GWAR.....Visitors From Another Planet!

Show Date11-26-2010

Portland was invaded by the rock band GWAR! For over the last 25 years this cosmic bunch of hard rocking aliens have been putting on a very, highly theatric show to entertain their cult following. This was my second opportunity to see and photograph the band and I was not disappointed.

The blood and gore launched right out of the gate, with the crowd going wild. I’m still totally amazed; the crowd totally gets into all of the blood that is sprayed all over them.

There were several other photographers in the pit. By the end of the first three songs, they and their gear were covered in red, intergalactic goo. I managed to avoid most of it, which I didn’t mind. The last thing I wanted to be doing is cleaning camera gear all the next day.  

This tour, Sara Palin and Lady Gaga were the targets of gruesomeness up on stage. Think Lady Gaga got the blunt of the GWAR royal treatment. One of the things I like about GWAR, they include 2-3 opening acts and on this tour, Mobile Deathcamp, Infernaeon and The Casualties joined in on the horrific chaos. All of the opening bands performed great! Mobile Deathcamp IMHO stole the show for the opening acts.

I really enjoy GWAR’s music. The Punk/Thrash/Metal/Rock style they have going on works and works well.  

By the end of the show, 75% of the 1200+ people in the crowd were drenched in GWAR blood and sweat. With them all wanting more!

If you have never seen GWAR in concert, do so, you’ll have a great time! Just remember, keep your distance from the stage.

GWAR - Roseland Theater - Portland, Oregon

The Casualties - Roseland Theater - Portland, Oregon

Infernaeon - Roseland Theater - Portland, Oregon

Mobile Deathcamp - Roseland Theater - Portland, Oregon

ASIA.....Reunion Tour

Show Date 9-7-2010

I had to really hustle to obtain a photo pass for this performance. It took several weeks of communication with Asia's PR people. Just a couple of days prior to the show, I received my photo pass confirmation. I wasn't too sure what to expect. It was all of the original members. Did they still have the chops? Well, they did! Asia's performance was one of the best show's I'd seen in 2010. They were actually a close second to Rush.

I was very surprised to find out that I was the only photographer that was allowed to cover the show. It was really cool having the freedom to roam the venue and explore all the different shooting possibilities. Was really nice, not having any restrictions for a change.

I have been a fan of Steve Howe since the late 70’s when he was with Yes. I've never had a chance to see him perform live though, over all these years for some reason. I guess the timing was never right until now. I’ve also been a fan of Carl Palmer ever since his days with Emerson, Lake and Palmer.

The first half of the show was songs off their latest album Omega. Even though I wasn't familiar with the songs, they were well arranged and sounded like classic Asia. The second half of the show was dedicated to all of their hit songs from the 80's. The crowd rose to their feet and stayed that way for the remainder of the show. The song that caught my attention the most, “Day’s Like These”. I was not expecting to hear it performed and I was pleasantly surprised when I did. The band totally got into the grove and had everybody dancing, including the security personnel.

Asia rocked Portland this night. For those of you who thought about going and didn't, you missed out on a great performance! I hope when the members of Asia re-form, they remember how well Portland, OR welcomed them.

Asia - Aladdin Theater - Portland, Oregon

Cinderella.....Headline Tour

Show Date 9-4-2010

I was fully expecting Cinderella to be the opening band this evening. It has been several years since the band had produced any new music and just as long for any live performances. So I was really surprised that they were headlining over Queensryche….WTF????

During the 80’s, I was listening to a totally different style of music, Progressive Rock. So I wasn’t really all that familiar with what Cinderella had to offer other then what I heard on MTV and the radio. I was willing to give them a fair shake though, especially after hearing on “That Metal Show” the band was actually really good and nothing like the bubble gum, rock songs (my own definition of that type of music) that was being played on the radio.

This was an outdoor show and September can be a goofy month for weather here in the NW. This year, the evenings were running on the cooler side of things.

Cinderella hit the stage strong and hard but, it was very obvious that there was a different sound engineer working the board. The sound wasn’t crisp and level as it was for Queensryche. In addition to the PA sound, Tom Keifer was experiencing some major technical difficulties with his guitar setup and stage mike. You could see the frustration in his face and he had his tech scrambling to fix the issue.

Even with the issue’s taking place, the band continued rocking it out hard. Fred Coury is a monster on the drum kit and I could actually feel the thump of his kick drum in my chest, as I was snapping my pix, WOW!

Jeff LaBar played to my camera nicely through the second song. His playing was very impressive. Unfortunately the PA sound hasn’t improved and Keifer’s rig was still giving him major grief.

By the time they started the third song, I have to honestly say, I wanted to finish up capturing my shot’s and make a bee line out of the venue.  The sound hadn’t improved at all, Keifer wasn’t looking none too happy up on stage and it was showing in the photos and, my overall impression of the performance was not good.

We all have days where things are just not hooking up. It happens sometimes. I’m sure on a different day in a different venue things were better. On this night sadly, it just wasn’t happening.

