If I had a quarter for every time I wished I had a time-turner like Hermione in Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban, I would be one rich lady by now. The ability to be in more than one location at the same time would help me in so many ways! For instance, I might have time to work my day job, photograph concerts, edit said concerts, and have said photos up on Rockscope along with their accompanying Examiner article, in addition to putting them up on this blog.

However, a time-turner I do not have, and as such this blog has fallen into a bit of disrepair. This is what I’ve been up to lately, though:

My First Earthquake at The Rickshaw Stop: December 2nd, 2009

Holiday gifts for the concert photographer

La Roux at Cafe Du Nord: July 23rd, 2009

SF Concert Photographer Spotlight: Amber Gregory

Röyksopp at the Regency Ballroom: November 19th, 2009

So you want to be a concert photographer: tips and tricks for breaking into the business

So check those out & hopefully they can tide you over for the time being. I have a three-week break coming up around the holidays and hope to get caught up on editing and posting around that time, so stay tuned and I will deliver the goods eventually–I promise! Thanks for stopping by and happy holidays to all.

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I love this band.

I know, I know—I love a lot of bands. But Los Angeles-based Fitz & The
Tantrums, though I only first heard them a month ago, has already been elevated into the top tier of my all-time favorites list.

Their music is beautiful, 1960’s-inspired soul, and even if you didn’t spend your childhood listening to soul on the oldies station like me, or at the time, like my 55-year-old mother and my 75-year-old mother-in-law, you are still going to LOVE this music.

There is something undeniably moving about soul music, something that strikes you in your very core, that simultaneously gets you dancing and has you reaching for another cocktail as you recall the time you felt JUST LIKE THAT, that time your heart was shattered, the time you thought you were completely alone, the time just before you started to transform yourself into something better.

Fitz has a voice perfectly suited for soul—it can simultaneously lift you up AND break your heart—and it is AMAZING how he sounds even better live than he does on the EP—the same goes for the talented Noelle Scaggs, whose voice is absolutely gorgeous and makes me long for the days when more people in the music industry actually had talent.

To be honest, I prefer the live versions of their songs to the EP, even though the EP is excellently produced. There is something very special about hearing such beautiful sounds from people standing in front of you and knowing it is genuine. Nothing is lost in their live performances.

I had the pleasure of seeing Fitz & co. at the Fox Theater on September 11th, appearing with Hepcat & Flogging Molly. Having looked them up before the show, I watched a live recording of “Breakin’ the Chains of Love” on Vimeo & my jaw literally dropped. As a result, they were the band I was most excited to see that night, and they did NOT disappoint.

After the show my husband & I went to say hi to Fitz at the merch booth, and he was incredibly nice & was genuinely happy to be there and meet people. He is also incredibly tall, which, to a short girl like me, is something of note. I find his enthusiasm for music and for the band and all that comes with it very inspiring, a breath of fresh air in an industry where people become jaded very quickly.

I look forward to seeing them again at Harlot in San Francisco on October 7th.I have been trying to expose as may people as possible to them, so if you are in the area, you should come too! And in the meantime, listen to their music on their website, fitzandthetantrums.com.

Here is an excerpt from my email to the fantastic Darren (of Rockscope fame) at 5:30am this morning, while he was out shooting zombies or something in a cemetery where goths had been partying all night long (not kidding, but you should ask him about that!):

Last night I had my mind blown into another dimension!!!!!!!!!!! I am not kidding. Front row center, and WOW. What an electric, absolutely consuming performance. I felt as if the audience and the band were all being turned inside out and back again throughout the course of the show. Minutes felt like seconds, seriously–and I took so many photos that my hand and arm are SORE today. The Independent is the best venue in the bay area, hands down–not only was I taking photos WHILE LEANING ON THE STAGE, but when they finally told me to leave the front, they had let me stay for 3/4 of the show, which is way beyond their (selectively enforced) 3-song rule. I then got to spend time on the balcony and get some far-away shots, so it all worked out

!!! was amazing. Nic Offer is a complete showman who dances like a mad fool, and he LOVES to get up right at the edge of the stage and entice everyone to touch him while he’s dancing! Given that I was there with a huge camera I felt a little self-conscious, but one time as he was gyrating two inches in front of me I saw his hand descend, as if in invitation. I looked around, sorta of “who, me?” for a second, then grabbed it–and even though several other hands soon descended upon them, it was mine he held. Since I knew he’d noticed me–the ONLY photographer, from what I could tell, at this show–I think he wanted to acknowledge it.VERY cool.

