Another Year Gone

2014 has officially ended so I thought I'd start the new one by starting something new.
 I've had this page and blog for some time and never found the time or words to put down. 
So tonight, I'm changing that. Tonight I start a new page, by taking a look back.

First...I want to thank all those bands out there that put their heads down and
their hearts on the line to do what they love and believe in. 
Thanks, too, to the folks behind the scenes. The ones who work so hard to bring the music to the masses!
The organizers, press reps, managers, techs and venues who work so tirelessly to make sure
we all get a chance to see and hear the music we love.
Thanks for making my job so enjoyable and for giving us all
inspiration for our own art and lives.

2014 was a pretty amazing year and here's a taste of how I saw it,
through the lens of a Nikon from the pit, the stage, the studio and the streets.

January started with The Pixies in Pittsburgh for Verbicide Magazine.

Then out to LA for a studio session with The Wombats as they set to work on a track for the album,
Glitterbug, set to release in January 2015.

Spring brought Kaiser Chiefs in NYC, a band I'd shoot again when they headlined the
Pittsburgh Three Rivers Arts Festival.

Canada, Toronto to be exact, to catch another fantastic band...The Fratellis. One of my favorite shows of the year. 

After Canada there was another trip to New York.  This time it was to spend some time with the Norwegian band Team Me. They were playing Glasslands in Brooklyn, but I spent the day with them, giving InYourSpeakers readers a look at a day on tour with the band.  And of course...the show.

Home to Pittsburgh for a string of shows including Gary Numan  playing at Altar Bar

Phantogram—just brilliant!

Back to NYC. This time to shoot Australia's Strange Talk.  I met with the band the afternoon before their show to do an interview and a little 'behind the scenes' special for InYourSpeakers readers and of course, shoot their awesome show in Brooklyn.

Back in The Pitts there was so very much great music.  Including the blinding Deerhoof.

And the dynamic Neon Trees!

Then, back up to Boston for the third installment of the Boston Calling Music Festival.
Including: Bastille, Brand New, Death Cab for Cutie, Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros, Frank Turner, Jenny Owns,
Maximo Park, Tegan & Sara,Modest Mouse, The Neighbourhood

As spring rolled into summer there was a whole string of shows locally in Pittsburgh. 
In random order...  Joywave, Wolf Gang, Twenty One Pilots, The Naked and Famous, The Show, Thrift, St. Lucia,
TEEN, The Neffs, The Districts, Dr. Dog, Chvrches and so many more!

Hitting the Pittsburgh venue The Rex for the band Parachute, to do some behind the scenes work for them.

Closed a summer run with yet another, the fourth, installment of Boston Calling in September.
Highlights Include: Bleachers, Future Islands, Lake Street Dive, Lorde, Sky Ferreira, Spoon, The Hold Steady,
The National, The Replacements, Twenty One Pilots, The 1975

But just because summer ended, didn't mean the music did! 
Back in The Pitts I caught OK Go!

Walk the Moon and Magic Man supporting Panic! At the Disco

Then back to NYC for the week long endurance event known as CMJ!
Fantastic week of music! Too many to include here so some highlights:  Happy Fangs, Spookyland, Cariad Harmon, Skyroads, Playing To Vapors, and more! Full coverage was posted over on InYourSpeakers

Home again to shoot the debut release party of Pittsburgh band The Neffs

The incomparable Cariad Harmon played at Club Cafe in Pittsburgh

And my last big show of 2014?  The 1975 shot for BandsinTown!

Finally, Thanks to the bands who participated in my ongoing Bands & Vans project! 
A project I'm working on that documents touring bands & the vehicles that get them from A -B and back again...
mostly!
A sample is below but there's much more to come from this project this year!

There were tons more too, more than 200 bands shot this year in two countries and five states!
Have a look at my Flickr page for: Buzz Poets, The Griswolds, Miniature Tigers, Dan Croll, Smallpools, Grouplove, Big Black Delta, Nightmare and the Cat, plus tons more! 

 
Follow my FB and Twit for real time updates too!

What's up for 2015?
Guess you'll have to check back and see!