Dec
11
2010

Rock For Tots

PhotosSaturday, December 11, 2010 - 11:30:32 pm
(Posted Under: Tempe Music Scene Tempe Music Scene, Music Music, Live Shows)
Like with all benefit shows that Lance Wilson puts on, Rock For Tots was a lot of fun tonight.

Definitely a long ass day, being the designated photographer for Simple Entertaining, this time in Chandler. Which incidentally was a good opportunity to give the new 50 - 200mm lens a work out. Which proved to be a good thing to have brought along, and made shooting a lot easier today. Absolutely no regrets in spending a little extra and getting that in addition to the wide angle lens.

As such with the long day, by 6:30, I was pretty tired. We got to the Sail Inn a little late, but caught the tail end of Jed's A Millionaire. Given the tiredness, being able to pull up a chair outside at Sail was appreciated. Mojo Farmers were up next. Have heard a lot about them over the years, but have never heard them. I'm not a jam band guy, but their set was enjoyable, since they weren't that jam bandy. Lucky D. Hip hop is not my thing either, but definitely a cool thing that Lance really puts in some variety on his bills.

Photobox ImageFirst up with "our" bands was Let Go, inside. Good rockin' set. The really cool part of that was seeing Lance get up there to sing You Got Lucky. I guess that's a tradition, but since Let Go weren't on the bill last year, I was unaware of it. Fun stuff. He did a good job too. I guess Robin isn't the only Wilson that can sing. [wink]

Photobox ImageWatched a bit of Nameless Prophets outside, until moving inside again when we heard The Black Moods sound checking. And that really wasn't the worst idea, facilitating finding a decent spot before they started, as it got pretty packed inside once they started. It seems like it's been forever since we've seen those guys and cool to have a brief chat with Bobby before the set.

Photobox ImageI definitely let loose with the photo taking. Ironically, I'd just brought the wide angle lens, since I figured I wouldn't have much use for the telephoto tonight - and knew I certainly wouldn't be up for much changing of lenses. However, when trying to get a shot of Chico, it became clear that I probably should have brought that as the default lens. It's all a learning experience, and this photo kinda came out cool anyway.

Photobox ImageDefinitely a blistering set, filled with new songs, including about 2 that were new to even us. There was definitely something "vintage Black Moods" in the air tonight with the set. To the point that halfway through Josh was peeling of his shirt. Which marks the first time since 2006 that I've witnessed what used to be a common sight - shirtless Josh Kennedy. Just like old times.

Photobox ImageFunnily enough, a new expensive camera didn't get me any closer to succeeding in my quest of taking a great (or really, at this point, simply successful [smile] ) Josh Kennedy "airtime" photo. In all of them, and there is no shortage, his feet are firmly planted on the ground. But it's coming, I at least know that. It was incredibly more fun shooting at a show with this camera. Which is a large reason for the ridiculous number of photos of Josh I ended up with (much more than what I even kept).

It was an absolutely cluster fuck where we were while they were playing. In part due to the draw they had, and in part to how badly laid out the Sail Inn is inside.

To Yucca We Go...

After The Moods were done rocking the house, we made a v-line to the car, headed to Yucca to catch Strange Young Things. Ash to University to Mill. From Sail Inn's parking lot to Yucca's parking lot in under 10 minutes. That ain't bad.

We were technically late, slightly after 11, but completely in time to walk into Yucca to see the band halfway through setting up the drum kit, have a quick smoke out back and walk in right before that droning note of Bang The Dash. Another night of leaving one bar for another to see Strange Young Things beautiful executed.

Not half as many people there as I would have expected, but then again, with Rock For Tots going on, not really that surprising I guess. It was Yucca's Christmas Formal, with Glodie adorned with the Santa hat that brought back memories of Alice Cooper's Christmas Pudding Finals 12 months ago. It was Strange Young Things @ Yucca - fun, crazy time, what more is there to say?

"Ya going to Sail?"

