Photos: Flight 619 and Harlow @ Ripper's Rock House

Two female backed bands elevated the stage at Ripper's Rock House Saturday evening in Akron and I got the invite to check out my friends of Flight 619 as they opened up for the hard rock hitting group out of Detroit, Harlow. Always eager to see a new band roll in, the biggest part I loved of Harlow's performance was Lauren's stage presence as she clutched her brass knuckle mic stand and let her emotions speak to the crowd. I stood there knowing all the emotions she was pouring out, was authentic and I'm pretty sure everybody knew that. Great job, Lauren! Loved it!

Now, I never been to Ripper's Rock House, but I when I arrived, loved the whole restaurant/bar vibe as it was decked out with rock memorabilia along the walls from former Judas Priest frontman, Tim "Ripper" Owens. Tim wasn't there that evening (at least I didn't see him), but hopefully next time I can finally introduce myself. Will definitely be coming back to try the food too.
**On a sad note, I recently heard that someone stole a Ronnie James Dio personalized picture to Tim that was on display at the venue. I know a legend of that stature needs to be enjoyed for everyone and the individual who swiped it needs to return it in the name of metal. Please!!

Here are some of my favorite shots from the evening:

Photographer's Notes:

Camera:
Nikon D600 (Updated)
Lens:
Nikon 24-70 f/2.8

Review: Gin Blossoms w/ Hey Monea @ Glenoak Community Theatre

Sitting at work, I received a text message from my buddy, Joe asking if I'd like to shoot the Gin Blossoms Tuesday night with "Hey Monea!" at the Glenoak Community Theatre. He was originally suppose to shoot Hey Monea, but had to take care of some business on his end which allowed me to acquire his media pass for the show. Thankful he immediately thought of me as I was actually free that evening and for one, don't like turning down opportunities which allows me to do what I love. Thanks, Joe!

The show was put together by Pulse Entertainment and the staff were one of the most helpful and nicest bunch of guys I'v met during a concert. It's hard to find this kind of hospitality from other media outlets and it made my evening that much smoother. Even made nice, nice with security. Always a plus if you shoot live shows.

Hey Monea opened that night and if you're not too familiar with them, don't worry. You'll soon understand why this trio band group has the talent to give you your ticket its money's worth. Originally from Canton, Ohio, this Rock/Pop triad opened for such bands including Bare Naked Ladies, Goo Goo Dolls, to the Doobie Brothers, Lady Antebellum, and even Kid Rock. If you're ever down in the Arts District during First Friday, you can sometimes catch them playing there. Be sure to check them out and give a listen.

Never heard of the Gin Blossoms. Mainly because their music is a little out of my 'listening zone'. I didn't quite know what to expect until about half way through the set. As Robin Wilson began to strum the opening cords to "Found Out About You", the crowd's cheers widened a bit louder than normal. By this point, the notes began to harmonize my ear drum and I said to myself, "damn, I know this song! So these guys wrote it!". Immediately I was shot back to the 90s. This seems to happen to me numerous times when I end up seeing a national band I'm unfamiliar with.

Photographer's Notes:

Camera:
Nikon D600 (Updated)
Lens:
Nikon 24-70 f/2.8

Photos: Red Sun Rising and Pop Evil @ The Agora Ballroom

Friday night, I finally was able to see Akron's own Red Sun Rising again as they opened up for Pop Evil at the Agora Ballroom.

As Red Sun Rising always do, they had a bunch of hardcore supporting fans cheering them on. It was nice to see a few familiar faces from past shows I've seen. Their following has increased dramatically over the past year and for good reason. They're releasing their new album entitled, "Polyester Zeal" on August 8th. I believe three of the songs off the album here played that evening, with a brand new one never before performed live.

This was my first time seeing Pop Evil. From past shows I've seen online and positive reviews, I thought it was a no-brainer to at least check them out. Great stage energy made this one of the better shows I've seen in awhile. Leigh Kakaty, the lead singer, came out in a Cleveland Cavs t-shirt and sporting his LeBron James shoes declaring he's a HUGE James fan and was disappointed the team lost the Finals. The crowd and band brought the energy as this made for a smooth and memorable night for me. Thanks Cleveland!

