Boston Through My Eyes - A Boston Music Blog

Boston Through My Eyes is a Boston music blog operating from 2009-'16, featuring new music, upcoming shows, and reviews. A Boston Music Blog Allston, Somerville, Cambridge Photos and Videos from Boston Concerts Boston Concert Photography Photographer Rock, Folk, and Indie Music

[slyke25]

The Final Post

November 17, 2018

So this is it.  The final post.  

I can’t believe it’s been almost ten years since I started this adventure, and what an interesting ride it’s been.  The last show I covered was Frightened Rabbit on May 9, 2016, and even though I had every intention of giving this site a proper ending, it’s taken two and a half years to do so.  i must say, it’s been fun going through the archives, and I’m happy to finally end it the way I had envisioned.

For those of you who visiting for the first time...welcome.  Bad news = you’re late to the party (this site operated from 2009-16 and is unfortunately over).  Good news = no shortage of archived content.  I’ve compiled 15 links below, where you’ll find highlights from each year, as well as comprehensive lists to every show I attended.  I candidly discuss the progression and passion early on, and how it all came to an end it in 2016.

Along with the many photos and videos, this music blog tells a nice little story of progress.  It shows how someone with almost no experience in this space (other than love for music and art), started a little blog, and ultimately ended up communicating with publicists, obtaining photo and media credentials, and photographing my favorite bands.  

I don’t want to use the word easy, but I was surprised at how quickly I managed to become successful at my music site and concert photography.  Back in the day, if I wanted to do something like this, I’d have to work for a notable publication, and perhaps compete with other photographers and journalists to cover shows, or even attend shows I wasn’t very interested in.  Instead, I did my own thing, all by myself, and covered only the bands and music I enjoyed.  

We live in any age where anyone can start a blog or online publication on pretty much anything and get visibility.  If you have passion and create great content, people will eventually find and follow you.  It may take a while, but they will.  If this is something you’ve thought about doing (blog, photography, YouTube, etc), give it a shot.  Worst case scenario, you learn a few things, improve your skills, and have something you’ve created and can look back on.  With passion and hard work, you may get further along than you might think.

And for those of you who read publications, blogs, or view any kind of art online, realize that the vast majority of these folks don’t get paid for what they create, and if they do, it’s usually very little compensation.  They do it because they love it.  That person you follow will one day question if all of their hard work is actually worth it, if anyone truly cares, and come to the crossroads of whether to keep going or write the final post.  If you like the content you’re viewing, let the creator know.  Drop a like on it, reblog/retweet it, or send a short email saying thanks.  It may seem trivial, but It may mean the difference in whether or not that individual keeps doing what they enjoy, or move on.

I’ve been very fortunate to see many great artists over the years, and if I can say one last thing, it would be to discover new music.  Check the calendar for your local music venue, give the artist a listen, and go see a show.  There were many days where I was on the fence about going to a concert, but if you think about it, you’re never going to remember the night you stayed home and watched TV, or a great night’s sleep, but if you venture out and see some live music, you may just see and hear something that changes your life, or creates a lasting memory. 

Don’t be afraid to go to a concert by yourself either.  You’ll be surrounded by some very good people, and immediately have something in common with every single person (you might even make a new friend).  It’s better to attend a show alone than miss out completely.  As we’ve sadly seen recently, that artist you’d like to see may leave us too soon.

I really enjoyed doing this, and was an absolute dream come true.  I experienced so many great shows, new bands, and met countless amazing people during these seven years.  Music is a common bond that strikes emotion, and brings people together like nothing else.  I may not have done anything groundbreaking, but I feel this was a personal success, and perhaps i exposed someone to new music, helped them experience or relive a concert though a video, or even inspired a person to start their own blog.

I maybe biased, but I feel this was a damn good time for music as well, and think we’ll eventually look back and appreciate it more as time goes on.

And with that, I say farewell.  Thank you to everyone who has stopped by over the years.  If I happen see you at a show in the future, be sure to say hello.

Below are 15 links to posts that sum up this music site very well.

2002-2008 - Before the blog

2009 - The Start

2010

2011

2012

2013

2014

2015

2016 - The End

2017-18 - Final Thoughts

My Photography Site

Concert Archive of all shows 2009-’11

Concert Archive of all shows 2012-’13

Concert Archive of all shows 2014-’16

YouTube Channel 

[slyke25]

Photography Site

Prior to my Boston music blog in 2009,  I always enjoyed photography, and would occasionally snap photos with my little Canon point & shoot camera.  My music site ultimately gave me a much needed push to take the next step, and I purchased a DSLR camera in 2010.  

I decided to create a site where I could showcase some of my favorite photos.  Not just concert photography, but also city and landscape pictures from New England and my travels throughout the U.S.  I ended up choosing several hundred, and if you want to check them out, you can do so here:

chrisvanslyke.com

I still take photos from time to time, just not as much, and I’ll likely add a few others as time goes on.  

Thank you for stopping by.

Chris

[slyke25]

2002-2008

Before I dive into the shows I’ve covered on this site, I’ll give you a ittle background on the events that led up to it.  I grew up in Indiana, about an hour from Chicago, and the first concert I ever attended was at Chicago’s Vic Theatre (capacity 1,000) to see House of Pain (don’t judge).  My friends and I got there early and secured a spot close to the stage.  The opening band soon came out, and to our surprise, they absolutely killed it.  That unknown band was Rage Against the Machine.  In hindsight, I was likely chasing the high of that first show by attending so many concerts over the years.  I actually put together a short post on that show a while back, which you can read here.

During the 90′s, I would attend a handful of shows each year, and managed to see bands like Radiohead, Blur, The Cure, Smashing Pumpkins, Bob Mould, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, several Lollapaloozas, U2, Beastie Boys, Oasis, etc.  I successfully managed to save about 90% of my concert stubs, which makes it a bit easier to remember.

I moved to Boston in the fall of ‘02 (by way of New Jersey), and found myself in a city with no shortage of music venues and concerts, as Boston is an incredible concert market due to all the colleges.  This was also a great time for music, especially indie rock, which I became partial to, and went to several shows at the Paradise, Great Scott, Middle East, and TT the Bear’s Place.

I saw plenty of shows during this 2002-’08 era, both, big and small, but the larger ones (Neil Young, Billy Joel, Elton John, Oasis, Springsteen, Tom Petty, Phish, Peter Gabriel, Simon & Garfunkel, etc.) didn’t quite have the same feeling as the smaller, more intimate shows.  The bands that played the smaller, sweatier clubs had something to prove and played their hearts out, leaving the audience with a lasting impression, so they could hopefully make it to the next level.  It was no surprise that I liked those shows the best.  

In 2007, I was armed with a nice little Canon SD1000 Powershot point & shoot camera that took fairly decent photos for the time.  Luckily the audio wasn’t too bad either, as many of the other digital cameras seemed to struggle with recording bass, but this little camera actually worked well for recording live concert videos.

In October of ‘07, I recorded and uploaded my first video to YouTube.  It was The National singing “Fake Empire” at an extremely tiny Boston bar.  Throughout the years, I managed to record over 600 videos in less than ten years, and they often became a staple of my reviews, and was something most of the other music blogs weren’t doing at the time.

For General Admission shows, I would always arrive early for a spot against the stage, so it just kind of made sense to film a song or two, as nobody was in front of me.  I also enjoyed recording because of the challenge; I only had one shot at recording the song.  I made no edits and needed to have a steady hand.

You can view all of my videos at my YouTube channel here.

Below are a few shows from ‘02-’08 (prior to my music blog) that stuck with me, and ultimately inspired me to start mu music site in ‘09.

Bright Eyes at the Harvard Sanders Theatre (’05) - This was during the I’m Wide Awake, It’s Morning tour.  The show was sold out, but I managed to score a last minute ticket on Craigslist.  The Sanders Theatre is an incredible venue, and the show was just as beautiful.  I found a recording of the D.C show at the 9:30 Club (a few days later) via NPR here.

Ryan Adams the Hampton Beach Casino (’05) - I’d been a huge fan of Ryan Adams since his ‘01 debut solo album, Gold, which really seemed to connect with me, but I wouldn’t see him live until two years later in ‘03 at the Paradise Rock Club.  His shows were notoriously hit or miss due to drugs and alcohol, and in ‘05 he released the jam heavy album Cold Roses with The Cardinals. 

I actually ended up meeting Ryan before this Hampton Beach show, which was kind of a big deal for me because he was my favorite artist at the time.  I just happened to be strolling around Hampton Beach earlier in the day, and stumbled upon him at a tie-dye shirt store (he actually bought one and wore it at the show).  

Ryan, who often plays improv songs, played an incredible song to close the show.  “Beachfront Town” is a sad, yet beautiful, ballad about how Hampton Beach reminded him of back home (Jacksonville NC).  Here are a few posts I made about this show.

Small review and a few photos

"Beachfront Town” 

A recording of the entire show can be heard here.  

Ryan Adams at the Somerville Theatre (’07) - As I said before, Ryan Adams shows were kind of hit or miss due to drugs and alcohol, and I walked into this show with such expectations.  However, this night was different, and would be the best Ryan Adams show I would ever see.

I had a 4th row center seat, and remember seeing a suit-wearing Ryan Adams walk on stage.  His singing and playing were flawless that night, and when he changed the lyrics of “Peaceful Valley”  from “Up there in heaven with a bottle of wine” to “bottle of diet Sprite”, I just couldn’t help but smile.  He appeared to be sober, and he and the band never sounded better.  I was truly proud of him.  

Someone actually recorded the show, which you can listen to here.

Josh Ritter at Club Passim (’07)  - I fist saw Josh back in ‘06 at the intimate Narrows Center in Fall River.  I quickly became a fan after hearing his newly released album, The Animal Years.

He played two shows at Club Passim in ‘07 to benefit a friend that was ill with cancer, and I ended up recording four videos that night.

”Good Man”

“Monster Ballads”

“Empty Hearts”

“Bandits”

Bon Iver at the MFA (’08) -  I remember listening to their debut album For Emma, Forever Ago in February of ‘08 and was blown away by how incredible it sounded.  I checked to see if they were playing and live shows, and indeed they were.  They were playing the Middle East (upstairs) in Cambridge, but it was very sold out, and many people were posting on Craigslist looking for one.

However, it wasn’t long before I got to see them live, and in July of ‘08, they put on an amazing display of music at the MFA.  They basically played For Emma, Forever Ago in full since it was their only album at the time, and they sounded flawless.

I’d see them one more time in December of ‘08 at the Wilbur Theatre.  You can watch “Wolves” and “Skinny Love” from that show.  Fun fact, and unknown (even to me) Tallest Man On Earth opened.

MGMT at Great Scott (’08) - I actually recorded a couple videos at this show.  Feel free to check out “Time To Pretend” and “Kids”.  During “Time To Pretend”, I’m holding the camera very still, but the footage appears to be slightly bouncy.  That’s because the floor is giving ever so slightly, due to everyone bouncing up and down.  It was crazy.  Fun fact - Yeasayer opened.

Wolf Parade at the Paradise Rock Club (’08) - This was actually my second time seeing the band (first time in ‘06, same venue), and their album Apologies To the Queen Mary is an absolute favorite of mine.  I ended up recording six videos at this show, and my favorite was “This Heart’s On Fire”, which is crazy intense.  100% Rock & Roll.

Langhore Slim at Middle East Upstairs (2008) - I always looked forward to his shows.  They were intimate, intense, and genuinely good times.  Not many people heard of him at the time, and I recall two guys I’d see at every early Langhore Slim show.  These dudes were super fans.  They knew all the songs and cheered louder than anyone.  I recorded a couple videos from this show - “In the Midnight” and “Restless”.  Notice The band was a trio back then, with Paul was on bass.

The National at Paddy O’s Pub (’08) - The album Boxer had just come out, and I believe Miller Light sponsored this show at the very small Faneuil Hall pub.  It doesn’t get much more intimate than this, and I shot my first video ever that night, “Fake Empire”

The one that got away - I’l share a little story about the time I headed to the Orpheum Theatre in ‘02 in search of a ticket to a sold out show.  I had good success scoring single tickets way below face value outside of large venues close to showtime.  I recall seeing Simon & Garfunkel at the Garden in ‘02 for $10 ($100 face value), and Peter Gabriel for $20 (also $100 face).  For some stupid reason, I thought I’d have the same luck for David Bowie who was playing the Orpheum that night.  I managed to find someone selling a single ticket for face value, which was $75, but I has no idea tickets were that much before I headed down to the theater.  I recently moved to Boston and didn’t have much money, so $75 was a lot, and I unfortunately had to pass.  I told myself, no big deal, I’ll catch him next time.  Sadly, there was no next time.  

While living in Boston, it seemed each year I’d attend more shows than the last, and by 2009, I felt the need to create a music website.  In the days to come, I’ll share some of the most memorable shows I saw, with a post for each year (’09-’16).

[slyke25]

2009 - The Start

I’m originally from Indiana, but moved to Boston (by way of New Jersey) in October of ‘02, and was fortunate to live close to several Boston music venues like Great Scott, the Paradise Rock Club, and Harper’s Ferry (now Brighton Music Hall).  I’d often walk to shows, seeing no shortage of incredible concerts, and it wasn’t long before I started to document these experiences.

About ten years ago, blogging was taking off, and there were no shortage people documenting and sharing their lives online.  One such blogger was musician Ryan Adams, who had a blog on Tumblr - foggy.tumblr.com (since deleted).  He was living in NYC at the time, and would share his thoughts, photos, and even new music.  Being a huge Ryan Adams fan, I enjoyed the openness of the content, and appreciated the intimate look into his life.  He was using the platform as a creative outlet, and genuinely seemed to be posting whatever he wanted.  I  guess you could say I felt somewhat inspired by his blog, and thought about starting one myself.  But what would I write about?

During this time, I was listening to so many talented artists like Bon Iver, Death Cab for Cutie, Arcade Fire, The Tallest Man On Earth, Bright Eyes, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Fleet Foxes, Band of Horses, The Swell Season, Ray Lamontagne, Langhorne Slim, Frightened Rabbit, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, The National, Dawes, Wolf Parade, The Low Anthem, The Avett Brothers, LCD Soundsystem, and countless others.  It was such a good time for music, and I found myself connected with these artists and their songs.

In late October of ‘07, I recorded and uploaded my first YouTube video - (The National playing “Fake Empire”) at a small Irish bar in Boston.  Surprisingly, it turned out quite well, and I couldn’t help but think I was witnessing something special at these shows.  Seeing upcoming bands in tiny venues, and watching them play their passionate hearts out as they’re trying to make it, was incredible.  I managed to see several bands in small clubs that would eventually become well known, and play much larger venues years later.  I felt these were exciting times, and felt compelled to share these bands and their music with other people.

On January 18, ‘09, I ventured down to Great Scott to see a new band that I liked, Frighted Rabbit.  Armed with my trusty little point & shoot Canon camera, I arrived early, secured a spot against the stage, and over the course of the night, ended up taking a few photographs and videos.  Taking pictures at Great Scott with a DSLR camera can be challenging due to the extreme darkness of the club, so you can only imagine what it’s like snapping pictures with a tiny point & shoot in ‘07.  I ended up posting four photos and two videos that night, wrote a few short paragraphs, and it was the first of many concerts I would cover on this site.  

Oddly enough, this site didn’t start out as a dedicated Boston music blog.  In the beginning, it was about 80% music-related, and the other 20% consisted of random thoughts, experiences, and travels.  I mean, it wasn’t like anyone was reading it, so I pretty much just posted whatever I wanted.  It wasn’t until things progressed in 2010, that I made it 100% focused on music. 

I began with no followers, and didn’t really promote or tell anyone about my site.  Eventually people found me via Google searches, Youtube, Tumblr, or I’d meet them at shows.  Things just kind of organically grew from there, and I’ll talk a little bit about how things progressed in the next post - 2010.

I’ll be sharing highlights from each year, starting with 2009 below.  My coverage of shows started out very simple, consisting mainly of a few photos and videos with my Canon point & shoot camera.  The early posts are a little remedial, but hey, you have to start somewhere, and I did my best with the tools I had.  It wasn’t until later, when I was able to upgrade to a DSLR camera, and obtain media passes for shows. 

I invite you to click on the bold print below for links to each of the 14 shows, where you will find photos, videos, and maybe even a few words.

These are just a handful of some of my favorite shows from ‘09, and to see the full list of every show I covered in ‘09 (with links) click the ‘09-’11 archive here.

Frightened Rabbit at Great Scott (1.19.09)  - The very first concert I would feature on my site   I’d recently purchased their newest album Midnight Organ Fight and absolutely loved it.  I felt a connection to their music, and it became the show that ultimately inspired me to put together the post and start my site.  I remember that wintry Boston night very well.

Frightened Rabbit became special to me, and I’d see them numerous times over the next several years, and I ultimately decided to bring things full circle when I decided to end my site with their 2016 show at the House of Blues.  When I heard of Scott Hutchinson’s passing in May of ‘18, I was absolutely gutted.  He was such a talent.  R.I.P Scott.  

Ryan Adams and The Cardinals at the Orpheum Theatre (2.21.09) - This would mark the last time I would see Ryan Adams with his band The Cardinals, as they would disband later that year.  Overall, a solid show, but my favorite Ryan Adams & The Cardinals show was in ‘07 at the Somerville Theatre.  

Josh Ritter at the Avalon Theatre MD (4.9.09) - Josh likes to try out new songs for his upcoming albums at intimate venues, and this show at the Avalon Theatre in Maryland (capacity 380) would feature stripped down versions of songs from his upcoming album So Runs The World Away.  I ended up recording six videos that night.

Vetiver at Harpers Ferry (5.6.09) - This would mark the last show I would attend at Harper’s Ferry, as it was transformed into the Brighton Music Hall shortly after.  The advantage in getting to a show early is that you get to see the opening bands, and this night, a band I hadn’t heard of called These United States started the show, and instantly became a favorite band of mine.  Very underrated band that’s no longer together, and I always felt they should have been much bigger than they were.  Check them out.

Bon Iver at the Cape Cinema (5.11.09) -  This is the kind of show I dream about.  An incredible band, playing a beautiful album, at a 300-capacity theatre on Cape Cod during the off season.  I ended up seeing them for the first time in July of ‘08 at the MFA, and when they announced this one-off show in May in Dennis, MA, I was in.  That show was absolutely epic, and I recorded six videos that evening.  Though I’m not 100% sure, I believe their B side “Haven, Mass” was written during their stay at the Cape.

St. Vincent at the Somerville Theatre (5.19.09) - I remember hearing her debut album, Marry Me, back in ‘07, and enjoyed ‘09′s Actor as well.

The Tallest Man On Earth at the Middle East downstairs (6.14.09) -  I first saw The TMOE when he opened for Bon Iver at the Orpheum Theatre in December of ‘08.  He didn’t headline this show at the Middle East, and was the opener for John Vanderslice.  I recorded two videos that turned out well.

Newport Folk Festival (8.1.09) - The Newport Folk Festival first appeared on my radar back in ‘05, when bands such as Bright Eyes, Pixies, Elvis Costello, Ray Lamontagne, and others were scheduled to play.  I didn’t end up attending the festival until four years later in ‘09, when I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to see a solid lineup of artists I liked (Langhorne Slim, Avett Brothers, Fleet Foxes, The Decemberists, Iron & Wine, etc).  The festival didn’t sell out back then, but it was gaining a strong loyal following, and quickly evolving into the NFF we see today, with Jay Sweet now leading the way.

I could probably write a book about this festival and what it meant to me over the years.  The music, the people, the venue - it always felt like home. 

Langhorne Slim at TT the Bear’s (8.3.09) - I first saw Langhorne Slim back in April of ‘08 at the Middle East Upstairs, and I 100% knew I was witnessing something special.  This 8.3.09 show was just as great.

Paul McCartney at Fenway Park (8.5.09) - This was a very unique experience for me   A local music site I followed posted a contest where you could win a media pass to the show, and help them with a project to film the show.  I decided to throw my name in the hat, as I had a little experience documenting shows with my photos and videos.

It worked, and I was chosen to be part of a team to film segments of show with a new mini recorder called the Flip Mino HD.  They ended up doing this project at both the NYC and Boston shows, and planned to release a DVD.  Nothing became of the footage for the Boston show, but it was an incredible experience, and gave me a small taste of the press pass, which I was now hungry for.

Nine Inch Nails at the Bowery Ballroom NYC (8.22.09)  Back in ‘09, NIN announced several farewell shows, including one at the intimate 500 capacity Bowery Ballroom in NYC.  Luckily, I ended up scoring tickets when they went on sale, and as you’d expect, it was a killer show.

Flaming Lips at the Bank of America Pavilion (8.31.09)  This show is notable for a few reasons.  It was my first time seeing them live, Explosions In the Sky opened, and I had a front row seat.  With a seat that good and great lighting, I was able to capture some shots with my point and shoot camera that turned out very well.  I was starting to feel comfortable and more confident.

Sufjan Stevens at the Port City Music Hall (Maine) 10.3.09 -   Sufjan Stevens live in Portland Maine in the fall at a tiny 500-capacity venue - How can it not be great?  He announced a three week fall tour that would take place at very intimate venues in the Midwest and along the East Coast.  He would try out new material for his upcoming album, The Age of Adz.

Ray Lamontage at the Wang Theatre (11.4.09) - I was slightly late to the Ray Lamontagne party, as many folks were talking about this singer-songwriter from Maine.  This was my first time seeing Ray live, and I can still remember hearing those first words that came from his mouth, and being blown away at how powerful his voice was.  Truly something special that you don’t hear very often.

[slyke25]

2010 - Camera & Photo Passes

In the early days, i was covering shows with my trusty little point & shoot Canon camera.  Looking back, I’m actually quite surprised at some of the photos I was able to take in such low light, and without using a flash.  They obviously weren’t the best pics ever, but they were passable for review purposes..

However, it wasn’t long before I went from content to frustrated my photos.  I remember attending the Arcade Fire show in August of ‘10, and checking out photos from other Boston music blogs that covered the same show, comparing mine to them.  I suddenly became critical, as my photos weren’t nearly as good.  Well, of course they weren’t as good.  I mean, I was using a little $200 point & shoot camera, while the other photographers had thousands of dollars worth of camera equipment and fancy low light lenses.  If that wasn’t enough, they also had press passes and were taking photos on the other side of the barricade.  

I now found myself at the crossroads.  I wanted to take better pictures, but the only way I was going to achieve this goal was to upgrade to a DSLR camera.  So in September of ‘10, I purchased a Canon Rebel T2i, a 50mm 1.8 lens, and had no idea what I was doing.  I was clueless.  It probably took me a good ten minutes to figure out how to mount the lens to the camera body.  However, I had the drive to learn.  I’d watch Youtube videos, read books, ask questions, and slowly taught myself how to use it.

The first show I used my new camera was The Boxer Rebellion at the Middle East Upstairs (9.22.2010).  My first thought was “Wow, this is so much easier, and the pictures are so much brighter”.  Being pinned against the stage at a small crowed show isn’t ideal for a 50mm prime lens because it puts you too close to the band, but unfortunately it was the only lens I had, and I had to made it work.  It was a good first experience, and I was slowly beginning to learn.  

Small music venues typically allow you to bring in cameras without issue, but larger venues require a photo pass to carry in your professional camera (typically defined as having a detachable lens).  Small shows weren’t really going to cut it for me, as I had my sights set on bigger venues.  I wanted to cover the British band James at the Paradise Rock Club next, so I decided to take the necessary steps to try to secure a photo pass for the show.

One obtains a photo pass via the band, who typically hires a publicist to handle such requests.  Now, I could write an entire chapter on my dealings (both good and bad) with publicists, but basically, the band gets a certain amount of photos passes and tickets allotted specifically for the press to cover an event, and while each publicist has their own set of criteria, they all want positive visibility for the band.  You could be an amazing photographer, but if no one sees your photos, the band essentially has nothing to gain from letting you cover the event.

