Black Rebel Motorcycle Club Live in Lawrence KS

B.R.M.C Live in concert April 26th 2008 in Lawrence KS



I got to hang out with B.R.M.C for most of the day and do an interview with Peter Hayes . Since one of my photos was used in the advertising for the current tour I had all access. I will say everyone I talked to in their camp was very cool, thanks Grant for everything. This is the third time I've shot them in one year, so my goal was to come up with some sort of new look photography wise. Each of the three concerts had different lighting. This one was the hardest to shoot due to a lot of strobe lighting. I think I got a few good ones, now I can make one good best of set for the Baby 81 tour. The concert was great as always, I always enjoy seeing them live. I really feel they are one of the best groups to see live. They play long sets and really appreciate their fans...and their fans travel from long distances to see them. I know people came from Florida, Colorado, Washington D.C., Oklahoma and probably even farther. I did a short interview with Peter before the show. He was really cool and candid about record companies, fans, and music used for advertising.

Me: You have put out a lot of music in the past couple of years and have toured relentlessly. Do you ever get worn out or do you look at it as feeling lucky to be where you are currently, being so creative and having lots of fans?

Peter: Honestly, yeah you get a little tired, but finally its grown out of that, and holy shit, were able to survive without huge record sales and record companies...they left us again anyway. Yeah it comes down to fans keeping us alive. There is a certain pride in it now, its really sinking in.

Me: Are you where you thought you would be when you first started out as a band? Where do you think you will be ten years from now?

Peter: Ummm, I guess I imagined it would somehow, I don't know what I imagined...now I'm kinda just happy as fuck. For awhile it just bugged me that we were just judged as outcasts. All the albums have been pretty well recieved. I guess I just look at it as being proud to be an outcast and that we haven't really caught on with everyone. Somehow we are the biggest little band around, a lot of people know the name but maybe they don't know the music.

Me: Your music is used a lot in commercials and television shows. How closely do you follow what is used and is there anyone you have turned down?

Peter: Yeah, from day one we turned down just about everybody. I don't regret that but thats one of the main reasons we don't have a record company right now.

I don't really much like talking about it but I guess it will get out one day. We turned down at least three million dollars from commercials ...at least that, from the first two albums. Hell, we turned down Miracle Whip. They wanted to use the song "Spread Your Love", can you imagine that? Record companies can't understand why we wouldn't want to do that. "Whatever happened to my rock 'n' roll was supposed to be used for a car commercial for their new rack and pinion steering or something...we did the tv shows and stuff like that, I think the only one I regret doing was "The O.C.", no offence to them, we actually got some fans from that, we would rather support things that aren't really pointless. We were up for one of those iPod commercials a couple years ago but it went to The Fratellis or someone like that got it. It's kind of depressing going out on tour for a couple years and some bands get to be huge off one song. Next thing you know they are playing to 30,000 people at a huge festival and they go apeshit for that one song.

Me: Since you say now you don't have a record company would you ever do anything on your own kind of like what Nine Inch Nails did, releasing music from their own website?

Peter: Thats basically what we are looking at right now. Putting it on our website as a higher quality file, don't charge people more money for it like fucking itunes...how they make you pay more for a higher quality download its crazy, I saw that one coming.

Bands are going to need press and people to talk about them, but why not straight from the band, you could sell it for five bucks, iTunes sells it for $9.99 why I don't know.

Me: What have you been listening to lately? Or who would you like to see live?

Peter: I wouldn't mind seeing "The Raconteurs" or "Nine Inch Nails"

Me: What are your plans after the current tour?

Peter: Not sure really, since we don't have a record company. We have a few new songs we have been working on. I don't know we might do something with Live Nation..but they want part of your merch and all that. I would really just like to put a download on the site for five bucks, ya know?

Set list from the show:

666 Conducer
Berlin
Aint no easy way
Weapon
In like the rose
Red eyes
Awake
6 barrel
Heart and soul
Faultline
Visions of johanna
Shuffle
Windows
20 hours
River styx
Suddenly
Need some air
Punk song
Likes of you
Spread your love
The show
Steal a ride
All you do is talk


Openers The Duke Spirit played a great set. Liela Moss is a sultry rock n roll singer. I was really impressed with them and their new cd "Neptune". They told me they would be coming back later in the summer with a headlining tour.





