Taste of Chaos (Thursday, Bring Me The Horizon, Pierce The Veil, Four Year Strong, Cancer Bats, and Conditions) at Ram's Head in Baltimore

THURSDAY:





CANCER BATS:





BRING ME THE HORIZON:





PIERCE THE VEIL:


FOUR YEAR STRONG:




CONDITIONS:
The Taste of Chaos show at Ram's Head was great. The highlights for me were seeing Thursday (a band I've loved for a long time) and discovering the amazingness of Cancer Bats.

I also quite enjoyed Bring Me The Horizon... after I wasted about 2 minutes of my valuable "1st 3 songs" shooting time drying 1/2 a bottle of water off of my camera and making sure my equipment was still working. I'd like to make a statement/request to you water-slinging singers (yes, you, Bring Me The Horizon guy):

Rock Photographers are not the enemy. We get your images out to the press, your managers, your labels, and your sponsors. We help to promote your band. Most of us don't even make enough money shooting your bands to cover our photography expenses. We do this because we enjoy it. Sure, every career path has its risks. Our equipment is ridiculously expensive and we are well aware of the risk of getting kicked in the head by the crowd surfing kids, but you will never see ME making some dick move and risk ruining $3000 worth of YOUR stuff.

I know that sometimes outdoor shows are unbearably hot, and the kids love it when you throw water on them. I completely back this and know that there is a risk that I may get a drop or 2 on me in that situation, but last night I was soaked by a significant amount of water at 10pm in an climate-controlled, indoor venue. The audience was not dying of heat. I wasn't the only soaked photographer in that pit. The girl next to me was looking at me like "WHAT THE HELL?!"

At the very least, work on your aim. You're a good band and you have a LOT of fans. Remember this simple fact: when photographers like you they'll do whatever they can to help promote you.

Civet, H2O, and Dropkick Murphys at Ram's Head in Baltimore

CIVET:





H2O:


DROPKICK MURPHYS:


My favorite ladies, Civet, returned to Baltimore and rocked Ram's Head with H2O and Dropkick Murphys. Every band on this tour is incredible and they played an unforgettable, FUN show.

The ALL ROADS LEAD TO BOSTON tour ends on St Patty's Day in (you guessed it!) Boston - the 6th day of a string of shows at HOB Boston.

Dennis Casey of Flogging Molly's GUEST BLOG for AP Magazine!

One of my favorite people in the world, Dennis Casey of Flogging Molly, is doing a tour diary/blog for AP Magazine. He shares his tour experiences including sold out shows, parties, last-minute guest list situations, and even sitting in a bar where the guy playing guitar covers one of their song - unaware that the guys are sitting there watching. Check it out! www.altpress.com

You can sure bet you'll see me at the Shamrock Festival on Saturday! If you go, be sure to check out The Aggrolites while you're there. You will NOT be disappointed!

Cradle of Filth, Satyricon, and Septic Flesh at Ram's Head Live (Baltimore)

Cradle of Filth:




Satyricon:



Septic Flesh:


Cradle of Filth, Satyricon, and Septic Flesh rocked Ram's Head Live Thursday night. I find this scene fascinating, I like watching, and LOVE shooting the bands of this genre. The crowd went crazy for all of the bands and everyone got a kick out of the one lonesome crowd surfer girl who must have passed through the crowd a minimum of 100 times.

I sat in on an interview that a fellow photographer and friend, Courtney Campbell - www.EarPlugsRequired.com, conducted with Charles from Cradle of Filth. He was very interesting and her write up will be a great read. Be sure to check it out!

Take Action Tour featuring Cute Is What We Aim For, Breathe Carolina, Meg & Dia, Every Avenue, and Anarbor at Ram's Head Live (Baltimore)

Cute Is What We Aim For:




Breathe Carolina:



Meg & Dia:




Every Avenue:


CUTE fans with their sock puppets:

Tonight I shot the Take Action! tour at Ram's Head Live in Baltimore featuring Cute Is What We Aim For, Breathe Carolina, Meg & Dia, Every Avenue, and Anarbor.

Proceeds from the shows this year - as well as the Take Action! Volume 8 CD is (available for purchase at HopelessRecords.com) - are benefiting a very worthwhile organization: DoSomething.org.

Meg & Dia were the highlight performance for me. They are absolutely amazing live performers. The crowd was very responsive to all of the acts - especially Breathe Carolina and Cute Is What We Aim For. Unfortunately I missed Anarbor because they were on stage 1/2 hour earlier than the venue listed on their schedule.