Roger Waters performs The Wall

 When I was about 12-years-old, I discovered a most amazing album that instantly changed how I experienced music. That album was The Wall, by Pink Floyd. Listening to music went from grooving to rhythmic and rhyming lyrics that had little substance, to being fully engrossed in the artists thoughts, visions, story, and experience. I don't know how many times, after having had a hard day or trying to cope with an emotional experience, I spun that album. Headphones on, taken away for a couple hours to listen, and work out my issues. And I know so many others that had a similar connection to The Wall, and Pink Floyd's music in general. The Wall was almost exclusively composed by Roger Waters, who is on tour now performing it start-to-finish as an elaborate stage show. I was fortunate enough to get credentialed to shoot the first six songs of the show, which was truly an honor given my own personal history with Waters' music. My good fortune continued as I got a last minute call from a friend who had a seat in a suite for me to enjoy the show from after I was done "working". Throughout the three hour show a roughly 30ft x 80ft wall was constructed and used as a backdrop for amazing visuals. At one point, local kid's from Sound Roots School of Modern Music (a school my own daughter has happily attended) got up and sang along side Waters. The show culminates with the completed Wall tumbling down onto the stage and nearly spilling out over the crowd. It was epic and impressive. As was every bit of the show. Without a doubt, the best live stage show I've ever seen. Catch it if you can.

 

 

 

 

Elton John and Billy Joel

In 2006 I photographed Elton John on stage at Rose Garden arena in Portland. It was on of my first shoots at a big concert, and certainly the highest profile artist I'd ever shot. It was a total thrill, and I've since gone on to shoot many shows and artists of the same caliber. In 2008 I was scheduled to shoot Billy Joel on stage. Something came up last minute that had me out of town the night of the show, needless to say, I was disappointed. Wednesday night, my absence at the Joel concert was vindicated when I was credentialed to shoot the Elton John and Billy Joel "Face to Face" performance at The Garden. The two legends sat at pianos, opposite each other, and belted out classics that had the sold-out crowd on their feet for most of the time I was stage-front. While the lighting was relatively colorless compared to my first Elton John show, the music took center stage and stole the show. It's always a pleasure to be in close presence of such talents, just another reason why I truly love what I do, it often humbles me.