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B.B. King @ Bonnaroo - June 14 2008

Fri, 04 Jul 2008 12:59:06 EST

I never thought I'd have the opportunity to see/photograph the legendary blues man B.B. King, so when I found out he was playing Bonnaroo this year, I was ecstatic. King's arrival on stage was greeted with thunderous applause from the crowd and a committee of Manchester officials there to present him with the key to the city. After a few minutes of acknowledging and throwing guitar picks to the crowd, King took a seat and began to play. His 82 years may be evident in his ailing health, but you'd never know it by the way he plays and his jovial sense of humour. The passion he still has is awe-inspiring...and that's why he's one of the greatest blues guitarists of all time.

Photo gallery to come.

The Raconteurs @ Kool Haus - June 5, 2008

Mon, 09 Jun 2008 12:59:06 EST

The Raconteurs rolled into town last Thursday night for a laid back performance at the Kool Haus, in support of their newly (and very quietly) released album Consolers of the Lonely. Remembering that, hey, this isn't the White Stripes, it's still very difficult to tear your eyes away from Jack White from the minute he walks onto the stage. At the risk of sounding all fangirl, this was the fourth time I've photographed him (with both The Raconteurs and White Stripes) and I still feel privileged every time.

While I'm not going to review the show here (I was shooting for someone else), hearing "Together" was my highlight of the night, even though Jack's voice was sounding a little rough (his doctor told him to lay off the vocals for a while, but he soldiered on).

I'll be down in Tennessee for Bonnaroo this week, where I hope to catch The Raconteurs again. After the festival, things should become more active on this site with plenty of content from down there.

The Raconteurs gallery is here.

Robyn @ The Phoenix - May 5, 2008

Sat, 10 May 2008 12:59:06 EST

Swedish pop musician Robyn hit Toronto last week for her first performance in our fair city in 10 years, in support of her 2005 release Robyn, which was just issued in North America at the end of this past April. From the second she walked on stage, she had the crowd (at the front, at least) in hysterics, with constant shouts of "I love you!" and "OMG! OMG! I'm so close!!"--most of which came from the gentlemen in the crowd.

To be perfectly honest, I knew very little of Robyn, give or take a few songs, but heard she put on a fantastic show and was not to be missed. As she launched into "Cobrastyle" you could feel her intense energy, which, aside from a few slower moments in the middle, carried through her entire set. I could see immediately why she was so adored, with her endearing smile and fun dance moves.

On a photography note, this was a tough one. Robyn didn't seem to be a fan of light at all. Quite opposite to what is usually the case, she was very dimly lit while her band mates were lit up like Christmas trees. I shot 1/60th of a second the entire time and was lucky to come out with anything usable, given how much she moves around.

More Robyn photos here.

Tegan & Sara @ Rogers Picnic - July 29, 2007

Mon, 05 May 2008 12:59:06 EST

After seeing coverage of Tegan & Sara at Coachella over the past week, it reminded me that I have photos of them from last year's Rogers Picnic that have never been posted. It's likely because the photos are all sort of "same-ish"...they weren't all that active on stage, and it doesn't help that they're twins. From what I recall, they played a pretty good set and had a ton of fans in the crowd (more than the other bands, it seemed), who were very easy to spot, since they all dress and cut their hair like the twins.

Tegan & Sara gallery here.

Gogol Bordello @ Bonnaroo - June 16, 2007

Thu, 01 May 2008 12:59:06 EST

Without a doubt, one of my favourite bands to see and shoot over the past few years has been Gogol Bordello. The first time I ever caught them was a bit of an accident a few years back when I was having drinks upstairs at The Drake. I knew very little about the band, who were playing downstairs, but on my way back from the washroom, I popped my head in the door to check out the show, only to find Eugene Hutz atop his drum in the middle of the crowd. I then quickly ran upstairs to grab my friend and we crashed the show for the last few songs. It only took those few songs, but I was hooked.

Over the past year, I have seen and shot Gogol three times, and they've never disappointed. The show doesn't change all that much, but somehow you don't really care in the midst of all that energy. They seem to be playing the festival circuit all summer, so I don't doubt that I'll end up seeing them a few more times, which will end up being close to the record for seeing a band the most times in one year (U2 has it so far at 6).

Gogol Bordello gallery here.

Fucked Up @ Wakestock - July 26, 2007

Sun, 13 Apr 2008 12:59:06 EST

For ages, I'd been trying to get out to a Fucked Up show at some little hole in the wall place, because I'd heard how insane their show was. Unfortunately, other shows always coincided and Wakestock was my first opportunity to check them out. Too bad they're not really the kind of band you want to see in the middle of the day on a big stage with very few people in the crowd, rather they're better suited for late night in-yer-face action, so I was feeling kind of robbed. That said, they were still quite entertaining and fun to watch, and singer Damian Abraham in particular didn't disappoint, crushing full pop cans into his skull or pouring the pop down his pants.

As much fun as that was, I hope to be able to make it out to a smaller show soon. They're playing Wrongbar in Toronto on May 13th, which is the same night as Feist, so hopefully they play late enough that I can work it out.

Fucked Up gallery here.

Ben Harper @ MTV - September 27 2007

Fri, 11 Apr 2008 12:59:06 EST

When I found out that Ben Harper was coming to town for two shows at Massey Hall, I was pretty excited--that is, until I found out I'd already committed to other shows those evenings. Luckily, he was also making a stop at MTV for an interview and to perform a few songs off his new album, Lifeline. You can watch the interview here, but for some reason the live performance isn't available.

