Show Review: The Silent Comedy @ The Stage Saloon, 4/30/2008

Photos: The Silent Comedy @ The Stage Saloon

I was in bed "napping" at 10PM (recovery from Coachella) when Rosey texted me to get my butt down to The Stage Saloon for The Silent Comedy's free show. I dragged my feet a little, but finally got out of bed, into the shower, and downtown in time to catch most of their set. Last time I saw them, I was unfamiliar with all of their material. This time though, after listening to their full-length and especially their new EP a lot in the intervening weeks, I was ready to shout the words out along with the band. I missed "Daisy," which was the set opener, but thankfully caught "Gasoline." Those two are my favorites off the EP, and of the two, I'm glad it was the latter that I caught live. There's just something so cathartic about yelling out the lines, "I am alright/I am alright/I'm doing just fine," with a room full of people.

The band barely fit on stage, but they made the most of it, really working the crowd - many of whom were probably unfamiliar with the band, given that it was the Gaslamp and all. After they finished, the room cleared out pretty quickly, which might have had to do with the Gaslamp-esque price of drinks. Fortunately, I wasn't in the mood to drink anything other than water, so I hung around for a bit and managed to score a free t-shirt. Driving home afterwards, I took Pershing Drive, and managed to hit my favorite curve just as the aforementioned "I am alright," lyric came up on their EP, which was still in my CD player. Not many things are better in life...

(If you're wondering, all the photos were converted to black and white because every single stage light in that place was red. Blech. Although in this case, the B&W kinda suits the band better, no?)

The Silent Comedy @ The Stage Saloon, shot by Natalie Kardos


The Silent Comedy @ The Stage Saloon, shot by Natalie Kardos


The Silent Comedy @ The Stage Saloon, shot by Natalie Kardos


The Silent Comedy @ The Stage Saloon, shot by Natalie Kardos


The Silent Comedy @ The Stage Saloon, shot by Natalie Kardos

366 Days, 366 Photos: 05/01/2008

Taken outside the "landramat" with the "tripble load washers." Proof that a disregard for spelling will not always do your business harm.

The caption for this should actually read "Invisible Cars" ala LOLcats:

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I cropped this photo to 4x5 for no reason other than whimsy...and wishing I had a large format camera.

366 Days, 366 Photos: 04/30/2008

I shot this on the way to see The Silent Comedy at the Stage Saloon. I think it's the side of the Post Office building downtown? I like the way the fence looks.

Proof that it's always handy to keep a tripod in your car.

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366 Days, 366 Photos: 04/29/2008

It made me sad to send back the rental Canon 18-55mm f1.8 IS lens that I had for Coachella. But sadly, I do not have $1000 to purchase one of my own.

It would have been nice to have a little more reach on the lens for the main stage. For Outside Lands, I'm thinking of renting the Canon 70-200mm f2.8 IS "L" lens, and then bringing along my 20mm and 50mm prime lenses for any smaller stages. We'll see how I feel in August.

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366 Days, 366 Photos: 04/28/2008

View from the balcony of the Henry Fonda Theater. Did I mention it felt weird to not be wearing earplugs for most of the day that day?

And no, I don't know what thrillicious.com is.

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Coachella Aftermath/Show Review: Colin Meloy @ Henry Fonda Theater, 4/28/2008

All of my photos for Pitchfork were sent off by 4AM, and then I passed out in my bed. I woke up around 10 to an email from them, asking me to shoot Outside Lands in SF in August. I guess I did okay... Thankfully, the hotel checkout wasn't until noon, at which point I loaded up my car and drove to LA - I had tickets to see Colin Meloy solo at the Henry Fonda that night. I wasted a few hours in USC's library, catching up on the internets, picked J up from the train station, had dinner at a pretty awesome hole-in-the-wall Indian place, and then saw the show.

It was great. Colin is an amazingly charismatic person, whether in front of a huge audience at the Hollywood Bowl, or in front of a pretty intimate crowd like at the Henry Fonda. He played a wide range of songs, including a Sam Cooke cover, and ended it all with "The Mariner's Revenge." After all that, I handed J my car keys and he managed to get us both back to San Diego in one piece, at which point I collapsed in relief in my own bed.

Coachella Photos: Justice

Photos: Coachella Day Three

With this set, I felt like things had come full circle. The first show I shot for Pitchfork (back in October of last year) was Justice at Canes. The final show of Coachella that I shot for them was also Justice, in the Sahara tent.

Having shot them before, I knew that being in the photo pit would be useless - and probably also packed. So I scouted out the disabled platform (I'm probably going to hell for this), made friends with the security guard, and managed to get up there for 5 minutes to take some over-the-crowd shots. Mind you, I made sure not to stand in a single person's way.

