KISW's Pain in the Grass 2010 - August 28 @ The White River Amphitheater

This was an amazing day! I got my own photo pass!!!! I'll put up some photos from the show at the bottom of the blog!

We had to be there by Noon so we could get in and meet up with the KISW staff for instructions. I was going to be able to shoot the first 3 songs of each band and the interviews in the VIP section.

First band for each PITW show is a local act. This year - Post Modern Heroes. They got a pretty decent crown for being first up. I'd guess around 1,500 people had made their way into the show area. PMH killed it and made some new fans!!

Next up - My Darkest Days. You may know them from their song 'Porn Star Dancin'. I liked their look. Sol is just adorable. I know he'll hate that comment, but it's true!!

3rd - Drowning Pool. Hot damn they were awesome. I can't believe I got to shoot these guys!!! Ryan made his way into the crowd for 'Bodies'. Talk about insane. Mike went right in after him to get some killer shots!!! Sadly, this was just a day after Ryan's son had a tragic injury that he will be recovering from for a very long time.

4th - Sevendust!!!!!!!!!!!! I love them. I love Lajon. I love Vinny. I love Morgan. I love Clint. and I love John. They are just great great guys. They played a good set but I had to leave right after my 3 songs in the pit to make it to the VIP area to see PMH doing their on air interview with KISW.

5th - Puddle of Mudd. This band is the reason I even wanted to be at this show. I have a huge crush on Wes. They did not disappoint me at all! I had never seen them live before and I'm so glad I did! I was also lucky enough to get an all access pass from Shinedown so I was able to go backstage for the rest of the show. It made it much easier to stay with Mike and see the remaining shows from the side stage.

6th - Black Label Society: They are a bit harder than I like, but they were entertaining. I liked taking photos of them.

7th - Shinedown: For me, the set was a little too up and then down. They have such a diverse portfolio but I would have lumped the ballads together. I found the crowd was a little down during some up the rockin' tunes. Rockin', ballad, rockin' ballad. It's just too up and down. I didn't watch too much after my 3 songs. We ran in to Vinny backstage and had a great visit. Southern men can be so damn charming!

The 8th and final band of the night were Godsmack. They really aren't my kind of band either. Their lighting was pretty bad so my pictures were not the greatest. Sully is quite the front man though. The crowd was very into it.


Post Modern Heroes:

 

My Darkest Days:

 

 

Drowning Pool:

 

Sevendust:

  

Puddle of Mudd:

 

Black Label Society:

Shinedown:

Godsmack:

Pain in the Grass Pre-Funk party: Aug 27, 2010 @ Studio Seven

The 2010 pre-funk featured Windowpane, Klover Jane, Post Modern Heroes & Astro-Creep. There were two other bands, but we didn't get there until after they were done performing.

This was the fist time I had seen Klover Jane with Rane Stone on lead vocals. I really liked Stefan, but I think Rane brought KJ up a level. This band is worthy of getting some good traction on an EPK.

Windowpane is just a great rock band. I like them more and more every time I see them.

PMH - Loved seeing them so hyped up to be the opening band for Pain in the Grass tomorrow!!! They were able to play early enough to get out and get home for some sleep. They have to be at White River at 8am tomorrow to get their gear front loaded for the 1pm start.

Post Modern Heroes: Pain in the Grass Pre-Funk at Studio 7

I didn't really know what to expect from Astro-Creep. This is a full costume cover band of White Zombie. What a fun band! Loved the costumes and the black light paints.

I love seeing so many great live acts in Seattle!! We are a pretty blessed area.

Post Modern Heroes and Witchburn on August 20, 2010 @ Tony Z's in Everett, WA

You will be hearing a lot from me about these bands. Both of these bands are friends of ours. We support both of them madly!!

Witchburn took the small stage and owned it! The crowd was very in to it. They travel well. People come out to see the lead singer Jamie Nova. Many of them know her as the lead for the all-girl Hell's Belles AC/DC cover band.
Witchburn is a 5-piece band with chicks on bass, lead vocs and lead guitar. They have a Sabbath type of sound. My all time favorite live picture that Mike has taken so far is of the lead guitar player Mischa. She has a head full of dreds that make her looks like Medusa on stage.

Here's a link to one of Mike's video's of Witchburn stills with the song 'Army of Voices'.

 Witchburn - Army of Voices

Post Modern Heroes - Our friend Travis Bracht (formerly of Second Coming) heads up this band. Travis is a stage mover so it really cracks me up to see him on the tiny stage at Tony Z's. There really isn't any place for him to go. Their retro Bowie sound fills the rooms and the crowd with their tunes. Their signature opening - They freeze for the first 2 minutes of 'What Would You Do' then break in to their moves.

Post Modern Heroes - 'The One'

Please make an effort to listen to both of these bands. They are very much worth it!!!

Half the World on August 9th, 2010 at El Corazon, Seattle, WA

If you haven't heard of this little gem of a metal band out of Boise, you should really get familiar with them!! I'll have a link to one of their official videos at the bottom.