For full set of photo (still more to come...film and polaroids) go here:
BRMC APRIL 08

April Mixtape at Muxtape

Muxtape is a site where you can post up to twelve songs to share with others but they will not be able to download. Anyway here is my April mix...songs that I have been listening to, well twelve of them. Have a listen, a few rare gems in the mix.

http://scottspy.muxtape.com/

The Last Shadow Puppets

The Last Shadow Puppets are Alex Turner from Arctic Monkeys and Miles Kane from The Rascals. I think everything Alex Turner touches turns to gold. Several of the songs from the new cd "The Age Of The Understatement" sound like they would fit in quite well with a James Bond movie. I'm not complaining one bit, I do love songs with lush orchestration behind them and thats what the pair have done here very well. The cover of the cd has a photo of a model looking very '60s like and the songs reflect that as well....almost seems like something Paul Weller could have done, sounds fresh but vintage at the same time. Pick up the single with the b-sides, two of them are the best tracks overall.

mp3- My Mistakes Were Made For You (acoustic in nyc)

Carbon/Silicon Live In Kansas City

Carbon/Silicon stopped by the Record Bar in Kansas City to play a great set on Saturday, March 29th. I went about five hours early in hopes of meeting Mick Jones of The Clash and Big Audio Dynamite fame. When I pulled in the parking lot I saw a figure pushing a shopping cart in the distance...I thought, that can't be my guitar hero Mick Jones could it? I got closer and pulled right up to him, it was Mick! He looked up in fear as if I might hit him...I pulled over and followed him into a book store and had a nice chat. He was looking through a load of old books, he looked up and saw an old seven set volume of an author I hadn't heard of. He opened the first book and opened it with delight. I asked him questions while he thumbed through various books adding them to his basket. I had written out some questions but left them in the car with my camera...so I just asked obvious questions like, what is your favorite Clash album? The first one he told me. What is your favorite Big Audio Dynamite album? Megatop Phoenix, it had kind of a story to it throughout the entire thing. He went on to tell me he was familiar with Kansas City saying he had had a girlfriend in St.Louis. Mick said he would sign all my Clash and B.A.D. albums and cd covers after sound check. I walked in and sat at the bar while Tony James (Generation X -Sigue Sigue Sputnik) and the band played minus Mick...Tony said "Where's Jonesy?" He showed up twenty minutes later. Sound check was pretty lengthy..I was surprised when they played an Oasis song...Definately Maybe.

Matt Pond PA opened up the show, and were quite good. I had read a little about them on blogs but hadn't really given them a good listen. I will now. They played a great set and even played "Brooklyn Stars" an older song that a girl to my left requested.
Carbon/Silicon took the stage at about 10:45 playing a nice ten song set. Mick and Tony looked like they were having a great time up there and were feeding off the crowd. Mick was quite lively dancing around a bit smiling at the crowd. I loved when Mick introduced the band and played a snippet of "Police on my back" which made my night...I thought this will be the closest to ever hearing a Clash song live again. I had seen The Clash II and Joe Strummer in concert before so this was my first time seeing Mick and I wasn't disappointed. Some would say it's old man rock..but these old men are playing fresh tunes not relying on their back catalog from 25 years ago. I had a wonderful time, the band and crew were very nice indeed.

Song list was:
The Magic Suitcase
I Loved You
War On Culture
Reason To Believe
Soylent Green
Acton Zulus
The News
Really The Blues
WTF?
Why Do Men Fight?






