SXSW is coming up, so what?

 So here we are coming up upon another year of Austin's biggest event South By Southwest. Unfortunately the powers that be at SXSW headquarters don't provide the press with free badges as most other festivals do, so shooting SXSW can be pricey if you don't have the backing of a major sponsor to buy your badge.


I've found a way around the SXSW badge debacle. PRIVATE PARTIES. Every year companies flock to SXSW and throw parties. Who plays these grand parties? The same performers that headline the SXSW showcases. You wanna shoot the headliners and NOT buy a SXSW badge? SHOOT THE PARTIES. I'm going to be posting lists of these parties and the dates on this site so we as press photographers can get the coverage we need, without the expense of the SXSW badge.

I don't have firm dates yet, but here's a quick list of some of the biggest parties during SXSW

• Fader Fort by FIAT: This is pretty much a festival all on it's own. It lasts all week and brings a lot of top performers and newcomers that are on the rise.
• SPIN @ Stubb's: This is one of the hippest parties in town. They usually have a wide variety of new music ranging from pop to indie to punk. 
• Rachael Ray's Feedback Party: This is usually at Stubb's as well. The music is varied and there's always free food and beer. And it's the GOOD stuff, this is Rachael Ray after all...
• Perez Hilton's One Night in Austin: Gossip queen Perez Hilton always throws a major shindig. The music is usually the hottest acts from rock to R&B, and it runs late into the night.
• MWTX: Mess With Texas. This is a mostly punk and rock and roll oriented party. It's outdoors and it's a rockin' good time.
• Brooklyn Vegan: These guys love Austin and they put on a show with great indie and rock bands. 
• Roky Erikson's Ice Cream Social: Austin's own psychedelic hero Roky Erikson throws on a big-time rock and roll shindig. 
• Grackle Fest!: The Austin Facial Hair Club puts on this party at the Grackle on E. 6th. Why do I recommend it? Because my band, Monarch Box is playing! And it's a good party with free beer. And there's beardos hanging around. Good times.

This a just a drop in the bucket folks. Stay tuned. I'll be filling in the dates and adding more parties. 

Concert and Live Music Photography - Pro Tips From the Pit

Now available for pre-order, Concert and Live Music Photography - Pro Tips From the Pit.


If you've ever wanted to take dynamic and vibrant digital photos of your favorite band in concert, but aren't sure how to tackle such obstacles as approaching the stage, tricky lighting situations, or even what equipment to use, then look no further! Concert and Live Music Photography is a comprehensive guide to shooting live music performances, providing you with the right information on equipment, camera settings, composition, and post-processing to get the best out of each performance shot.

J. Dennis Thomas, whose work has appeared in such magazines as Rolling Stone, SPIN, and Country Weekly, shares tips on lighting, common problems, etiquette, and recommended camera settings for shooting in a variety of different venues, including clubs, bars, outdoor concerts, theatres, stadiums, and arenas. He also explains how to get the right credentials to get you closer to each performance.

Jam packed with over 160 photos from today's top concerts, this book will not only give you the information you need to start taking rockin' photos of your favorite musicians, but will spark your creativity when you're anticipating the next shot.

Jane's Addiction

Lamb of God

Metallica

Bonnaroo - Day One

So far Bonnaroo has been great. I picked up a gig shooting for Comedy Central, so I didn't shoot much music, but did get a lot of great comedians including the venerable Henry Rollins, and Cheech Marin!

I'm gonna keep this short! Enjoy the photos!

The Odd Future @ Fader Fort by FIAT

Wow! These guys are just too crazy for words.

GAYNGS / Local Natives @ Stubb's 03.11.2011

Since the concert season and SXSW are upon us again I decided to bring Austin Live! back from the dead. My first show this year is GAYNGS and Local Natives. The show was sold out and for some reason this bill attracted the most hot chicks I have ever seen together at one time.

GAYNGS

GAYNGS is a Minneapolis based super group that fuses pop, folk, and electro to make a crazy blend that comes out sounding like a Barry White album recorded under the influence of LSD. The band has dozens of members which makes it kind of difficult to shoot. The band was tight and funky, yet still has a smooth loose groove. I would call it soft-rock indie pop if I had to label it. The band had lots of energy and it was a great show. Keep an eye out for these guys and be sure to catch them live if you get the chance.

GAYNGS

Local Natives

Local Natives took the stage next amidst the screams of a lot of teenage girls. These guys play straight up indie pop with real zeal and energy. Live the Local Natives have a real guitar driven sound that's not overly "poppy". This is the third time I've caught them and was definitely the best performance by far. The lighting was great which is always a plus.

Local Natives

Local Natives

Bonnaroo 2010 wrap-up

Wow. Bonnaroo was HOT this year. So hot that it was impossible to sleep. Nevertheless I managed to shoot 30+ bands in the space of 4 days all on about 7 hours of sleep.

Concert photography can be pretty difficult sometimes, but I have to say Bonnaroo 2010 was an epic adventure. Here's a slideshow of some of the highlights of the festival.

Enjoy!

The Flaming Lips @ Bonnaroo

Holy crap. Yesterday was brutal. After getting next to no sleep I had to run around in the brutal heat all day. It's so hot here it makes Austin City Limits feel like an Eskimo Pie.

I shot a bunch of different bands of all types and genres; She & Him, Tenacious D, Steve Martin and the Steep Canyon Ranchers, but the topper was The Flaming Lips. True to form these guys put on a great show full of props and audience participation.

They started the set with a few of their well known staples and continued on with a full set of their best songs. This is when the real shit went down. Wayne Coyne and company performed the entire Pink Floyd Dark Side of the Moon album. All I can say was that it spectacular. With a little help from Beth Ditto from The Gossip, the Flaming Lips laid this record down like it was their own.