I was initially turned on to Ben back in university, when, after a night of debauchery, a friend was hanging out at my place and started to sing "Burn One Down." I remember being immediately taken by it and asked him who sang it. The next day I hit the record store to check the song out and ended up buying Harper's first two albums, and have loved him since. I was a little disappointed that he didn't play "Burn One Down" at MTV, but can't complain too much, since I'd heard it live at Bonnaroo just a few months earlier (pics from that show will come eventually).

Ben Harper gallery here.

Cities in Dust @ Silver Dollar - June 7, 2007

Sat, 05 Apr 2008 12:59:06 EST

When I walked into the Silver Dollar really late the Thursday night of NxNE last year, I found myself almost stepping right on Cities in Dust singer, Zach Frank, who was writhing all over the floor, screaming into his microphone. Two seconds later he was screaming directly into my face, which I took as a warm welcome. Needless to say, Zach was an excellent subject for the camera, though I had to use my dreaded flash just to catch him.

I'd caught them once the previous summer during Scenefest in St. Catharines, but at the time they didn't leave much of an impression on me. My next introduction happened when I was sent a copy of Night Creatures, and was immediately floored by the wicked album art, which now ranks as one of my all time favourites. Unfortunately, I somehow managed to bust the disc before ever playing it, so most of what I've heard from them has been live.

If you're looking for some balls-to-the-wall energy, check them out in a small venue (with a low stage)...good stuff.

Cities in Dust gallery here.

Duffy @ Mod Club - March 18, 2008

Wed, 26 Mar 2008 12:59:06 EST

Last week Welsh "it girl" Duffy played her first show in Toronto to a sold out Mod Club crowd. Opening with her first single, title track "Rockferry," she worked her way through her entire album in about an hour, which made for a short evening since there was no opening band. While many are calling Duffy the next Amy Winehouse, her voice sounds similar, but her musical range isn't quite as varied just yet and aside from a few songs, most felt the same as the next. She also seemed to have a canned set of movements on stage, but given that she's just recently been plucked from obscurity it's easy to forgive, since she's still in that phase of finding her footing (literally).

Overall, the concert was a pleasant experience and the audience gave her a very warm Canadian welcome. I wouldn't be surprised to see her back in town in the near future.

Duffy gallery here.

Ticket Giveaway: Duffy @ Mod Club - March 18, 2008

Sat, 15 Mar 2008 12:59:06 EST

Well, the first contest went well, so here I am with another...

Welsh songstress and "next big thing," Duffy, has been making big waves over in the UK, and it looks like she's set to do the same in North America. With many comparisons to Amy Winehouse (minus the trainwreck image) and Dusty Springfield, Duffy has a big, soulful voice that sounds timeless and beyond her years, while being fresh at the same time. Her debut album, Rockferry will be released in North America on May 13.

So, who wants to check out this lovely lady in person? I have a pair of tickets to give away to Duffy's March 18th show at the Mod Club (Toronto), courtesy of Universal Music, for the third person to email me with the answer to this question: what Welsh city was Duffy born in?

Don't fret if you don't win, it looks like tickets are still available for $15.50 on Ticketmaster. A bargain!

If you're unfamiliar with her music, you can visit Duffy's Myspace page for a few short audio clips or head over to YouTube to watch the video for the title track "Rockferry" (which reminds me very much of Mazzy Star, incidentally).

Good luck!

Photo courtesy of Universal Music.

Lowest of the Low @ Indie Awards - March 8, 2008

Wed, 12 Mar 2008 12:59:06 EST

Recently retired Canadian band Lowest of the Low was honoured at the Canadian Music Week Indie Awards this past weekend with an induction into the Indies Hall of Fame. While the band officially broke up this past December, they came out for a special performance at the Royal York's Canadian Room Saturday evening. Things got off to a slightly shaky start, and singer Ron Hawkins admitted to being a little rusty, having to begin the first song over again. No matter, though, as it added to the charm of the performance--as did the invitation Hawkins extended to a long time fan to join them on stage for the show. They only played a few songs, but it was clear that they were enjoying themselves. Shamefully, it was the only time I'd ever seen the band in action, and now I'm kicking myself for never getting out to see them before.

Lowest of the Low gallery here.

Ticket Giveaway: David Ford @ El Mocambo

Fri, 07 Mar 2008 12:59:06 EST

We're going to try something new here today, and if all goes well, there may be more of these in the future. Ticket giveaways!

Solo artist and looper extraordinaire, David Ford, is back at the El Mocambo next week supporting Irish band Bell X1. Want to go? Be the third person to email me with the name of Ford's most recent album title, and they're all yours.

If you're not familiar with his work, check out this YouTube video for his song "State of the Union" which was recorded in one single take.

Show info: March 12 @ El Mocambo. Tix are $13.50

HIM @ Molson Amphitheater - August 21, 2007

Tue, 04 Mar 2008 12:59:06 EST

HIM was one of the acts that performed at Projekt Revolution this past summer, along with My Chemical Romance, Placebo, Saosin and headliners Linkin Park, among others. I'd never seen HIM before, but had heard they were pretty good to shoot. Maybe I caught them on an off day, though, because Ville Valo basically stood at the mic fairly sedate, with a cigarette dangling from his hand for the three songs we were shooting. Many of the photos in this set are similar for that reason.

HIM gallery here.

