James Michael Music Photography: September 2013

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

AXS TV Worlds Greatest Tribute Band - Led Zeppelin - Led Zepagain

For the last 10 weeks, I have seen some great tribute bands. These have all been the best of the best in the tribute band arena. It is impossible to say who was the best. They all represented different styles and different eras in rock music.

Granted they were the last band of the season, but all season I heard people talking about wanting to see Led Zepagain. I saw them about a month ago at a concert in the park in my local city so I knew what expect. However, seeing them at an open venue like the City Hall yard and inside at the Roxy, is completely different. The sound system is 100% better and the lighting is top notch.

I arrived at the Roxy an hour and half before the doors opened. Not to stand in line but to get dinner at the Rainbow room next door. On a side note, I highly recommend eating there. When we arrived, there were already a dozen people waiting in line to get in. By the time I was done eating, there was at least 100 people waiting to get in.

When the doors open at 7:00, there was a rush to get a spot around the stage. The Roxy is a small place and the camera crew has taken up some of the valuable real-estate around the stage. Very quickly I was packed into my spot for the night.

At 8:01 the curtain went up and you would have thought the real Led Zeppelin was on stage. David "Swan" Montgomery embodies Robert Planet in looks and sound. He is able to master the unique voice of the iconic lead singer. On guitar was Jimmy Sakurai playing to a tee the Jimmy Page guitar which included the Gibson double neck guitar. He also added his own flair with a remarkably embroidered Japanese outfit (see the pictures below). I am not sure what it is with most bass players. They all seem to be happy in the corner of the stage playing their instrument. And that was true for Jim Wootten as John Paul Jones. While he may have stood off the the side of the stage, there was no missing his bass and key board playing. Last but not least is Jim Kersey on drums. I could have watched Jim Play the drums all night. I think the only person that could have play those songs any better is the son of John Bonham, Jason. It would be an incredible show to see those two play side by side.

If you did not get a chance to see Led Zepagain on TV or at the Roxy, they are playing Friday night at the LA County Fair. They are worth the price of admission. Check out their web site for up coming shows.

As this is the last show of season 2 of AXS TV's Worlds Greatest Tribute Bands I would like the thank Katie Daryl for giving me the opportunity to photograph the entire season and the Roxy for being such a great place to shoot at.

Go to my web site to see more pictures from last nights show, JM Photography. Or follow me on Twitter to get the latest updates

Tuesday, September 17, 2013

AXS TV World's Greatest Tribute Bands - Depeche Mode - Strangelove

Week 9 from AXS TV's World’s Greatest Tribute Bands hosted by Katie Daryl at the Roxy in West Hollywood was Strangelove a tribute to the 80's electronic music band Depeche Mode. After last week’s heavy metal band the Iron Maidens, Strangelove was at the other end of spectrum for rock music. Depeche Mode is much darker and subdue in their music. The audience was also much more subdue other than one girl who danced the entire show. If you saw the show, you know who I am talking about. The cameramen were filming her a lot throughout the night and talking about it afterwards.

The band is made up of Freddie Morales as "Devotional Dave" Gahan. Brent Meyers as "Counterfit" Martin Gore. David Sepe as "Alan Wildest" Wilder. And Jake Jordan as Andy "InTheFletch" Fletcher

I have seen Depeche Mode several times over the years and it was unbelievable how much Freddie sounded like Dave Gahan. Even on the replay at home while I was processing the pictures from the show, I thought I was listening to the real Depeche Mode. Brent also sounded just like Martin Gore.

If you are looking to get a warm up to the Depeche Mode concert coming up at the end of the month or don't have the money for a concert, look up Strangelove’s tour schedule and go see them. You will not be disappointed.

Go to my web site to see more pictures from last nights show, JM Photography. Or follow me on Twitter to get the latest updates

Thursday, September 5, 2013

David Bowie Tribute Band - Space Oddity

After shooting for the last 7 weeks at the Roxy, I thought I was going to get a week off. On Friday I was pleasantly surprised to get an email from David inviting me to shoot his show at the Spotlight 29 Casino. I had no idea where this casino was. So I typed in Spotlight 29 into Google, got the site web page and start checking the place out. I saw that they hosted big name bands, but I was not sure where at the casino Space Oddity would be playing. I assumed it would be on a smaller stage in their lounge.

On Sunday we headed out to the casino. We thought we would get their early, have some fun and a nice dinner before the show. When I got there I asked where the show was going to be, headed over to check in and see if the band was still running through their sound check. When I walked up there were already a handful of people waiting outside for the show. I found a open door and walked in. This was the casino's main stage with a full sound board and professional lighting. The stage was as big as any concert venue in LA. The first thing I thought is crap, I did not bring a big enough lens to shoot the show.

The band was gone, but the crew was still there fine tuning the light show. I checked in, got my pass and any special rules I needed to follow. This was going to be a cool shoot. Unlike the Roxy, I was going to be able to walk from side to side and get good shots of the band.

The doors opened at 7:00 for the 8:00 show. The place started filling up. Shortly after 7:00, I saw Manny or at least one of his clones. I cant even drive a 100 miles from home without running into him. There was a Meetup group from OC there to see the show, but the rest seemed to be locals. By 8:00, the place was pretty full.

At 8:05 the house lights went down and the band started taking the stage. On the big screens on each side of the stage, a bio of David Bowie begins to play with interview from other musician and narrated by a sophisticated female voice with a slight British accent. This is an opening that you would expect to see at a real David Bowie concert. Once the bio was finished, the band began to play Fame and David walked on stage with Bowie's trademark white mask and wearing the same outfit as Bowie wore on his 1976 Archer Station to Station tour .

The band continued to play for the next 30 minutes or so covering many of Bowie's classics like Young American and Golden Years. At the of the set the stage went dark, a the second segment of the Bowie bio continued with more interviews from major rock stars from the 70's and 80's. As I stood there, I could see that the crowd was not sure exactly what was going on. It was a free show but they were hoping the show would be longer than that. After a couple of minutes, David returned to the stage in large white robe with Japanese lettering. this robe is similar to the one designed by Kansai Yamamoto and wore by Bowie during the Ziggy Star Dust stage shows in 1973. Under the robe was version of the striped bodysuit also designed by Yamamoto for Aladdin Sane tour in 1973. David is very much the showmen and these costumes are all top notch. This is the reason David and Space Oddity is one of the top tribute bands in the US and travel all across the country to perform.

The Ziggy Stardust segment was not to long before David slipped off the stage to reappear in one piece space suite to perform Space Oddity. Before long David disappeared again for another costume change. This time the band continued to play music. David returned in the bright yellow suite. It was amazing to see David work that entire stage, It did not matter what part of the stage I was at, David would be there in a second to take another picture.

There was a 5th costume before the show was over. When David returned the band played Under Pressure. This is a Queen song. There is a version with the late Freddie Mercury and David Bowie. In this version, the Freddie Mercury part was sung by lead guitarist Paul Nelson. This version is almost as good as the original. it is hard to top Freddies voice but Paul is darn close.

For the finale, Brooke Naughton left the key board to sing Time Warp with David. While this is not a David Bowie song, it is well worth hearing. Brooke has an incredible voice. She would be great to see in her own band.

The show was a little over 90 minutes and every bite as good as seeing the real David Bowie. I have seen David perform a few times and every show is amazing. If you have not seen one of his shows, sign up for his mailing list and go see one of his show. The bands web site is www.davidbowietribute.com

Go to my web site to see more pictures from the show, JM Photography. Or follow me on Twitter to get the latest updates