I’m finally getting around to working on the site, making it a bit more proper… using more of my hosted space, rather than a landing that just transports you to my Flickr site.
I’m kind of still doing that. Except now it doesn’t transport you without intervention. You want to see my Flickr account, until I get things rolling here? You should click this link. That one, the one you just read past.
Hope to have some content up soon – seeing as how my last Punkfrog Blog got wiped out in a disasterous … disaster last year, lets hope that this one stays up and running a bit longer!
There is a recurring theme to this blog. I am cursed with bad lighting EVERYWHERE. Once I get my backlog up though, it will be shown that its not that I had bad luck at the Bottleneck in Lawrence, KS – its perpetually bad. Its a good thing sound isn’t based on lighting though… because both Hacienda and Alberta Cross played tremendous sets last night. And I feel pretty terrible, I didn’t get any photos of Hacienda. However, I did manage to get a couple out of the hundred or so shots snapped of Alberta Cross…
Also of note, related but random, the Lollapalooza Forum members ranked Alberta Cross’ Broken Side of Time in their top 100 albums of 2009, coming in at #37. Very cool, considering they beat out several heavy-hitters like Green Day (21st Century Breakdown – #53), Pearl Jam (Backspacer – #54), and Muse (The Resistance – #140)… (as well as a lot of lesser-knowns!)
Its been a good few months for shows! I’ve missed that really.
Oct 29th found me at the Kathouse again (its not a bad thing, seriously), this time with Without A Face, The New Heathers and Ha Ha Tonka. It was good seeing more familiar faces again, it’d been over a year since Ha Ha Tonka had graced the stage at the Kathouse, and even longer for several members of The New Heathers (who come from another band you may have heard of, Ludo…). The new face this time around was Without A Face, who took the stage in a sport jacket, boxers and guitar.
Also, have I ever mentioned the horrible lighting at the Kathouse? It has struck again. The lesson learned this time around? If the color is just that bad, black and white can and will save the day!
(Just a note: Its amazing how losing your monitor creates a bit of backlog of shows. I apologize its taken a bit to get these up!)
There was supposed to be a post entitled “Alberta Cross/Pete Yorn 10/22/09″ as well, but that is a long story. The short version is that the Rococo Theatre’s (in Lincoln, NE) website said that cameras were not allowed and that anyone caught with one would be ejected immediately (or something similar)… so I only brought my point and shoot. Curse of the Bad Lighting from the Granada apparently carried over to the Rococo, and everything was blurry as can be. Total rubbish. Good show regardless… Alberta Cross and Pete Yorn both made me forget that it was cold and rainy outside. (Also, hello to Amy!)
As for the real content of this post, I found myself in Bloomington, IN at the Bluebird Nightclub last night where Alberta Cross absolutely killed it. I’m loving them more each time I see them. (Sadly it’ll be awhile before I see them again!) If you haven’t heard their stuff, it is on their MySpace page. As usual, Pete and Co. were phenomenal, and this time I can finally say that all my begging and pleading paid off as song #2 on the night’s setlist was “I Feel Good Again” (Junior Kimbrough cover). (And hello to Cammy, Carly, and anyone from the Pete Yorn forums!)
Again, the lighting wasn’t real fantastic to work with. I’ve managed to put myself right in direct line with some of the canister lights, which can either lead to an awesome shot or epic fail. If it says anything, I shot over 300 photos, and kept… 17. I just need to get to shows earlier and figure out where I’m standing at… as long as I’m still front row! ;)
I was lucky enough to spend this past weekend combining a few loves of mine for a good cause – the Manhattan Music Coalition’s yearly Aggiefest took place in Aggieville on Sept 18-19th. Local, regional, and not-so-regional (c’mon, New Zealand is regional, right? New Zealand, not Zeandale.) bands played all over the area, including Triangle Park, The Dusty Bookshelf, The Salty Rim, O’Malley’s, the Kathouse Lounge, PJs Pub, Auntie Mae’s Parlor and Bluestem Bistro. Pretty much ever genre was covered, from heavy metal to hip hop, surf rock to acoustic songwriters.