The publicist then takes all requests to cover the show, and assigns passes to media outlets they deem worthy of said tickets/passes.  If there happens to be five passes available and five respectable publications put in a request, everyone’s typically approved and a happy camper.  If twenty people apply, there will be fifteen people who get rejection emails.  It was frustrating getting rejected over and over, and even though I tried not to take it personally, I was still disappointed.

Getting back on track, I sent an email to the band’s publicist to see if I could get a photo pass for the James 9.25.10 show at the Paradise Rock Club.  This was sort of a big deal.  I was emailing the publicist of a band I liked, and waited patiently for a response.  From what I recall, I didn’t get a response after several days, and began to wonder if she’d received my email.  In hindsight, she totally got my email - haha.  I was just peon number whatever asking for another photo pass, a total newb with an amateur blog at that,  I really wanted this pass, so I sent a second email, to which she did eventually respond.  While she didn’t say yes right off the bat, she didn’t say no either.  I could tell she was hesitant, and after some creative persuasion, she eventually said yes (likely because she didn’t receive many other requests to cover the show, and had nothing to lose).  But anyway, the reason she approved me was irrelevant.  I was in, had my pass, and that was all that mattered.  

It was my first time shooting at the Paradise Rock Club, and I felt the photos turned out well, considering I was still understanding how to operate my new camera and all.  After that show, luck was on my side, as I was approved for a few theater shows - LCD Soundsystem (Orpheum) and The Tallest Man On Earth (Somerville Thatre).  The 50mm wasn’t quite cutting it for the larger shows, so I would occasionally rent lenses from the guys at Calumet photo in Cambridge.  I eventually purchased the Tamron 17-50mm 2.8 for wider shots and now had two lenses.  

Mind you, I was still getting rejected for press passes on a regular basis, so it wasn’t all roses, but my success rate for covering shows was steadily increasing.  The approvals became key, as I now had examples from prior shows that I could now use for my email requests to publicists for future shows.  At the time, my site had very low traffic, but no one really had any idea what sort of viewership I had.  Remember, this was 2010, and there weren’t website rankings like you have today..  As long as your site looked legitimate, you were legitimate.  How many publicists really have the time to look at more than a few pages of your site anyway?  And when they saw several recent quality reviews on my site, that was usually good enough to get me the pass.  

Towards the end of the year, I upgraded to a Panasonic point and shoot for recording live videos, as it had a stereo microphone, and was superior to my Canon for audio.  The image stabilization wasn’t quite as good as the Canon, but it did have an optical zoom.

I felt 2010, was a solid second year for my new site, and I attended many memorable shows.

I invite you to click on the bold print below for links to each of the 12 shows, where you’ll find photos, videos, and maybe even a few words.

These are just a handful of some of my favorite shows from 2010, and to see the full list of every show I covered in ‘10 (with links) click the ‘09-’11 archive here.

Dawes at Great Scott (2.20.10) - I enjoyed their debut album, North Hills, and decided to head down to Great Scott and check them out.  Oddly enough, it wasn’t the first time I’d seen Dawes live, as I actually saw them open for Langhorne Slim at TT’s in Oct. ‘09, but didn’t know who they were at the time.  This Dawes Great Scott show was fun, and included Corey Chisel on the bill as well.  I’d  eventually see Dawes may more times over the years, mostly at festivals like Newport.

Joe Pug and Justin Townes Earle at Great Scott (3.4.10) - This was first time seeing both Joe and Justin.  Solid show from two artists I would see several times again.

Beach House at the Paradise 3.28.10 -  The Baltimore band were touring behind their latest release, Teen Dream, which quickly became a favorite of mine.

Wilco at Lupos 4.4.10  - This wasn’t my first time seeing Wilco, but man was it a good one.  They played 37 songs for this Easter show (setlist).  I managed to record audio of the crowd singing along (at the request of the band) to “Jesus, etc”, which was probably one of the best audience participation songs I’ve ever witnessed.

Wolf Parade at Port City Music Hall 7.11.10 - While this might not have been the best Wolf Parade show I’ve seen, but it was memorable because they were (still are) one of my favorite bands, and I remember having a bittersweet feeling after the show because, while I enjoyed it, I felt they weren’t as tight a unit as prior shows. I’d recently seen both Sunset Rubdown and Handsome Furs around this time, and it seemed Spencer and Dan were putting more energy into those shows.  Wolf Parade broke up not long after this show, and it took me eight years before I would see them live again.  On side note, the band sounds better than ever.

Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros at Pearl Street 7.25.10 - I made a brief mention of this band in August of ‘09 when I saw they were playing TT’s in Ca,bridge.  Unfortunately, I couldn’t make it to that show, but when I saw they were playing Pearl Street in Northampton the following year, I decided to make the trip.

I really like Northampton a lot.  The city has a nice vibe to it, and I always enjoyed going to shows there.  I attended plenty of shows at the Calvin Theatre, and this may have been my first time at Pearl Street.  I always enjoy a good road trip to a quaint New England town, and this was such a good time.  The band, the crowd, the energy - it was all perfect.  Probably one of the more beautiful shows I attended.  I recorded “Janglin’, which gives a you a pretty good idea of the show.

Newport Folk Festival 7.31.10 - My second year attending Newport, and another wonderful experience at what was now my favorite festival (nothing else was even close).  What more can I say.

Arcade Fire at the BOA Pavilion 8.2.10 - I can remember when Pitchfork gave their album debut album Funeral a score of 9.7, and after I gave it a listen, I completely agreed.  I checked their live tour dates and saw they were playing TT the Bear’s (this was ‘04), but the show was very sold out, and several people were already searching for tickets on Craigslist.  I missed their ‘05 show at the Roxy, but saw them for the first time at the Orpheum in ‘07.

Ok, back on track with this This BOA Pavilion show, which was very good by the way.  The next day, I remember checking photos from other Boston music sites, and became critical of my photos because they weren’t as good as some of the others.  A few weeks later, I purchased my first DSLR -  the Canon T2i, and also picked up the 50m 1.8 lens.  I was determined to take better photos, even if I had to teach myself or ask questions.

The Boxer Rebellion at Middle East Upstairs 9.22.10 - My very first concert shooting with my new DSLR camera.  The quality was significantly better, and my ability to shoot in low light was night and day.  The 50mm lens was obviously way too close for this show, since I was pinned against the stage, had no other lenses, but I was learning.  Augustines opened.

James at the Paradise 9.25.10 - My first media pass.  After many emails back and forth with the band’s publicist (I was persistent), she reluctantly gave me a photo pass for the show.  She wasn’t on the fence because the press list was full, but basically I was a small-time blogger with point & shoot camera.  Ah, but not anymore.  Now I was a small-time blogger with an entry-level  DSLR camera and a 50mm lens (nifty fifty).  Anyway, she gave the the pass, which is all I wanted.  

LCD Soundsystem at the Orpheum 9.28.10 - This is one of those concerts you don’t quite realize how lucky you are to have seen until long after the show.  The band announced their break up five months later.  That night, I ended up taking one of my favorite crowd photos from the balcony.

Sufjan Stevens at the Orpheum 11.11.10 - Probably my favorite show of 2010.  He played two nights at the Orpheum, and actually filmed the shows with multiple cameras (DVD perhaps?), but the footage never came to be.  Such a good show.  I recorded a few vids and “Vesuvius” came out especially well.

[slyke25]

2011

After a fairly successful 2009 and 2010, the third year of my Boston Music Blog seemed to progress in similar fashion.  I now had a DSLR camera, a new point & shoot for videos, and was slowly feeling more comfortable.  I still had a lot to learn regarding concert photography, but I wasn’t afraid to experiment or ask questions. Success for photo passes was still less than I wanted, but it was definitely better than the year before.  2011 was about improving my photography, my site, building relationships, and gaining new followers.

Surprisingly, I was occasionally contacted by publicists to cover new bands.  I will say this - even in the early days, I managed to stay true to myself.  I’d have an open mind and give these new bands a listen, but if I didn’t like the music, I’d kindly pass on covering the show.  This isn’t quite easy as it seems, as there are several large PR firms that manage numerous bands, and journalists can sometimes get guilted into covering a band who’s music they don’t necessarily like, in hopes of gaining approval to cover a popular band served by the same publicist.

I definitely discovered several awesome upcoming bands via publicists promoting their new clients.  I had to sift though a lot of email of bands that weren’t my cup of tea, but when I managed to fine one I liked, I felt I was part of something special, and could see this unknown band in a very intimate venue.

I was also looking for ways to improve my site, and I now had the domain bostonthoughmyeyes.com instead of a .tumblr url.  I noticed that people slowly began to find and follow my site (not many, but a few), and being Tumblr-based, it was easy to tag posts and obtain a small following.  I also began promoting my website through my YouTube videos, and even Google searches were helping send a few people my way.  

2011 was good to me, and I was able to see and photograph many of my favorite artists.  Though it varies by venue, photo passes for most larger venues allow access directly in front of the stage for the first three songs, which is a unique experience in itself.  During 2011, I was fortunate to cover Josh Ritter, Bright Eyes, Iron and Wine, Cage the Elephant, Fleet Foxes, Ray Lamontagne, The Flaming Lips, My Morning Jacket, Wilco, The National, M83, and so many other talented artists.  It also marked the first year I obtained media credentials for the Newport Folk Festival, which was an absolute dream come true.  I felt like I was living out my own version of the movie Almost Famous. 

In 2011, I attended many memorable shows.  I invite you to click on the bold print below for links to each of the 9 shows, where you’ll find photos, videos, and maybe even a few words.

These are just a handful of some of my favorite shows from ‘2011, and to see the full list of every show I covered in ‘11 (with links) click the ‘09-’11 archive here.

Cracker at the Middle East Downstairs (1.16.2011) - This was a special show, as they were playing their 1993 album, Kerosene Hat, in full, which is an absolute favorite of mine.  The whole album is solid, and “Take Me Down To The Infirmary” is one of my favs.

Young the Giant at Great Scott (1.18.11) - When I heard their debut self-titled album, I had a feeling these guys would do well.  They didn’t disappoint, and played a fun little show at Great Scott. 

Richard Ashcroft at the VVCA (3.24.11) - I loved the 1997 album Urban Hymns by the Verve, and when I saw that frontman Richard Ashcroft was playing an acoustic show in Boston, I had to go.  The show took place at the Villa Victoria Center for the Arts, a non-traditional concert venue.  When you go to as many shows as I, a new venue is always welcomed..

The show contained no shortage of songs from Urban Hymns, and he sounded great.  

Fleet Foxes at the Orpheum Theatre 5.17.11 - I love this band.  Their harmonies and sounds are gorgeous, and they can do no wrong in my eyes.  

As I left the show (I was one of the first ones out), I was walking down Broomfield St, which contains an entrance to an alley that leads to the back of the Orpheum.  Out from the dark alley, comes J. Tillman (touring drummer) and another guy.  J. kindly asked me if I knew of any good bars in the area (clearly looking to get his drink on), and my first though was “Wow, he must have literally played the last note, put down his drum sticks, grabbed this other dude, and headed immediately out the door” - haha.  Anyway, I directed them to a bar down the road, he said thanks, and that was it.

Seven months later J. Tillman left Fleet Foxes, and posted this on his Tumblr - “Farewell Fleet Fans and Friends.  Back into the gaping maw of obscurity I go.  Tokyo is my last show with the Foxes.  Sorry if I was distant and obtuse if we ever met.  Have fun.”  He would soon become Father John Misty, and the rest is history.

Newport Folk Festival (7.30.11 & 7.31.11) - Attending the Newport Folk Festival as a an is magical on it’s own, but Newport with a media pass for the first time was a real life Almost Famous moment.  It would be my third year for Newport, and my first time attending both days (it was only two days back then).  I’m forever grateful for this festival, and they’re very kind to local media.  

My Morning Jacket at the BOA Pavilion (8.14.11) - The band was touring behind their incredible album, Circuital, and this show rocked.  On a side note, I first saw MMJ open for Doves back in ‘02 at the Tracadero in Philadelphia.  I obviously had no idea who they were, and thought they were terrible.  What a difference a decade makes.  On another semi-related note, check out Doves 2002 album, The Last Broadcast, If you haven’t.

