Yeah Yeah Yeah's

The Yeah Yeah Yeah's played at The Beaumont Club in KC on June 3rd 2009. Quite a few people were upset that the show was at this venue due to it being very small and cramped with poor visability if you are beyond the fourth row. Well it was my birthday and I was in front of a teeny tiny barrier to shoot my 3..well 4 songs so I wasn't complaining. The Beaumont is a great place to see a band because of the low stage and intimate setting. If the bands bring their own lights it's a bonus for me because it makes shooting easier. Luckily YYY's brought a nice light set up. The barrier in front of the stage was about 3 feet deep and 12 feet long or so. Included in that small area were 8 photographers and 5 burly security guys..all very nice to me by the way. I only could stand in one spot but it looks like I picked a good one. I took as many photos as I could because I just love this band and the new album, It's Blitz. I've seen them several times and this was probably the best show.





















More photos from the concert on flickr: HERE

NIN/JA Tour - Jane's Addiction-Nine Inch Nails-Street Sweeper Social Club

The Nin/ja Tour came through Kansas City on a perfect night for an outdoor concert. An awesome lineup including SSSC, Nine Inch Nails and Janes Addiction. Street Sweeper Social Club was up first - featuring Tom Morello and Boots Riley opening the show with an impressive set of raprock.









Filling the middle slot was the farewell performance of Nine Inch Nails. Much more stripped down than the last tour. Lots of strobes and an audience that was pissed that they didn't headline.









And last but not least...the original lineup of Jane's Addiction. They put on a GREAT show and were in fine form. The crowd loved every bit of it as did I.

Buzz Under The Stars Concert #1 2009

Local radio station, The Buzz 96.5 had their first summer concert of 2009 featuring--The Used, Alkaline Trio, Anberlin, Taking Back Sunday and The Offspring. Not really my type of music but I'll shoot anything to get some decent photos. Plus it's nice to get some daytime shots with good lighting for once.

A Couple Of Classics

I am always behind on posting music photography on here so I am catching up again by posting some shots from April-May and June.

Back in April I was lucky enough to photograph Kris Kristofferson. He played acoustic in Kansas City and played 33 songs. He just has a presence. He is quite an impressive individual. I suggest looking up information on his back story when you get a chance.







Onto another classic singer songwriter....Neil Young. I was only able to stand in one spot to shoot a couple of songs so my shots look alike. Wish I could have stayed for the whole show but they give me the boot at the Sprint Center after my 2 or 3 songs.

Franz Ferdinand

Franz Ferdinand invaded the Westport area of Kansas City on April 27th. First they played 96.5 Buzz's "Kegs and Eggs"event. People were at the bar, Firefly bright and early at 6am on a rainy Monday morning to get their drink on. Alex and Nick came out to play four acoustic songs at 9:30am after about an hour delay. Nick came out on crutches as both sat on stools to play to the Monday morning drinkers. I talked to Nick briefly and asked him about something in the story that British magazine MOJO did on the band explaining the recording process of the new album "Tonight", it said that the song "No You Girls" featured human bones on percussion. Nick said it was true and I said, where did you get human bones? He said on the beach...what beach was that exactly? I replied.





Later on in the evening Franz Ferdinand played to a packed house at The Beaumont Club. It seemed like people off all ages were at this show. I saw some little kids dancing around to Franz along with people four times their age. Everyone was having a great time at this show. You have to hand it to Franz Ferdinand, they write really catchy songs. Scotland Rocks!


Oi! Paul loved our Winstead hamburgers.

Morrissey

The Mozzer came back to Kansas City on April 7th for his stop on the "Refusal Tour" to perform at the Midland Theatre. There were a couple of other concerts the same night which is why I think the venue wasn't quite full. Moz played some songs off the new album and a few Smiths songs including the rare "Some Girls Are Bigger Than Others".

St. Patricks Day Concert at the P&L District

Silversun Pickups drummer Christopher Guanlao in action.

It was the hottest day of the year so far on Saint Paddy's day in 2009, it was around 85 degrees. Sponsored by Buzz 96.5 three bands played at the Power and Light District in downtown Kansas City to a bunch of drunk asses. Silversun Pickups headlined with Dead Confederate and The Von Bondies opening. It was damn hot and very crowded for me to enjoy the show, the outside venue has terrible acoustics and has advertising signs and bars everywhere you look.











Dead Confederate







The Von Bondies








Silversun Pickups

Tindersticks

Autographed Polaroid of Stuart Staples




One of my favorite bands is the wonderful band, Tindersticks. I drove to Chicago and Detroit to see them in 2003,(Meg and Jack White came at sat right next to me in Detroit)since they rarely tour in the USA. For the release of their newest album "The Hungry Saw" the newly revamped band played a handful of dates in the colonies this year. So, I couldn't resist, I drove up to Chicago on March 12th to see them at a freezing cold Epiphany church. I had a photo pass and an interview scheduled with singer Stuart Staples. When I got there I was greeted by Ian, their unofficial tour manager who had just drove down from Toronto for free just to help the band out.
Everyone could not have been nicer to me and Tindersticks put on an emotional intense show as always.









