The Gaslight Anthem @ Sound Academy - July 14, 2010.

The Gaslight Anthem kicked off their tour for their new album American Slang at the Sound Academy on July 14, 2010 with Tim Barry opening. Shot for AUX.

                          

Alex Lifeson & Geddy Lee @ the Moslon Canadian Amphitheatre - July 13, 2010.

RUSH played the first of two shows on Tuesday night (the other one being tonight at the Air Canada Centre). Opening for themselves, they played for 3 hours with only a 30 minute break in between sets. The first half featured many of their hits while the second half of the night was the entire Moving Pictures album. Photos of the night were shot for AUX.

                          

Andrew WK @ the Toronto Vans Warped Tour - July 9, 2010.

Last week I headed to Arrow Hall to cover Vans Warped Tour for AUX. The rain stopped just as I showed up to deliver a day full of screaming fans, flying hair, and LOUD MUSIC. Bands included in the photo set are: We the Kings, Andrew WK, Parkway Drive, Whitechapel, Enter Shikari, Bring Me The Horizon, Eyes Set to Kill and The Dillinger Escape Plan.

                          

Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips @ the Molson Canadian Amphitheatre - July 8, 2010.

Surrounded by bouncing balloons, confetti and an inflatable clear ball for Wayne Coyne to walk overtop of the crowd – I don’t think I’ve had that much fun watching and shooting a concert before. And who knows if anything can top it, visually. Shooting was slightly tricky. There was a massive LED monitor behind Wayne which my camera wanted to focus at a lot of the time. Also, with that being so brightly lit – it meant that if you exposed for that, Wayne’s face would then be in the dark. Luckily he had so much fun running around the stage and coming to the edge of the crowd that I was able to shoot him from all angles.

Apparently The Flaming Lips and Spoon aren’t enough for a concert. Rhode Island’s Fang Island and Newmarket’s own Tokyo Police Club helped open this amazing concert from last Thursday. Shot for AUX on Thursday July 8, 2010.

                          

Silversun Pickups play a Secret/Free show @ Tattoo Rock Parlour - June 30, 2010.

Two weeks ago, I was disappointed to hear I wouldn’t be shooting the Silversun Pickups show at the Sound Academy. I shot them last fall and they put on a great show I was pumped to see them again. Luckily, AUX had other things in mind. The next day, it was announced that SSPU would be playing a free show at Tattoo Rock Parlour and I had my chance to shoot them then. Photographed for AUX.

                          

Loosely based on the Dr. Seuss Classic The Butter Battle Book, Newmindspace put on Toronto’s 5th Annual Bubble Battle at Queen’s Park – July 3, 2010.

                          

De La Soul @ Yonge & Dundas Square - June 20, 2010.

For the last day of NXNE, I headed back to Yonge & Dundas Square to capture the Hip-Hop heavy schedule of Big Freedia, The Phenomenal Handclap Band, Kid Sister and ending the evening (and festival) off with Long Island Legends, De La Soul. Shot for AUX.

                          

Zeus @ Joao Carvalho's Mastering BBQ - June 19, 2010.

While every photographer in the city seemed to be shooting one of two concerts (Iggy & the Stooges’ free Yonge & Dundas Square Concert and the Olympic Island Show) on Saturday night, I chose to head over to a private BBQ hosted by Joao Carvalho. This was his 5th Mastering NXNE BBQ – put on as a way to show his appreciation to all who made the journey to the NXNE Music Festival. With 15 bands performing as well as free food and beer, how could I not pass this up?

Performances included: Danny Michel, Hannah Georgas, Autumn Owls, The Black Atlantic, Buck 65, By Divine Right, Ghost Bees, The Gin Riots, The Grates, The Meligrove Band, Savoir Adore and Toronto’s own Zeus ending the night.

I’d like to thank my friend Frank Yang for reminding me to bring my flash. Since it was an outdoor show in the back of a studio, lights weren’t a priority and as the sun began to set, the flash became essential for capturing the musicians. By setting the shutter at a slower speed and setting the flash at a low intensity, I was able to still get some ambient light in my shots which added some nice warmth to the photos.

Photos in this set are of: Hannah Georgas, The Meligrove Band, Savoir Adore, Autumn Owls, The Gin Riots, The Black Atlantic and Zeus – Saturday June 19, 2010. Shot for AUX.

                          

A.A. Bondy @ the Great Hall - June 18, 2010.

Knowing I had a few very busy days worth of shooting during NXNE, I decided to take it easy the second night and photograph one of my favourite folk/alternative artists, A.A. Bondy with Avi Buffalo starting the night off at the Great Hall – June 18, 2010. Shot for AUX.

                          

X @ Yonge & Dundas Square - June 17, 2010.

It was exactly one year ago that I shot my first show in Toronto. I didn’t have a media pass, I had no idea how you’d go about obtaining one and I was still shooting with my Nikon d70s, kit lens and Sigma 30mm f/1.4. I followed my friend, Pete Nema around for two nights venue hopping. I think in the two evenings I went out, we hit at least 5 venues. It’s amazing how much can happen in a year. Shooting for AUX this year, I decided for a more low key schedule, choosing to shoot one location per night. Maybe a bit lame, but at least I knew I’d be back in bed at a certain time with my photos edited and ready to go up online the next day for AUX.

Thursday night was the first evening with a free concert taking place at Yonge & Dundas Square, with the great Mudhoney & X closing the night. It was a treat to be able to shoot outdoors in bright daylight at the start of the sets. It’s not everyday that you get to shoot a concert at ISO 320.

Free Energy, The Icarus Line, Brant Bjork and the Bros, Mudhoney and X perform at Yonge & Dundas Square as part of NXNE – June 17, 2010. Photographed for AUX.