Jeff Mangum at Jordan Hall (9.10.11) - I loved this show.  To hear acoustic versions of Neutral Milk Hotel’s album, In The Aeroplane Over the Sea, in a gorgeous theatre, made for an unforgettable night.

The Low Anthem at the Somerville Theatre (10.23.11)  -This was a special show, as it was their tour closer and sort of a home show for the Rhode Island band.  They were all celebrating, and when it was time for the venue curfew, they took to the street to sing more songs.  A very unique ending.

Gary Clark Jr at TT the Bear’s (12.12.11) - I remember this show well.  I already had a ticket for Band of Horses at the Paradise the same night, which was a special smaller venue show for the band.  People thought I was crazy for selling my BOH ticket to attend a relatively unheard of Gary Clark Jr at TT the Bear’s, but I knew he was going to blow up, and I was right.  I’m sure the BOH show was great, but I definitely feel like I made the right call that night.  I took some great vids at this show as well.

[slyke25]

2012

2012 was a dream come true, with each show seemingly bigger than the next.  I was now covering shows at significantly larger venues, and obtained press credentials for my first shows at Agganis Arena and the TD Garden, which seemed impossible in the beginning.  It was also a damn good year for new music, and I was fortunate to see some incredible bands in the early stages of their musical careers.

It’s crazy some of the shows I was getting approved for at this time, being a small-time music blogger and all.  In hindsight, I think I had a few things going for me.  I had a legitimate looking site, decent photos, better relationships with publicists, and the fact there wasn’t an overabundance of Boston music blogs, probably helped a little as well.  

In 2012, I attended numerous memorable shows.  I invite you to click on the bold print below for links to each of the 17 shows, where you’ll find photos, videos, and maybe even a few words.

These are just a handful of some of my favorite shows from 2012, and to see the full list of every show I covered in ‘12 (with links) click the ‘12-’13 archive here.

First Aid Kit at the Paradise (4.2.12) - April was an ridiculous month for new bands.  I started off seeing First Aid Kit, then Of Monsters and Men, Alabama Shakes, and The Lumineers all in a short span of three weeks.  Most all were touring behind their debut albums, and would play larger venues the next time they would come to Boston.

This First Aid Kit show was the first of many I would see from the Swedish duo, and their harmonies are just as good live as on the album.  

Of Monsters and Men at the House of Blues (4.7.12) - Fun fact: This show was initially booked at the Brighton Music Hall and relocated to the much larger House of Blues, which I believe sold out as well.  Great show.

Alabama Shakes at the Paradise (4.15.12) - The vocals of Brittany Howard, are impressive, and the sold out crowd at the Paradise added to the energy,

The Lumineers at Cafe 939  (4.20.212) - After hearing their self-titled debut album, I knew they would do well.  Seeing them play basically their entire first album in a room of only 200 people was quite an experience.  

Radiohead at the Comcast Center (5.29.12) - I first saw Radiohead in ‘97 during their OK Computer tour.  That album, along with Kid A, were way ahead of their time.  There are few bands sound better live than on their albums, but Radiohead has manged to do just that, and photographing them was a dream come true.  Fun fact - Thom Yorke was probably the least photogenic person I’ve ever photographed.  So many awkward faces, but he’s just getting lost in the music, so it’s all good.

Passion Pit at the BOA Pavilion (6.22.12) - The Cambridge band was in their prime, and put on a good show.  After I posted my photos, I was contacted by the band’s publicist, who asked if they could use several of my photos for a press event promoting the band’s upcoming album.  To say I was excited would be an understatement.  I kindly let her know that I’d love to work with the band, and to let me know what they had in mind in regards to pricing.  Well, I never heard back, and sadly, this is quite common.  Artists (or their management) seem to rarely want to pay photographers for their work, and a few have even used photos without giving credit.

Newport Folk Festival at Jane Pickens Theatre (Conor Oberst, First Aid Kit, Dawes, Jackson Browne (7.27.12)  - When your Newport Folk Festival weekend starts off with Dawes, First Aid Kit, Conor Oberst, and Jackson Brown at an intimate theater in Newport for 500, you know it’s going to be a good one.  

Newport Folk Festival (7.28.12)  - It’s safe to say that Newport easily makes my list of memorable shows every year, and 2012 is no exception.  I attended Newport every year from ‘09-16, and would keep attending today if I didn’t currently live in Denver.  If I had to rank my favorite Newport experiences, 2012 would likely be in the top two.

Newport Folk Festival (7.29.12) - When I think of my favorite all-time sets at Newport, most seemed to have been scheduled under the smaller tents.  The Tallest Man On Earth (Harbor stage), and Of Monsters and Men (Quad) were two of may favorite sets of the entire weekend.

Gentlemen of the Road Tour Portland, Maine (8.4.12) (St. Vincent, Dawes, Dropkick Murphys, Mumford and Sons) - I always loved going to Maine, and when I heard about this summer show, I had to go.  The location was right on the waterfront, making for a beautiful setting, and the lineup wasn’t too shabby either.  

Bon Iver at the PPAC (9.12.12) - It’s safe to say that Bon Iver are one of my favorites, and I’d see them pretty much any chance I’d get.  I drove to Providence for this show, and even went to the Boston show the next day.  Their live performances were always epic, and were touring behind their second album, self-titled Bon Iver.

Bon Iver at the BOA Pavilion (9.13.12) - I don’t usually don’t do back-to-back shows, but Bon Iver would be one of the few exceptions.

Life is Good Festival - Canton, MA (9.23.12) (Dave Matthews & Tim Reynolds, Sharon Jones) - The LIG Festival was a nice Boston area addition, and ran from 2010-13.  It was a fairly family friendly festival, but managed to get some solid artists.

Funny story.  After the show, I wasn’t in much of a hurry to leave, and was walking around the grounds with a few newly-made friends, when we happened to see an older drunken man stumbling his way toward the woods.  We kindly asked if he was alright, and he replied “Yeah, I’m going to the secret after party in the woods”.  At this point, I’m convinced he’s certified nuts, or at the very least, completed wasted and out of his mind.

I’m obviously not believing a word of these shenanigans, but I just had to ask more questions.  He went on to tell us that the owners of Life Is Good were in the woods, and were throwing an awesome secret after party.  As wasted as he was, he walking with such confidence, eventually did manage to find a trail leading into the woods, and was even was kind enough to invite us.  

Now, if I was there solo, there’d be zero chance of me heading into the woods with this dude to find the so called “after party”, but since I was with other people, in no hurry to fight traffic, I was up for an adventure.  Besides, he was just too entertaining, and we now felt obligated to watch over him to make sure he didn’t hurt himself.

As we were all walking into the woods (crazy I know), we could actually hear what appeared to be faint music in the distance.  Was this guy telling the truth?  Well, after about 5 or ten minutes, sure enough, we stumbled upon a legit party, and I couldn’t believe it.  The owners of Life Is Good (Bert and John Jacobs) were indeed there along with many others.  There were three large RVs, a fire, music, and plenty of booze.  Such an unexpected good time.

Peter Gabriel  at the TD Garden (9.24.12) - This was a top five experience for me.  First, I’m a massive Peter Gabriel fan, so attending this show was cool on it’s own, but being able to photograph Peter (from the pit) was a dream come true.  It was only myself and one other photographer, and we had plenty of room to roam and take pics.  I vividly remember having a very intense “how did I get here” moment during “Solisbury Hill”, as I was a only a few feet from Peter taking photographs.  

Jack White at the Agganis Arena (9.28.12) - Killer show by Jack.  Shovels and Rope opened.

Aerosmith 1325 Comm Ave (11.5.12) - Easily another top five experience.  This show was put together to commemorate the Commonwealth Avenue Boston apartment in which Aerosmith lived (1970-’72), and the show took place right in front of the building.  Several duck boats left the TD Garden and paraded down Comm Ave in procession to the show.  I couldn’t believe I was actually on one of the duck boats (press) and part of it all.

As if the whole duck boat ride, concert, and taking photographs wasn’t enough, we took the boats back to the TD Garden where the band posed for the press with the Boston PD. 

I seriously can’t believe I took this photo and this one as well.

Entire video of the show can be seen here.

My Morning Jacket at the Agganis Arena 12.31.12 -  Definitely not a bad way to end an incredible year - a NYE MMJ show.

[slyke25]

2013

I was now in the fifth year of my music blog, and things were going well.  I’d try to cover as many shows as I could, only covering artists I liked, and there was no shortage of talent rolling through Boston, which made for a busy year.

In 2013, I attended numerous memorable shows.  I invite you to click on the bold print below for links to each of the 19 shows, where you’ll find photos, videos, and maybe even a few words.

These are just a handful of some of my favorite shows from 2013, and to see the full list of every show I covered in ‘13 (with links) click the ‘12-’13 archive here.

Twenty One Pilots at The Met (1.19.13) - Prior to this show, I put together a post on the new duo that were relatively unheard of outside of Ohio.  Locally, they managed to sell out the LC Pavilion, a 2,200 capacity venue in Columbus, which isn’t the best concert market.  After hearing their new album, Vessel,  I knew these guys would soon be playing much larger venues across the country.  I couldn’t attend the show at TT the Bear’s, so I went to the show at the Met (capacity 500) in Providence the night prior.  Twenty One Pilots are now playing sold out stadiums, some 20,000+.

Sigur Ros at the Agganis Arena (3.26.13) - I’ve seen this Icelandic band three times (’06, ‘13, and ‘16 in Denver), and they crush it every single time.  They have the ability to invoke emotion quite like no other band.  I managed to film “Glosoli”, which is such a powerful song and still gives me chills.

Alt-J at the Paradise Rock Club (3.3.13) - I enjoyed their debut album, An Awesome Wave, and headed to the ‘dise to check them out.  Solid show.

Green Day at the Dunkin Donuts Center (4.19.13) - Can’t believe I never saw Green Day prior to this show, and I vividly remember when Dookie came out in ‘94.  This was ultimately one of those bucket list shows for me, and I ended up driving to Providence, as there was no Boston show.  A fun concert and worth the drive.

Muse at the TD Garden (4.12.13) - I was amazed at the production for this show.  They really went all out, and a cool experience.

Boston Calling Day #1 (5.25.13) (Portugal the Man,The Shins, Fun) - This was the inaugural Boston Calling Festival.  The Government Center location was less than ideal, and the sound was equally poor in spots depending where you stood, and they’d eventually move the location of the smaller stage for the next installment of the festival.  Since Boston proper had no large music festival of this kind at the time, it was kind of a big deal, and they managed to book a solid and diverse lineup each year.  

Boston Calling Day #2 (5.26.13) (Andrew Bird, Of Monsters and Men, Young the Giant, The National) - The second day of the new Boston festival proved to be as solid as the first.

Newport Folk Festival Day #1 (7.26.13) (Milk Carton Kids, Blake Mills (w/ Dawes), Dawes, Phosphorescent, Feist, Old Crow Medicine Show) - The rainy first day of this festival had a few bright spots, but i must say, Feist was one of bigger misses at Newport.  

Newport Folk Festival Day #2 (7.27.13) (Langhorne Slim, The Lone Bellow, Shovels and Rope, Jim James, Father John Misty, Jason Isbell, Colin Meloy, Justin Townes Earle, The Avett Brothers) - Very entertaining Day 2, and the Newport crowd definitely wasn’t ready for Father John Misty.  If you haven’t seen my live videos yet, please do yourself a favor and check out “Hollywood Forever Cemetery Sings” and “Nancy From Now On”.

Newport Folk Festival Day #3 (7.28.13) (Lord Huron, The Lumineers, Andrew Bird, Beck) - Beck was a really great score for Newport, and a nice way to end the weekend.

The Black Crowes at the BOA Pavilion (7.30.13) - This 2013 tour would sadly be their last, and they officially called it quits in 2015.

The Nines Festival - Devens, MA (8.10.13)  (Delta Spirit, Dr. Dog, Explosions In The Sky) - I really enjoyed this festival.  This new Boston area music and arts festival sadly didn’t make it a second year.  Despite the respectably lineup, it definitely wasn’t promoted enough, and attendance was quite low.  That didn’t stop me from having a great time, and I had a beautiful experience.

