touch it. I don't think anyone could have left that show without feeling something. Zac and crew stuck around after the show to greet fans, with Zac eventually leading everyone outside as the restaurant was closing down. Personable and kind, he chatted with fans under the artificial parking lot lights in the thin night air. Sadly I wasn't able to stick around long enough to snag a photo with him (next time!), but I left in very high spirits. This was a dang good show. It was too good. I don't think I'll ever attend another one like it. Congrats to Zac and crew, you were spectacular. Here's to next time!

Also, if you want to pretend that I took these photos in 1968, I'm cool with it.

The Staves - 3/5/17

     This post is admittedly a little late. College got the best of me and before I knew it I realized I hadn't posted these yet! 

     This was honestly one of the most incredible sets I've ever seen. The entire audience was captivated and mesmerized by the beautiful, haunting sound of the three sisters harmonizing (effortlessly, I might add!). My first thought at the end of the show was, "When is the next one?!" I have so much more appreciation and love for The Staves after this show, something I didn't think was possible because they are already so phenomenal on their albums.

     In the dimly-lit venue, the ladies filled the entire room with beautiful harmonies that made you catch your breath and left you straining to figure out which voice belonged to who.

     This show will definitely be one that will be stored in my happy memories for a long time. Can't wait for the lovely Staves to return to Nashville again sometime.