After that, I was on my way to my car. Leaving the polo field grounds, I heard Justice's "D.A.N.C.E." floating across the air and thought that was the perfect note to leave things on. But then I heard someone blasting Daft Punk from their car stereo as I was walking towards my car. And then it took me only 10 minutes to get out of the lot and back on the road to Palm Springs.

Justice @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


crowd for Justice @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


crowd for Justice @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos

Yeah, I think I'll do it again next year. If they ask me.

Coachella Photos: Black Mountain

Photos: Coachella Day Three

Aahh, stoner rock vs. the acid rock that was going on over at the main stage.

Black Mountain @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Black Mountain @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Black Mountain @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Black Mountain @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Black Mountain @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos

Coachella Photos: Murs

Photos: Coachella Day Three

Murs @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Murs @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


crowd for Murs @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos

Coachella Photos: Roger Waters

Photos: Coachella Day Three

There was almost a fight that broke out in the photo pit for this one, during the scrambling for position. Thankfully, it never came to blows.

I only saw about four songs of this set before I had to hoof it over to the Mohave tent to get photos of Murs. Pitchfork, you work me too hard. Alas, I never saw the inflatable pig.

Roger Waters @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Roger Waters @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Roger Waters @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Roger Waters @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Roger Waters @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Roger Waters @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos

Coachella Photos: My Morning Jacket

Photos: Coachella Day Three

This was the set that absolutely blew me away this year - one of those perfect moments in time, with the sun setting and the air getting (a smidgen) cooler, great music floating through the air, knowing that I was entering the homestretch. The final five bands of the festival. And as much as I wanted to collapse into an amorphous blob in my hotel bed and sleep forever, I also wanted My Morning Jacket to keep playing forever into that sunset.

They will headline this festival one year. You better believe it.

My Morning Jacket @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


My Morning Jacket @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


My Morning Jacket @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


My Morning Jacket @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos

M. Ward came out and played guitar on "Off the Record," the second song of their set.

My Morning Jacket with M. Ward @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


My Morning Jacket with M. Ward @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


My Morning Jacket with M. Ward @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos

Jim James, I'll be seeing you again. Thank you for making Coachella truly awesome for me.

Coachella Photos: Spiritualized

Photos: Coachella Day Three

I was excited to see Spiritualized - unfortunately, their first two songs were plagued with sound issues, and after that I had to head out to catch My Morning Jacket. Next time, guys.

Spiritualized @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Spiritualized @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Spiritualized @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos

366 Days, 366 Photos: 04/27/2008

Gogol Bordello finally brought out the crowd surfers on the final day of Coachella.

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Coachella Photos: Gogol Bordello

Photos: Coachella Day Three

Gogol Bordello put on a good set, but I feel like it was much better when I saw them at HOB. Definitely better for photos, anyway.

Before their set, some photographers (including myself) were waiting in the pit when security ushered us out and told us we would have to be escorted in to shoot. I took it in stride, figuring they were worried about crowd surfers coming over the barrier and hurting us/breaking our shit, or that maybe the lead singer wanted to go out into the crowd. Anyone familiar with the band would be glad for an escort. But some douchebag photographers almost got into a fist-fight with a security guard over it - not a wise choice, considering, in the words of one of the gaurds (who was a Marine), "Over half the security here are Marines and we haven't seen action for awhile." Fortunately, the situation was settled and we all got to enter the pit peacefully.

Gogol Bordello @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Gogol Bordello @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Gogol Bordello @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Gogol Bordello @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Gogol Bordello @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Gogol Bordello @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos

Coachella Photos: Swervedriver

Photos: Coachella Day Three

There were some hard core Swervedriver fans in the tent to catch this reunited group. It was interesting to see the mix of people all weekend.

Swervedriver @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Swervedriver @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Swervedriver @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Swervedriver @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos

Coachella Photos: Stars

Photos: Coachella Day Three

After Holy Fuck, it was off to the main stage for the first time that day to shoot Stars.

Stars @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Stars @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Stars @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


crowd for Stars @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos

Coachella Photos: Holy Fuck

Photos: Coachella Day Three

This set was intense. You get the feeling that you could give these two guys a roll of duct tape and some quarters, and they would make some beautiful, thoroughly entrancing music. Although half the fun was in watching them play with their various bells and whistles, so I'm not sure how the experience translated to those who weren't super close.

Holy Fuck @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Holy Fuck @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Holy Fuck @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Holy Fuck @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos

Coachella Photos: The Annuals

Photos: Coachella Day Three

The thing about shooting a lot of shows is that you get familiar with the bands and with characteristic moves of some of the band members. For instance, I know with The National that about three songs in, Matt will start getting into things and actually move the mic stand around and maybe move his hands a little. Sometimes you're lucky and you get that kind of insight within the three-song photog limit, but it's not all that often.