For full photo set go to: Here

Daniel Lanois: Live at SXSW

Since I didn't make it to SXSW this year, I was watching concerts on Direct TV. They had quite a few good bands including--Liam Finn, Sons and Daughters, Daniel Lanois, and The Lemonheads. Anyway I was pretty excited to watch Daniel Lanois perform. Daniel played with just Brian Blade on drums at the Bat Bar in Austin...it was awesome. Seemed like they were feeding off each other kind of like a jazz ensemble. Daniel played a six song set which included a nearly twelve minute version of "The Maker"

"The Maker" live at SXSW 2008

A Place To Bury Strangers/Holy Fuck : Live In Concert

A Place To Bury Strangers and Holy Fuck played at the Record Bar in Kansas City on March 8th, 2008. APTBS opened up for Holy Fuck and played an insane set that almost gave me a seizure due to their strobe lights, fog and fuzzed out guitars...It was great, even though I was queasy. The huge shot the band bought me at the end of the night didn't settle to well either, but whose complaining...I thought they played even better than when I saw them open for B.R.M.C. I talked to Oliver before the show and took a couple shots of him as well as Jspace and JonoMOFO after the show. Couldn't have been nicer guys. I know they got a lot of respect recently at SXSW.







Holy Fuck headlined the show, I was up front taking shots but they had two keyboard/DJ setups facing each other with the drummer and bass player in the back, so they pretty much all looked a like. I like Holy Fuck more after seeing them live. The DJ/Keyboards mixed with the live drums and bass really worked for me...especially their drummer. I read that Lou Reed gave them a huge endorsement at SXSW. They are on their way to bigger and better things for sure.




Holy Fuck-Tone Bank Jungle mp3

A Place To Bury Strangers-Missing You mp3

More photos of both bands on my Flickr page.

Gogol Bordello Live In Kansas City, MO.

Gogol Bordello live at The Beaumont Club in Kansas City on March 6th, 2008.



An excellent performance as always. They drive the crowd crazy...with people flying over the top of me in the photo pit. I tried my best to get some decent shots.I was cut short by the tour manager due to the crowd surfing. I took a few portraits of Sergey, Elizabeth and Pamela. I showed Sergey my photos from the last time I shot them. He said he liked them and gave me a concert shirt. After I took portrait shots of Elizabeth and Pamela we walked together to get a cup of coffee...they were so nice and sweet, great women.










Gogol Bordello--Wonderlust King mp3

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club To Tour U.S. In Spring

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club will head back out on the road for a short American tour in the spring. I am very happy that they are using a photo I took of them this past October for the bands tour print and website ad.(photo at left) I will be photographing them again on one or more dates. If you haven't purchased the album, Baby 81 or the Ep, American X: Baby 81 Sessions--I highly recommend them both.

One of the hardest working bands out on tour lately, a staggering 171 concerts played in 2007! B.R.M.C. always give it their all playing long sets, excellent stage shows and touring relentlessly gaining more fans with each concert. B.R.M.C. have released four albums and four Ep's since 2001 and several singles.
They put out a lot of power for a three piece band.








More photos: Here

http://www.blackrebelmotorcycleclub.com/

MP3 B.M.R.C.-Hardest Button To Push-(White Stripes cover-live at Reading Festival 03)

Masterpiece: No Country For Old Men

I was mesmerized by this movie. It is hard to go and see a film these days and love every single second and frame. This is no ordinary thriller. From the first few minutes you know this is going to be a special movie. Based on the book of the same name by Cormac McCarthy, the story revolves around three central characters, Llewelyn Moss (Josh Brolin), Sheriff Ed Tom Bell (Tommy Lee Jones) and Anton Chigurh (Javier Bardem), criss crossing west Texas in a cat and mouse game involving mexican drug dealers, stolen money, a psychotic hit man and a sheriff on his way to retirement. The very beginning of the film sets the tone, with a wide shot of the Texas wilderness. The deliberate pace of the movie was another thing I really liked, it wasn't slow but filled with tension. The lack of back round music added to the omninus tone. It doesn't give the audience cues when to feel a certain emotion. You could hear everything going on as far as the gunshots, footsteps down the hall, doors closing, phones ringing. It added to the stillness and anticipation of moments to come. My favorite character was Anton. Javier Bardem will get an Oscar for this role for sure. He plays a hit man with an odd sense of fair play. He has no real morals and bases many of his decisions on chance. The man is the grim reaper with a strange haircut and sinister voice...completely terrifying. If you haven't seen it go see it. It will be coming out on dvd in March. This might be the Coen brothers finest film.

http://www.nocountryforoldmen.com/

This is my favorite scene....friendo.