After it was over, I appreciated it more and more as time went on.

Boston Calling Day #1 (9.7.13) (Lucius, Okkervil River, Deer Tick, Airborne Toxic Event, Local Natives, The Gaslight Anthem, Vampire Weekend) - Surprisingly, Boston Calling added a fall version, just four months after the initial May festival, but since the interest and ticket sales were strong, they decided to capitalize.

Boston Calling Day #2 (9.8.13) (Flume, Kendrick Lamar, Passion Pit) 

Phoenix at the House of Blues) (10.1.13) - Great show, and the highlight was Thomas Mars climbing into the mezzanine after “Rome”, walking from one end to the other, thanking fans for coming to the show while the band played “Entertainment (reprise)” in the background. I ended up capturing the it on video.

Pearl Jam at the DCU Center (10.15.13) - This was another insane experience, as I was photographing a band I’d loved since their beginning right from the pit.  Eddie Vedder was in great spirits, and even sported a Red Sox jacket.

The Arcade Fire (Brooklyn) (10.18.13) - Arcade Fire seem to like to promote their new albums with special live shows at small venues, and this show took place at a Brooklyn warehouse right before their new album, Reflektor was released.  

There was a small stage in the front, but by the time I arrived, there were so many people standing around it, that I opted for a more comfortable spot in the back.  What happened next was one of the most surprising moments I’ve ever seen at a concert.  Someone next to me ended up capturing the exact moment the band revealed a fake stage in the back, basically right where I was standing.  The stage up front where everyone was gathered was fake. 

I ended up writing a review of the whole experience.

Phish at the DCU Center (10.25.13) - Phish are always a good time.  The crowd, the scene, the music...it’s always a strange trip.  I wrote a few word on this show as well.

Chris Cornell at the Calvin Theatre (11.17.13) - Oddly, this was the first time I saw Chris live.  Hearing his voice for the first time instantly gave me chills, and I was fortunate to see him before his passing in 2017.

[slyke25]

2014

2014 was another solid year.  At this point I’m feeling comfortable, having fun, and it’s safe to say both concert and outdoor photography were a passion of mine.  I never really had the patience for staged photos with a tripod, and loved the challenge of concert photography because you can’t use a flash, have to deal with low light, moving subjects (sometimes moving crowd), and unpredictable lighting, etc.  No two shows were the same, and I loved it.

I ultimately decided it was time for a new camera.  I updated my Canon T2i to a 6D, and now had a solid trio of lenses to pair with it - 70-200 2.8, 24-70 2.8, and the 50 1.4.  I still kept the T2i, and would use two cameras for shows so I didn’t have to swap out lenses.

In 2014, I attended numerous memorable shows.  I invite you to click on the bold print below for links to each of the 22 shows, where you’ll find photos, videos, and maybe even a few words.

These are just a handful of some of my favorite shows from 2014, and to see the full list of every show I covered in ‘14 (with links) click the ‘14-’16 archive here.

Benefit For David Lamb of Brown Bird at Club Passim 1.6.14 - Sadly David Lamb, of the duo Brown Bird, passed away shortly after this benefit from his battle with leukemia.  It was nice to see all the local artists pay tribute to Brown Bird’s music, and the The Low Anthem covered my favorite Brown Bird song “Black Rivers”. 

David’s version can be heard here. 

The Low Anthem cover can be seen here.

Neutral Milk Hotel at the Orpheum Theatre (1.16.14) - As if seeing Jeff Mangum in 2011 wasn’t good enough, just a few years later, the whole band played a killer show at the Orpheum.

Clap Your Hands Say Yeah in J.P (1.31.14) - I love shows at non-traditional venues, and the frontman of CYHSY, Alec Ounsworth, played a solo acoustic show at a very tiny art gallery (hallway) in Jamaica Plain for 20 people.  Very unique experience.

Lord Huron at Royale (2.4.14) - The band was still touring behind the debut album, Lonesome Dreams, which quickly became a favorite of mine.

Arctic Monkeys at Agganis Arena (2.6.14) - I remember when the Arctic Monkeys released Whatever People Say I Am, That's What I'm Not back in ‘06.  The band blew up, and people we paying hundreds of dollars for a ticket to see their sold out show at the Paradise.  This ‘14 Boston show was solid, and the band was touring behind their new release AM.

Band of Horses at the Somerville Theatre (2.25.14) - The band just released the album, Acoustic at the Ryman, and this Somerville show included much of the same.  Such a beautiful acoustic show.

Boston Calling Day #1 (5.23.14) -  (Cass McCombs, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Jack Johnson) - Boston Calling was now expanding to three days, which now included a Friday show. 

Boston Calling Day #2 (5.24.14) (Jenny Lewis, Frank Turner, The Head and the Heart, The Decemberists, Death Cab For Cutie) - It was fun to have both DCFC and The Decemberists play back to back, and I remember the torrential downpour during The Decemberists’ set.  The die-hard fans stayed and embraced it.

Boston Calling Day #3 (5.25.14) - (Kurt Vile, Phosphorescent, Tegan and Sara, Bastille, Brand New, Modest Mouse) - Solid day #2.

Damon Albarn at Royale (6.9.14) - I’ll start by saying that I’m a huge Blur fan and was very fortunate to catch them back in ‘96 and ‘97, and ‘00.  it was really cool to be able to cover this one, and snap some pics of Damon from the pit.

Iron and Wine at the Casino Ballroom, NH (6.25.14) - I enjoy a little road trip to see a show, and I have good memories of this one.  I arrived at Hampton Beach early, and walked up and down the beach.  I enjoyed the show, got some solid photos, and even saw fireworks on the beach later that night.  Not a bad way to spend a Wednesday evening

Billy Joel at Fenway Park (6.26.14) - I first saw Billy Joel back in the day with Elton John at the TD Garden.  I enjoyed this Fenway show.

Newport Folk Festival Fri (7.25.14) (The Devil Makes Three, Hozier, Jenny Lewis, Reignwolf, Robert Hunter, Lake Street Dive, Langhorne Slim, Spirit Family Reunion, Band of Horses, Bear’s Den, Jimmy Cliff, Ryan Adams) - 

Being a huge Ryan Adams fan, and seeing him finally make a Newport appearance, I couldn’t be happier.  A great way to close the first day of the fest.

Newport Folk Festival Day Sat (7.26.14)  (J. Roddy Walston & The Business, Benjamin Booker, Shovels and Rope, Shakey Graves, Houndmouth, Deer Tick, Lucuis, The Milk Carton Kids, Nickel Creek, Puss n’ Boots, Jack White) -  

If I recall correctly, every day of the festival was now selling out well in advance, and was becoming know nationwide by significantly more people.  Jack White’s Fort Stage performance is up there with the best of them.

Heartbreaker Banquet at the Jane Pickens Theatre (7.26.14) (Shakey Graves, Shovels and Rope, Lucius, Valerie June)  - 

It’s not uncommon for artists to collaborate at Newport, and it’s actually welcomed and encouraged.  Lucius and Shovels and Rope singing “What’s So Funny Bout Peace, Love, and Understanding” together is one of the best colabs I’ve witnessed, and still gives me chills each time I watch it.

Newport Folk Festival Day Sun (7.27.14) (Gregory Alan Isakov, Dawes, Jeff Tweedy, Hozier, Hurray For the Riff Raff, Conor Oberst, Valerie June, Trampled By Turtles, Lucero, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Mavis Staples) -  

Mavis was celebrating her 75th birthday, and played a thirteen-song setlist that included appearances from Lucius, Jeff Tweedy, Trampled By Turtles, Norah Jones, and Taylor Goldsmith of Dawes.  No birthday is complete without a cake, Mavis was treated to one, and even blew out the candles.  The closing song for the evening was “We Shall Overcome”.

Boston Calling Day Fri (9.5.14) (Future Islands, Neutral Milk Hotel, The National) - Looking back at this edition of Boston Calling, the bill was pretty darn impressive with Twenty One Pilots, Lorde, and Childish Gambino. 

Boston Calling Day Sat (9.6.14) (St. Nothing, Clifflight, S. Carey, Sky Ferreira, Bleachers, The Hold Steady, Lorde, Childish Gambino)

Boston Calling Day Sun (9.7.14) (Gentlemen Hall, Drugs, Lake Street Dive, Twenty One Pilots, The 1975, Spoon, The Replacements, Nas)

Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers at the XL Center (9.13.14) - Unfortunately, I was out of town for his Fenway show, so I decided to travel to Hartford.  It was my second time seeing Tom live, and he’s probably the most photogenic artist I’ve had the pleasure of photographing.  R.I.P Tom.

Jack White at Fenway Park (9.17.14) - This was the first and only show I saw at Fenway with the bleacher stage configuration.  Jack, being a huge baseball fan, really wanted to play Fenway, so they accommodated him with the bleacher setup, as he couldn’t quite sell enough seats to fill the entire ballpark.

Catfish and the Bottlemen at Great Scott (10.3.14) - This actually wasn’t a well attended show, as no one knew about this upcoming U. K. band.  I happened to hear a few of their songs and knew they’d do well.  However, I had no idea the’d be playing Wembley Arena four years later.  Crazy how they blew up.

[slyke25]

2015

If you were to chart a graph of my happiness and passion for covering live music since the begging of this site in ‘09, it’d probably peak sometime in 2014, and 2015 would start the stow decline.  I now found myself pondering a question I wouldn’t be was possible many years earlier.  Is it possible to burn out on concerts?

I’ll dive into that question during my thoughts on 2016 (the end of my blog), but in 2015, I did manage to see some memorable shows.  I invite you to click on the bold print below for links to each of the 20 shows, where you’ll find photos, videos, and maybe even a few words.

These are just a handful of some of my favorite shows from 2015, and to see the full list of every show I covered in ‘15 (with links) click the ‘14-’16 archive here.

The Lone Bellow at the Paradise Rock Club (2.12.15) - These guys were visibly enjoying their success.  This ended up being a super fun show

Sturgill Simpson at the Paradise Rock Club (2.20.15) - This would be my first time seeing Sturgill live, and even though he was feeling under the weather, his performance exceeded my expectations, and he managed to crank out some killer jams.

Damien Rice at the Orpheum (4.7.15) - I remember when he released his album, O, back in ‘02.  I love that album, and it took me 13 years to see him. 

Sufjan Stevens Hartford, CT (4.12.15) - I’m a huge Sufjan Stevens fan, and even though I enjoyed The Age Of Adz (2010), I was patiently hoping for a new album similar to his earlier material.  On February 16, 2015, he shared the first single “No Shade In the Shadow of the Cross” from his upcoming album Carrie & Lowell, and I couldn’t have been happier.

Luckily, I managed to hear the full album before it’s official March 31st release, and was blown away.  This album was a welcomed bright spot during a dark time in my life, and I couldn’t wait to hear it live.  On a whim, I decided to attend the third show of his tour and traveled to Hartford.  While I officially didn’t cover the show, I did capture “Fourth Of July” on video, which was an incredible and intense version of the song.  He was still working out a few kinks for many of the new songs live, so it wasn’t a flawless performance, but I loved the show, and the new tunes sounded beautiful..

Sufjan Stevens (Citi Wang Theatre) (5.4.15) - This show was slightly more polished than Hartford, and Sufjan seemed to be finding his groove with the new tour.  I recorded “Blue Bucket Of Gold”, which was an epic13-minute long version of the tune.

Album Review: Sufjan Stevens - Carrie and Lowell (5.11.15) - I wasn’t only enjoying the new album, I was obsessed with it.  So much so, I was inspired to write an album review, which is something I never do, but was pleased with how it turned out.  You can read it here.

The Tallest Man On Earth (Calvin Theatre) (5.13.15) -  I always enjoyed going to Northampton for shows, and this was a special one, as it was the tour opener for his new album, Dark Bird Is Home.  

Courtney Barnett at the Sinclair (5.18.15) - Courtney was touring behind her debut studio album, Sometimes I Sit and Think, and Sometimes I Just Sit.