Here is an interview I did with Stuart for the website popwreckoning.
Interview with: Stuart A. Staples of Tindersticks
Posted on 25 March 2009
Tags: Stuart A. Staples, tindersticks
It takes a special band to draw fans into the Chicago’s cold Epiphany Church for an early March concert. It takes an even specialer band to draw those fans from not only Chicago, but other cities as was the case for Scott Spychalski. Scott drove from Kansas City to see Tindersticks perform (though the long distance award and a big thanks go to Tindersticks’ unofficial tour manager, Ian, who drove from Toronto to help them for free). In addition to seeing them play, Spychalski also took some time to talk with the band. Check out his interview with Stuart A. Staples of Tindersticks below.




Scott Spychalski, PopWreckoning: How did you actually come up with the band name Tindersticks? Any hidden meanings?
Stuart A. Staples, Tindersticks: There was a kind of version of that name on a box of matches, in Greece I think. We liked the name because it wasn’t really trying to say anything.

PW: I drove nearly thirty hours to see your band perform in two different cities on the last tour, but found I was not alone. Many people came from other cities and even countries. Are you surprised that you have such a loyal following, especially in America?
SS: It’s such a personal thing isn’t it? You kind of will go the extra mile to experience it. I think if a song can touch you in a personal way it can be very special.

PW: I know you tour quite a bit in Europe, what are your thoughts on these small tours in America?
SS: Ummm….it’s very different, it’s like taking a step backwards because were not on the same level here. We are used to playing concert halls in more civilized places I suppose, here we play in a rougher environment. I don’t mind that at all, as a group of people we are robust to react to the situation we are in.
There are quite a lot of distances to cover in America as well. The worst things are airports. It’s just become an ordeal. I would rather drive six or seven hours than to be stuck in an airport. But overall it has to do with Constellation, their enthusiasm and energy has been great. I’m pretty happy with it all at the moment. It’s worth coming here, I’m pleased with the outcome of it. As a band we are really energized at the moment and are making plans to get into the studio as soon as possible. After the last two tours we didn’t have the same feeling, but right now we are feeling very creative.

PW: You seem very energetic right now. Is it due to having new members in the band?
SS: Maybe it has to do with something new at the moment, and what has grown out of making The Hungry Saw and it’s still going on after being on the road for so long. It’s got a natural kind of feeling of moving forward, for me it’s like the best kind of environment for me to write with people pushing me forward. Five or six years ago, I wasn’t in that place, something was unbalanced or messed up in the band. When you are a group of six people together for 10 years, 12 years, it’s hard to figure out what’s wrong and what’s right.

PW: Could you tell me about the title of the new album The Hungry Saw?
SS: It came from the song, and the song became kind of defining in a way. Those songs in the middle of the album, “Mother dear”, “Boobar”, “The Organist Entertains”, those songs are a lot more abstract and dreamlike. We didn’t really pin it down to one thing. I just had real fun writing the album. The idea of trying to retain some innocence against, I suppose the things that come and try and rip it away from you, I think all three of those songs all live in that kind of realm.

PW: Is The Hungry Saw a metaphor for anything?
SS: I think it has something to do with what you need that drives you and hurts you at the same time. I had so much fun with the words I didn’t want it to be finished, it was really good fun to write.

PW: I noticed that there weren’t any duets on this album. I know you had two duets on your last solo album, Leaving Songs, is there anyone are your short list that you would like to do a duet with?
SS: It’s always been driven by a song and ideas. I can’t really write a song with a specific person in mind. It is important to me, writing for somebody else you can kind of have fun with it. I can kind of have a go at myself in a third person sense.

PW: Can you tell me about your writing process, what influences you?
SS: When I was 15 or 16 I read a lot of poetry and I stopped and I stopped because if I read something that really blew me away it would end up in an idea of mine. I wanted my mind to be free I didn’t want it to be full of these peoples great ideas, in anything you do, you have to find your own language. I think I’m finding my voice and my writing right now. I don’t think that I have remotely arrived. I’ve always thought of myself as a late developer. At the moment I feel I am closer, but not any closer than I was ten years ago…..because the things you want to do are always ahead of you and just beyond your skills.
PW: I think that YOU are the hungry saw!
SS: (laughing) Maybe that’s it!


...45f degrees.

