5/9/2013 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater – Brad Paisley has become a St. Louis favorite. Show # 1 of the Bandana’a Country Mega Ticket, begins with show # 1 of the “Beat This Summer Tour“. Photos below. (more…)
Concerts
Widespread Panic
4/9/2013 Widespread Panic - Peabody Opera House, St. Louis, MO. – The summer 2013 tour begins with two nights at the Peabody. Here are a few from night # 1. Photos below. (more…)
Bob Seger with Joe Walsh
4/4/2013 Scottrade Center St. Louis, MO. – I feel like I’ve been friends with Bob Seger since 1977. The Bob Seger and the Silver Bullet Band ‘Live Bullet’ cassette was owned by me, and all of my high school buddies, and was in the car with us during numerous road trips and shenanigans throughout my youth. This is why I always love shooting the ‘classic rockers’, because it becomes more than a concert shoot for me. For a moment, I am reconnected to a time and place in my life that I will never forget. A Bob Seger show, is a group singalong by 15,000 + people, because for about 2 hours you are reminded of how many songs you know, that you didn’t think you knew… good times. The One Two punch evening began with Joe Walsh, embracing the success of his 2012 release ‘Analog Man’ album. Joe seems to be in a good place. His songs also, are familiar, and with Joe’s humor and ‘Joe’isms’ thrown in throughout the night (first spoken words, “Good Morning”), you just knew if you picked one concert to go to this year, you made a good call. Like the previous stop in St. Louis in Dec. 2011, the photographers were restricted to choice of stage left, or right. I chose stage left, which turned out to be a good decision, for most of the shots of Bob Seger in this post, occurred when during song 2, he walked to my end of the stage, giving me a great angle, as if I were center in the pit. Photos below. (more…)
Brent Cobb Band
3/29/2013 Club Bliss, Sullivan, MO. – This was not an intended shoot for me, and driving to Sullivan, MO., about 1.5 hrs from my home, 50 miles southwest of St. Louis, is not something I would plan unless I had a good reason. On this night, it was all bout supporting my cousin’s son, Marc, who plays bass guitar, and recently joined up with a Nashville singer/songwriter named Brent Cobb. Joined by family, we walked into Club Bliss, which sits behind the Sullivan bowling alley, and is one of 3 bars in town, the only one (I was told by the doorman) that features live music. If you put a hundred people in here, you’d be shoulder to shoulder. From the opening song, it was clear these guys were not a typical bar band. I could tell I was listening to seasoned players, multi instrumentalists, harmonies, dynamic, & original. Brent’s voice, has a real deal southern swagger, and sincerity that you can’t fake. I brought my camera along just to get some shots of Marc, and although there wasn’t a lot of light to work with, I was drawn into the realization I was witnessing a rising artist, on the road playing to anyone who would listen, during the ‘paying your dues’ stage of his career. Digging deeper into Brent Cobb, listening to his EP, then reading his bio, I discovered he has written songs recorded by Luke Bryan, Eli Young Band, Kellie Pickler, and others. He signed a song publishing contract with Carnival Publishing Group in Nashville’, but I can’t imagine anybody telling his stories through song, better than he, everything just felt right through his execution and delivery of his music. Brent is more Shooter Jennings than Rascal Flatts, his delivery and sound is traditional, yet sounds current. Just to throw a few curveballs at the crowd, during their 2 hour show, the guys broke out covers of songs by Lynyrd Skynyrd, Tom Petty, The Eagles, and even Pink Floyd. I’ll be rooting for this band for several reasons, but mainly because I hope Country music gets pulled back a notch, closer to where it came from than closer to where it’s headed. It’s OK if pedal steel guitar is heard on the radio, songs should be written to tell stories and not because it fits a formula, and humbled, nice people, every once in a while, deserve to be embraced, and eventually win. Photos below. (more…)
The Blues: StL Style
