Well good morning! I arrived in toronto safe and sound, very lovely but extremely boring flight on sunwing, great service… shitty entertainment.
Tonight I’ll be at the Kool Haus shooting Peace Dot Love Festival (www.peacedotlove.com) and if you’re in the area you should check it out. Great bands including Stereos and Down with webster. Big schedual of plans the entire time I’m up here, I can’t wait to get the shots done and update you!
This thursday I’ll be in Toronto and I’ll be checking out the Peace Dot Love Festival featuring: Stereos, U.S.S, Down With Webster and a TON more bands!
http://www.peacedotlove.com
Then the 2009 Edgefest Saturday, June 20th
http://www.edge.ca/ConcertsandEvents/Edgefest/ArtistLineUp.aspx
I hope to see you all at these events!! Expect updates, and follow me on twitter @frontrowlady (caution, it’s half a personal twitter, so keep that in mind)
I’m slow to the update, but I swear I’ll be good once this summer is over. I just finished the Record Store Day photos, and they’ll be posted soon (bit behind, I KNOW!). I decided to drop a list of a few bands that my friends are involved with, or bands I’ve had the pleasure of meeting/seeing recently that I adore. Check them out and let me know what you think!
The Artist Life
http://www.myspace.com/theartistlife
Stereos
http://www.myspace.com/stereos
The Ending
http://www.myspace.com/theendingmusic
And.. Of course…
Monday Rose
http://www.mondayrosemusic.com
Also, Brendan Mowat-Smith has posted a new song on their myspace. I absolutely dig it, you should definately check that one out too.
http://www.myspace.com/brendan
Mothers lock away your daughters, husbands lock away your wives – especially if they have plans to head to a Monday Rose show!
I was unaware of exactly what I was getting myself into when I agreed to do some live and promo work for the local Toronto band Monday Rose.
I had listened to their myspace previously and had got myself familiar with their music, but NO WHERE on their website does it state that when you watch a Monday Rose performance, the sexual energy radiating from lead singer ARi Lyon could make your clothes unwillingly fly off in every direction. Half the crowd, men and women, are sitting there confused as to what just happen, and unsure if they should have been taken out to dinner before hand. The band literally blows you away, and as they walk off stage you feel yourself chanting for more! It’s like a drug, you immediately become addicted to.
*After doing a quick shot outdoors after their live performance at the Opera House (which was a audition to win the chance to play Youth Day @ Nathan Phillips Square on July 25), we made plans to do a promo shoot during the following week.
I’m not the kind of person to be left speechless after a shoot, but as they drove me back to my hotel – my camera filled with over 1200 shots – I found myself without words. It was the most hilarious shoot I’ve ever done – ending with Matt (bass) and ARi in their underwear as passing vehicles slowed to catch a glimpse of the budding sex symbols in all their glory.
I feel lucky to be working with four guys who are all so different but come together and form this incredible band. You can check them out online at: www.mondayrosemusic.com or pop down to a show and catch them where they’re most at home – on stage!
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Grand River Festival | Brantford, Ontario | ||
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Tattoo Rock Parlour | Toronto, Ontario | ||
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The Reverb w/ Kingsley | Toronto | ||
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TBA | Detroit, Michigan | ||
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Youth Day Festival at Nathan Phillips Square | Toronto, Ontario |
If you ever need to loosen a band up to get the real good shots – just give them a pint or two. Ha ha.
Brendan is a friend of mine who recently put together a band with two great musicians Matt McCullough (bass) and John Allen (drums). Between the three of them they’re coming up with music that you’ve never heard the likes of before – I kid you not! I’ve been lucky enough to hear sneak peeks of what they’re brewing and it sounds great!
This was my first promo shoot while I was in Toronto and it really got things rolling on a good note! They’re high up in the books of the best people I’ve had the pleasure to work with.
“Brendan Mowat-Smith is fast establishing himself as a guitarist to be reckoned within the Canadian music scene . With a firm background in both taste and tone, Brendan’s musical pyrotechnics have gained him national acclaim. Citing and convincingly conjuring up influences such as Eric Johnson, Chet Atkins, and Jimi Hendrix, Brendan’s incendiary playing fuses fiery-hot psychedelia with lightning-fast fusion and is a testament to a life devoted to music.
Brendan’s career thus far has seen him perform with Casey Marshall’s Fairfield, as well as record/tour with multiple other EMI Publishing Canada srtists. A stint on the road with his good friends and now Juno-nominated Idle Sons brought his playing to a larger audience as they roared across the country on tour with Buckcherry in 2006.”
Check them out HERE!
Don’t forget to check out Brendan’s YouTube channel!
Well, it’s been a long two weeks. I sit and write this from the comfort of a friends couch after missing my first flight of my flying career to date. Damn Toronto traffic.
