Last month Musichead had their “First Annual Metalfest.” Unfortunately, I was unable to attend. The band I really wanted to see at Metalfest was Witch Cult from Ashland. Black Metal in Ashland? Seemed hard to believe so I was excited to see that they were playing again. This time (September 4, 2012) they opened for some Portland bands.

I arrived a little late, in part because the shows never start on time in Medford. If Witch Cult started late it wasn’t very much after the 7 p.m. start time. I don’t think I missed more than one song. As I entered they were blasting through a familiar tune, some old Sepultura, written long before the Witch Cult members were born.

Witch Cult is as close to the Norwegian black metal bands as you can get, including corpse paint and names like Lillith, Destruidor Louco, Blaspherion Necrokult, and Kadath. With Witch Cult so close to home I won’t need to head to Norway for my black metal fix again anytime soon. 😉

Posted on September 7th, 2012 under outside of ashland, people. Tags: concert photography, musichead, Nic Temple, nikon d7000, sigma 85mm f/1.4, witch cult. Comments Off on Witch Cult @ Musichead

Last time I photographed Brandi at Britt in 2011 I captured an image of her proclaiming that it was her fourth time playing the Britt Festivals. Today’s photo is of her last week, showing that this go around in 2012 was her fifth time performing at Britt.

Posted on September 6th, 2012 under outside of ashland, people. Tags: brandi carlile, britt festivals, concert photography, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, nikon d7000. Comments Off on Brandi Carlile’s 5th time at Britt Festivals

Every once in a blue moon a night can be very special AND feature an actual blue moon. No, the color of the moon wasn’t blue (although I took this photo when blue light from the stage was bathing the audience). But on August 31, 2012, when Brandi Carlile played at Britt Festivals in Jacksonville, we had our second full moon of the month which is what a blue moon is. The next calendar blue moon won’t be until July of 2015. Hopefully Brandi will be back at Britt on that evening too.

Posted on September 5th, 2012 under outside of ashland, places. Tags: brandi carlile, britt festivals, concert photography, jacksonville, night photography, nikon d7000, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 Pro DX Autofocus Lens for Nikon. Comments Off on Brandi Carlile @ Britt with a Blue Moon

We went to the coast this past weekend and stopped in Stout Grove in Jedediah Smith Redwoods State Park, part of California Redwood National Park, along the way. I never tire of this place even though I’ve been there many times now.

Posted on September 4th, 2012 under nature, outside of ashland, places. Tags: california, nikon d7000, stout grove, Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8 AT-X 116 Pro DX Autofocus Lens for Nikon, trees. Comments Off on Stout Grove

The Barr Brothers opened for Brandi Carlile on some of her recent tour dates. Britt Festivals was the final of their appearances with Brandi. Apparently the brothers (Brad and Andrew, Brad pictured above with Andres Vial) spent some time with their uncle in Ashland while growing up.

I thought this foursome was great, and I like their CD too. I hope this isn’t the last time they come play in Southern Oregon.

Posted on September 3rd, 2012 under outside of ashland, people. Tags: britt festivals, concert photography, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, nikon d7000, the barr brothers. Comments Off on The Barr Brothers

Britt Festivals in Jacksonville, Oregon added a new stage last year called the Table Rock City Stage. Usually a local act plays on it from the time the gates open until about 15 minutes before the main performers play on the main stage. This past Friday night a Jacksonville, all-girls band of 13-year olds called The Blank Notes played before The Barr Brothers and Brandi Carlile. My friend who I was with was their music teacher in the Jacksonville School District for many years before they went into middle school so she was very proud and for good reason.

Posted on September 2nd, 2012 under outside of ashland, people. Tags: britt festivals, concert photography, jacksonville, nikon d7000, sigma 85mm f/1.4. Comments Off on The Blank Notes @ Britt Festivals

School doesn’t start at SOU for almost a month, but today is the first football game of the 2012 season. Game time is 1 p.m., and the game will be played in Medford (Spiegelberg Stadium) against Montana-Western.

Posted on September 1st, 2012 under only in ashland, people. Tags: football, nikon 18-200mm vr ii, nikon d7000, Southern Oregon University, sports. Comments Off on SOU Football 2012 kicks off today

I had the fortunate opportunity to catch Stoneburner again last night at Musichead in Medford. Tonight they play in Oakland at the Oakland Metro Operahouse and Saturday night you catch them in Concord, California at Concord’s Greenhouse.

Posted on August 31st, 2012 under outside of ashland, people. Tags: concert photography, musichead, nikon d7000, stoneburner pdx. Comments: 1

Yet another A’s victory last night. They are currently winning today’s game (10-4 as I write this) as well (thanks in part to a Seth Smith hit and run). Should they pull off another win today it will be their 8th consecutive victory against the Indians. If they keep this up the A’s can forget about being tops in the wild card standings and instead focus on winning the division and obtaining home field advantage in the playoffs.

Let’s go A’s!

Posted on August 30th, 2012 under outside of ashland, people. Tags: baseball, Nikon 70-200mm f/2.8G VR II, nikon d7000, sports. Comments Off on Seth Smith and the Oakland A’s continue to win