Tribulation’s Jonathan Hultén @ Copenhell VII

Another band I really wanted to see at Copenhell was Tribulation. They were given the first spot on the Hades Stage on Saturday. That sucked because it meant I had to get up earlier than I wanted, and it meant I’d have a break of several hours before another band I wanted to see went on. It also wasn’t good for crowd size, but Tribulation won over those who did venture forth early after two straight days of non-stop music.

If you don’t know Tribulation, but you like Ghost, then you are missing out. According to Facebook likes, more than 40X more people know about Ghost. Tribulation, like Ghost, is from Sweden. They’ve actually been around longer than Ghost. Tribulation is heavier, and their songs have more staying power in part because they are more complex, but they are still loaded with hooks.

Tribulation’s live performance is very theatrical. They don’t go up there and just play their songs. You get a show. Check them out.

Posted on June 26th, 2016 under Denmark. Tags: concert photography, copenhell, metal, Nikon D500, Tokina AT-X 11-20mm F2.8 PRO DX, tribulation. Comments Off on Tribulation

Kadavar’s Christoph “Lupus” Lindemann @ Copenhell 2016

@KadavarOfficial #copenhell

After three straight days and nights of non-stop music, I finally have a bit of down time today to take a look at what I’ve been capturing. After deleting hundreds of unpublishable photos I still have over 2,000 that need to be processed. Will I ever process them all? No chance. But I’ll do what I can and get some up here over the coming days, months, and years. There are some more on my Instagram.

Kadavar was one of several great bands that I probably would have never heard of had it not been for Copenhell.

Posted on June 26th, 2016 under Denmark. Tags: AF-S NIKKOR 85mm f/1.8G lens, concert photography, copenhell, kadavar, metal, Nikon D500. Comments Off on Kadavar

Copenhell in the rain

@COPENHELL @RealAliceCooper @solstafiroffcal

Day 1 at Copenhell VII (AKA Copenhell 2016) is in the books. Day 2 begins in a few hours. Today’s lineup is a good one. I’m really looking forward to Solstafir. Amon Amarth, Megadeth, Epica, Kadavar, King Diamond, Abbath, and Artillery are also on today’s bill. I haven’t seen King Diamond since the 1980s. Unfortunately, Abbath’s and Artillery’s sets overlap so I won’t be able to see all of them both.

Day 1 was lots of fun until things got wet, very wet. The lightning was impressive. My bike ride home was filled with it too. I wanted to see With The Dead, but I was soaked and headed home for a warm bath instead. Alice Cooper’s set was my favorite of the day.

Posted on June 24th, 2016 under Denmark. Tags: blue hour, clouds, concert photography, copenhell, metal, Nikon D500, rain, Tokina AT-X 11-20mm F2.8 PRO DX. Comments Off on Copenhell Day 1

Voivod @ Oakland Metro (February 2015)

@voivoddotnet @centurymedia @oaklandmetro @fuelandseed

Voivod is playing in Eugene this Thursday (6/9/16). I was thinking about making the drive to see them and then bring my son home from school. But he has a final on Friday, a car of his own, and he’s not coming home for another month, so I think I will skip them this go around as six hours of driving (especially on the way home after midnight) doesn’t sound so fun. The other reason being that I’m seeing dozens of great bands in just a few weeks in Scandinavia so I don’t feel like I need to fill my concert tank quite so much. I do love Voivod, though, and hope to see them again. Maybe a Southern Oregon show next time fellas?

One of the summer festivals I was planning to go to was Bravalla in Sweden. However, they have been slow to get back to me about a photo pass so I’m going to go to Roskilde instead. No Rammstein or Volbeat, but I will see Ghost, Gojira, Sumac, Neil Young, etc. (and not have to get a hotel room).

Posted on June 7th, 2016 under Other. Tags: concert photography, voivod. Comments Off on Voivod

Volbeat @ Medford Armory (2014)

A little over two years ago, Volbeat played in Medford. This summer I’m planning on seeing them again in Sweden.

Last week a former student of mine had an asthma attack and after a few days died. The last time I saw him was at that Volbeat show in Medford.

Like children and parents, students aren’t supposed to die before their teachers. Yet this is the fourth or fifth student of mine, that I know of, who has passed.

My heart is heavy this Friday night.

Brian Kenyon pouring beers at Volbeat

Posted on May 13th, 2016 under Oregon. Tags: concert photography, Nikon D600, Tamron SP 24-70MM F/2.8 Di VC USD lens, volbeat. Comments Off on Volbeat