holy cow.  somewhere i’ve lost a few months of my life.  it’s been… occupying.  this pregnancy thing, it’s a doozy.  i’d take the photos, and then not have the energy to do anything with them.  never mind that my studio was in the basement.  now that we’ve rearranged, and *ahem* sloooooowwwwly started getting some of this house in order (baby room? not quite), i’m ready to finally get some posts together.

i think for the duration of the weeks i have left (that would be 8, god willing), i may just post things i find interesting.  it’s hard for me to take photos, and honestly, hard to carry around the extra weight of the camera.  i miss my camera.  i miss being able to get low to take a photo, and now that i’m being honest, miss being able to get up on my own from getting low.  you get the gist.  enjoy some of these older shots, and in the meantime, i’ll be working on getting some inspiration posts together.  it may not be seattle street style, but i’ll do my best.

xoxox- k.

wildly behind in getting these up… but better late than never.  i think i mentioned i had a great time at bumbershoot, and saw a lot of new (to me) and stellar bands.  biggest surprises- hey marseilles and the lonely h.  happy to see again- crash kings.  enjoy! for all the bands i saw on sunday, click

band ‘fences’ performs at the kexp music lounge. they have a cd release party next thursday at the tractor.

horse feathers at the starbuck’s stage

the lonely h at emp sky church

hey marseilles taking in the sunshine

and finally, my last band of the day- crash kings

every year i’m impressed by how well bumbershoot puts on an enormous show.  just like i have my favourite fashion-show-throwers, a music festival shouldn’t be a beating (*ahem*capitol hill).  you should know where the gate is, know where the stages are, know who’s doing what, when.  and although every year i’m a little put off by the crowds, i never once think, i wish this could be more seamless.  from the ease of press entrance, a badge being your ID, schedules that are pretty strictly adhered to.  it makes it easy to enjoy the music.  which is just what we did.  thanks for having us, and thanks for letting me capture some of the rock.  for all photos, click

did you love 90′s girl bands like sleater kinney, the breeders, and luscious jackson? then you should drop what you’re doing RIGHT NOW and listen to visqueen.

rachel flotard took a few moments to talk to me about her style. what do you want to bet it has to do with simplicity, comfort and ease?  girls like her make it look easy.  **small aside- rachel is performing in an upcoming patsy cline tribute.  yes please.

feral children getting feral in the skychurch.

loved the KEXP live shows- here the danish duo the ravonettes

colin meloy of portland band the decemberists at the mainstage

and finally, my favourite performance of the day (second only to visqueen- rachel and neko are friends AND perform together!?!) neko case!

my favourite adjective for her voice is ‘shimmering’. songs about love (of course), loss, the bible. seriously, she could sing about economics, i’d listen.

my perfect end to a great day of music. as if it could get better, we then went and had sushi at moshi moshi (ginger punch + tadashi- YUM!)

first of all, for anyone who’s never been to white river amphitheater… give yourself more than 2 hours to get there.  actually, go ahead and give yourself 3.  pretend you’re driving to portland.  and while you’re at it, leave the concert early or you may never see your home again.

i exaggerate.  but seriously.  i gave myself what i thought was PLENTY of time to get there.  thanks to dagmar, i had pit access at an arena show.  i’ve never had pit access at an arena show.  i was excited.  and 10 minutes after the band was slated to go on, i was still in my car.  praying to whoever, wherever that i’d be able to get one song worth of photos.

i don’t have to give you all the drama.  i will say, rush gave an amazing performance.  my husband, who has been a DEVOTED rush fan for well over half his life, came back to the car giddy with excitement, and we talked the show most of the way home (40 minutes with no traffic).  i enjoy having these photos as a gift to give him, and recording one of his all time favourite bands. (for a rush review) for all the photos, click 

my first shot of geddy

the ‘time machine’. also, coincidentally, the year i graduated from high school.

neil and geddy

geddy and neil

geddy lee

alex lifeson on guitar

alex

geddy lee

alex

always difficult to get the drummers, it’s dark back there… neil peart

bass time

i was uber excited to see a few of the bands playing friday. like… jazzed.  so when i got there (after work), and the ‘will call’ line stretched two blocks, i waited.  then when my tickets were in the ‘guest list’ line… i tried to shake it off.  i was doing pretty well.  thinking… man, this is way better than i thought it’d be.  then, bang. no breathing room.  no moving room.  drunk people. elbows. and suddenly, i realized the photos weren’t worth it.  i liked the few bands i got to see. and having been to my share of music festivals, i am by no means, a baby.  i just think CHBP is still figuring it out.  should a photographer have to shove through over a block long area of people to get photos, and then… shove your way back out?  maybe.  but it detracts from the experience. everything i’ve been reading seems to show people are enjoying themselves… and the music.  i’ve seen a lot of amazing photos, and think maybe it’s just not my thing.  give me bumbershoot, wide open spaces, years of experience, and just around the corner.  for all of my CHBP photos, click

