Something New ! Sports Photography

Hi--I'm cute.

So I'm no pro at sports photography, but what the fook, I will give it a try. Here is some Mexican soccer, NBA pre-season basketball and NHL Hockey. I don't really have the right lenses for this sort of thing, I did my best with whats I gots.

The Mexican Futbol...soccer for us dumbass Americans was between Club America and Chivas Guadalajara. I know nothing about this except that they both have amazing fans and soccer is much more exciting to watch when you are standing on the field.


These devil masks are kind of scary, so is that dude on the left.








Why so glum, chum?







Hockey

Islanders vs. Kings

Eh...not really happy with these. There were only two cut-outs in the plexiglass to shoot through and both were taken so I shot through the dirty glass. I asked a photographer from Getty if I could shoot through it for two minutes, when he was ten feet away editing, he said...uh no I'm using it. Thanks douchebag!


This might hurt









NBA Basketball

New Orleans Hornets vs Miami Heat

I do like me some basketball and its fun to sit on the court all up close like. Duane Wade ran over me and knocked my lens cover off, no injuries. I threw the ball back once to the ref...yep exciting. They played pretty hard, didn't really look like preseason to me. Wish we had a team.


NOLA Bitches!!

Buzz Beach Ball 2009 Concert

Mark, Blink-182

Local radio station 96.5 Buzz had a little festival of bands at Cap Fed Park on September 4th over labor day weekend. Headliners Blink-182 with other bands, Weezer, Taking Back Sunday, Chester French, The Von Bondies, Republic Tigers, Stellastar, Matt and Kim and a couple more that I missed due to traffic on the exit to the venue from an accident.

Overall a pretty good festival, I liked the smaller bands better than Blink and Weezer. Matt and Kim were especially good, I love the way Kim plays drums, always smiling and cheerful. The crowds were pretty thick at both stages. The Weezer fans were going crazy and crowdsurfing all over the place. I was dodging bodies while I was in the photopit shooting for most of the day.


Adam-Taking Back Sunday




Taking Back Sunday


Chester French
Maxwell Drummey








Stellastar


Von Bondies -- Christy and LeeAnn






Von Bondies








Matt and Kim












Weezer

The Wailers/Toots and the Maytals

Wailers singer-Elan Atias

Reggae. Plain and simple, I love it. I listen to all the great reggae artists, The Congos, Lee Perry, Augustus Pablo, U-Roy, Horace Andy and many many more. One legend, Frederick "Toots" Hibbert and The Wailers with one original member, Ashton "Family Man" Barrett, played at the Crossroads with openers Supervillians.

The Wailers played most of Bob Marley and the Wailers Exodus album and Toots put on a damn fine show, man that guy can sing! Decked out in black leather singing his rocksteady grooves he put on quite the performance singing and dancing the whole night, he has more energy than I do for sure. Don't miss him if he plays in your city.




"Family Man"








Supervillians


"Toots"

Shooting Three Concerts In One Night...

So, a couple of months ago I shot three different concerts at three different venues in one evening. The music was varied, country-psychobilly-dj/rap. It was quite a bit of work running around and getting the timing right, but I was able to shoot all the bands on time. Worked out well. Have a look see.

First up was Lyle Lovett and his large band at Starlight Theatre.









Next up I drove over to The Crossroads to catch, The Reverend Horton Heat. The Rev never disappoints and played a fiery set.













And finally spinning at the Power & Light stage in downtown KC was DJ legend, Grandmaster Flash. He was great to see up close and he spun some classic hits. I love old school rap, and the crowd was loving it as well.

Glasvegas

One of my favorite newish bands is the Scottish band, Glasvegas. Fronted by a charismatic singer, James Allen, Glasvegas has won many fans around the world including U2 and Kings of Leon, which Glasvegas will be opening for this fall/winter.
If you haven't listened to the band head on over to itunes for a demo of some of their songs. Thick Scottish accent with heartbreaking lyrics with fuzzed out guitars and a cool 50's sound. I talked to James on the tourbus and he told me his main influences were Elvis Presley and U2.




A pre-show tooth brushing with rubber duckie assisting.

Greaserama 2009 In Kansas City

Greaserama comes to KC on Labor Day Weekend every year. What is Greaserama you ask? It is a two day car show at a drive in consisting of Hot Rods, Rat Rods, Tattoos, Girls, Motorcycles, Custom Bicycles, Bands, BBQ and more. Here is what caught my eye this year.




















"Rat Rod Baby Stroller" Cool!

Warped Tour 2009 in KC

Black Tide

15th anniversary of the Vans Warped Tour at Cap Fed Park in Kansas City on August 4th, 2009. 71 Bands and 100 degrees. I tried to shoot as many bands as I could running between all the stages. I don't know much about most of these bands and went in for a purely photographic venture. Why can't they have festivals say in...October when its nice and cool outside? I hate being sweaty and gross, but me and fellow photographer Todd Z. stuck around until the end doing what we do best.


Hit The Lights




TAT


Scary Kids Scaring Kids


Bouncing Souls


Inward Eye


Meg and Dia


Fishbone






Shooter Jennings


The Architects




Brokencyde

No Doubt

No Doubt live at Starlight Theatre in Kansas City, Missouri on July 6th 2009. Reunited No Doubt with openers Paramore played an energetic set on a all white stage that looked like something from LAX airport. Gwen Stefani really looks great up close, she is ripped, hard to believe she is forty and had two kids. Quite a performer indeed.


Paramore singer, Hayley Williams



















More photos here: No Doubt

Buckcherry

Some shots of Buckcherry at Rockfest in Kansas City. It was hot as hell and right before I shot Josh Todd and the boys some fine gentleman threw a beer in my face while I was walking through the crowd. Some of the people at that festival looked like they were let out of prison and on the way out they were given a bag of meth. But Buckcherry are kind of catchy, they elicit many a naked breast from the females in the crowd...and they have cool tats all around.

Z-TRIP, DJ JAZZY JEFF, MSTRKRFT

The Bacardi B-LIVE DJ event made it's stop in Kansas City on June 9th, 2009. SPIN online contacted me about doing some live video interviews, so I spoke with Z-Trip and Mstrkrft. Unfortunately during Dj Jazzy Jeff's performance there was a bit of drama, his set was cut short. Depending on who you believe it was cut for either him playing rap music or redlining the sound system. Either way people were pissed. Mstrkrft were good, and very nice funny guys.

Z-Trip


Z-Trip


Jazzy Jeff


Jazzy Jeff


Mstrkrft


Mstrkrft


Mstrkrft

SPIN videos from the event:
http://spin.com/articles/go-backstage-z-trip-mstrkrft-bacardi-b-live-tour

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