I got to see Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers recently at The Red Devil Lounge and they put on a great show.  Spot on, great musicians, interacting with the crowd and expressive.  I think this is why photographers and musicians make for good friends.  They feed each others needs!

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers at Red Devil Lounge

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers at Red Devil Lounge

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers at Red Devil Lounge

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers at Red Devil Lounge

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers at Red Devil Lounge

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers at Red Devil Lounge

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers at Red Devil Lounge

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers at Red Devil Lounge

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers at Red Devil Lounge

Roger Clyne & The Peacemakers at Red Devil Lounge

I got to hear Jason Brock sing really for the first time at Martuni’s Bar in San Francisco the other night and he blew me away!  I did see him sing at the Nitey Awards but he was with Honey Mahogany doing a song and just not the same.  Yes, now you know that I don’t watch those types of TV shows but he was funny, entertaining and as I know him, just a really sweet guy.

Jason Brock entertains at Martuni’s

Jason Brock entertains at Martuni’s

Jason Brock entertains at Martuni’s

Jason Brock entertains at Martuni’s

Muse Live at Oakland Arena

Muse put on an amazing show at  Oakland’s Arena.  The opening band, Band of Skulls started the show with simplicity and pure music.  Muse came on with lights, cameras and a lot of action!

Muse Live at Oakland Arena

Muse Live at Oakland Arena

Muse Live at Oakland Arena

Muse Live at Oakland Arena

Muse Live at Oakland Arena

Muse Live at Oakland Arena

Muse Live at Oakland Arena

Muse Live at Oakland Arena

Muse Live at Oakland Arena

Muse Live at Oakland Arena

Muse Live at Oakland Arena

The Brown Twins, Miriam and Vivian,  of San Francisco are living icons of this City.   We have something in common too in that we are all from Michigan!  These lovely ladies have been gracing this City for decades and an event put on at the Red Devil Lounge by Jenn Bergeron brought out supporters from everywhere.  It was fun, joyful and a great time was had by all.  The talent included Kim Nalley, legend Frank Jackson, lots of amazing burlesque dancers and was hosted by Suzanne Ramsey.  The lovely and talented Jane Weidlin of the Go Go’s even dressed up as one of the Twins!  It was a fantastic turnout and made me proud to be there and a part of it.

Garbage is one of my favorite bands.  If you haven’t seen Shirley Manson live you need to right away!  I had the pleasure of photographing them at the Warfield and the band did not disappoint!

Shirley Manson of Garbage

Shirley Manson of Garbage

Shirley Manson of Garbage

Shirley Manson of Garbage

Shirley Manson of Garbage

Shirley Manson of Garbage

Shirley Manson of Garbage

Shirley Manson of Garbage

Shirley Manson of Garbage

Shirley Manson of Garbage

Shirley Manson of Garbage

Shirley Manson of Garbage

The San Francisco Music Scene is an ecclectic one and this was one of those nights.  The cello was featured and played in THREE entirely different bands.  Headlining was Life Love Misery which was big and bold.  Unwoman features an amazing talent who plays a type of modern cello I’ve never seen before and a repeater.  Then Dirty Cello was well, exactly that.  Can you imagine Jimi Hendrix being played by a cello?  Well, it rocks!

Jimi Hendrix said “When the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace.”

Music photographers and musicians just go together.  Jimi Hendrix, like so many musicians I know, was an artist through and through and his passion coupled with his talent made him who he was.  If he was just a guitar player, even a great guitar player, he’d been off on the side of the stage for someone else to lead the show.   But instead because of quotes like this we know him to be the passionate, profound and intelligent person that he was too.  As a music photographer and capturing musicians live or in stills this persons passion and mine for who they are and for photography can create amazing, iconic music photographs with feeling and emotion hitting you viscerally.

An utterly amazing and talented friend of mine Johnny Ceravolo, the lead singer for When In Rome, recently posted on Facebook “More and more I want to say less and less.”  Johnny shares everything on Facebook and this was just one of many things he had to say one day.  His quotes can vary from the intelligent and critically thinking on the topic of religion or filled with swear words about the most mundane chores of life.

I have photographed When In Rome live as well as taken portraits of Johnny  Ceravolo just one on one.   He’s an amazing singer and talented guitar player and like Jimi Hendrix is an amazingly intelligent and passionate person.   His desires to share his music with the world, change the world, share his unique perspective and passion with people is great.  His love of music and people is tangible in minutes of meeting him or hearing his music.   I can’t imagine the sad day it would be if he did start to “say less and less.”   Of course there are moments we all feel this way but Johnny puts them out into the world and shares what the rest of us just think.

When I have photographed Johnny just as any other musician or band I can’t help but photograph them with my own feelings and emotions taking over or just becoming entwined with theirs.  That is why music photographers and musicians just go together.   The bond and love I have for musicians is just innate within me and I love photographing them and just being with them!

Here are just a few of my favorite images I’ve done and then there are these images on my blog Band Photos.

I have always loved live music and the eclectic nature and talent of musicians.   The passion they have is awe inspiring for me.  My friend Johnny Ceravolo is an amazingly talented musician and I had the pleasure of doing some black and white portraits of him recently.  He’s the lead singer for When In Rome and I originally met them when they played in San Francisco at the Red Devil Lounge.  Being a product of the 80′s I had to go see them along with Missing Persons and it was a great show.

I wanted to do some artistic musician portrait photography and he thankfully agreed!  We went to Franklin Park in Los Angeles and the weather was perfect.  I was last there with Tara Novick at 5am a couple years ago and it was moody and misty. This time it was sunny and lent itself to the dark, contrasty idea we had of black and white film and simple.  I believe the character of a musician has to show and I believe these do show Johnny and his personality and provide a sense of who he is.  He’s an amazing talent and I got wait to work together again!

I photographed The John Corbett Band last week at The York in Los Angeles and once again they totally rocked it.  Here are a few of my favorite shots.  I love photographing live music and I hope you can see the love, passion and fun these guys have on stage!  Be sure to request they go back!

I really love live music and living in San Francisco gives me the best access in the small venues I love.  Like Red Devil Lounge.  The capacity is only about 300 so I can get up close and personal  and I love it.  Last week Missing Persons, When In Rome and Gene Loves Jezebel played.  It was fantastic.  The passion that When In Rome had when playing was obvious.  I never got to see these bands when I was younger so I love that they come back now and so up close and personal.