It's Canadian Music Week (CMW) here in Toronto, which is the time of year things really start to pick up. I've already shot Gogol Bordello and The Hives this week, and will be adding a number of other bands to the list, including one of my faves, Hawksley Workman. Hopefully I'll find a few new acts that catch my eye (or more accurately, my lens), because as it stands, most of the bands I want to check out I've already seen a few times. Updates might become sparse over the next few days due to lack of time and the need to actually sleep. If you're in Toronto, hopefully you'll get out to a few shows...say hi if you see me (if you don't know me, just say hi to any female photog with a ponytail).

And last but not least, I forgot to mention in my last post that Live Baby Live turned one on March 2nd! Time flies!

Incubus @ Molson Amphitheatre - August 2, 2007

Sun, 02 Mar 2008 12:59:06 EST

If I recall correctly, for the Incubus show, we ended up shooting the third to fifth song of the set, which was a nice change, especially since we could just enjoy the first few songs and get an idea of the lighting, etc. Admittedly, this set is more like the Brandon Boyd show, since a) it was hard to tear the camera away from him, and b) the lighting wasn't so great on the other band members and I didn't get anything I was happy with.

Incubus (a.k.a. Brandon Boyd) set here.

On a separate note, if you're a music photographer or even just a really big music fan, you should check out Henry Diltz's California Dreamin' gallery. Start by clicking the first thumbnail to cycle through the images and stories of iconic musicians, such as Jimi Hendrix, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, etc. Too bad that this kind of access is almost next to impossible these days. This is the kind of stuff I'd love to be shooting. It's an inspiring set. Enjoy!

Holy Fuck @ CBC - October 16, 2007

Fri, 29 Feb 2008 12:59:06 EST

Last fall, I shot Toronto's own Holy Fuck for one of CBC's Radio 3's Sessions. It was interesting, because the whole time I was shooting them, I could only hear the drum and bass in the studio...everything else was all wired up to the soundboard. It was nice to hear the full sound a few days later when they opened for M.I.A.

Holy Fuck gallery here.

M.I.A. @ Virgin Festival - September 8, 2007

Wed, 27 Feb 2008 12:59:06 EST

Sri Lankan performer M.I.A. was one of the most well-received artists at Virgin Fest, drawing in a huge crowd in the middle of the afternoon, mostly thanks to the diverse musical influences that appear in her work (hip hop, reggae, etc) and her socially conscious lyrics.

M.I.A.'s a bit of a tough act to follow with a camera, with her almost constant pacing back and forth across the stage, but still fun nonetheless. A few songs after the pit was cleared of the 'togs, she invited the crowd up on stage to dance with her, and like the obedient hipsters they were, the stage was jammed within minutes. Too bad I was already halfway across the grounds on my way to shoot at another stage by that point, so I didn't see the whole show, but I was finally able to catch her full set a few months later at the Kool Haus, which I will post eventually.

M.I.A. gallery here.

Bjork @ Virgin Festival - September 8, 2007

Fri, 22 Feb 2008 12:59:06 EST

Bjork headlined night one of Virgin Festival, dressed in an oversized silver and gold lamé outfit that only she could pull off, backed by a choir dressed in colourful dresses that resembled potato sacks. I've never really been into Bjork's music, aside from a few songs, but she's really entertaining to watch and shoot...she's such a unique creature.

Bjork gallery here.

Linkin Park @ Molson Amphitheatre - August 21, 2007

Thu, 21 Feb 2008 12:59:06 EST

Linkin Park brought their annual Projekt Revolution tour to the Molson Amphitheatre, with bands including HIM, My Chemical Romance, Placebo, Taking Back Sunday and more. The day was going pretty well up until Linkin Park's set, when not even a song into the show my camera died. Flat out died. I got the dreaded 'error 99' and tried desperately to get the camera to function again, but no luck. Managed to get 50 shots off, so this set is rather small. On the bright side, I got the above shot out of it, which is one of my faves, so it wasn't all that bad. Wish I could tell you how their set was, but other than noticing the cool stage setup, I was too stressed about the camera situation to actually pay attention to the music.

Linkin Park gallery here.

New York Dolls @ Phoenix - February 18, 2008

Tue, 19 Feb 2008 12:59:06 EST

The New York Dolls took the glam up a notch or two last night at The Phoenix, giving the crowd (mostly older men who can actually remember the 70s...sort of) a Family Day to remember.

Buster Poindext...er, I mean David Johansen and Sylvain Sylvain, the two remaining original members were both quite fun to shoot, with their constant emoting, which really brought the stage to life.

New York Dolls gallery here. The above photo is also Chart's 'Photo of the Week'. You can see their full review of the show here.

Blonde Redhead @ Virgin Festival - September 9, 2007

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 12:59:06 EST

Blonde Redhead ended up being a case of 'shoot and run,' as I had to be at another stage a few minutes after they went on. On one hand, I wasn't too disappointed that I had to run, since they're not the most exciting band to shoot, but on the other hand, I enjoy their music and would've liked to hear more. However, I was there to work and not play, so I'll have to catch them some other time.

Small Blonde Redhead gallery here.

Gallows @ Mod Club - Feb. 5, 2008

Wed, 06 Feb 2008 12:59:06 EST

Gallows hit the Mod Club last night with full force. It initially seemed that most people were there for openers Cancer Bats, who have some pretty rabid fans (no pun intended), because the pit almost completely cleared out once they were finished their set. However, a new group of "kids" came out of the woodwork to create one of the toughest pits I've ever been in. All was going well, and I was holding my own trying to take photos, until someone stage dived right into my face. I thought for sure I lost a tooth (sure felt like it), but luckily only came away with a slight fat lip and a bump on my forehead. At that point, I wasn't going to risk injury to myself or my camera any longer and got the hell out.

Gallows gallery here. Cancer Bats set coming soon.

