Well, it's been awhile since my last post! So here's some highlights of what's been going on since then:
Dave Hause put out an album that's become one of those Feel Good Hits of the Summer, Bury Me in Philly. I'm always relieved when an artist I'm pretty passionate about puts out new music I like. It's a terrible feeling when they don't. Sometimes you can make it through a downturn, sometimes you can't. Not the case with Hause, thankfully! Check out my photos from his February show at Crossroads in New Jersey here.
In This Moment released Ritual this Summer and it's also wonderful. I can't believe I didn't catch on to this band so much sooner. But, better late than never! Maria Brink is a Rock goddess, and I love the theatrical quality to their look and live show. Even if they came out in jeans and t-shirts, it wouldn't take away from their music. So far "Black Wedding", featuring Metal God Rob Halford, is my favorite off the record. I can't get enough of it. My shots from their show at Asbury Park's Convention Hall are here. I hadn't been there since the Gaslight Anthem brought Bruce Springsteen out on stage with them in December 2011 (photos here). It was great to go back to this great venue. Especially now that I've been clued in since then about its history of having hosted the Doors and The Clash in the past.
Yet another fantastic album was released since January- Papa Roach's Crooked Teeth. I always think they can't possibly top themselves, but they have. They've given Anthony Esperance (bassist Tobin's Brother) more responsibility creatively and with their live show, adding him as a backup singer and musician. Again, it's sometimes a weird transition when you've been a fan of a band for so long and they add in a new element. But Anthony fits right in. I caught their Toronto set in April as well as their last minute stop in NYC in May to play an I Heart Radio studio gig and treat fans to a listening party at Bowery Electric the week of the album's release. They can't come back soon enough.
I also checked out Australian band Jakubi at Brooklyn Bowl. They're a mix of Hip Hop, Funk and Rock out of Melbourne. Right after their set, Questlove (of the Roots) DJ'd, playing only Jackson Family music since that was the week of the anniversary of MJ's death. It was so much fun, and he went deep! Janet tunes only known if you owned the records as well as remixes you probably only knew if you had poked around Napster back in the day. Photos of Jakubi from that night here. Questlove's security was a bit strict about getting up close and I didn't want to disrupt him at work!
And of course I kept up with some of my all time favorites from my formative years, L.A. Guns, Faster Pussycat, and Sebastian Bach. Some bands you just never outgrow!
Anyway, more to come soon as I get my photos from the past 8 months together. By the way, please don't take the lack of posts as lack of interest in communicating with everyone. Photo editing, going to the shows (especially those with huge commutes), and life events in general kept me from getting back here.
