The Cure, Robert Smith

The Cure, Robert Smith, Beacon Theater, NYC

 Wow, last minute Sunday plans and went off to photograph The Cure at The Beacon Theater, New York City. I always like photographing at the Beacon - great sight-lines, and, as with most theaters, a great shot from the balcony (which I forgot to do yesterday)....

This band has been around since the late 70's, part of the post-punk and New Wave movements in the UK. They have been given credit for stating 'gothic rock'  in the early 80's....During the early 90's they were often called the most popular 'alternative' band in the world.

Robert Smith, The Cure 

Robert Smith is the lead singer, guitar player and main songwriter in The Cure. He was also in the band Siouxsie and the Banshees.

Johnny Winter

Johnny Winter, Madison Square Garden

This image made at Madison Square Garden in the early 70's....Note that they had people sitting right on the stage - such a different time in live music......not only that but you cold shoot the entire show and use flash if necessary...I was never much of a flashy on camera guy but in this case it helped to show the folks on stage......killed the stage lighting but had to get the shot...

Photographed with a Nikon F series camera using ektachrome color slide film
transferred to the digital world using an Imacon scanner

Lady Antebellum

Lady Antebellum, Nokia Theater,  New York City

Busy couple of days here in Indiana. Yesterday met my good friends Barbara and Michael so we could hang the Next Step gallery show that opens this Friday at the Renaissance Fine Art and Design Gallery in Carmel Indiana. The opening is scheduled for 6PM - 10PM - come on down.

 Most of my other time is being spent organizing the Music and iPhone presentation scheduled for  Saturday, May 21 at the Apple Store at Keystone Crossing, Indianapolis, Indiana. This is the first one and my plans are to make this presentation at Apple locations across the country in the next few months. 

Today's image is Lady Antebellum who I was able to catch at their Nokia Theater (now Best Buy Theater) show last year in New York City. 

Captured with a Canon 5DMKII, 70-200MM lens

Parlor James

Parlor James

Musical Group Parlor James, circa 1996 was comprised of Ryan Hedgecock (formerly Lone Justice with Maria Mckee) and Amy Allison (daughter of Mose Allison). Amy and Ryan were photographed down under the Brooklyn Bridge in an old loft - an area generally known as DUMBO.

Parlor James was one of the early alternative country bands.....

Captured with a 4x5 camera using Polaroid Type 55 film, 80MM Schneider Lens

Leonard Cohen

'Like a bird on the wire,
like a drunk in the midnight choir,
I have tried in my way to be free'........Leonard Cohen

On the way to New Orleans today for Jazz Fest.....Thought I would post one of my favorite musicians...Always wanted these three lines on my gravestone....

Captured at The Beacon Theater a year or so back when he first started touring again...

Who_2

Pete Townsend - Keith Moon

Back in the day at concerts, meaning the late 60's and early 70's photographers were allowed to shoot the entire show - heck, you were even allowed you to shoot with flash. There was no 3 song and a cloud of dust rule.

I used to experiment with flash by shooting at various shutter speeds to get light trails using the tour lighting to paint on the image. It was impossible to see what you were doing but with some practice one could get a vague idea.

This capture of the Who was made just that way - probably one of many from that night.

KaiserCartel

Another group I saw the other night at the Highline Ballroom in New York was KaiserCartel. 

Based in Red Hook, New York, the artistic community based in the old warehouse-shipping section of Brooklyn Courtney Kaiser and Benjamin Cartel are veterans of many many bands and the world travel that goes with same. On this particular night they were a drums-acoustic guitar duo which at best is difficult, but they pull it off seamlessly. I look forward to seeing them in full band mode.

The following is from their website (link is above):

Who Benjamin Cartel and Courtney Kaiser were as past selves is very much alive in the music make. Kaiser's extensive vocal training in the choirs of Indiana (and as a back-up singer for John Mellencamp) and Cartel's years of playing in DIY bands imbued in KaiserCartel the ability to do a lot with little; they are inveterate professionals on shoestring budgets, musicians so technically proficient they seamlessly switch instruments throughout the course of a show. Both Courtney and Benjamin spend their days ensconced in music and the arts. Courtney is an elementary music school teacher and Benjamin is an early childhood art teacher, their day jobs are centered on inspiring creativity and then, in turn, they take that inspiration and weave it breathlessly and beautifully into their own music.


The strength of KaiserCartel doesn’t lay in the fact that they are a couple; it lays in the fact that they are musicians and friends who work symbiotically. Whereas some couples invite you into their bedroom, KaiserCartel invite you into their living room, where the full scope of their lives can be seen.


"I always liked the idea, when you meet a couple, and there's something about them—and you wonder what it is they do at night. I feel like because we're comfortable just being real and how we are, and there's no artifice, you get to know what it's like in our house," says Kaiser. "Seeing looks that we give, or music that we write – it's seeing us in our living room."

Here is a link their MySpace Page - check them out - well worth the time.