Photographer's Notes:

Camera:
Nikon D600 (Updated)
Lens:
Nikon 24-70 f/2.8

Photos: ERA 9 and Flight 619 @ The Outpost

Tuesday evening, I finally was able to see ERA 9 at the Outpost along with my friends of Flight 619, as both bands opened for former Skid Row frontman, Sebastian Bach. 

Right off the bat, ERA 9 brought it! Bringing in additional lights and fog machines to add presence to their show. I'm glad they did, because I was never impressed with the venue's stage lights. Thumbs up to ERA 9! As energetic and entertaining to watch them, Flight 619 as always stepped up and brought a hammering performance right before Bach.

Take a gander at some of my top pics from the evening.

Photographer's Notes:

Camera:
Nikon D600 (Updated)
Lens:
Nikon 24-70 f/2.8

I made a decision that this will be my last show I will shoot at the Outpost for awhile. No offense to the venue, but it needs major improvements if they're going to support national acts. Too small and the stage value isn't there for me. I think if they decide to upgrade the place, I would be more than willing to return. It's the hardest venue to get any decent shots. I do my best to make them look great, but I can only do so much before I have to start sacrificing quality. And you know me, I'm all about the quality.

Photos: Olathia @ Ohio Bike Week

June 6th, I got the opportunity to join Olathia on the Main Stage at Ohio Bike Week in Sandusky, Ohio. I was super excited to cover this because of a few reasons. One, the biggest outdoor stage I've shot so far and two, a massive crowd turnout full of bikers and concert goers. Oh yes. I forgot. The food and drinks were much appreciated that day. ;)

Olathia did open up for Buckcherry that evening, but didn't have credentials to shoot them. No biggie, as I'm not a huge follower of their music. It's always a spectacle to see a National band roll through, regardless of your personal taste. You learn and appreciate a lot about what goes into the production and value when putting on shows for their fans.

With each Olathia show I attend, the stage or venue seems to get sizably bigger or richer. I love all the publicity they've been getting since their CD release. And with my photos riding shotgun, I've been expanding my reaches and meeting numerous bands along the way. It's a pairing made in heaven for me.

If you haven't had the chance to check out Ohio Bike Week (the biggest bike event in Ohio), you really need to go. Not because of the cool bikes, merchandise, and delicious food, but the entertainment is all free. Yes, the shows are complementary to the general public.

Photographer's Notes:

Camera:
Nikon D600 (Updated)
Lens:
Nikon 24-70 f/2.8

I had free range to shoot every possible angle that day. And the nice thing, I got to shoot at a much lower ISO than I usually do at concerts. Yay for little noise! There was a nice crowd gathered around for Olathia. It was a shame they closed off the VIP section closer to the stage, which made it appear smaller than usual.

Stranger #73 - Jill

May 29, 2015
After a long hiatus, I'm finally clearing the dust off my "100 Strangers" Project. I'm driven to get this thing completed. Mark my words.

I needed to clear my mind, so I hopped in my car and hit the downtown streets just to take in the sights. Brought along my camera, but had no intentions of capturing anything. I decided to text my photo buddy, Joe on my way out and see what he was up to. Luckily, he decided to meet me downtown. I made my way up towards 4th street to his studio when I glanced over at the Imperial Room and saw this woman sitting outside the door reading a book (If you're not familiar with the Imperial Room, you can't miss it! There's giant tentacles creeping out of the building). From far away, I didn't think too much, but the sun was setting and a glimmer of sunlight stretched over towards her as the sun was trying to steer me in that direction.

Everyone, please meet, Jill!

I approached her and asked her if she was reading anything good.

"Of course! It's Ron Rash."

Jill, a genealogist, had so much interesting facts to tell me about the history of Canton. I believe she told me she's also a historian as well for the city and loves going around teaching various stories. Back in the early 1900s, Canton was the hottest stop between Chicago and New York. Gangsters would keep their wives over at the Onesto and their girlfriends across the street over at the hotel. They would navigate through the city using underground tunnels without getting caught. At the time, the place was also littered with cigar shops and gamblers. She even mentioned an Opera House where various celebrities would visit and stay. I was blown away with the history of Canton. It's a shame I haven't brushed up on the past here as I love learning of 'days of old'.

Thank you so much, Jill for allowing me to shoot a few shots for my project. It feels good to get back out shooting people again.