"Hell yeah!". Like he needed to ask. That was the entire conversation between us and Corey as he made darted from the stage to the Yucca bathroom and we made our way for the back door. In no time, we were back at the Sail Inn car park, amazingly pulling in to the same car park that we'd vacated earlier. It was exactly 12:04. A trip to Yucca, a Strange Young Things set and back to the Sail Inn in exactly one hour.

While we were gone, Vayden had played, and Mergence were probably halfway through their set when we walked back in, which thankfully went without a problem or request for more toys for the tots. [smile] We watched them for a little bit, before retiring out the back. Despite my tiredness, both the Black Moods, and frustration with what seemed virtually every woman at the Sail Inn pushing past me to get to the restroom, had really got me on an adrenaline high, which continued throughout Strange Young Things set. Back at Sail, I was coming done off it. No fun. The idea of Strange Young Things hitting the stage and picking me back up was as enticing as I'm sure crack is to a junkie. And it really couldn't happen fast enough, lest falling into a tired stupor. [smile] An appreciative Lance came over for a chat, and suggested that this looks like it'd been the most successful event to date. And y'know, judging by the attendance throughout the night, it seems like that was probably the case. Very cool.

Photobox ImageBefore long we wandered in as our boys were setting up. It was an oh so familiar sight. Almost like one we'd seen earlier tonight. Oh that's right, it was. After equipment setup was finished, and shots were brought to the stage, that downing 'A' note played out, for the second time tonight for us. Banging on the dash, you've got the speakers blowing up.

Photobox ImageYucca was fun. The Sail Inn was however the full and adulterated Strange Young Things experience. This set blew their one an hour earlier out of the water. Despite the guys being the last band and it being late, there was a nice contingent of people there ready to fuel the beast that was on stage. And fueled they were. Earlier in the night Woolford had mocking insisted that everyone move back form the stage with a huge dose of sarcasm behind every delivery. Strange Young Things however did not need to make any such announcements, the front of stage was a wall of bodies from the first note.

It was certainly fun to shot these guys with the new camera, this being my first opportunity to give that a try. Now, even with an expensive camera, those boys are still the hardest band to photograph! Intensely dynamic stage presence means that the moment you have the shot right, a split second later the whole scene has changed. I tried quite a few non flash shots. A few actual came out okay, however I've learnt that it's pretty much a lost cause unless you're going for a completely blurred motion shot.

Photobox ImageWith all that said, the best shot of the night came when Dan posed for this one. As a drummer, Dan has the intensity of a hurricane. Now don't be confused by this shot. This isn't taken in between songs. No, it's not even during a slow breakdown part of the song. Dan posed for this glamor shot right in the middle of one of their skin pounding songs. I'm unable to comprehend how Dan could pose for this, and not miss a beat. Dan's the Man. Don't let anyone tell you otherwise.

There was every classic Gloden move during the set.

Photobox ImageThe self hanging. Y'know, that move that you're always convinced is one day going end in an accidental fatality. [wink]


Photobox ImageClimbing on anything you possible can, including your amp.


Photobox ImageFace down on the ground in the crowd. Throughout the history of rock n' roll, this sight signifies a member has passed out from illicit drug use. Or some sort of exhaustion. Which is more often than not just the family friendly way of saying "passed out from illicit drug use". [wink] But with this band, it's a patented choreographed quintessential stage move, and the sign of a great show. [smile]


Photobox ImageBringing the show "to" your audience, in the way that only Corey Gloden can.


Photobox ImageAlthough I hadn't seen them when we got back, Josh and Chico were still in the house. Which made for some duel Glodie / Kennedy guitar action which was a lot of fun to watch. Duel, but with one guitar that is. And the Bitch Has Got Problems torch was passed from Katie to them tonight. [wink] Josh's improv was classic.

After the fun was over, we retired to the outdoor stage, overhearing "Corey, you humped everything in here!" as we walked out. And it was true. The mic stand, the monitor, Dan's drums, audience members in the front row, the dance floor, his guitar. Josh may have been the only thing to escape a Corey humping, and let's be honest, that too probably happened while I wasn't looking! [razz] But anyways, it's a good way to sum up their set in one sentence. [smile]

There are a buttload more photos from the night using the Photos link at the top of the entry.

Really, really fun night!

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