Explosions in the Sky @ Virgin Fest - Sept. 9, 2007

Tue, 05 Feb 2008 12:59:06 EST

Texas band Explosions in the Sky hit the stage at Virgin Fest just as the sun was starting to set and provided the perfect instrumental accompaniment. I tend to not have the patience for bands that don't include vocals, but watching the band on stage was mesmerizing. Made me wish I'd have caught their Opera House show earlier in the year.

Explosions in the Sky gallery here.

Bang Camaro @ Virgin Festival - Sept. 8, 2007

Sun, 03 Feb 2008 12:59:06 EST

Prior to shooting this show, I had never heard of Bang Camaro. First of all, they should've been put onto a bigger stage, because they must've had about 15 band members crammed up onto the small Budweiser stage, and second of all, they were having such a good time playing that you wanted to get up on stage and join them. I tried my best to make sure I captured all band members, but I don't know how well I succeeded.

I'd really like to check these guys out again at a smaller indoor venue (and not in the middle of the afternoon). Take a look at their website for an indication of how much fun their show is.

Update: they're hitting the Reverb in Toronto on March 8th. Sweet! How they're all going to fit on that tiny stage is a mystery, though.

Bang Camaro gallery here.

Arctic Monkeys @ Virgin Festival - Sept. 8, 2007

Sat, 02 Feb 2008 12:59:06 EST

I've shot the Arctic Monkeys twice now, and while they sound good, they're not a whole lot of fun to shoot, particularly Alex Turner. Considering how upbeat their music is, the live show feels kind of emotionless to watch, aside from the drummer. Shame.

Arctic Monkeys gallery here.

Enter Shikari @ Virgin Fest - Sept. 8, 2007

Thu, 31 Jan 2008 12:59:06 EST

I feel like a bit of a broken record every time I say that a band was really fun to shoot, but, well, that was also the case with Enter Shikari. They performed as part of last year's Virgin Festival in Toronto, and I was happy that their show was during daylight, because they don't stop moving around.

I know I've been very, very bad with updating this site over the past six months, and quite frankly, it's mainly because I'm overwhelmed with a backlog of photos and whenever I look at them I just don't know where to start. This year I plan on focusing more on the backend of things rather than shooting a ridiculous number of shows, so hopefully I'll get back on my game soon.

Enter Shikari gallery here.

Best Live Shows of 2007

Thu, 10 Jan 2008 12:59:06 EST

This year I managed to see and photograph just under 300 bands, which was a little shy of the 300+ I saw/shot in 2006. When you see that many bands, it's very difficult to come up with a top 10 list, but I'm giving it a go and adding a few more. No particular order, except the top 5.

1) Yeah Yeah Yeahs @ Berkeley Church - Sept. 7/07
This was a private show put on by Vice during the Toronto International Film Festival, and leading into V-Fest weekend. Given that I was scheduled to shoot V-Fest all weekend, I was insane for even considering this show, but there was no way I was going to miss it. There was a long, long wait (3+ hours), it was insanely hot and bodies were crushing my pelvis into the stage throughout the whole show, but damn it if it wasn't worth every second. This was my first time seeing the YYYs and I'd been wanting to photograph Karen O. for ages, so having her sing right in my face was golden. I came out of that show completely soaked, battered and bruised...and grinning like an idiot.

2) White Stripes @ Bonnaroo - June 17/07
There were 3 acts at Bonnaroo that I'd been looking forward to for months, and all 3 happen to be listed here. I'd never seen The White Stripes before, but have loved them forever, and saw Jack White play with The Raconteurs the previous summer. It's hard to take your eyes off of him when he's playing guitar. I don't even know what else to say, other than they make a hell of a lot of noise for 2 people and that show made the perfect ending to 4 days of wicked music. If you have the opportunity, go to Bonnaroo...the music is great and you'll have a blast.

3) Gogol Bordello @ Bonnaroo - June 16/07
I caught the last few minutes of Gogol's show at the Drake a few years back and though I didn't even really know their music at the time, I swore I'd check them out at the first opportunity. To say I was excited to see this show at Bonnaroo would be an understatement, so the fact that I was able to watch the whole thing from the photo pit made it that much more special. It was hard to take photos because I couldn't stop bouncing around. Gogol are quite possibly the most energetic band to watch and it's infectious. If you don't move your body at their show then you officially have no soul. Saw them again at the Kool Haus later in the year, and while that show was also great, it doesn't quite make the list.

4) Flaming Lips @ Bonnaroo - June 16/07
Giant spaceship, lasers, confetti, balloons, santa, aliens, puppets, Wayne Coyne in a bubble, Wayne Coyne, period (hello!)...'nuf said. Although I still enjoyed their shortened set at 2006's V-Fest more, seeing their show makes you genuinely feel like a kid again.

5) Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings @ Phoenix - Nov. 13/07
I'm just going to use the same summary that I used in the entry below: If you've never seen Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, you have no idea what you're missing. They're a slice of funk heaven, and make you feel like you've been transported back a few decades to the height of the soul/funk era. Sharon Jones is also amazing to photograph...the energy she puts out shines through in every frame.

6) Snow Patrol/OK Go @ Ricoh Coliseum - Mar. 31/07
I love Gary Lightbody's voice. Love it. Of any musician's voice, his speaks to me most. I saw them twice in the span of about 6 months, once at the Kool Haus and the other time at Ricoh Coliseum. Normally I'd rather see a band in a smaller venue, but their music seemed perfect for an arena...and I didn't even mind sitting alone up in the stands watching the show after shooting my 3 songs. OK Go were the openers and were so much fun to watch...I would easily go see them again.