Fortunately for me, I saw The Annuals a few months ago, so I knew what to expect from them. I knew that Anna doesn't really move around a whole lot, but that Adam more than makes up for it (by the way, he really reminds me of Adam from The Burning of Rome). So I think while most photographers in the pit thought that things were going to be pretty mellow, I knew what was bound to happen, so I made sure to be in a good spot for this shot:

The Annuals @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos

I actually got to enjoy their whole set while I was sitting in the grass in the VIP area of the tent. And this is when things really started turning around for me. I don't know if I managed to get a twelfth or thirteenth wind that weekend, or if I just reached a point beyond being tired, but after their set, the whole day went swimmingly and ended on such a good note. So yeah, I'll probably do it all over again next year.

The Annuals @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


The Annuals @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


The Annuals @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos

Coachella Photos: Linton Kwesi Johnson

Photos: Coachella Day Three

Sunday morning, I was in a world of hurt. My ass muscles were sore from running around all weekend, and my shoulder muscles were sore from lugging around my camera gear and laptop. Did I mention that I only managed about 5 hours of sleep each night?

I was trying to get there early to see Grand Ole Party start the show at the Outdoor Theater, but I didn't quite make it. I did hear "Look Out Young Son" floating across the field as I made my way to the Gobi tent for Linton Kwesi Johnson.

It seemed kind of incongruous at first for a poet to be "performing" at Coachella, but as soon as he started reading "Five Nights of Bleeding," it made perfect sense. The man breathes rhythm and his poetry is meant to be spoken, not read. The refrain of, "madness, madness, war," still gives me chills.

Linton Kwesi Johnson @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Linton Kwesi Johnson @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos

Coachella Photos: Prince

Ah, Prince. I was so excited at the chance to take photos of him. Too bad we were told 5 minutes before Portishead started that we would only be able to shoot him from the crowd. Yeah, right. I had neither the telephoto lens nor the assholery necessary to get decent shots from the crowd, especially not trying to fight my way through people that had been waiting in the same spot for half the day just to be close enough to see him. I managed to push my way in a bit with a fellow photographer and got a few shots, but after that I was kinda soured on the whole thing and bailed 4 songs in.

So I did not hear Prince cover Radiohead's "Creep." I missed the set that everyone said was amazing. It kinda sucks, but by that point, I was literally thinking that I would never sign up to take photos of Coachella again...And then I spent an hour and 15 minutes trying to get out of the parking lot. Fortunately, D was kind enough to keep me entertained on the phone for most of that time. When I got back to the hotel, I started uploading photos and totally passed out in bed with my laptop next to me. Did I mention that my shoulders and ass muscles were stiffening up while I was sitting in my car in the parking lot?

Prince @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Crowd for Prince @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos

Coachella Photos: Portishead

Photos: Coachella Day Two

By the time Saturday night rolled around, I was wiped out. Portishead's set was the first full set I managed to see at Coachella. They sounded amazing, but I have to admit, my feet hurt and so after my first three songs in the photo pit (which was packed to the gills), I found a spot on the grass and just chilled out.

While they sounded amazing, they were pretty visually boring - Beth stood with both hands on the mics in almost the same pose the entire time. Thankfully, the video crew on the main stage was extremely creative, so that almost made up for it.

Portishead @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Portishead @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Portishead @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Portishead @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos

Coachella Photos: Animal Collective

Photos: Coachella Day Two

While waiting in the photo pit for a good 20 minutes before Animal Collective's set (I got there early because M.I.A. was a complete clusterfuck), I curled up on the little bench on the band side of the barriers that make up the photo pit, and almost fell asleep. I wish I could have gotten a picture of that. But Animal Collective roused me from my weariness and made it possible for me to finish out the rest of the evening.

Animal Collective @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Animal Collective @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Animal Collective @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Animal Collective @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Animal Collective @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Animal Collective @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos

366 Days, 366 Photos: 04/26/2008

You thought I had forgotten about the 366 Days project, huh? Nope - I'm just trying to post everything in chronological order.

The sun sets on the second (and hottest, and most exhausting) day of Coachella 2008.

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Coachella Photos: Rilo Kiley

Photos: Coachella Day Two

Rilo Kiley @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Rilo Kiley @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Rilo Kiley @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Rilo Kiley @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Rilo Kiley @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos

Coachella Photos: Death Cab for Cutie

Photos: Coachella Day Two

I figured out early on that I needed a longer lens for the main stage. Consider it a lesson learned for Outside Lands. Death Cab sounded great, especially their new stuff, and especially as the sun was setting. I'm excited for their new album, which conveniently comes out tomorrow (5/13).

Death Cab for Cutie @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Death Cab for Cutie @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Death Cab for Cutie @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Death Cab for Cutie @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos


Death Cab for Cutie @ Coachella 2008, shot by Natalie Kardos