There is some amazing talent in this band. Hopefully in the future we really get to hear what they can offer.

Cinderella - Oregon Sate Fair - Salem, Oregon

Queensryche.....Rocks Oregon

Show Date 9-4-2010

This was my seventh time seeing Queensryche over the years. I've never been disappointed by any of their performance's and this show was no exception. From a photog's point of view I was excited. The show was being performed outdoors, and knew many of the images I was about to capture were going to be nice and sharp. A big thank you to Jeff Albright for providing the ticket's, photo pass and after show passes. Jeff is a great guy and has treated me very well over the last several years.

When I arrived at the amphitheater, Queensryche was just hitting the stage. Good thing I prepped my camera earlier in the day. I wasn't expecting them to be the opening act, that took me by surprise just a bit.

The band looked fresh and ready to rock, which they did. The sound engineer had a great mix and the PA level was perfect. Parker Lundgren, who is filling Chris Degarmo's shoes with the band, looked so much more comfortable up on stage then he had, the two previous times that I had seen the band.

The set was short, with a few tunes off of their latest album American Soldier and several others from the various other albums they have produced over the years. Highlight of the set, Jet City Woman. Its always cool to see the crowd get totally into a song, like they do with Jet City.

Queensryche - Oregon Sate Fair - Salem, OR

Ted Nugent.....The Motor City Madman!

Show Date 8-23-2010

What is there to say about Mr. Nugent other then WOW! The man has more energy then most 20 year olds. This was my fourth time to see Uncle Ted, one of those time's was with the Damn Yankee's back in '91 in Eugene, Oregon.

Ted and his band hit the stage rocking to a heavy, riff filled guitar version of the Star Spangled Banner. This definitely set the agenda for the rest of the evening, MADNESS! There was a couple of songs played from his latest release but, Uncle Ted focused more on many of the old favorites from his extensive catalog like Free For All, Fred Bear, Strangle Hold and Great White Buffalo, which was the show closer. This by far was the best show I had seen him perform, which was very welcomed!

Ted Nugent - Roseland Theater - Portland, Oregon





Michael Schenker Group.....Attack Of The Mad Axeman

Show Date: 8-12-2010

I'm not a big fan of Dante's, the lighting isn't all that great for photo's and sometimes they tend to overdrive the PA. So, when I heard Michael Schenker was going to be performing there, I was a little disappointed. None the less, I contacted my friend Doug Doppler, who put me in touch with Wayne Findley (Michael's Guitar/keyboard player) and Wayne set me up with a photo pass for the show.

 

Dante's is a smaller venue in Portland and I was shocked to see when I arrived the line waiting to get inside. It stretched down the block and at one point, around the corner. With no photo pit in this venue, getting a pic was going to be next to impossible because of the crowd. As luck would have it though, I was able to over come my dilemma. There is two cat walks in the venue. So I spoke with the very beautiful and nice bartender, explained who I was and why I was there, and she gave me the green light to shoot from one of the cat walks. TOTALLY COOL!!!!

Michael and his band opened the show with Into the Arena. One of my most favorite instrumentals of the Hard Rock genre. The band continued on though the list of MSG tunes mainly focusing on the time frame when Gary Barden recorded with him (since he was singing on this tour). Highlight of the evening was getting to see the legendary Carmine Appice beat his drum's into submission. 

 

Because of the venue, this was not the best I had seen the band perform. Too many people for such a small venue, too small of stage and the PA, way too loud and overdriven. Hopefully the next time the band passes through Portland, there will be a better venue available.

 

Michael Schenker Group - Dante's - Portland, Oregon



Rush.....Take Off You Hoser

Show Date 8-7-2010

This was a highly anticipated photo shoot. It had taken five years for me to finally obtain a photo pass for one of Rush's show's. I was almost overwhelmed with excitement when I received the confirmation. In fact, I actually jumped up from my desk and started dancing after reading the email. A big thanks is owed to the Anthem Entertainment Group. If it wasn't for them, it would have never of happened!

I've seen the band perform ten times in the NW. So I knew what to expect from the stage production and sound. This tour was special though, they were performing the entire Moving Pictures album live. in order for the first time ever. Now how cool is that, VERY!

My son Kyle made the trek with me north to Auburn. That in itself was a great adventure. Highlight, plugging a leak in the windshield with bubble gum. Which is still there!

Rush hit the stage hard, opening up with Spirit of Radio, into Time Stands Still then, Presto. The band also gave us a couple of samples off of their latest studio album that is a work in progress. If those songs were a true example of what we should expect, the next Rush album is going to kick ass!

Even though I am a bit biased when it comes to Rush (Been a fan since 1977). This was the best concert I've seen in 2010. You know the old saying you get what you pay for...well, with this latest tour, you got the full meal deal!

Rush - White River Amphitheater - Auburn, Washington

Scorpions.....Rockin Oregon Like a Hurricane

Show Date: 8/6/2010