Boston Calling Day Fri (5.22.15) (Sharon Van Etten, Tame Impala, Beck) 

Boston Calling Day Sat (5.23.15) (Krill, DMAs, Mo, Run the Jewels, Tove Lo, Gerard Way, Marina and the Diamonds, St. Vincent, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, My Morning Jacket) 

Boston Calling Day (5.24.15) (The Ballroom Thieves, Halsey, The Lone Bellow, Lucius, Jason Isbell, Vance Joy, TV On the Radio, Tenacious D, Jack Black, The Pixies)

Levitate Music Festival - Marshfield (7.11.15) - The Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Dr. Dog, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue - Levitate started back in 2013, and this was my first time attending this festival, which I enjoyed.

Newport Folk Festival Day Fri (7.24.15) - (Joe Pug, Bahamas, Elephant Revival, Angel Olsen, Leon Bridges, The Lone Bellow, Calexico, Strand Of Oaks, The Tallest Man On Earth, Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell, Heartless Bastards, My Morning Jacket, Roger Waters) 

2015 was absolutely stacked for Newport.  On paper, it doesn’t  get much better, and they were celebrating the 50th anniversary of Bob Dylan going electric back in ‘65.

Sadly, this would be my final year covering the Newport Folk Festival, as I ended my blog in the spring of the following year.  However, I’d attend the festival one last time in ‘16, just as I began - a fan looking to hear some music from artists I liked, in a beautiful waterfront setting among some fine folk.

Newport Folk Festival Day Sat (7.25.15) - (Spirit Family Reunion, Joe Fletcher, The Barr Brothers, Joe Pug, Langhorne Slim and the Law, Nikki Lane, Jason Isbell, Courtney Barnett, Sturgill Simpson, Tommy Stinson, James Taylor, Sufjan Stevens, The Decemberists)

Newport Folk Festival Day (7.26.15) (The Ballroom Thieves, Christopher Paul Stelling, Brian Fallon, Jon Batiste, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Nightsweats, Lord Huron, The Felice Brothers, First Aid Kit, Blake Mills, Laura Marling, Hozier, J Macis, Shakey Graves, Dylan ‘65 Tribute, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Willie Watson, Dawes, Robyn Hitchcock)

Van Halen at Xfinity Center (8.1.15) - This was one of those bucket list shows for me.  Oddly, I’d never seen Van Halen, and this was a pretty cool experience. 

Boston Calling Day Fri (9.25.15) (Gregory Alan Isakov, Of Monsters and Men, The Avett Brothers)  - As far as three-artist, day #1 concert goes, it doesn’t really get much better for me.  

Boston Calling Day sat (9.26.15) (Stephen Malkmus, Sturgill Simpson, Father John Misty, Walk the Moon, Chromeo, Chvrches, Alt-J)

Boston Calling Day (9.27.15) (Alabama Shakes, Bully, Daughter, Mister Wives, Nate Ruess, Ben Howard, Hozier) - This would be the last Boston Calling I would attend, and the festival would move from Government Center to the Harvard Athletic Complex in May of ‘17.

Nathaniel Rateliff & The Night Sweats (Royale) (11.6.15) - After first seeing the at Newport, I just had to see the band again.  I’d actually see them four times in Denver from 2016-’18.

Lake Street Dive (Club Passim) (11.18.15) - This was part of their “Memory Lane Tour,“ which included three Cambridge stops - two nights at Club Passim and one at the Lizard Lounge.  This very tiny Club Passim show (capacity 100) was quite special, and included songs from their upcoming album.

[slyke25]

2016  - The End

On January 18, 2009, I walked down to Great Scott to see the Scottish band, Frightened Rabbit, and brought my trusty little point and shoot camera.  I arrived early, secured a spot against the stage, and snapped a few photographs and videos.  I enjoyed the show so much, it ultimately inspired my first ever concert review post, and I wrote a few short paragraphs, posted one photo, two videos, and it would be the start of an amazing seven year journey

Fast forward to 2016.  I’d been covering shows on my site for seven years, and sadly my heart just wasn’t in it anymore.  It’s fairly common for people who post regular online content to feel this way from time to time, and there were definitely occasions over the years when I took a break to evaluate things and recharge.  However, this time was different.  Unfortunately, this wasn’t a rut from which I was going to emerge.

Since the beginning of this blog, I was always progressing, covering bigger shows, taking better photographs, upgrading camera equipment, building relationships, discovering new bands, etc.  I felt my progress had plateaued, and essentially I’d accomplished what I set out to do in the beginning.  I was a one-man show, and the amount of work was becoming a bit much.  I guess I could have tried taking things to the next level by bringing on a few more people to cover shows, as I’d occasionally get emails from people looking to help, but I just didn’t feel it was the best thing to do. 

The bottom line is that this takes a lot of time. I’d arrive early for shows, take photos, record videos, go home, edit late into the night, arrange, upload, and post.  All for free.  Sure, I’d often receive free tickets to shows, which was great, but when you do the math, it’s actually not much compensation for the etime invested.. 

This was never about the money for me, and I never made a cent doing this.   It was about the music, experience, art, progress, and passion.  I couldn’t help but feel I was now slowly going through the motions, covering the same bands over and over, and the new music and artists didn’t seem to connect with me like they once did.  I guess I was at the crossroads, and in the words of the late Tom Petty, it was “Time To Move On”.

It's time to move on, time to get going What lies ahead, I have no way of knowing But under my feet, baby, grass is growing It's time to move on, it's time to get going 

Concerts were something near and dear to me, and all of a sudden, I found myself becoming less and less interested in covering them.  It sounds laughable, but in seven years, I managed to burn out on free concerts and taking photographs.  

The positives of this are priceless, and I’ve already talked about many of the shows that were memorable to me over the years.  However, I want to mention a few of the negatives for me, as I think it’s part of the story, and relevant to where my head was at in 2016..

The Shot - in early days, experiencing the show and music were priority number one.  I’d take a few point & shoot photos and record a few videos, but It was a fairly very simple process that didn’t take much time away from the concert experience itself.  After I upgraded my camera and lenses, I felt like I was spending too much time behind the lens at shows, essentially missing key moments of the very show I was attending.  I tried to be conscious of it, but I definitely regret not putting down the camera more to get truly lost in the music, instead of opting for the digital memory.  Then again, one might argue that without the photo pass and camera, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to attend many of the shows in the first place, so I guess it depends on how you look at it, but I still feel I could have been better and wasn’t truly immersed in the music at times, especially at the end.

Too much time on the computer -  I was working a 9-5 job on a computer during the day, and spending even more time on computer editing photos at night, wasn’t healthy.  If I wasn’t editing, I was researching new music, sifting through vast amounts of emails from publicists, because after seven years, I seemed to be on everybody’s PR list (I’m still get emails today).  

Publicists – I had the pleasure of working with many publicists that were awesome at their job, but I also dealt with a few that weren’t.  In the early days, if I had a email confirmation from my original request, I’d just stroll down to the venue with confidence, only to sometimes have an issue at the box office.  There’d be a photo pass but no ticket, ticket but no photo pass, name not on the list at all, etc.  This didn’t happen often, but definitely more than it should have, and I quickly learned to to confirm with every publicist the day of the show to minimize these mishaps.

Competition – There really weren’t very many Boston music blogs or publications covering the same shows/music as me in the beginning, so there was less competition for photo passes and tickets.  As time went on, more blogs and publications appeared, and I was now fighting to get approval for shows.

Rude Concert Goers – For larger shows, there’d typically be a photo pit barricade in front of the stage, which was the designated area to take photographs without having to be in the crowd itself.  It was nice because I could take my time getting to the show, and walk right in to the photo pit before the opener.  However, at smaller shows, there’s no designated photo area, and if I wanted decent shots, I had to get in line early with the other fans to secure a spot in front of the stage.  Nothing would piss me off more than getting to the venue at 6, waiting in line until doors open at 7, secure my spot against the rail, opening band comes on at 8, next band, 8:45, and then right before the headliner takes the stage at 10.....several drunk idiots think it’s the perfect time to aggressively work their way to the front of the stage, where people have been patiently waiting for four hours.  Thanks to these fine folks, my personal space is now reduced to zero, and I’m stuck elbow-to-elbow with an off-key singing, booze-ridden fan.  Good times.

The music – I’m just going to come right out and say it.  I think the music scene for the last three years has been somewhat lacking for the indie rock/folk scene..  Yes, there have been some solid bright spots, but I just feel like it’s an overall decline from the decade prior.  Even established bands with great music have been releasing mediocre new albums, and some of the upcoming bands people are talking about just aren’t really connecting with me.  Maybe I’m old, I don’t know.  Honestly, I feel like I haven’t missed much since 2016.

So that’s kind of where my head was at this time.  Again, the positives of having this blog were amazing, but it had to end.  The question now was when would it end?

After I posted photos from the Frighted Rabbit show at the House of Blues on May 9, 2016, I had a bit of a nostalgic moment.  Seven years prior, this same Scottish band was playing Great Scott for a mere 250 people, and now they just played the House of Blues for 2500.  Pretty impressive.  I then revisited my photos from the ‘09 Great Scott show, and saw how far I’d come in seven years.  I went from covering concerts in tiny sweaty clubs to obtaining photo passes and press credentials for much larger artists and venues.  

After Frightened Rabbit, I intended to cover a few more shows, and ideally wanted to end this blog by covering the Newport Folk Festival in July, which I look forward to every year more than anything, as it’s provided many of my favorite music memories.  However, it wasn’t meant to be, as the timing wasn’t the best, due to upcoming travel.  I was going to Alaska for ten days, and had a few other trips, so in the end, I decided it was fitting to end my blog with the same exact band that it started it all, Frightened Rabbit, bringing it all full circle.

I still managed to attend Newport in the summer of ‘16, but I decided to attend it as a fan, just like I did the first time in ‘09.  Photographing a festival like Newport is fun, but you tend to miss a lot of special moments.  Sure, you get to be right in front of the stage for the first three songs (usually), but there’s an opportunity cost to be had, because just as the band is getting in the groove, you have to run to another stage to take photos of the next artist.  It’s a unique experience for sure, but until the headliner, it’s difficult to fully immerse yourself in the music because you’re constantly on the move.  You can still enjoy the music during the downtime, but it’s not the same.  It truly isn’t.  So when I attended the 2016 Newport Folk Festival, I left the DSLR at home, took it all in, danced, sang, and it was just as incredible as the first time.  I did manage to record  four videos, like I did in the beginning. 

Ryan Adams “Holy Diver” 

Ryan Adams “Gimme Something Good”

Nathaniel Rateliff “Chelsea Hotel” 

Father John Misty “Now I’m Learning To Love War”

After Newport, I was prepping for a new adventure.  I’d lived in Boston for fourteen years, had many incredible times, and definitely no shortage of exploring both Boston and New England.  However, it was time to move on.  I wanted a change and a fresh start.  I decided to move to Denver, and at the end of August, drove across the country and settled in.

Truth is, I did what I set out to do (and more) with this site.  I covered the artists that were important to me, and was introduced to many amazing new upcoming bands.  I always wanted to give my music blog a proper ending, and two and a half years after the last show I covered, it finally comes to a close.

I invite you to click on the bold print below for links to each of the 4 shows, where you’ll find photos, videos, and maybe even a few words. 

These are just a few shows from 2016, and to see the full list of every show I covered in ‘16 (with links) click the ‘14-’16 archive here. 

Josh Ritter at the House of Blues (2.19.16) - I’d been a fan of Josh ever since his 2006 album, The Animal Years, and I’d always try to see him when he came to town.  

Matthew Logan Vasquez at Cafe 939 (4.30.16) - The Delta Spirit frontman played a fun show at this intimate little venue.

Fruit Bats / Horse Feathers at Once Ballroom  (5.7.16) - This was my first time at this non-traditional venue, which used to be Anthony’s Function Hall, and was transformed into Cuisine En local/Once Ballroom in ‘13.  Horse Feathers, who I’d seen multiple times, opened the show, so it was a solid double bill.  

