Live Music with the Wil Gravatt Band
One month ago, I traveled to Washington DC for the National Walk for Epilepsy. The night I arrived, the Wil Gravatt Band was performing downtown at the Hill Country Boot Bar. Wil Gravatt operates Wil Gravatt Entertainment when he is not performing. Wil also helps my friend Chad Barth organize the Concert for Epilepsy.
In 2007, Chad started the benefit to honor his sister. The first event, a “Karaoke-off,” raised $2,500. By 2011, Chad had recruited experienced event organizers and he was able to organize a benefit concert with two well known country acts. Gravatt deserves some credit for sharing his expertise with Chad.… Read the rest
Eventbrite – Connections Made Simple
Yesterday I wrote about Chad Barth, Chad’s Concert for Epilepsy and the Eventbrite’s 2010 MyEventRocked award. (Chad’s concert won; I was the photographer.) The concert connected many people to the epilepsy community and the award helped more than the people at Eventbrite realize.
(Try clicking on the photo!)
Several months ago, Eventbrite hired my friend Chad Barth as their Washington, D.C. event organizer. (Chad also does something with Eventbrite politics.) After Chad joined Eventbrite, he introduced me to a few of his colleagues. When Eventbrite held their Concert Confidential, I photographed the Jackie Greene San Francisco event. I have been waiting for a good reason to thank Eventrbite again and acknowledge Chad, so I am posting while Chad is in town. The September 2011 Barrel House performance benefited FOGG.… Read the rest
Bomba Estereo Cumbia Concert
This week, Melrose Leadership Academy students will perform their twice annual music expo. Some of my photographs that are displayed at a downtown “coffee art house” document the event. The photography exhibition is also a small part of a larger fundraising effort to save MLA’s music program.
Melrose Leadership music and art educators are amazing. Juan Carlos Angulo, who is the leader of Cumbia Tokeson, tours internationally. He also introduced me to cumbia and the world famous Columbian quartet Bomba Estereo. Bomba Estereo won MTV Iggy’s 2010 Best New Band winner.
I photographed Cumbia Tokeson and Bomba Estereo at Oakland’s The New Parish in May of 2011.… Read the rest
Colbie Callait Brighter Concert Photography
One month ago today, I photographed the wedding of my two friends Courtney Stout and Nick Maksimowicz. During the ceremony, two other friends performed the love song, “Brighter Than The Sun,” popularized by Colbie Callait. While photographing the wedding, I remembered photographing Colbie Caillat’s concert the previous year. The song, the wedding and the concert had a few things in common.
There are some basic rules that beginning photographers learn when starting. For example, photographers usually learn to shoot with the sun at their back. (In other words, do not shoot into the sun.) Photographers also learn about “the magic hour,” which usually lasts longer than an hour.… Read the rest
Lessons from Another Funeral
Two days ago I attended a memorial service and reception for Jeffrey Lester; Jeff died two months after being diagnosed with cancer. I have attended many funerals and memorials during the last several years. His memorial service seemed more uplifting. It reflected a life lived fully.
When I left town, I turned on the radio. The first song was an old Tim McGraw favorite, “Live Like You Were Dying.”
Sometimes I find the song a little silly. Another time I pulled over to the side of the road, because it has not been safe to drive with tears in my eyes.… Read the rest
Concert for Epilepsy to Raise Awareness
This March, my children attended the Concert for Epilepsy with me and my wife. As the official photographer for The Concert for Epilepsy, I have remarkable access to the artists. I meet the artists and discuss epilepsy with them. This week, after my daughter and I witnessed a stranger having a seizure, I remembered the importance of the concert. Raising awareness is an important part of the fundraiser.
Chad Barth organizes the event in honor of his sister Christina. The concert is one of the events during the National Walk for Epilepsy in Washington, D.C. Chad has helped us reach a new audience with his concert.… Read the rest
Simple Plan 2011 Vans Warped Tour
The Vans Warped Tour is probably my favorite concert festival every year to photograph. In ten hours, I photographed nineteen bands, and I could have photographed more, but I was exhausted. Even with the protection of my press pass, my big toes turned purple from accidental stage dive landings and excited fans. (Even as I write this post for my new blog, the ends of my big toe nails are still purple.)
The festival is run extremely well. Bands start on time. Exactly on time. New bands play next to old bands. Headliners start the show some days. Every thing keeps changing so that each band feels part of the festival.… Read the rest
Hello world!
… and on the 8th day, God created WordPress. Hail to the Muse!
Until WordPress existed, nobody could say hello to each other. At least, nobody could say hello to the world. Next thing you know, corporations will become people, Books will have Faces, and Soviet satellites will fall from the sky.
For those of you who have never created a WordPress blog, the first post is already titled, “Hello World!” I kept the original heading. I also added a PhotoShelter photo gallery of the county/pop band Lady Antebellum. About a year ago, Lady A released a single with the same title, but without the exclamation mark.… Read the rest