7) Maximo Park @ Mod Club - July 14/07
I was so exhausted coming into this show that it took every ounce of energy to force myself to go. I'd seen so many great jumping shots of Paul Smith that even if I didn't enjoy the show, I'd go to capture that alone. Luckily, the band's energy rubbed off on me and I actually felt quite revitalized after the show.

8) Apostle of Hustle @ Rivoli - Feb. 7/07
This was the third show of their Rivoli residency and my first time seeing AoH. I'd been trying to get to a show for ages but something else always came up. What a fantastic show...the layers of sound and Andrew Whiteman's eccentricities really impressed me. I've seen AoH several times this year (4 or 5) and the Rivoli show was by far the best...all the other shows were stripped down by comparison, so I'm glad that was my first.

9) Rheostatics @ Massey Hall - Mar. 30/07
I admit it -- I've never really been a Rheos fan. I agreed to shoot this show for Chart and thought I'd be shooting and leaving after the 3 songs, but as it turned out, a woman offered me a ticket for free just before the show, so I decided to stay. This was the band's farewell show, and you could immediately feel the emotion in the building, like something special was about to happen. People all around me were crying at one point or another...everyone such diehard fans that I almost felt guilty for occupying a seat. That said, I loved every minute of the show and am glad I was there to at least see this iconic Canadian band play once in my lifetime.

10) Golden Dogs @ Lee's Palace - Feb. 3/07
Fun, fun, fun. Another band who's energy is infectious and who give everything on stage. Considering how often they play Toronto, I've only been able to see them once, sadly. I'll get my shit together for 2008 and be sure to catch a few more gigs.

11) Handsome Furs @ Lee's Palace - July 31/07
This was my third time seeing HF in a matter of months, and to be perfectly honest, I was fairly underwhelmed the first two times, so wasn't expecting much. The evening couldn't have been any hotter and we were all soaked to the bone, but they poured everything into each song like I hadn't seen before (maybe because they were headlining and not opening). From that point on I was converted.

12) Harmonica @ Rivoli - Mar. 10/07
This show happened during Canadian Music Week at around 3am, and I was completely wiped after running around from venue to venue shooting all night. I'd heard rumblings about the Norwegian band putting on a good show, but knew absolutely nothing about them, so thought I'd give them a go and if it sucked I'd leave. If there's one word to sum the band up, it's FUN! There were only a handful of people at the show but it made no difference to them. They were definitely the band that impressed me most during the whole festival.

13) Mando Diao @ Horseshoe - May 12/07
I walked into this show not really knowing anything about Mando Diao, but decided to check them out/shoot them anyway. Most of the time I don't expect much in these cases, but I walked out of that show a fan. To be honest, I don't even really remember much about the show itself other than I really had fun and they seemed to be really enjoying it, too. Sometimes that's all it takes to make a show (for me, at least).

14) Wolfmother @ Kool Haus - Mar. 6/07
3 hours of solid rock. I saw Wolfmother 3 times in less than a year and although every show was awesome, this was by far the best...including Andrew Stockdale throwing all of his pedals into the crowd at the end of the show. It was the last of their North American tour, and each song was about 15 minutes long, mostly jamming (which I'm normally not much of a fan of, to be honest). They're a band I'd go see every chance I got.

15) Young Galaxy/Besnard Lakes @ Horseshoe - Oct. 12/07
I can't really explain why I enjoyed this show so much, other than they make a good pair of bands to tour together. I came to appreciate Young Galaxy a little more (who I found kind of boring the first time I saw) and was glad to have finally seen Besnard Lakes, who like AoH, I'd been meaning to see for ages.

16) Hives @ Phoenix - Oct. 3/07
Flat out one of the best live bands today...they could put on a clinic for almost every other band out on tour. I've never really been into The Hives, but damn if they didn't impress the hell out of me. I was sick as a dog for this show, but couldn't bring myself to go home early. Pelle is one hell of a showman, with just the right amount of Jagger swagger and cockiness to make you love him. I could've hated their music and still loved the show...luckily the music was pretty good, too.

17) Matt & Kim @ Mod Club - May 4/07
I only caught the last 2-3 songs of this show, but Matt & Kim's giddiness was so infectious. I've never seen a band have so much fun on stage, giggling and goofing around, while also not coming off as gimmicky. It was nice to see a band genuinely having a good time with the crowd...and everyone in the room ate it up.

Sharon Jones & The Dap Kings @ Phoenix - Nov. 13, 2007

Mon, 19 Nov 2007 12:59:06 EST

If you've never seen Sharon Jones & The Dap-Kings, you have no idea what you're missing. They're a slice of funk heaven, and make you feel like you've been transported back a few decades to the height of the soul/funk era. Sharon Jones is also amazing to photograph...the energy she puts out shines through in every frame.

Sharon Jones gallery here.

My Chemical Romance @ Molson Amphitheatre - Aug. 21 2007

Fri, 12 Oct 2007 12:59:06 EST

I enjoyed these guys much more than I thought I would. Their live show is pretty entertaining, so I can see the appeal.

Gallery coming soon.

Biffy Clyro @ Virgin Fest - Sept 9 2007

Sat, 29 Sep 2007 12:59:06 EST

I shot Virgin Festival for Virgin Mobile this year, which was a ton of fun (aside from sorting and editing almost 4000 photos!). I really enjoyed shooting it last year and was looking forward to seeing how this year would shape up. It was definitely much more organized and the schedule stayed relatively on time--after last year's Flaming Lips debacle it had to, lest they be lynched.