band fences at neumos- these guys and chris pureka were my favourites

band shabazz palaces at the main stage

the reflection on that drum shows some of what the venue was like… packed and narrow

band unnatural helpers at neumos- these guys had amazing energy

band yeasayer at the main stage

my husband has six tool albums.  when i said i was going to take photos… he played me some songs.  since i have a fairly open music mind, and it wasn’t reggae, i didn’t hate it.  since i’ve also been to too many shows lately, with inadequate ear protection, i decided to invest in serious earplugs.  call me granny, but i can’t stand the ear ringing after a show anymore.  the helpful clerk at guitar center sold me some plugs, inquiring if i was going to see tool.  i was somewhat surprised by the question and asked why he was asking.  ’people have been buying them all day for the tool show.’  apparently i was on the right track to the type of music it was.  even the general masses thought they needed to protect their eardrums.

this is in no way a review.  i will gladly listen to some of the albums, and tell you what i think (over a beer).  but i was in key arena to shoot photos for ONE SONG.  and although i was given a ticket (which i think is generous for a show that sold out in 40 minutes) i wasn’t allowed to bring in my many thousands of dollars of camera gear, and since i was dropped off, there wasn’t really anywhere to put it, so i wasn’t able to stay.

i will tell you what i find most interesting- lead singer maynard keenan has bought land and built a vineyard in arizona (my home state).  people seem very passionate about tool’s music.  i love that on top of inspiring millions of fans with music, he’s also pursuing this role of making small batch wines.  his first wine was named after his mother.  here’s to artists who inspire, cross genre.

for info about tool, for info about the documentary- blood into wine and for the rest of my photos be sure to click

an eerie projection of what came together into a face

we were back by the mix, this is most of the band- maynard is in silhouette

guitarist adam jones

drummer danny carey

i thought he was behind a partition, but some of my photos showed him in front

bassist justin chancellor

maynard james keenan

adam jones

thanks to tool for having me out

i’m not so pleased with most of my photos from this show. but instead of being a whiny baby about it, i’ll just post them, forget about them, and remember hearing some of my favourite SWR songs live. the red lights are such a beating. i’m taking suggestions for how to deal with them.  for all the photos click

pre-show stage

the set list (i also nabbed a physical copy!)

justin warfield- guitar, lead vocals, scott ellis- drums

adam bravin- bass

adam bravin, keyboards, justin warfield- guitar, lead vocals

this show has been on my calendar for AGES! i love she wants revenge, and was so excited to see they were opening for PHSYCHEDELIC FURS!! are you kidding me? although you undoubtedly know ‘pretty in pink’, i was excited to hear ‘heaven’ and ‘hearbeat’.  richard’s gravelly voice is killer and it was such a good show!

here’s my photos of the furs- for all of them, be sure to click

for the die-hards… the set list.

rich good- guitar

mars williams- sax

tim butler- bass

richard butler and mars williams

rich good and richard butler

singing ‘heartbeat’

view from the audience

summer in my mind is synonymous with concerts.  i think of all the concerts i’ve attended over the 15 years i’ve lived up in the northwest… and there really isn’t a better melding of what i love about this area. outdoor music shows on the pier (remember those?), at the zoo… watching the sun slowly fade and hearing some of my favourite songs.  summer concert series are just getting going… this summer, i’ll try to hit a little of everything.  chateau st. michele is a favourite… what’s not to love about packing up food and blankets, buying a bottle of wine and listening to some a live band.  i’ve got shows picked through september, keep your fingers crossed i get in to some of the good ones!

first up… imogen heap.  last night imogen (and some of her very creative and talented musical buddies) played at the paramount.  heap’s first album since 05, ellipse came out last year, and she mentioned at last night’s performance that she has more musical intent (beyond albums) to offer us over the next few years.  i’m not a reviewer, but i enjoyed the live show immensely.  such a mix.  and i appreciated the effort to make each show unique to the town it’s being played.  she allowed fans to vote for songs to be performed, and after the performances, the songs will be sold with proceeds going to charity.

one of my favourite bits to her show- she came out to introduce each act (there were 3) that preceded her own… and hugged each performer as they came on stage.  she was also extremely animated, which made for lots of blurry photos, i didn’t mind… to see all of the photos, click

only expecting ‘geese’ i wasn’t sure who this band was… they were really good though, and apparently local.

next up was ‘geese’. i was tempted to buy the ep if only for the last song they played.

then ben cristophers, who was like a singing jude law. that can’t be bad, right?  i’m selling him short- far more talented than jude law, and better looking.  :)

last up, imogen herself… singing, playing different instruments… telling funny stories. so good!

next up: psychedelic furs with she wants revenge this saturday!!!!