Concerts

Lindsey Stirling - INB Performing Arts Center

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May 22, 2015 - So I once again had the amazing opportunity to shoot Lindsey Stirling on the road again, this time in Spokane, Washington at the INB Performing Arts Theater.  (The first time was with Archis in Portland at the Crystal Ballroom).  

For those who don't know, Lindsey Stirling is a cross between a violinist and dancer; a performing artist crossing the genres of electronic music, classical and even hip-hop.  She first uploading videos onto Youtube back in 2007 (Crystallize being the 8th most watched video of 2012), was a contestant in America's Got Talent and has collaborated with many other musicians such as Pentatonix and Lzzy Hale.

The show in itself was a spectacle to see with fantastic costume design, extraordinary set design and brilliant choreography.  Lindsey really brought the show to life and got the audience wanting and roaring for more!  Basically, if I haven't sold her enough, please go check her out - it's such a breath of fresh air to find a musician who breaks the mold and constraints of working in a particular "genre."

Below you will find my final images (click to enlarge) as well as a set list and gear guide.

Setlist:

  1. Ascendance
  2. Senbonzakura
  3. Moon Trance
  4. Master of Tides
  5. Shadows
  6. Elements
  7. Nerd Medley (Assassin's Creed, Game of Thrones, Skyrim, Dragon Age, Halo, Zelda)
  8. Song of the Caged Bird
  9. Swag (Acoustic)
  10. Transcendence
  11. Take Flight
  12. Firefly
  13. Stars Align
  14. Roundtable Rival
  15. Shatter Me
  16. [Encore] Beyond the Veil w/ Phantom of the Opera Medley

Gear List:

- Nikon D610 with 24-70 2.8
- Nikon D7000 with 70-200 2.8

SuicideGirls Blackheart Burlesque @ the Rickshaw Theatre

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April 7, 2015 - Beginning in the early 2000s the SuicideGirls have been putting on their acclaimed and sold-out Blackheart Burlesque shows across the United States.  They've opened for legendary acts including Guns and Roses as well as Courtney Love, and eventually conquered Europe and Australia where they opened for music festivals.  

To be honest, I haven't been legal for too long, so I am unaware of how often the ladies have come to Vancouver but I had gone for my second time when they arrived on April 2nd at the Rickshaw Theatre.  To sum up what the performance entails, it is a blend of sex-positivity, raw energy and humour - drawing their satirical dances from pop-culture references such as Game of Thrones, 50 Shades of Grey and Star Wars.  Much of the choreography was put together by Manwe Sauls-Addison, whose clientele has included Beyonce, Jennifer Lopez and the fame monster, Lady Gaga.  Essentially, it is a paradox of sexy and geeky; a night of fun for anyone who has loved the look of the "bad girl" to know that they're just like us!

The lineup changes depending on locale, but on the Canadian leg of the tour, Sunny Suicide (all the girls have a persona followed by Suicide, as their names) was hosting with Radeo DJ-ing.  The other dancers included Whiskey, Liryc, Cadorna, Mahneeguh and Peneloppe.  A lot of the local girls came to support too, so it was nice to meet others such as Ceres and Stormyent.  Here's a quick pic of the crew that I caught:

The Rickshaw doesn't have the best lighting situation, presenting a challenge but a very rewarding payoff.  Let me know in the comments if you can get all the pop-culture references! You can click on the photos to enlarge them :).  Gear list at the bottom for you photo junkies. 

Gear List:

  • Nikon D610 using 24-70 2.8, 50 1.4
  • Nikon D7000 using 10.5 2.8 fisheye, 35 1.8, 70-200 2.8




Anti-Flag: The Terror State Anniversary

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Drink. Drank. Punk.

Anti-Flag, a punk band hailing from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania decided to make my day when they announced they were coming back to Vancouver after six and a half years since their last tour. Their current lineup consists of Justin Sane (vocals/guitar), Chris Head (vocals/guitar), Chris #2 (vocals/bass) & Pat Thetic (drums).  

Anti-Flag has been a huge part as they had led me into punk rock with the albums "The Terror State" [2003] and "For Blood and Empire" [2006.]  They have always been outspoken and progressive in regards to many political issues, including the Bush Administration.  Furthermore, they've given their support to Amnesty International, Democracy Now!, Greenpeace, PETA and most recently, the Occupy Movement.

I had the chance to meet Justin Sane prior to the show and the rest of the band really briefly.  They are probably the most down-to-earth musicians I've met to date - they don't let the fame get to their heads unlike many larger acts, despite being in the game since 1988.  They were super friendly and accommodating the second I walked in the door to ask for my photo pass!  

The show in itself was filled with circle pits, chants and moshing.  The energy was unreal - the aura that they gave to the ecstatic members of the audience was incomparable to a majority of the previous 40 or so concerts that I've attended.  The split-second the first song came on, we had stage-divers left, right and centre. Anti-Flag is one of those bands that reinstate the belief that punk isn't dead - it may appear very different compared to its roots displayed in the 70s but have always maintained a large social presence and aren't afraid to piss people off for their beliefs.  I would definitely give them a listen if you're looking for punk rock with melodic elements, have some pent-up angst or simply looking for high-energy music.

Below are the images I had taken at Venue Nightclub on Friday, March 13th; followed by the setlist & gear list.