From day one – this trip started off with a band after being welcomed with open arms by the AMAZING staff of sunrise records (yonge street location) and shooting the meet and greet with Children of Bodom & Lamb of God.. and that opened the doors to many great musicians including:
- The Artist Life
- One Second 2 Late
- Thriving Ivory
- Blackie Jackett JR
- Honeymoon Suite
- The Midway State
- Gavin Rossdale
- Brendan Mowat-Smith
plus SO many more, including a band who I’m putting 150 percent of my faith and dedication behind – Monday Rose (http://www.mondayrosemusic.com). We did 2 live shows and a promo shoot… and I still am blown away by each of them!!!
This trip was the trip any young photographer with nothing but a camera and a passion for music could ask for. I’ve met people who I feel already will be life long friends, and made contacts with phenominal musicians. I’ve never laughed so much at a shoot as I did with the guys in the Brendan Mowat-Smith band – fantastic musicians, mind blowingly amazing people.
Worked with a few actresses, ran into old friends – and spend countless hours wandering the downtown area (not once getting sick of the sights). Celebrated, enjoyed and live life to the fullest. A little over worked, and made a few people angry at the lack of being able to shoot them.. but there’s only so much pro bono work I can do, and I maxed that out!
I’ll start uploading the pictures soon, until then I’ll just sit here and hope I made an impact on someone on this trip that will result in a career making gig.
Hey!! The lovely people at Sunrise Records are having a great Record Store Day free concert, and yours truly will be covering it! Everyone should pop by and check out the musicians, browse the store and even bring home a free goodie bag!
April 18th – Free Concert
1PM – 7PM @336 Yonge St
Featuring:
Blackie Jackett Jr (Finger Eleven Side Project)
One Second 2 Late
The Artists Life
Emma Lee
Thriving Ivory
Honeymoon Suite
Josh Reichmann
KO
I sure hope you got your copy! I know I did!
It’s official – I’m shooting The Midway State show at the MOD Club on April 17th! I first heard of the band back in October through a mutual friend, then one day while driving down the road – BOOM there they were in my radio.
The days are winding down on the wait leading up to my adventure in Toronto, and I’m getting nervous. I’m the kind of girl who likes a schedual, but also likes to do things on a whim. I like confirmation, but I like flying by the seat of my pants. It’s weird. Perhaps the nervousness that is sitting in the pit of my stomach pertains to the fact this trip sets the ground work for my big move. Either way – it’s an exciting venture. I’m looking forward to the new and interesting people I’m going to meet!
My good friend Rex Goudie has posted a new track called ‘Undone’ on his myspace – I suggest you all go check it out if you haven’t had the chance. Rex’s Myspace. I’d also like to tell you to all keep requesting Classified’s newest hit “Is Anybody Listening?” Classified and the Half-Life crew are still rocking Europe with D-12, and are going to be heading home this weekend after an extremely successful tour. Don’t forget to check them out on their across canada tour, the dates are posted in a previous blog!
And since a photographers blog is boring without photos.. here’s a shot from the Weakerthan’s show at Club One a few weeks ago.
Lately I’ve just been using this blog to post about concerts I’ve shot – and I’m stepping it up a bit. I’m a young woman trying to make it in the music industry as a photographer and I don’t think this blog really shows that. It just shows you what I’ve shot, doesn’t give you an inside glimpse and I just end up ranting about it all to my friends. I don’t have enough followers on the blog so we’re gonna change that starting today – okay?
So I guess I should start by updating on what’s going on lately. I’ve recently shot the Weakerthans & Constantines at Club One, was a fantastic show, but I had to leave half way through the Weakerthan’s show to get to another gig (I always double book, I’m a work a holic). The constantines keyboardist/guitarist was far too drunk to be on a stage playing an instrument which was seen the moment he went tits up off the stage into the pit, hitting his head on the way and not moving for a few moments. Apparently he’s done it here in Newfoundland before, but it seemed a little foolish to me. You’re a musician, don’t get so trashed you can’t actually play – wait until afterwards.
I’m now part of a fantastic team of writers & photographers featured in an online magazine called Live n Loud magazine! Make sure to check them out @ http://www.livenloudmagazine.com
I’m heading to Toronto on April 16th to do some work with fantastic artists for an undefined amount of time. I tend to book one way flights everywhere for the excitement and the unrestricted feeling. I’ll be working with the extremely talented likes of Rex Goudie & Liam Killeen, Fancy Girls Market, Ania Ziemirska, Brendan Mowat-Smith plus various members of the Songwriters Association of Canada. I have also requested media for; The Midway State, Gavin Rossdale and New Found Glory. I won’t be happy unless I’m flat out busy! 
If you’re in the Toronto area and want to get together for a shoot let me know! We can arrange something. I’m just setting the ground work for the move in September to chase my rock photographer dream.
I’d also like to congratulate all the Juno nominees and winners last night, it was a great awards show and I’ll be seeing you all next year here in Newfoundland!
As a native Torontonian, I was never meant for small city life, I’m a big city kind of girl. I’m off to spend this lovely day behind my camera, have a fantastic day my blog readers
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