Photographer Notes:

Camera:
Nikon D600 (Updated)

Lens:
Nikon 105mm f/2.8

Photos: Color Vibe at Lock 3 (Akron, OH)

I jump started my Memorial Day weekend by shooting the Color Vibe again at Lock 3 in downtown Akron, Ohio. This being my third time covering this 5K color run, I was prepared and had everything down to a "T" by the time I arrived in the morning.

Camera and lens covered, brand spankin' new bag hoisted on my back, the only thing missing was a spot and the color. I decided to hunt for a different locale from when I shot it last year. I kid you not, I probably hiked 3/4 of the course to find a decent location. I finally made it to the pink color station and told myself, "this will have to do" as the race just started upon my arrival.

Here are my favorite shots from the morning's 5K.

Photos: Olathia CD Release Show + The Artwork!

Friday evening, Olathia kicked off their CD release party at the Empire Concert Club and Bar in Akron. This was a big deal, not only for the band, but myself, as I finally got to see the finished product with my photos all decked out. Their designer/artist, Dave Vezdos made me grin ear-to-ear and so incredibly proud this thing came together so effortlessly.

You're not going to get a headbanging CD with your photography in it and NOT get the band's signature?! I think not.

This was show number 8 for the guys. Everything seemed to gel together as the sound and energy was clean and vibrate as ever. With the lights dimmed down as Chris' backing vocals echoed through the venue, you could feel the violent anticipation build up as "Hellhound" unleashed through Steve and Jake's guitar. It was time! Strobes up and the fog surrounding the stage. A perfect introduction!

My picks as follow:

Photographer's Notes:

Camera:
Nikon D600 (Updated)
Lens:
Sigma Art 50mm f/1.4

I decided to be a little adventurous and try out a new lens I never shot with in a concert setting. The Sigma Art lens was removed from my bag and into the firing line. This piece of glass is so fast, so sharp, it makes my other pro lens look like a mere kit piece. To have the luxury to shoot at f/1.4 makes everything look silky as butter and allows me to really lock in on my subject. I would of loved to get some wider shots, but as soon as I get my second body, I will keep this on standby!

Photos: Sabaton and Nightwish @ The Agora Theatre

My bad ass metal friend, Chris was able to hook me up and grant me access to shoot Sabaton and Nightwish at the Agora Theatre in downtown Cleveland. I've never actually shot in their theatre, since it's reserved for bigger touring acts and not too many shows get green lit for that area and are most often shown on their Ballroom stage. The theatre is currently getting remodeled and I was very impressed with the new additions the venue is upgrading. I heard it's competing to be the best venue in Cleveland. I too, think it's holding up.

SABATON (Falun, Sweden)
Delain, Sabaton, and Nightwish opened a sold out crowd at the Agora Friday night. Sadly, I missed Delain's performance as I was having trouble getting pit access, but able to make it for Sabaton.

Never heard of Sabaton too much, but as soon as their lead singer came out with his signature shades and semi-shaven hair cut, I immediately recognized the dude. A metal band straight out of Sweden, their lyrics are mostly about military and historical wars (preferably WWII).

I'll put it out there right. Sabaton brought it that evening. The most crowd pleasing and energetic band I've photographed. Hands down! I really enjoy the segment where the lead singer brought two little girls from the crowd on stage and let them become part of the band through one of their songs.

NIGHTWISH (Kitee, Finland)
The melodic metal group out of Finland also didn't disappoint either. Their flashy light show really added atmosphere to the night, along with their grotesque props on stage. I'm glad I did my research, because I decided to look up some recent tour performance videos on Youtube. So if flashy strobes disturbed you, this may be a tough show to watch. Just to be warned.

Check out some of my favorite shots of their show.

Photographer's Notes:

Camera:
Nikon D600 (Updated)
Lens:
Nikon 24-70 f/2.8

Overall, I was impressed with the show and the whole venue. I would like to thank Larry of the Agora for granting me the press pass to shoot these bands. This show was definitely a memorable experience for me. I think the next time, I will bring along a small stand to stand on. The stage was up to my chest and I didn't anticipate standing on my tippy toes for most of the show.

My New Family Project is Up!

Over the past winter, I've been busy with my new family project and I am proud to present the final result. You'll get a inside glance of my family and hope you will enjoy the project.
Click the link below to take you to the page. The project can also be viewed from my "Project" tab on the menu bar.
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