Photos: Cigarettes After Sex at Observatory, April 30, 2018

Let's talk Cigarettes After Sex. This was another one that I was begging to shoot. I had seen them at The Hideout when there were fifty-something tickets sold, then I worked when they played The Irenic and I remember being so tired that I didn't stay for the whole show and certainly didn't try to bust out my camera. Then some strings were pulled to let me shoot at the Observatory and I realized the whole show was going to be shrouded with massive hazers and I'm thinking, "please, just let me get something, anything". Darren was able to come and we'd been listening to them so much it was a super nice date night and their music is certainly sexy-time music. But my biggest regret of the show was that after I was done shooting, I ran to West Coast to use the bathroom and grab more drinks, and completely missed their cover of REO Speedwagon "Keep On Loving You". Damnit. Fortunately, two days after the show, singer Greg Gonzalez had performed a session for SiriusXMU that included the song and it's such an amazing take on the song (which, I should admit, was a favorite when I'd listen to KyXy with my mom as a little girl). Anyway, the show was incredible, though I have to say was better that it was not on a weekend because the crowd was cool to be chill and quiet instead of the weekend warriors who might have ruined the whole thing had it been on a Friday or Saturday. They're also a band that I would love to see get enormous, but I'm also selfishly hoping a venue like the Observatory is as big as they'd play because they're not an arena or stadium type band. But I love them, and I did my best shooting, but with the whole band shrouded in darkness, it's a whole lotta Greg. More pics after the jump.

Photos: The War On Drugs at the Observatory, April 15, 2018

Nova was away for a lot of the weekend, so I spent several hours trying to catch up and upload photos from the past few weeks. Then I about had a full meltdown when I realized there were shows as far back as February that I never uploaded. So bear with me as there will be a ton of photo posts this week. By my count, there are about 35 shows I never posted.

So let's start here with The War On Drugs. The band played both weekends of Coachella and we stayed close to home for the most part that first weekend because we love watching the YouTube stream of the major stages. As we watched the band on our TV that Friday night, I was still trying every avenue available to me to get a photo pass but up to that point it was still a hard no. I don't know what strings were pulled but more than a few awesome people worked to my benefit, so that by Sunday evening, I got an approval and was one of just two photographers to shoot the show. Of course, that makes me all the bigger loser that I never posted these, but I'm trying not to be so insecure about my photography, because there are few things I love more than being behind a camera.

So here are some of the shots. I tried to whittle it down to a couple dozen but when you shoot upwards of 300 shots a band, I find I have lots of favorites. This show was amazing. I don't think I'd seen The War on Drugs since their Casbah show a few years back, and while sometimes I can get bored when a band just breaks into heavy noodling, there's so much going on on the stage and in the music that once I was done shooting, I found myself just kinda closing my eyes and getting lost in the music. More photos after the jump.

Locachella: Coachella "Sideshow" Acts In San Diego

I'm ecstatic that San Diego is getting a good cut of this year's Coachella cake. The other day I posted the freshly announced Observatory shows, but obviously there are so many venues getting in on the action, I thought I'd make a more complete list of Coachella artists playing in San Diego before, between, or after Coachella.

• Thursday, March 29 Declan McKenna, Chappell Roan @ Music Box
• Tuesday, April 10 Chromeo, Phantoms @ Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay
• Wednesday, April 11 Hayley Kiyoko @ Observatory North Park 
• Tuesday, April 12 David Byrne @ San Diego Civic Theatre
• Thursday, April 12 Angel Olsen @ Music Box
• Sunday, April 15 War On Drugs @ Observatory North Park  
• Sunday, April 15 Fleet Foxes, Amen Dunes @ Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay
• Monday, April 16 Ibeyi @ Belly Up  
• Monday, April 16 Jungle @ Observatory North Park  
• Tuesday, April 17 David Byrne @ San Diego Civic Theatre
• Tuesday, April 17 Miguel, SiR, Nonchalant Savant @ Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay
• Tuesday, April 17 Boogarins @ Casbah
• Tuesday, April 17 Kali Uchis @ Observatory North Park 
• Wednesday, April 18 Alvvays, Frankie Rose @ Music Box
• Wednesday, April 18 The Bronx, NO PARENTS @ Casbah
• Wednesday, April 18 Tash Sultana @ Observatory North Park - SOLD OUT
• Thursday, April 19 alt-J, Twin Shadow @ Humphrey's Concerts By The Bay
• Thursday, April 19 Jessie Ware @ Belly Up 
• Thursday, April 19 HAIM @ Observatory North Park 
• Friday, April 20 Japanese Breakfast, Snail Mail, And And And @ The Irenic
• Friday, April 20 King Krule @ Observatory North Park - SOLD OUT
• Sunday, April 22 Ron Gallo The Nude Party, Twen @ Casbah
• Monday, April 23 Marian Hill, Michl @ Observatory

Did I miss anything? Let me know in the comments!!

Observatory North Park Announces Coachella "Sideshows"

OMG! I have been so curious about what shows would come through for "Localchella" and I got a little heads up last night from the Observatory. All of these shows are now announced.

GRAMMY Award Winners War On Drugs are playing at The Observatory between Coachella weekends.
Photo by Shawn Brackbill Courtesy Pitch Perfect PR

• Wed, Apr 11   Hayley Kiyoko @ Observatory North Park - Onsale Feb 16
• Sun, Apr 15  War On Drugs @ Observatory North Park - SOLD OUT
• Mon, Apr 16   Jungle @ Observatory North Park - Onsale Feb 16
• Tue, Apr 17   Kali Uchis @ Observatory North Park - Onsale Feb 16
• Thu, Apr 19   HAIM @ Observatory North Park - Onsale Feb 16
• Wed, Apr 18    Tash Sultana @ Observatory North Park - SOLD OUT
• Fri, Apr 20   King Krule @ Observatory North Park - SOLD OUT
• Mon, Apr 23 Marian Hill, Michl @ Observatory North Park

Additionally, Casbah announced Ron Gallo @ Casbah on April 22. Tickets are also on sale for this one are on sale Friday at 10am. 

Photos: Little Dragon @ Observatory North Park, 4.16.17

I love Darren. He is the best partner in life I could ask for. For that reason, when I hear one of his all time favorite bands, Little Dragon, is playing the Observatory during Localchella, I don't even think about not going, even if there are other shows the same night, even if it means I have to hunch over my laptop all weekend to make up for the work I usually save until Sunday. It was a really fun show to shoot, mostly because Yukimi is super expressive on stage, with tulle and metallic materials draped over her body, dramatic lighting, and lots of little tambourines, cowbells, and other percussion to bang on around the stage. Unfortunately it also made me realize how terribly dirty the inside of my camera is, so I'm not looking forward to the expense or the wait it will take to clean, but I'll make it happen soon enough. It was a fun night, it was a great show to be able to take Nova to, and we've found a new favorite spot at the Observatory since I'm no longer privy to the balcony. More pictures after the jump.

Photos: Pond @ Casbah, 4.15.17

It was a sold out Saturday at the Casbah. The room was packed, Coachella was in full effect in the desert, and everyone wanted to be on the guestlist. Pond was performing and everyone wanted a piece of the Aussie action. I'm sure part of it was a hope that there would be some secret appearance by Kevin Parker of Tame Impala on the stage that night, instead, he used me as a blockade, hiding between me and the sound guy while I shot photos from the back of the room. Later he was trying to chill on the patio until everyone started recognizing him and he  bailed into the office for privacy. Can't say I blame him. The show was incredible, definitely worth the buzz and hype, and the projections kept the visuals interesting. I took a ton of photos, a handful of which are after the jump.