Frightened Rabbit at the House of Blues (5.9.16) - Ever since that first show in ‘09, I’d catch them pretty much every chance I’d get, and probably saw Frightened Rabbit at least half a dozen times or more in the span of seven years.  Scott was always in good spirits, the band sounded great, and these shows were always a lot of fun.  I was happy they were finally playing the larger House of Blues after playing the Paradise so many times.  I still can’t believe Scott is no longer with us, and his passing in May came as a shock to us all. 

[slyke25]

2017-18

My final post was a Frighted Rabbit review on May 9, 2016, and my last concert was the 2016 Newport Folk festival, which was the perfect way to end my Boston run.  My first show as a Denver resident was Ryan Adams at Red Rocks August 17, 2016, which was pretty fitting as well.

I figured I’d write about the last few years, and share a few thoughts going forward.  While I may have burned out the amount of concerts, I still go to shows these days, just not as much as I did in Boston.  My second show in Denver was Sigur Ros at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House, which was insanely powerful, and I’ve managed to see many of my favorite artists recently like Langhorne Slim, Wolf Parade, Josh Ritter, Bon Iver, Tallest Man On Earth, Conor Oberst, Lord Huron, etc.

Red Rocks is even more impressive in person, and it’s an absolute must for any music lover.  I’ll see photographers at venues, and for a brief second, I think about how it’d be fun to maybe take photos at a show again, but then I come back to reality.  Ditching the camera has, without a doubt, made shows so much more enjoyable for me.  Gone is the stress of getting to the venue early, capturing the perfect shot, staying up all night to edit, etc.  I just sit back and enjoy the show. 

While I haven’t yet turned into that guy that makes concert going a semi-yearly special event, only going to stadium concerts of a favorite bands to relive the glory days, taking the next day off from work, etc.  I’ve probably reverted back to the amount of shows I attended before my blog, maybe a few a month or so.  I live close to several music venues, keep an eye out for bands I know, and try to read up on who the next big bands might be.  

I know I touched on it in my 2016 post, but I’ll revisit the topic, as it’s relevant here as well.  I feel like I’ve been disconnected from new music over the past few years, and It’s definitely not for lack of looking.  Sure, there’s been some solid music recently, but for the most part, I’ve been finding the new music and bands somewhat mediocre.  

I’m wonder how technology and streaming has impacted both the listener upcoming bands.  It’s a tough time to receive compensation for your music, and ticket sales and merch are more important than ever,   Are artists not getting signed as much?  Do we have too much access to music these days that it’s overwhelming?  Are bands giving up earlier without finding success?  

Last week I saw the Boston band Tall Heights perform at a small venue in Denver (they were great by the way).  I remember covering them back in 2011 at Johnny D’s in Somerville, when they opened for another local band, Darlingside.  Hard work and dedication certainly aren’t dead, and I’m proud of both those bands, as they’ve found much deserved recent success.

I know I’m overlooking a key reason as to why I’m not connecting to new music as much.  I get it, I’m old.  I recently came across an article that suggests we stop embracing new music just under the age of 28.  Music streaming service, Deezer, surveyed 5,000 adults in Brazil, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, and the United States and found that after the age of 28, we primarily listen to familiar tracks and tend not to seek out new music.  Makes sense, as many people now have kids, less time to devote to finding new tunes, and the vast amount of new music we have access to these days can be overwhelming.  

I can honestly say that I’ve felt connected to, and embraced, new music past the age of 40 (still do today), but it’s noticeably less.  The question I’m asking myself is if we’re in a musical rut right now.  Are we going to look back at the mid part of this decade as an underwhelming time for music, or is it just me?  I don’t know.  I like to think I have an ear for good music, and in my 44 years of existence, it seems like a musical low, but again, I’m sure my age is a key component of that equation. 

When I look at the evolution of music in the span of my life, and what has transpired in my existence, it’s pretty incredible.  Disco, new wave, metal, punk, grunge, rap, techno, industrial, autotune, chillwave, etc.  Rock music, which I thought would remain #1 for quite some time, is now taking a backseat.  I mean, how many killer upcoming rock bands are you hearing about thee days?

I came across an interesting quote from Guns N Roses guitarist, Slash in USA Today.  For the first time this past year, R&B/hip-hop surpassed rock as the most popular genre for total consumption, and he had a few thoughts.

“Rock isn't mainstream anymore, and in some ways, I like that. It harks back to when rock 'n' roll was more of an underground concept, when people were speaking about things that they weren't necessarily comfortable saying in the mainstream arena. As far as hip-hop is concerned, it's become so generic at this point. It's definitely taken on a very top-40 thing.

Music will constantly evolve.  Hell, even the formats are changing.   I remember buying records, then cassettes, CDs, MP3s, and now it’s all about streaming services like Spotify  Who buys CDs anymore?  I’m happy about vinyl’s resurgence (scratching my head at cassettes), and I’ve limiting myself to buying only few records a year.  I have about 700 total now, and quite frankly, it’s getting out of hand, and can be a huge pain when you move.  I think about upcoming bands, and how difficult it must be to obtain money for your music these days, and how it impacts the future of music.

I even remember when there were no cell phones at shows, which wasn’t all that long ago, and definitely alters the concert experience.  Even the mystery of the band’s setlist is gone, as most bands tend to play roughly the same setlist for each tour, and you can now have a pretty good idea (sometimes exact) of what they’re going to play, before you even set foot in the venue, thanks to sites like setlist.fm.  I understand I don’t have to check recent setlists ahead of time, but I’m way too curious.

It’s been a wild ride so far, and I wonder what music may sound like 10, 20, 50 years down the road.  

[slyke25]

2014-16

Below are the shows I covered from ‘2014-16.

(v) = Video included in review

(p&s) = photos were taken with a point & shoot camera (early concerts)

5.9.16  Frightened Rabbit (HOB)

5.9.16  Caveman (HOB)

5.7.16  Fruit Bats (Once Ballroom) (v)

5.7.16  Horse Feathers (Once Ballroom) (v)

5.1.16  Bob Mould (Paradise)

5.1.16  Ted Leo (Paradise)

4.30.16  Matthew Logan Vasquez (Cafe 939) (v)

4.30.16  Dustin Lovelis (Cafe 939)

4.23.16  Operators (Middle East Upstairs)

4.23.16  Bogan Via (Middle East Upstairs)

4.4.16  Edward Sharpe & the Magnetic Zeros (Sinclair)

4.3.16  Wolf Alice (Brighton Music Hall)

4.3.16 Slaves (Brighton Music Hall)

3.23.16  Lake Street Dive (HOB)

3.23.16  The Suffers (HOB)

3.16.16  Deer Tick (Somerville Theatre)

3.16.16  Mutual Benefit (Somerville Theatre)

3.4.16  Daughter (Somerville Theatre)

3.4.16  Wilsen (Somerville Theatre)

2.26.16  Kaleo (Brighton Music Hall)

2.26.16 Firekid (Brighton Music Hall)

2.25.16  Joe Pug (Sinclair)

2.25.16  Mandolin Orange (Sinclair)

2.19.16  Josh Ritter (HOB)

2.19.16  Elephant Revival (HOB)

2.13.16  The Devil Makes Three (HOB)

2.13.16  Langhorne Slim (HOB)

2015 Favorite Photos (Review)

11.18.15  Lake Street Dive (Club Passim) (v)

11.6.15  Nathaniel Rateliff & The Nightsweats (Royale)

11.6.15  Landlines (Royale)

10.19.15  Josh Ritter (Sinclair) (v)

9.27.15  Boston Calling Day #3 (Alabama Shakes, Dirty Bangs, Bully, Fidlar, Daughter, Twin Shadow, Mister Wives, Nate Ruess, Ben Howard, Hozier)

9.26.15  Boston Calling Day #2 (Grey Season, Skylar Spence, Doomtree, Stephen Malkmus, Sturgill Simpson, Father John Misty, Walk the Moon, Chromeo, Chvrches, Alt-J)

9.25.15  Boston Calling Day #1 (Gregory Alan Isakov, Of Monsters and Men, The Avett Brothers)

9.14.15  Langhorne Slim & The Law (Sinclair)

9.14.15  Twain (Sinclair)

8.1.15  Van Halen (Xfinity Center)

7.26.15  Newport Folk Festival Day 3 (The Ballroom Thieves, Christopher Paul Stelling, Brian Fallon, Jon Batiste, Rodrigo Amarante, Nathaniel Rateliff & the Nightsweats, Lord Huron, Field Report, The Felice Brothers, First Aid Kit, Blake Mills, Laura Marling, Hozier, J Macis, Shakey Graves, Dylan ‘65 Tribute, Gillian Welch and David Rawlings, Willie Watson, Dawes, Robyn Hitchcock)

7.25.15  Heartbreaker Banquet NFF - Jane Pickens Theatre (Madisen Ward and the Mama Bear, Erica Wennerstrom of the Heartless Bastards, Shakey Graves, Nikki Lane, Jonny Fritz, Dave Rawlings, Lucius) (v)

7.25.15  Newport Folk Festival Day 2 - (Spirit Family Reunion, Joe Fletcher, The Barr Brothers, Joe Pug, Bela Fleck & Abigail Washburn, Traveller, Langhorne Slim and the Law, Nikki Lane, Jason Isbell, Courtney Barnett, Sturgill Simpson, Tommy Stinson, James Taylor, Sufjan Stevens, The Decemberists)

7.24.15  Newport Folk Festival Day 1 - (Haunt the House, The Goodbye Girls, Joe Pug, Bahamas, Elephant Revival, Angel Olsen, Leon Bridges, The Lone Bellow, Calexico, Strand Of Oaks, The Tallest Man On Earth, Iron & Wine and Ben Bridwell, Heartless Bastards, My Morning Jacket, Roger Waters)

7.23.15  Watkins Family Hour & Friends (Jane Pickens Theatre) - Sara Watkins, Fiona Apple, Joe Pug, Hiss Golden Messenger, The Lone Bellow (v)

7.11.15  Levitate Music Festival (Marshfield) - The Chris Robinson Brotherhood, Stick Figure, Galactic, Dr. Dog, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue

6.23.15  The Hunts (Cafe 939) (v)

6.23.15  Panic Is Perfect (Cafe 939)

6.8.15  Mumford and Sons (Xfinity Center)

6.8.15  The Maccabees (Xfinity Center)

6.8.15  Son Little (Xfinity Center)

6.6.15  Noel Gallagher (Opera House)

5.24.15  Boston Calling Day #3 (The Ballroom Thieves, Halsey, The Lone Bellow, Lucius, Jason Isbell, Vance Joy, TV On the Radio, Tenacious D, Jack Black, The Pixies)

5.23.15  Boston Calling Day #2 (Krill, DMAs, Mo, Run the Jewels, Tove Lo, Gerard Way, Marina and the Diamonds, St. Vincent, Ben Harper and the Innocent Criminals, My Morning Jacket)