There will be many more to come! ♥

I have been looking forward to the new Arctic Monkeys album ever since, oh, 2007–after I heard both of their previous efforts, Whatever People Say I Am, That’s What I’m Not (2006) and Favourite Worst Nightmare (2007), which I still believe is one of the most brilliant and greatest albums ever made, not just of this decade.I had heard before Humbug was released that this would be a departure from their previous sound due to their growth as artists and their fascination with artists like Jimi Hendrix, along with a new producer–Josh Homme of Queens of the Stone Age. However, I remained oblivious to the apparent shitstorm of controversy these changes were generating until today…but more on that later. For now, I want to talk about Humbug, Arctic Monkeys’ most ambitious and complex effort to date.

The album opens with the slow, fairly subdued but beautiful My Propellor — the new psychadelic guitar sound makes its first appearance here, and this song grows on me more every time I hear it.

Crying Lightning, the band’s first single from this album, is second. I must admit–this song will NOT get out of my head…it is amazing, just incredible.! The song builds gradually for a minute and a half or so until suddenly you are caught off guard and realize “oh my GOD this song is incredible!”. Great guitar and drum work here–the guitar riff is reminiscent of Led Zeppelin.

The third track, Dangerous Animals, features more of those amazing 70s influenced guitars…the lyrics & melody remind me a lot of Favourite Worst Nightmare, but with a definite new sound as well. This is a great song–and spelling out the words is fun. Alex loves the word “dangerous”!

Secret Door is a beautiful song, one of my favorites on the album. There are hints of Favourite Worst Nightmare here, too–probably the song that goes back to that album more than any other, though the psychadelic guitar work continues and sounds fantastic. The end of the song sounds deliciously Beatles-esque. This is (my humble opinion) the best track on the album.

The next track, Potion Approaching, features–you guessed it–great guitar and drumwork, and is one of the faster tracks. I hear the influence of The Doors SO strongly in this song and I think they do a great job. I was a Doors fan as a kid so this speaks strongly to me–I’m not an impartial judge here! But regardless, I believe this is a strong tune heavy on mood and melody.

Next is Fire And The Thud, a beautiful, beautiful song that subtly sneaks up on you as it builds slowly to a bridge of raucous horns & harmonies.Alex & co. have really been studying up on their 70s music for this album and it has led to a sound that pays tribute to those classic bands and artists without sounding stale or recycled.

And then we come to Cornerstone. This song is an absolute heartbreaker: “She was close/close enough to be your ghost” — yet with the wry wit that Alex Turner brings to his saddest lyrics. I guarantee you will be moved by this song…I swear, my heart breaks every time! Just beautiful.

The next track is Dance Little Liar, which has a great beat and melody. It takes a darker tone and ends with more great guitars and drumwork.

Next up is Pretty Visitors, by far the fastest song on the album, featuring quick-paced wit from Alex at his best. The best line of the album is in this song: “What came first, the chicken or the dickhead?” WIN! This album should receive 5 stars just for that line. Seriously.

The final track, The Jeweller’s Hands, is another beautifully moody song with rich guitars and a haunting melody. A pretty mellow way to end the album, but then again, this album is far more rich and subdued than either of their previous efforts, and it should not come as a surprise.

Oh dear, what a way to begin the CD review portion of this blog! After reading some other reviews, Internets, I’m afraid I need to get up on My Soapbox trade; and administer a verbal beatdown on the people getting paid to whine review Humbug.

The reviews that I read from critcs were OVERWHELMINGLY negative, from Britan to the US, and it reminded me that we live in a world that pays no attention to reality when it comes to music.

I really don’t understand why people expect an artist to remain exactly the same as they were on their first album. Guess what ? PEOPLE GROW. Over TIME! And their interests and focus and way of seeing the world ALSO CHANGE! I would be incredibly worried if a band as intelligent and talented as Arctic Monkeys didn’t change significantly in the years they take between albums. Their sound reflects that they are human beings who are growing and developing in their art as well as people. So I say to the critics who can’t stop stepping all over this record (and, believe it or not, Favourite Worst Nightmare)–go blow your hot air somewhere else. This is a losing battle. Why be so negative all the time?

To everyone: trust me, this album is a grower–you will listen to it several times before the sheer brilliance of it really begins to make sense to you. Every time I listen to it, I love it more. It is far more subtle and nuanced than previous albums, and you know what ? I love it. They are not interested in making the same album twice (*cough* Coldplay / Radiohead *cough*) , and instead spent two years moving beyond where their art had been before. I have nothing but respect for these guys, and Humbug has only made me love and respect them more. Listen and see what I mean for yourself.