3/10/2013 BB’s Jazz, Blues, & Soups St. Louis, MO. – ‘Blues Cause For Paws’. This was a Sunday, from around noon until 6:30, to benefit H.A.L.O. (Helping Animals find Loving Owners). I’m all in when it comes to organizations that help abused & unwanted pets find family’s for adoption. I decided last minute to pack my camera bag as I headed out the door. The event was fantastic, and featured the heart & soul of talent, when it comes to our city’s ambassadors of Blues. Lucky Old Sons, Soulard Blues Band, Hudson & the Hoo Doo Cats, Miss Jubilee & the Hundingers, Rich McDonough & Rough Grooves, Eric McSpadden, sax master Jim Stevens, and Big Mike Aguirre & the Blu City Allstars. Any one, or most of these musicians can be seen performing around the St. Louis area, on any given weekend. Can’t decide? Put the names in a hat, pick one.. you can’t lose. These folks are the best of the best. A $10 donation at the door, with all money going to H.A.L.O. (all the bands and musicians donated their time playing 20-45 minute sets), was well worth attendance. Blues Cause for Paws is an annual event, and BB’s is certainly our city’s most authentic chapel for Blues music to host an event like this.. Look for it next year at this time, besides the money going to a great cause, this is one of the best local showcase of talent you’ll find anywhere, and secures the legacy of St. Louis as one of the best Blues city’s in the land. Photo’s below. (more…)
Grace Potter & The Nocturnals
1/10/2013 Grace Potter & The Nocturnals – The Roar Tour, The Pageant St. Louis, MO. – I’ve become a fan of GPN this past year or so, and was really looking forward to this sold out performance at The Pageant. I’ve been following her extensive touring schedule, which is off the charts, with still several weeks remaining of this current tour. I don’t know how this band does it, bringing people a high octane performance that had me wore out, just during the three songs while I was in the photo pit! Touring to support the band’s latest release, ‘The Lion The Beast The Beat’, this show I already know will be on my 10 Favorites List when it comes out at the end of the year. Grace Potter is an amazing talent, and along with the outstanding Nocturnals (Matt Burr, Scott Tournet, Benny Yurco, & Michael Libramento), I can easily envision this line up headlining amphitheaters and larger arena’s by the summer of 2014. Photos below. (more…)
2012 Favorite Concert Memories
2012 – As the title of this annual post suggests, this is not a best of 2012, but rather experiences that along with the privilege of photographing (except for one where I was just there as a fan/vacation), are favorite performances & events that stood out for me on a personal note. I chose 12, out of 45 shows/events I shot in 2012, about 115 bands, and an equal amount of beers. Sorted by performance date. To see the full photo set, just click the title. Let’s get to it.
El Monstero ~ Pigocalypse
12/23/2012 El Monstero show # 3 (of 6), The Pageant St. Louis, MO. – the annual Tribute to Pink Floyd is associated with Christmas in StL as much as seeing Santa Claus in the display window at Macys. Presented by KSHE 95, every year it gets better and better. Performed by St. Louis’s finest rockers, along with additional actors, dancers, & other cast members, this event is a one of a kind artistic expression, and celebration of the music of Pink Floyd. Photos are from the first set before intermission. Photo’s after the jump. (more…)
Greek Fire; The Return of ‘Johnny Venus’
12/4/2012 Greek Fire, Pop’s Nightclub Sauget, IL. – Presented by StL Radio station 105.7 The Point, this was the first of a series of “Ho Ho” shows held annually in The Lou (Gaslight Anthem with guest Greek Fire). While the night was designed to kick off the Christmas Holiday season with Rock n Roll & good times, the reality is, this night was all about the return of Greek Fire’s symbol of Hope, Johnny Venus. After taking off from performing for virtually all of 2012 following his diagnosis of Leukemia, it was time. Time to get back on stage, time to reunite with his best friends and bandmates, and time to let everyone know his heartfelt gratitude, appreciation, and love for the support he’s received from the music community all year. Welcome back JV, we missed you. While others may not have found the will to carry on, you came back better, and stronger, both as a musician, and as a person. Always a pleasure to photograph this band, but tonight it was simply an honor to be in the house. Photos below. (more…)
Joe Bonamassa – B&W Set
11/3/2012 Joe Bonamassa The Fox Theatre St. Louis, MO. Photos below. (more…)
Joe Bonamassa
11/3/2012 Joe Bonamassa The Fox Theatre St. Louis, MO. – I reached out to JB’s publicist in August to shoot this show. His tour reps were great, and I finally got the chance to meet Joe for the first time. I have seen Joe perform several times, going back to 2002, but always as a fan. From day one I was hooked, and have always hoped for the opportunity to photograph his show. This was a great show, in a great venue, and having purchased tickets, was able to kick back and get lost in this performance following the shoot. He began with an extended acoustic set, then it was game on… Photos below. (more…)