The above photo of Biffy Clyro frontman, Simon Neil, is one of my faves from the weekend. I'll eventually get a gallery up from their set, as well as more Virgin Fest artists and galleries, so stay tuned.

The Adicts @ Funhaus - November 2, 2007

Tue, 04 Sep 2007 12:59:06 EST

This was a really fun show to shoot and see. I didn't know a whole lot about The Adicts going into the show, but will definitely check them out again if they're ever through town.

The Adicts gallery here

Die Mannequin @ Wakestock - July 26, 2007

Tue, 07 Aug 2007 12:59:06 EST

I'd heard a lot about Die Mannequin's live show and how fun they are to shoot, so I made a special effort to get my ass over to Wakestock this year and find out for myself. I definitely wasn't disappointed. I stayed in the pit for their entire set, shooting about 3GB of photos - they're textbook examples of what a photog wants. I just really wish the show was at night to get the ambience of the lighting. In any case, I'll be keeping an eye on their tour sched so I can shoot them again.

Die Mannequin gallery here

Debbie Harry @ Molson Amphitheatre - June 19, 2007

Sun, 05 Aug 2007 12:59:06 EST

Shot the True Colors Tour with Cyndi Lauper, Debbie Harry, Dresden Dolls, Erasure and more at the Molson Amphitheatre awhile ago. I pretty much came straight from Bonnaroo to the venue after a very long drive straight back to Ontario on very little sleep.

Debbie Harry is stunning. I can only hope to look that amazing at 62. While it was cool to see her live, I wish I could've shot her back in the Blondie days. She didn't even sing any Blondie songs at this show, which really disappointed the crowd.

Debbie Harry gallery here.

Yard Dogs Road Show @ Bonnaroo, June 15 2007

Wed, 25 Jul 2007 12:59:06 EST

After shooting bands for two days and nights at Bonnaroo (and with a few more nights to go), I decided to slip into one of the smaller tents to relax for a bit by kicking back on the grass and catching the Yard Dogs Road Show at 2 a.m. (sleep? what's that??). It was a photographer's dream...the lighting was fantastic, the visuals were amazing and the show was incredibly entertaining. These are actually some of my favourite shots of the entire festival. If the Yard Dogs are ever coming through your area, don't hesitate to check them out.

I was particularly fascinated with the belly dancer above...she totally owned that stage when she was doing her thing and her confidence was very apparent. She's also part of the burlesque portion of the show, which unlike much of the burlesque garbage these days was actually quite classy.

Yard Dogs Road Show gallery here

The White Stripes @ Bonnaroo - June 17, 2007

Wed, 18 Jul 2007 12:59:06 EST

I love The White Stripes. Love them. I really wish I could've seen them when they came to Toronto, but alas, it wasn't meant to be. Glad I got to shoot and listen to them at Bonnaroo, though...it was the perfect way to end the festival.

White Stripes gallery here

Maximo Park @ Mod Club - July 14, 2007

Tue, 17 Jul 2007 12:59:06 EST

There are times when you're completely exhausted, feeling crappy and talking yourself out of shooting a show, but at the same time something in the back of your head is saying you'll be kicking yourself if you don't go. Had I stayed home instead of going to the Maximo Park show on Saturday night, I'm sure that would've been the case. Paul Smith has to be one of the most dynamic musicians I've shot in some time (minus anything I shot at Bonnaroo) and was totally worth dragging my exhausted body out of the house for. It's usually pretty hard to capture a musician jumping really well, but he made it seem completely effortless.

Maximo Park gallery here.

The Police @ Bonnaroo - June 16 2007

Tue, 26 Jun 2007 12:59:06 EST

Finally recovered from Bonnaroo (and NxNE right before that) and will link to a summary of my experience shortly.

The Bonnaroo gallery will be a work in progress, so check back often for new photo additions! I'll also eventually do a gallery for each band separately.

Off to Bonnaroo

Tue, 12 Jun 2007 12:59:06 EST

I'm off to Bonnaroo down in Tennessee for a week, and most likely won't be updating until I come back. Can't wait! Especially looking forward to The Flaming Lips, The White Stripes and Gogol Bordello...oh, and hearing Ben Harper play 'Burn One Down' live (it's SO good).

Be back soon!

Abyssinians @ Opera House, Feb. 26, 2006

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 12:59:06 EST

One of my first gigs for Exclaim!...it was part of Black History Month. They're a pretty amazing band to watch.

Abyssinians Gallery here.

Mastodon @ Kool Haus, May 15, 2007

Fri, 18 May 2007 12:59:06 EST

Mastodon was amazing to shoot. It's been awhile since I've enjoyed shooting a band so much, and editing the set down was tough. I'd definitely love to photograph these guys again.

Mastodon Gallery here.

Pop Levi @ Horseshoe, May 12 2007

Wed, 16 May 2007 12:59:06 EST

To say that Pop Levi loves the camera would be a massive understatement. Although the above shot looks like it was a snap off-stage, he actually stood there posing in front of my camera several times during the show. It was kinda awkward after awhile, but at least he's interesting to shoot.

Pop Levi Gallery here.

Amy Winehouse @ Mod Club, May 12, 2007

Sun, 13 May 2007 12:59:06 EST

From last night's very packed show at the Mod Club. I didn't actually get to stay for the whole show, so I have no idea if it was good or not, but the 3 songs I heard were pretty decent.

Amy Winehouse gallery here.

