August 15th - 20th: Southern Culture on the Skids and the Lure of Disneyland as an Adult

My first show to shoot in my "old age" was a band I loved in my high school/college days, Southern Culture on the Skids.  Already enamored by fellow Chapel Hill, NC talent like Ben Folds Five and Squirrel Nut Zippers, SCOTS was the epitome of the hillbilly party, both on record and on stage.  It had been more than a decade since I last saw the band live, a fact I mentioned to a couple of fans at the Echo, who seemed shocked because I seemed so "young."  Ha!

Although I hadn't played any SCOTS albums in years, I instantly recognized most of the setlist that night.  Even if your only frame of reference was the two major label releases on Geffen Records (1995's Dirt Track Date and the 1997 followup, Plastic Seat Sweat), it was enough to thoroughly enjoy the show.  This might imply that Southern Culture on the Skids are "stuck" in a timewarp, but that's not really fair, as the music is indeed an ode/celebration to all things Americana/country/rockabilly/surf twisted together in a retro package.  Plus, those two albums are killer classics!

As long as you're not offended by the tossing and eating of fried chicken at the show (a tradition during "Eight Piece Box"), I would definitely recommend coming out to see SCOTS if you're looking for a good, old-fashioned time.

Here are a few of my favorite shots from the Echo show on August 15th:

Despite some "hipster" tendencies with my music/food/leisure preferences, it might be surprising to know that I am a frequent visitor to the Disneyland Resort.  Armed with a ridiculously expensive "annual passport," the parks have become an alternative when one wants to do more after work besides grab dinner and a movie.  And frankly, there's still something slightly thrilling about having constant access to something that was revered as a privilege/treat as a child

Despite the Mouse House being a symbol of greed and artifice for many, I can see the beauty in it.  There are many interesting and challenging photographic subjects to discover with the camera.  Armed with a fast lens or two, I can capture unique and lovely moments at night or inside the attractions with minimal lighting.  Chalk it up to being able to work within the parameters of dim music venues and constantly moving band members.  As I visit the parks less and less with each year, and with a renewal pending in November, I am still undecided if I will keep my pass, or at least keep it at the level it is at.  I guess we'll see if there's enough Disney "magic" left these next few months to convince me. 

A handful of favorites over the years:

Here We Go Again...

So, I failed in my attempt with the 365 Project two years ago. And if you couldn't tell, I haven't updated this thing for over a year.

Going to try my best to keep this thing up. Yes, again.  Third time's the charm, right?  I hope to use this blog as a way to share behind-the-scenes insight of the various events I attend with my camera, helpful concert photography tips, and maybe answer a few of those burning questions I get at shows, like "How did you get that photo pass?"  In addition to that, there will be documentation of my wanderlust and passion for baked goods. 

So, here we go again.  Another year, another birthday, another wish to be a consistent blogger with something of interest to say.

To kick the year off, here's a shot of my beautiful red velvet birthday cake, courtesy of Porto's Bakery.  "Happy Birthday Leslie" is written with chocolate atop a piece of white chocolate over rose petals.  Gorgeous.  Glad I got a photo in before it was immediately decimated: