Photos

Joseph Arthur live at The Tangier (Akron, OH 11/26/2014)

Photos by Ady
Words by Shan

Thanksgiving tradition is now my sis and I cozied up in one of the slinky booths of the Tangier to be part of Joseph Arthur’s evening there. He plays host to the town . . . one man and his guitar and red pork pie hat, Akron body back in his homeland just as we are taken back to a piece of ours. Market Street falls dark and cold but inside is festive lights and warmth. It’s been a long journey but we have returned to our bunker, the cradle of the big booth we’d been yearning for, and fall in love with the golden voice all over again. Song comes out of every pore of Arthur’s body, arms, legs, mind, heart. He towers above and yet climbs even higher to stomp on box and pummel us in the face. A glass of wine and The Devil’s Broom. Lou Reed is there in spirit, too. People packed in like sardines to be in his presence. Octaves spill from his lungs. Joe’s lungs. They must be massive. He loops and he runs circles around our minds. He is his own wall of fame.

Conor Oberst w/Dawes Pittsburgh Carnegie Library Music Hall 5-25-14

Click Here for the full photo set.

Exit the sun parched
stillness into words bound and
words set free into

open space cascading through
honeycombed rail speaking truths

Upside down Mountain
radiates, a deliverance
from flamingo stance

the sound, soft as fuzz, casts spells,
grabs hold with ferocity

Renga by: Shan

Conor Oberst Live at Union Transfer Philly 5-21-14

My alarm clock went off at 6:30am this morning. It does everyday. The only difference today was that I had to get up and go to work with very few hours of sleep and it’s Conor Oberst’s fault. Late nights don’t happen much on work nights anymore. Or usually when I do go during the weeknights to take some photos and listen to some music I will leave the venue early to ensure that I have enough rest to face the next day. Last night I couldn’t leave early. I couldn’t leave until I knew I heard every song that was going to be played. At most shows I’ve been to, and believe me I have lost count- it could be in the thousands at this point- people start to thin out the crowd around 11:15 or so. It doesn’t matter who is on the stage people start to leave, that’s a fact. Last night this wasn’t the case. The venue was packed and no one was leaving until the bitter end. In fact, the impatient crowd were stomping in unison for the encore with such passion that I thought we may fall through the floor of the bar.

The awesome melodies, the solid, tidy arrangements played by backing band Dawes, and the precision and crispness of the sound at the sold out show at Union Transfer last night was worth all the tiredness and pain I feel today. If you know me, you know that operating on less than 8-9 hours sleep doesn’t happen. It just doesn’t. And I would do it all over again. I got to hear songs that I never thought I would have a chance to hear live again- or ever for that matter (Method Acting and Hit the Switch). Reaching far back into the catalog for some old Bright Eyes and then stretching all the way over the rainbow to songs that were released as early as Tuesday of this week off of his new solo album Upside Down Mountain. Conor Oberst’s collection as expansive and eclectic as it is blended beautifully last night into a bouquet-set-list that didn’t disappoint one bit. A fully animated show completed my week and it was only a wednesday.

I always say that my ideal day should provide something to make me think, something to make me laugh, and something to help me make my own fun. Last night provided all three in one space. I feel grateful to be able to continually blend my love of music and creativity all in one place. Enough about me. To see more photos from the photo set click HERE

The Internet live in Philly 3-17-14 at the TLA

Last evening I had the experience of seeing The Internet live at the TLA in Philly. A review is forthcoming. Until that time you can see the photoset by clicking HERE.