Deadly Snakes @ Horseshoe, Aug. 25, 2006

Fri, 11 May 2007 12:59:06 EST

Sadly, the Deadly Snakes are no more...this was from their "last show" (not really...there was an unannounced last last show the next night), and it was the first time I caught them live. Figures. Andre Ethier has now gone solo, and I have no idea what the rest of the band is doing.

Speaking of Andre, I happened to lose a 1gb memory card at their show and thought for sure I'd never see it again. A few days later, I got a call from him saying he found it on the stage. That same night, a girl lost her wallet at the venue and I returned it to her. Karma!

Deadly Snakes gallery here

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U2 @ ACC - September 12, 2005

Wed, 09 May 2007 12:59:06 EST

Going through some old files and found shots I took with my little Canon A80 point & shoot back in 2005 at the U2 shows in NYC and Toronto (3 of the 4 T.O. shows). It's too bad that this was before the days of photo passes, but I was close enough to get some decent shots. Those who know me well, know that U2 is a big part of why I got into music photography. I've always been a huge fan of Anton Corbijn's photography and it's his work with U2 that turned me onto it. Once I actually get to shoot U2 officially, I can retire a happy person. :)

No gallery for this entry today, but I will gather a set in the coming weeks once I go through the photos again and re-edit others.

Bloc Party @ Kool Haus, Mar. 25, 2007

Mon, 07 May 2007 12:59:06 EST

Took these four days after my gallbladder surgery...definitely a little soon to be running around shooting musicians, but I was determined not to miss it. Special thanks to the security at the Kool Haus for letting me sit in the pit to watch the show...it was definitely not as enjoyable as it could've been if I was able to stand for the whole show, but it was still really great.

Bloc Party Gallery here

Marty Casey @ Lee's Palace, Aug. 10, 2006

Sun, 06 May 2007 12:59:06 EST

Shot this way back last August at Lee's Palace for Tangible Sounds. It was right after Rockstar Supernova ended, and as a non-Marty fan, I was a bit reluctant about the whole thing, thinking it would be a garbage show. He actually surprised me and was quite entertaining, though. Good thing I had a telephoto lens on me, because the screaming territorial girls (and by girls, I mean 30+ years old) wouldn't let me anywhere near the stage. I couldn't even get on the lower floor at all and had to resort to using flash, which luckily worked out for the most part.

Marty Casey gallery here

30 Seconds to Mars @ Warped Tour, Barrie - Aug. 12, 2006

Wed, 02 May 2007 12:59:06 EST

Last summer, when I first got to the Warped Tour site, it was dusty and hot and I was incredibly pissed off after having to deal with a bunch of rowdy kids on the GO bus for 2hrs from Toronto to Barrie. I was wanting to call it quits within half an hour. Luckily, the day progressively got better and I was able to catch a lot of interesting perspectives of a number of bands. Say what you want about 30STM, but visually, it was a great show (for a photog, anyway)...Leto walking on the crowd in his white clothes against the blue sky really popped, and so did his makeup.

This shot was used as this year's Exclaim! Music Festival Guide...which turned out much, much better than the one I gave them for the cover last year.

Full 30STM gallery

Scissor Sisters @ Kool Haus, Mar. 7, 2007

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 12:59:06 EST

This was one of the toughest concerts I'd shot in a long time. The lights were strobing almost the entire first three songs I had to shoot, and trying to time the shots was impossible. Luckily, I came out with a few decent shots, though. The show itself was a ton of fun...like a giant disco-y dance party. I was expecting the visuals to be a little more over-the-top and elaborate than they were, though.

Full Scissor Sisters gallery

Snow Patrol @ Ricoh Coliseum, Mar. 31, 2007

Mon, 23 Apr 2007 12:59:06 EST

Snow Patrol must really love Toronto...they've been here a number of times in the past year and rumour has it that they'll be returning again shortly. At this rate, it's no wonder that Gary Lightbody had to have surgery for his voice! Not that I'm complaining...I love this band and would see them repeatedly (and have). The recent show at the Ricoh Coliseum was quite excellent. I wasn't sure what to expect at such a large venue, but they really know how to put on a big show and filled the space well. Lightbody's quick wit and banter really engaged the audience, too.

The lights for this show were quite intense...very U2 Elevation tour-like, with the LED string walls. Made shooting a bit tough, but I managed to get a few shots that I liked out of it.

Full Snow Patrol Gallery

Nelly Furtado @ ACC, Apr. 4, 2007

Fri, 13 Apr 2007 12:59:06 EST

Shot Nelly Furtado at the Air Canada Centre last week, which was my first time shooting at that venue with accreditation. It was a lot tougher to shoot than it looks...the lighting was fantastic, but I was battling with the videographers to stay out of their way, while standing on my tippy toes to see over the stage! Regardless, I'm pretty happy with the outcome.

Full Nelly Furtado gallery

Placebo @ Kool Haus, Apr. 9, 2007

Thu, 12 Apr 2007 12:59:06 EST

Apologies for the long hiatus...just got my computer back after it decided to crap out on me. It was quite the stressful week not knowing whether or not my data would be recovered. Luckily everything was intact, and I can get back to normal.

Shot Placebo earlier this week for Spin, which was my first published gig with them. I really wish I could've edited the photos on my own computer, because I'm really unhappy with the way they look on the website. Alas, not much I can do about it now. I re-edited them properly for my site. The show itself was a bit boring, and I ended up leaving before it ended, which I rarely do.

Full Placebo gallery

John "Johnny Rotten" Lydon @ Healey's, Mar. 9, 2007

Mon, 26 Mar 2007 12:59:06 EST

John "Johnny Rotten" Lydon was in town during Canadian Music Week to promote the Bodog Battle of the Bands, and I was lucky enough to catch the tail end of the press conference he was involved in. Lydon is everything you imagine him to be and more, but also more "with it" than you'd probably think. He's aged quite well, surprisingly.