Half The World are a much heavier femail lead band. The lovely Mary Magill leads this band of talented musicians. We've seen Half The World several times and have even traveled to Boise to see them in their home town.

Having them open for Karnivool in Seattle was a big treat! We didn't have to travel to far and Mike was able to shoot Karnivool! The kids and I didn't stay for the bands after Half The World though. It was a school night still. We just wanted them to be able to see Mary and the guys.

As usual, Mary didn't disappoint. She always sounds great. And the guys always sound heavy!!! Rock horns to you all!!!!!!!!!!!

Half the World - Carry My Dreams Away

Billy Idol - August 5th, 2010 at the Tulalip Casino in Marysville, WA

Billy looks amazing! He's still sexy as hell after all these years.

This was the first time Mike and I had been to the Tulalip for a concert. This was part of their summer outdoor series. They impressed me with adequate bathrooms inside and out. They had great food options and the lighting and sound were both really good.

As for Billy - He not only looked amazing, he sounded amazing. The set was a good length. Steve's guitar solo was insane. The crowd absolutely loved every single moment of the show. I caught a little bit of drum solo and most of 'Mony, Mony' on video. Click the link below!!

Setlist:
'Ready Steady Go!'
'Dancing With Myself'
'Love is Strange'
'Flesh For Fantasy'
'Scream'
'Sweet Sixteen'
'Scarred for Life'
'Kings and Queens of the Underground'
'L.A. Woman'
'King Rocker'
'Running With the Boss Sound'
'Blue Highway'
'Rebel Yell'

Encore:
'White Wedding'
'Mony Mony'

Halestorm, Adelitas Way, Since October & New Medicine - July 23rd, 2010 at the Knitting Factory in Spokane, WA

This was the only stop we had to make on our family vacation to Mt. Rushmore and back. Sorry, but I don't have any pictures or video to add to this blog :(
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We checked in to our hotel and made our way over to the venue. This was the first concert that we were taking both kids to.We ran in to Audie Grantham, drummer of Since October, outside and I got my introduction hug from him. Little did he know, the kids also had a gift for him and Ben. Mike & Ike's! Their favorite candy.

This was our first time to this venue. It looked pretty much like the Boise Knitting Factory on the inside. It has a 21+ section as well as all ages. I like venues like this. The kids and I were escorted to our own little section of the balcony where the bands can watch the bands on stage. Ryan was beyond excited to see Arejay Hale from Halestorm.

This was the first time we had seen New Medicine. They were great. They are a little punk band with Linkin Park mixed with a little Green Day. Check out their CD 'Race You To The Bottom' from Photo Finish Records. The whole CD is great. I believe iTunes has a few bonus songs that aren't on the physical CD.

Since October is just a fabulous live band. Ben's dreds a full stage usage made him a lead singer that you can't take your eyes off of. Luke flicked a pick up to me in the balcony. How did he know I have a pick collection. I will see them play anytime they are in the Pacific NW! :)

Adelitas Way was much better than the first time I saw them earlier in the year. I absolutely love watching the guitar player Creighton Bibbs. He's my favorite part of the band. The singer doesn't do much for me. Nice voice but just kinda blah on stage.

Halestorm, as always, is just the absolute best. There isn't one thing about that band that ever disappoints. Lzzy's vocals, Joe's guitar, Josh's bass and Arejay's drumming are always, always amazing. I couldn't wait for the kids to see Arejay's drum solo for the first time. The kids mouths dropped when they saw Arejay start to drum with his baseball bat sized sticks. Arejay's drum tech (his dad Roger) came over and tossed up drum sticks for myself and the kids. It was a really fun night. One I'm sure the kids will remember for a long time.

The Dirty Heads & Sublime with Rome - July 7th @ Marymore Park in Remond, WA

Luckily, we know the Dirty Heads so we were set up to shoot them. Yes 'we'. This time, I got a photo pass as well. I found it facinating that we were the only photographers there! For Sublime??? And Dirty Heads at the time had a #1 song on Billboard!! Oh well, the venue was a sell out and both bands were just amazing!

We were able to meet the tour manager for both bands and got full access to both shows. Back stage, on stage and around the crowd. 

I was happy to see that a lot of the crowd new The Dirty Heads music. They are still pretty new on the scene. They are a blend of beach, ska, hip-hop and punk. Jared and Duddy are share vocals and Duddy is the lead guitar. At one point, Jared started to giggle and pointed out 3 girls who were at the back of the dance floor hula-hooping. He asked them to come on stage an hoop during their song 'Lay Me Down'. That was so fun!

When Sublime took the stage, the crowd erupted. Rome is not Bradley, but he has his own style and respects what Bradley did. I absolutely loved seeing them play.

If you have the chance to see either of these bands play, please do. You will have a great time letting go and having an absolute blast. You may also get a contact high - There was plenty of that in the air that night!