This is one of the bands that competed in Skip’s Music Stairway to Stardom event this past Sunday. Great event and wall to wall music. There were 25 bands, who each got 15 minutes to play three songs for a panel of judges. Last years winning band– The F-Bombs– performed first. This is not the winning band, but they were in the hallway waiting their turn and in high spirits so I turned the camera on them to catch this image. Thanks guys. Fun.
Here I am with San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, the man who openly challenged California state law by allowing same-sex couples to legally marry. I was hired to shoot pics at a party in his honor in Midtown the other night. It was quite an event too. So tightly packed with people that moving around was nearly impossible. Absolutely wall to wall people. Fun though. The photographer originally scheduled to shoot it was called away to shoot a bar-b-que for Govenor Arnold so I got called last minute. Happy to oblige! All night, repeatedly, everywhere I went someone was leaning into me telling me how cute the mayor is… asking me to get their photo with him… men, women, old, young. Everyone in that room wanted a little piece and he was right there to charm them all. I guess I did too since I added him to my collection. Thanks Gavin for indulging me!
 crowd Originally uploaded by Charrmer. |
Normally, when they have a photo pit they let us be there to shoot for three songs. Tonight they said no photos from the pit at all. Too dangerous due to crowd surfing. Ultimately there were maybe three people who went over the barricade but that’s it. One of them was a huge fan who was in a wheelchair. Jacoby started a “Parting of the Red Sea” as I heard it called. (also known as “The Braveheart”– Okay, so I can be kinda geeky when it comes to the rock and roll lingo) Basically asking the audience to split into two sides and wait for his signal to slam into the giant mosh pit. The security guys took good care of him and he was safe and sound. Everyone I have ever seen go over the barricade comes out of it thrilled and exhilarated. Almost like getting that close to the band is like touching the almighty (or whatever it is you subscribe to). Don’t think I’ll be crowd surfing anytime soon. Ahhh, youth. Anyway, I managed to plant myself in one decent spot and stayed there while Kevin roamed. At least they had decent stage lighting for a change. The bigger bands usually do.
One last thing– You know, I never considered myself short until I got seriously involved in shooting this kind of stuff. If you want to see more pics from this show go to http://www.empireeventscenter.com/gallery/
| . |  dave Originally uploaded by Charrmer. |
This is Dave, the drummer. He’s married to Mia Tyler, Liv’s sister! Woo Hoo! He’s also exceptionally nice. Had a decent chat with him at sound check (he said I could shoot from behind him on the stage but the tour manager nixed it) and then after the show too while he was meeting fans outside the tour bus. He hugged me hello much to my delight! It’s interesting… I try not to get in the way, act like a fan, or try to get something from these people. They deal with enough of that already. I just do my photo thing. But now and then you meet someone unusually genuine and friendly. That’s Dave
 jacobyandme Originally uploaded by Charrmer. |
That’s the (affectionate) moniker Kevin has given me… Gee, thanks. But the truth is he’s really just jealous… 🙂 Can’t help it, love doing it.
This is me and Jacoby Shaddix, out front of the club after the show. It’s actually a pretty good one of me for a change! Bless my sweet little fisheye lens!!
| Papa Roach put on a great show at The Empire last night. His energy is astounding. More than that though I couldn’t help but get the sense of him being a Love Junkie… but in the nicest possible way. he wanted so much from the audience, gesturing with his hands to draw more and more love out of them. Hundreds of hands raised nearly the entire set and it was a visual treat. After the show he was outside for the longest time happy to talk to anyone, hugs, good natured with the fans, posing, laughing, generally a super guy to everyone who wanted some bit of attention. |  paparoachjac Originally uploaded by Charrmer. |
| That’s what she’s saying to me, into the mike, in front of the enormous crowd as I was taking pictures of her trying to keep from standing in front of everyone and blocking their view. This was not long after she grabbed my hand, pulled me to the front of the crowd and held my arm up with hers like a winning prize fighter! The crowd applauded, someone snapped a polaroid of me and I was thrilled and embarassed all at the same time… 🙂 |
 IMG_3458 Originally uploaded by Charrmer. |