The Pretenders

The Pretenders played at Ameristar Casino in Kansas City Missouri on February 21st.
What can really be said about Chrissie Hynde, she is the best female voice in rock and still looks and sounds great. I've loved The Pretenders since I was a kid and I was thrilled to be the only one shooting this show then watching it from the front row. Break Up The Concrete is the newest album by the current lineup of the band. It's been ever changing since the deaths of original guitarist James Honeyman-Scott and bassist Pete Farndon. Original drummer Martin Chambers toured but didn't play on the new album. The concert was fantastic! It was my first time seeing the band and Chrissie put on a vocal clinic, she was amazing and the whole band were very tight. I recommend seeing them and picking up their new cd. I think as of todays date this was the best concert of 2009.

Buzz 96.5 Valentines Day Concert

Living Things Singer, Lillian Berlin

This concert was on February 13th at the Midland Theater in Kansas City. It featured three bands, Inner Party Sound System, Girl In A Coma and Living Things.

The Living Things headlined the show, a band from St. Louis, there new album, "Habeas Corpus" has been getting good reviews.









Girl In A Coma, group from Austin Texas. They are on Joan Jett's Blackheart Records label.



Nina Diaz



Inner Party Sound System

Updating A Few Concerts: Ultimate Fake Book

Hello, concert photo enthusiasts...if there is such a thing. I wanted to update a few concerts I've shot since Kings Of Leon.

Next up was- Ultimate Fake Book. They did a reunion concert in Kansas City at The Uptown Theater on February 5th to an energetic crowd. The sister of lead singer Bill McShane was standing behind me and said to me "That's my brother up there singing, isn't he cool? But I work at a sperm bank in Denver, so our family has it all" I thought it was funny.

Kings Of Leon

Kings of Leon played to a sold out crowd at The Uptown in January, 2009. The Whigs opened up and I was taking some photos of them (the openers)as I usually do without any problem and some bald twat (who will remain nameless) came out and started yelling at me,saying I didn't have a photo pass and that I was a liar and a rule breaker,and who was convinced I was at fault. Long story short I was thrown out into a snowstorm while I contacted the tour manager of KOL, who was nice and got me back in to shoot KOL. The verbal beat down I received earlier pissed me off so bad I left after my three song limit.Anyway, enjoy some photos!

Scott Weiland

These shots are made up from two different concerts. One in December 2008 at The Pageant in St.Louis Missouri and the other from Harrahs Casino in Kansas City Missouri a couple of weeks later in January 2009.

The St.Louis show also included Cold War Kids and The Eagles of Death Metal.
Scott Weiland was in town (KC) to promote his solo release "Happy in Golashes".
He put on an energetic show to a somewhat sparse crowd on a very cold night.

The Faint

Haven't made any posts in awhile. I'm not sure anyone even looks at this blog. I'm catching up on some concerts I've covered in the last few months. First up is The Faint which was at Liberty Hall in Lawrence Kansas on December 14, 2008. The place was packed and one of the previous bands threw food out onto the audience. People were going apeshit at this show..hot and sweaty.

Eagles of Death Metal

Eagles of Death Metal in concert for local radio station 96.5 The Buzz annual Christmas concert, along with several other bands on December 10, 2008.
Eodm put on an acoustic set in the vip room prior to the start of the show. I took a few shots before during and after the show. Went on the tour bus for a little dance party action after the concert with Jesse and the boys.

Willie Nelson

Willie Nelson photos taken in November of 2008. I'm not much for country but I like him, who wouldn't? Later I was given a cool guitar pick that has a hologram Willie on one side and a pot leaf on the other that says " 75 years old and still smoking". I heard Willie's bus ran on vegetable oil, so I asked Billy Bob about that. He said, yeah it smells like french fries....and something else lol.

Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters

Billy Bob Thornton and The Boxmasters opened up for Willie Nelson this past November at The Midland Theatre playing songs from their recent album. Billy Bob who is one of my favorite actors put on a great show and had people laughing in the crowd. One woman wanted a shirt signed but was afraid to toss it to him on the stage, he said "Lady go ahead a throw it, I've had all sorts of shit thrown at me over the years". After the show I met his manager and she took me back for a meet and greet. I was stunned to see how thin and younger he looked up close. I asked if he ever ate and he told me he was allergic to wheat and dairy and it was hard for him to find decent food on the road. I needed a spot to take the photo above and he said lets go in the bathroom, is that ok? While smoking the whole time, on stage and in the hallway and bathroom. He squatted down and said "Can you put a picture of a toilet in the newspaper?" I said, I don't see why not...I just thought that was funny of him. He was quite entertaining.

Smashing Pumpkins in Concert

A few concert photos taken back in late November. Smashing Pumpkins played two shows in Kansas City, the second night was a bit more heavy on the old hits.
Both nights had quite a few people in attendance at the beautiful Midland Theatre.

Metallica

Metallica came to K.C. for the "Death Magnetic" tour recently. I got my excercise running around their ginormous stage, getting a few really good shots.
















Full set of 35 photos: Metallica Set

Whats up homeslice? Photos of Tech n9ne

I don't know much about Tech. He is a home town rapper who has some pretty loyal fans, the place was packed.