Madonna
Madonna 11/1/2012 Scottrade Center St. Louis, MO. MDNA Tour, Live Nation – Soundboard shoot, songs 8 & 9. photos below (more…)
2012 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater Concert Season Recap
2012 – Another summer of outdoor concerts has come and gone. St. Louis’s premier under the stars venue, Verizon Wireless Amphitheater, hosted one of the most diverse musical seasons I can recall in a long time. The Live Nation party house beneath the shed, always promises a little something for everyone, and this past season was one of the best. Beginning in May, and concluding in October, Country music fans took advantage of the Bandana’s BBQ Country Music Mega Ticket package by the thousands, where for one price, fans were treated to shows by Jason Aldean, Rascal Flatts, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley, Miranda Lambert, and Toby Keith, with supporting acts which included future headliners Luke Bryan, & Brantley Gilbert. St. Louis has always had a strong Classic Rock fan base, and that appetite was fed by performances from REO Speedwagon, ZZ Top, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Ted Nugent, STYX, Boston, KISS, Kansas, and many more. The Vans Warped Tour, and 105.7 The Point’s Pointfest brought together Alternative Rock for all day festivals, while Rockstar Energy’s Mayhem and Uproar Festivals provided awesome servings of Metal. Rise Against, Shinedown, Anthrax, Staind, Papa Roach, Motorhead, P.O.D., Godsmack, Slipknot, and more gave us almost ‘too much rock for one hand’. For good measure, the final show of the year was provided by The Twins of Evil, Rob Zombie and Marilyn Manson. R&B and Soul came to the shed via the Hot 104.1 Superjam, and Summer Music Festival. Among the highlights were Patti Labelle, The O’jays, Master P, Maze featuring Frankie Beverly, Jeezy, Fresco Kane, & Babyface. After taking 2011 off, the Dave Matthews Band returned with a marathon show, and we also saw first time headliner Jason Mraz. Perhaps the show deserving of the “Holy Wowzer!!” Award, goes to the group of StL local musicians, who for a decade have been performing it’s El Monstero – Tribute to Pink Floyd. The band brought a first class production to the big stage, and left everyone speechless, and satisfied knowing that this town can compete with anyone when it comes to talent. When all said and done, I shot 21 shows, snapped over 4000 photos, roughly 77 performances, logged in about 80 hours at the venue, consumed in the neighborhood of 3.5 pounds of popcorn, and ‘allegedly’ threw down, give or take, 4 gallons of draft beer… and cannot wait until 2013 to do it all over again! Note: I was out of state for the season’s opening weekend, and did not photograph the Brad Paisley, and Pointfest shows. But, no worries. Two of StL’s best photogs had my back, links to their shots following the post. Photo recap collages below. (more…)
Smashing Pumpkins
10/18/2012 Chaifetz Arena St. Louis, MO. – The Smashing Pumpkins perform at Chaifetz, supporting their latest release ‘Oceania’ (check out the excellent song QUASAR which kicks off the album). Anberlin opened the show. The room was dark, primarily side stage lighting, shot entirely from the floor, no pit. These conditions for photography are always challenging, and will humble you as you push your camera to it’s limits working your way through the crowd looking for angles. Photos below.
Willie Nelson
10/05/2009 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater St. Louis, MO. – Simply Willie, from his Farm Aid set in 2009. Every line & wrinkle in this man’s body, tells a story, and reflects the life of a musician who never stops working, always delivers, and has always stood up for the American dream, and respect deserved toward our nation’s farmers, and everyday working man. Photo’s below. (more…)
RKNPHOTO.COM
Kenny Williamson is a freelance photographer based in St. Louis, MO. Rock, Country, Blues, from sold out arenas to small clubs, Local bands to international superstars. If you did not go to the show, but wish you did after viewing my photography, then I did my job.
Greek Fire Collection
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Widespread Panic
4/9/2013 Widespread Panic - Peabody Opera House, St. Louis, MO. – The summer 2013 tour begins
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Brad Paisley
5/9/2013 Verizon Wireless Amphitheater – Brad Paisley has become a St. Louis favorite. Show #