Artists I Love: Daniel Lanois

No one can create the musical atmosphere Daniel Lanois can. Besides producing musicians like, U2, Bob Dylan, Peter Gabriel, Willie Nelson, Emmy Lou Harris--He has also created beautiful solo albums.
His first album-"Acadie" came out in 1989 and remains probably my favorite still. Daniel Lanois has recently released his newest album "Here Is What Is" a soundtrack to the
film he made of the same name. He released the album via the internet, and I believe is the first cd to be able to be downloaded in true high resolution format 643 MB vs. 9O MB (mp3 format) both are DRM free. I highly recommend buying this cd from him and his has his other work listed for sale direct from the artist.

http://www.redfloorrecords.com/HereIsWhatIs.htm

Here is a great site to get to know Daniel Lanois if you are unfamiliar with him. Lots of information and videos.

http://www.squidoo.com/daniellanois

Sivert Høyem

I've been listening to alot of Madrugada and Sivert Hoyem lately, I guess in anticipation of the new Madrugada cd "Madrugada" coming out this month. Sivert Hoyem is the charismatic lead singer of Madrugada and singer of his own band Sivert Hoyem and the Volunteers. They released a superb cd last year entitled "Exiles". It sold well over 100,000 copies in Norway. You can read more about him and Madrugada in the previous post. I found the video for one of my favorite songs of 2007 "Into The Sea" on Youtube...thought I would go ahead and share. Pick up the cd if you can find it...all their stuff is semi-difficult to find in the states.



Download-- "Into The Sea"

Bands I Love: Madrugada

Madrugada. One of my favorite bands most people don't know anything about outside of Norway, Greece and Germany. Madrugada is a Norwegian rock band formed in 1995. The band sing in english and have released four albums and seven EP's to critical success in their country. I really love Sivert Hoyem's baritone voice and Robert Buras guitar playing. Unfortunately Robert Buras passed away at the age of 31 this past July at his home in Oslo, Norway. He released two albums with his other band -My Midnight Creeps. Madrugada has a self titled album coming out this month with material recorded before Robert died. Madrugada will be continue playing live without Robert, as far as I know. They have released the single "Look away Lucifer"with the b-side "Caravan" last month. Sivert Hoyem has released two solo albums, "Ladies and Gentlemen of the Opposition" in 2004 and "Exiles" in 2006. He continues to tour with his other band, Sivert Hoyem and the Volunteers.
The term "Madrugada" is Spanish/Portuguese and means "dawn"--the blue hour.

Recommended if you like: Tindersticks-Nick Cave

Blood Shot Adult Commitment

Hands Up I Love You

Majesty





Download: Norwegian Hammerworks Corp.

Download:Only When You're Gone (Live/Acoustic 2001)

Artists I Love: Tom Waits

If I was marooned on a desert island and could only pick one musicians full discography to have with me...it would be Tom Waits. No matter what my mood I can listen to him. Once I start I usually keep going for a few days. It would be hard to pick a favorite album of his, but If I had to recommend just one to someone that hadn't heard of him, I would select "Rain Dogs". The middle album of a trilogy. It has a little of everything that makes him a great storyteller and singer. I have been lucky enough to see him live on three different occasions, and it was incredible to say the least, each time I was within ten rows of the stage and saw the great man up close. I've included some videos showing how damn funny he is and a hard to find live version of "Empty Pockets/Broken Bicycles".

Learn more about Tom Waits - Tom Waits on Wikipedia

Hang on St.Christopher

Fernwood Tonight

Hold On


Tom Waits - "Empty Pockets/Broken Bicycles (live) mp3

Eastern Conference Champions

New video for "The Box"

Eastern Conference Champions in cartoon form. We think of it as a cross between "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and the classic and remarkably 80's A-Ha video that you probably danced to in front of a mirror at some point in your life.

Check out their debut album "Ameritown". I saw them twice in concert last year, they put on a great show and are really nice guys. Here are a few photos I took.





Single Sedative mp3