Full John Lydon Gallery

Of Montreal @ Opera House, Mar. 13, 2007

Sun, 25 Mar 2007 12:59:06 EST

Apologies for the lack of updates. If you check any of my other sites, you probably already know that I just had gallbladder surgery a few days ago, and have been taking it easy. Things should be getting back to normal soon.

The Of Montreal show was crazy. Probably the most difficult show I've had to shoot. There was no photo pit and the crowd was pushing so hard that I basically had to hold my arms in one position and pray that I didn't get shoved over. It was bone-crushingly cramped in there, and I felt like I was going to throw up after the show ended.

Full Of Montreal Gallery

Wolfmother @ Kool Haus, Mar. 6, 2007

Tue, 20 Mar 2007 12:59:06 EST

It's no secret that I love Wolfmother. I'd been anticipating this show for quite some time and it certainly didn't disappoint. As the last stop on their North American tour, they played for 2.5 hours, and aside from a few minutes when they were trying to work out some technical issues, it was pure awesomeness.

Here is my review of the show on Torontoist.

Full Wolfmother Gallery

Corinne Bailey Rae @ Mod Club, Aug. 27, 2006

Thu, 15 Mar 2007 12:59:06 EST

Apologies for the lack of updates this week...I'm still recovering from Canadian Music Week, along with the few shows that happened before and after it. Needless to say, I've been up to my eyeballs in editing!

Full Corinne Bailey Rae Gallery

Aiden @ Warped Tour, Aug. 12, 2006

Mon, 12 Mar 2007 12:59:06 EST

I was shooting a band (I forget who) on one of the main stages at Warped Tour and saw Wil from Aiden sitting beside me watching. I loved the way his eyes looked, so asked if I could take a photo of him. At the time, I had no clue who he was, but have since found out that Aiden have a fairly substantial following.

This was only a single shot, so there is no gallery.

Panic! at the Disco @ Ricoh Coliseum, Nov. 16, 2006

Thu, 08 Mar 2007 12:59:06 EST

I was originally shooting Panic! at the Disco because Bloc Party was opening, and I'd planned to review their show. However, about a week before the show, Bloc Party had to cancel due to the drummer's lung collapsing (good enough reason!). I was pretty disappointed, but decided to still shoot Panic, even though their music wasn't my thing. To my surprise, they were pretty stunning to shoot. The light and backdrop were amazing and I really enjoyed it.

The music, however, wasn't really my thing, but I had to review the show on Torontoist, so I decided it was probably best to get into a 16 year-old frame of mind (not hard to do, really) and review from that perspective. You can read it here, if you want.

Full Panic! at the Disco Gallery

Be Your Own Pet @ The Horseshoe, Sept. 25, 2006.

Wed, 07 Mar 2007 12:59:06 EST

This band should be going places fast. For teenagers, they sure have their live act worked out as though they were seasoned vets. Jamina is one of the most energetic and photogenic musicians I've shot. I love this photo above...it's one of my faves.

Full Be Your Own Pet Gallery

Les Georges Leningrad @ Sneaky Dee's, Dec. 9, 2006

Tue, 06 Mar 2007 12:59:06 EST

I spent the afternoon shooting Montreal's Les Georges Leningrad for a CBC session back in December, and it was really interesting to watch them transform from "regular" (though eccentric) folk into their stage personas. Thing is, that was only the half of it. There's only so much you can bring out in a studio with no audience. So I hit up their show at Sneaky Dee's later that evening and it was total craziness. Their show is quite the experience.

Full Les Georges Leningrad Gallery

Muse @ Virgin Fest, Sept. 9, 2006

Mon, 05 Mar 2007 12:59:06 EST

This was my first time seeing Muse live, and it's too bad they played somewhat early in the day because they deserved a larger audience. Matt Belamy is hard to take the lens off of...he gives great 'guitar face'.

Full Muse Gallery

The Raconteurs @ V-Fest, Sept. 10, 2006

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 12:59:06 EST

Live Baby Live is launched! Finally! This site will be used partially as a blog, with new photos and galleries being added each day, as well as a portfolio for my music photography. I'm happy to finally have a dedicated place solely for music, particularly since the collection has grown enormously.

A big thank you to Jay Kapa for putting together the initial infrastructure of the site, and to Gary Smith for adding the final touches and special features...and to both for putting up with my demands!

About the photo...Jack White is quite possibly one of the most entertaining musicians to watch play the guitar. He's pretty amazing...not to mention the guitar itself.

Full Raconteurs Gallery

Apples in Stereo @ Lee's Palace, Feb. 20, 2007

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 12:59:06 EST

The Apples in Stereo hit Lee's Palace last week. Fun show, rabid drunken fans aside.

Full gallery

Bright Eyes @ Opera House, Feb. 27, 2007

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 12:59:06 EST

"Look at me, you can't resist this. I'm wooing you with my eyes and will have you drooling in seconds...hey, wait...wtf? why aren't you crying yet??"

Full gallery

Billy Talent @ Warped Tour, Aug. 12, 2006

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 12:59:06 EST

From the Warped Tour in Barrie, ON, back in August. This is one of my favourite live shots and sets.

Full gallery

Gnarls Barkley @ Kool Haus, Aug. 9, 2006

Fri, 02 Mar 2007 12:59:06 EST

'Does that make me craaaaaazy?'

Full gallery