5.22.15  Boston Calling Day #1 (Sharon Van Etten, Tame Impala, Beck)

5.18.15  Courtney Barnett (Sinclair)

5.18.15  Chastity Belt (Sinclair)

5.18.15  Darren Hanlon (Sinclair)

5.13.15  The Tallest Man On Earth (Calvin Theatre) (v)

5.13.15  Madisen Ward and Mama Bear (Calvin Theatre)

5.11.15  Faith No More (Orpheum)

5.11.15  La Butcherettes (Orpheum)

5.8.15  Of Monsters and Men (Orpheum) (v)

5.4.2015  Sufjan Stevens (Citi Wang Theatre) (v)

4.7.15  Damien Rice (Orpheum)

4.7.15  My Bubba (Orpheum)

3.28.15  Shakey Graves (Royale)

3.28.15  Nikki Lane (Royale)

2.20.15  Sturgill Simpson (Paradise Rock Club)

2.20.15 Anderson East (Paradise Rock Club)

2.13.15  Chris Robinson Brotherhood (Paradise)

2.12.15  The Lone Bellow  (Paradise Rock Club) (v)

2.12.15  Will Daily (Paradise Rock)

1.26.15  London Grammar (House of Blues)

1.26.15  Until the Ribbon Breaks (House of Blues)

1.10.15 The Devil Makes Three (House of Blues)

1.10.15  Joe Pug (House of Blues)

2015 Favorite Concert Photos (Review)

2015 Favorite Concert Videos (Review)

11.24.14  Bear’s Den (Sinclair) (v)

11.24.14  Dan Mangan + Blacksmith (Sinclair)

11.18.14  Ryan Adams (Citi Performance Center)

11.16.14  Fitz and the Tantrums (House of Blues)

11.16.14  Big Data (House of Blues)

11.11.14  Empires (Church) (v)

11.11.14  Cold Fronts (Church)

11.10.14  Pete Yorn (Middle East) (v)

10.29.14  Vance Joy (Paradise)

10.29.14  Jaymes Young (Paradise)

10.20.14  Cold War Kids (Sinclair)

10.20.14  Avid Dancer (Sinclair)

10.13.14  Bastille (Agganis Arena)

10.13.14  Grizfolk (Agganis Arena)

10.10.14  Priory (Sincliar)

10.10.14  CliffLight (Sinclair)

10.3.14  Catfish and the Bottlemen (Great Scott) (v)

10.3.14  Air Traffic Controller (Great Scott)

9.30.14  Blake Mills (Sinclair (v)

9.30.14  Fiona Apple (Sinclair) (v)

9.30.14  Ymusic (Sinclair)

9.26.14  Tweedy (Berklee Performance Center)

9.26.14  Hospitality (Berklee Performance Center)

9.17.14  Jack White (Fenway Park) (V)

9.13.14  Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers (XL Center)

9.13.14  Steve Winwood (XL Center)

9.10.14  Sylvan Esso (Sinclair)

9.10.14  Doe Paoro (Sinclair)

9.5.14  Boston Calling Day #1 (Future Islands, Neutral Milk Hotel, The National)

9.6.14  Boston Calling Day #2 (St. Nothing, Clifflight, S. Carey, Sky Ferreira, Bleachers, The Hold Steady, Lorde, Childish Gambino)

9.7.14  Boston Calling Day #3 (Gentlemen Hall, San Fermin, The War On Drugs, Lake Street Dive, Twenty One Pilots, The 1975, Spoon, The Replacements, Nas)

8.13.14  Passenger (House of Blues)

8.13.14  The Once (House of Blues)

8.13.14  Stu Larsen (House of Blues)

8.1.14 David Gray (BHB Pavilion)

8.1.14  John Smith (BHB Pavilion)

7.28.14  Drenge (Great Scott) (v)

7.28.14  Wax Witches (Great Scott)

7.28.14  Yellabird (Great Scott)

7.27.14  Newport Folk Festival Day #3 (The Deslondes, Ages and Ages, Caitlin Rose, Pegi Young & The Survivors, Gregory Alan Isakov, Dawes, Jeff Tweedy, Hozier, Hurray For the Riff Raff, Conor Oberst, Valerie June, Trampled By Turtles, Lucero, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Mavis Staples)

7.26.14  Heartbreaker Banquet - Jane Pickens Theatre (Shakey Graves, Shovels and Rope, Lucuis, Valerie June) (v)

7.26.14  Newport Folk Festival Day #2 (Willie Watson, John Reilly, The Oh Hellos, Pokey Lafarge, J. Roddy Walston & The Business, Benjamin Booker, Shovels and Rope, Shakey Graves, Houndmouth, Deer Tick, Lucuis, The Milk Carton Kids, Nickel Creek, Puss n’ Boots,Jack White)  (v)

7.25.14  Newport Folk Festival Day #1 (Mandolin Orange, Anais Mitchell and Jefferson Hammer, Death Vessel, Phox, The Devil Makes Three, Leif Vollebekk, Hozier, Jenny Lewis, Reignwolf, Robert Hunter, Lake Street Dive, Langhorne Slim and Spirit Family Reunion, Band of Horses, Bear’s Den, Jimmy Cliff, Ryan Adams (v)

7.10.14  Hamilton Leithauser (Sinclair)

7.10.14  Torres (Sinclair)

7.1.14  Phish (Xfinity Center)

6.26.14  Billy Joel (Fenway Park) (v)

6.26.14  Gavin Degraw (Fenway Park)

6.25.14  Iron and Wine (Casino Ballroom) NH

6.25.14  The Secret Sisters (Casino Ballroom) NH

6.23.14  Jamestown Revival (Sinclair)

6.23.14  The Wind and the Wave (Sinclair)

6.23.14  Kris Orlowski (Sinclair)

6.9.14  Damon Albarn (Royale) (v)

5.27.14  Delta Spirit (Midde East) (v)

5.25.14  Boston Calling Day #3 - (The Box Tiger, Tigerman Whoa!, The Districts, Built To Spill, Kurt Vile, Phosphorescent, Tegan and Sara, Bastille, Brand New, Modest Mouse)

5.24.14  Boston Calling Day #2 - (Magic Man, Maximo Park, Walk Off the Earth, Warpaint, The Neighborhood, Jenny Lewis, Frank Turner & the Sleeping Souls, The Head and the Heart, The Decemberists, Death Can For Cutie)

5.23.14  Boston Calling Day #1 - (Cass McCombs, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Jack Johnson)

5.9.14  Foster the People (House of Blues)

5.9.14  St. Lucia (House of Blues)

5.4.14  Cage the Elephant (Orpheum) (v)

5.4.14  Foals (Orpheum)

5.3.14  David Gray (Colonial Theatre) (v)

4.30.14  The Milk Carton Kids (Paradise) (v)

4.30.14  Brian Wright (Paradise)

4.24.14  Twenty One Pilots (House of Blues)

4.24.14  NONONO (House of Blues)

4.24.14  Hunter Hunted (House of Blues)

4.21.14  Horse Feathers (Sinclair) (v)

4.21.14  Skinny Bones (Sinclair)

4.17.14  The War On Drugs (Paradise) (v)

4.17.14  White Laces (Paradise)

4.17.14  Sore Eros (Paradise)

4.8.14  The Silver Palms (Great Scott)

4.8.14  Indian Twin (Great Scott)

4.4.14  James Vincent McMorrow (v)

4.4.14  Aidan Knight

3.26.14  Boy & Bear (Sinclair)

3.26.14  Dresses (Sinclair)

3.23.14  Typhoon (Sinclair)

3.23.14  Lady Lamb the Beekeeper (Sinclair)

3.23.14  The Wild Ones (Sinclair)

3.8.14  Avett Brothers (TD Garden)

3.8.14  Old Crow Medicine Show (TD Garden)

3.6.14  Josh Ritter (Somerville Theatre) (v)

3.6.14  Gregory Alan Isakov (Somerville Theatre) (v)

3.5.14  Augustines (Brighton Music Hall) (v)

3.5.14  My Goodness (Brighton Music Hall)

2.25.14  Band of Horses (Somerville Theatre) (v)

2.25.14  Sera Cahoone (Somerville Theatre)

2.24.14  Bob Weir & Ratdog (House of Blues) (v)

2.21.14  Lake Street Dive (Sinclair (v)

2.21.14  Lazer Cake (Cafe 939)

2.18.14  Art Decade (Cafe 939)

2.18.14  These Wild Plains (Cafe 939)

2,18.14  AERS (Cafe 939)

2.14.14  Kodaline (Paradise Rock Club) (v)

2.14.14  LP (Paradise Rock Club)

2.13.14  Blackberry Smoke (House of Blues)

2.13.14  Delta Saints (House of Blues)

2.9.14  The Wild Feathers (Brighton Music Hall) (v)

2.9.14  Saints of Valory (Brighton Music Hall)

2.9.14 Jamestown Revival (Brighton Music Hall)

2.8.14  Speedy Ortiz (Tasty Burger)

2.8.14  Sneeze (Tasty Burger)

2.8.14  Idiot Genes (Tasty Burger)

2.8.14  The Channels (Tasty Burger)

2.6.14  Arctic Monkeys (Agganis Arena)

2.6.14  Deerhunter (Agganis Arena)

2.6.14  The Orwells (Agganis Arena)

2.4.14  Lord Huron (Royale) (v)

2.4.14  Night Moves (Royale)

1.31.14  Clap Your Hands Say Yeah (Alec Ounsworth solo) (J.P) (v)

1.23.14  Damien Jurado (Brighton Music Hall) (v)

1.23.14  Courtney Marie Andrews (Brighton Music Hall)

1.18.2014  The Pixies (Orpheum Theatre) (v)

1.18.2014  Fidlar (Orpheum Theatre)

1.17.2014  Swear and Shake (Great Scott) (v)

1.17.2014  Smoke Signals (Great Scott)

1.17.2014  The Novel Ideas (Great Scott)

1.16.2014  Neutral Milk Hotel (Orpheum Theatre)  (audio)

1.6.2014  Benefit For David Lamb of Brown Bird (Club Passim) (v)

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Photos, Setlist, Review:  Frightened Rabbit Played the House of Blues (Boston, MA) 5.9.2016

Scottish Rockers, Frightened Rabbit,released their new album, Painting of A Panic Attack, earlier this year and are in the midst of their tour.  Monday night, they played a well-attended show at Boston’s House of Blues, and as always, put on a solid show.  The band truly loves Boston, and it showed.

Frightened Rabbit continue their tour (dates), and play North Carolina tomorrow.  Photos from the Boston show can be seen below.  Click “Keep Reading” after the first photo to see them all.  Caveman opened.

Frightened Rabbit Setlist: House of Blues (Boston, MA) 5.9.2016

Get Out Holy The Modern Leper Woke Up Hurting I Wish I Was Sober Living in Colour Head Rolls Off Things Break Fast Blood State Hospital Lump Street The Oil Slick Nothing Like You Old Old Fashioned Keep Yourself Warm

Encore: Die Like A Rich Boy (Scott solo) The Woodpile The Loneliness and the Scream

Caveman

Frightened Rabbit

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Wolf Parade Releasing New EP

May 10, 2016

In case you missed it, Wolf Parade are back, and are playing several tour dates, kicking off their 5-night residency at the Bowery Ballroom in NYC next week. 

They’ve just announced new music as well - a new self-titled EP with a release date of May17th.  It’s available for preorder at Amazon, where you can listen to clips of each of the four songs.

Wolf Parade EP tracklist:

1 “Automatic” 2 “Mr. Startup” 3 “C’est La Vie Way” 4 “Floating World”

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Photos |Review:  The Fruit Bats and Horse Feathers Played Once Ballroom (Somerville, MA) 5.7.2016

I attend a ton of shows at the usual suspects of music venues around town, and its always refreshing to visit a venue I’ve never experienced.  It was my first time at Once Ballroom (capacity 300), which used to be Anthony’s Function Hall, and transformed into Cuisine En local/Once Ballroom in 2013.  The lounge is a hip little space, which has a funky retro vibe, and the ballroom just might trigger memories of weddings and events you attended in your past.

The show consisted of two solid bands - Horse Feathers and Fruit Bats, who both played great sets.  Horse Feathers always sound excellent, and it was my first time seeing the Fruit Bats, who exceeded my expectations.  Their new album, Absolute Loser, comes out May 13th, and they played several songs from the new record, and jammed out on older tunes as well.  All in all, a fun night out. 

Fruit Bats continue their tour (dates), and play Hudson, NY tonight.  Their next local date is the Newport Folk Festival July 22nd.  Steam their new album at KEXP, and photos and videos from the Somerville show can be seen below.  Click “Keep Reading” after the first photo to see them all. 

Horse Feathers

Fruit Bats

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Parsonfield

Parsonsfield is a five-piece band from Northampton, MA that started in 2010, and released their debut album, Poor Old Shine, in 2013.  In the beginning, their band name was Poor Old Shine, but was changed to Parsonfield in 2014.  Check out the song “Weeds or Wildflowers” above which kind of has an Avett Brothers sound to it.

In December, they just finished recording a new full-length album in an axe factory in Collinsville, CT, where they spent six months, writing, arranging, and ultimately recording the songs in the same space. It should come out sometime this year.  

The band has a couple New England shows, and will play Portland tonight, followed by Newmarket, New Hampshire on Saturday.  Full dates here.  This is the kind of band I could see being added to the Newport Folk Festival as well.