In Category: ‘on stage’

July 3, 2011 Notes of Language

Music is a powerful language of the soul.

Like language, the ear strains to understand, hearing familiar words in the unfamiliar rhythm. Words that you think you know. Words created from the context of your own life.

I listened to those notes and felt the rumbling shudder of steel, smelled the old stones of an old city, the tugging sea wind. I relived the creeping, cold uncertainty caused by confusion and distress.

The memories looped with each crescendo, drew breath with every pause.

zoe keating gamh 07 L Notes of Languagezoe keating gamh 01 L Notes of Language

zoe keating gamh 06 L Notes of Language

zoe keating gamh 11 L Notes of Language

Her story was different as she told it, but the beauty lies in the pictures that we see. They are all unique. They are all real.

What will you hear?

March 3, 2011 (Don’t) Look Back

Having been a violinist who chafed at the rigidity of the classical expectation, I highly respect and look up to Emilie Autumn with an emotion that borders on jealousy:

1203821292 Htbqd XL (Dont) Look Back

I went to the recent show in SF with low expectations, because shows make me feel awkward and a little out of place. Shows are also a terrible place for short people to go, especially if you want to take a few pictures.

Indeed, the last show I went to was to see my beloved Seabound 3 years ago.

EA was wonderfully funny, engaging and amazing to look at.

1203687742 2Qpa7 XL 1 (Dont) Look Back

1203759941 WFoWx XL (Dont) Look Back

1203785386 3rTAw XL (Dont) Look Back

1203781346 rnaQk XL (Dont) Look Back

Through the crowd I would get glimpses of people I knew, thinking I saw my friends. But wait… catch yourself, no, that’s not Amber. I know Nikki’s not here, Nicole doesn’t tease her hair anymore and Dave doesn’t wear fishnet shirts in 2011. Wasn’t that the guy who did that tragic dance at Pyramid back in 1996?

The goth scene never changes, although it’s always changing. The staple wardrobe ever goes away, although the faces under the makeup flip past like a deck of cards. It made me feel a little old, a little lonely and a lot nostalgic.

Although my parents would be loath to hear it, I miss the days of rampant obnoxiousness in the West Village, the late-late-late nights driving in Southeast, maybe best of all the night walks through Fells Point. And some of the best moments of those days were in the most boring suburbs, in the living rooms and apartments of my older (and therefore wiser) friends.

I was always the youngest of my crowd. Tonight I felt ancient.

Tags: ,

Comments Off

March 15, 2008 Day of the Century

265596367 xMsTV XL 2 Day of the Century

Seabound is one of the very few artists that I am willing to go out and see. My comfort zone has shrunk massively over the last 5 years, and for the most part this is never a problem. However the lack of outside socialization makes me a hermit and it is difficult to hear and sample new things in life no matter how much time I spend on the internet.

Frank Spinath and Martin Vorbrodt, on the other hand, have managed to penetrate my little bubble several years ago. And I’ve held them hostage and never let them leave. Figuratively.

265928834 Tr7eW XL 1 Day of the Century

Perhaps the last thing I would ever rave about are bands. I stopped caring about musicians in a fan sort of way when I exited my teens, as many of us do. Even in college and doing all the silly things college people do I rarely attended a show of my own volition. I hate the noise, the smoke, the sticky scudge on the floor and the raspy residue that inevitably tickles its way out of your lungs the next morning. Most of all, I hated (hate) crowds.

Seabound, however, is unparalleled as far as I am concerned. Their music is smooth, flawless, electronic and symphonic but with a dark undercurrent of emotion. They appeal to me on many different levels and even though many of their tracks are upbeat club staples it’s never just a simple joy ride. As enjoyable as it is kicking the noobs out of my personal space to “Poisonous Friend” on a Saturday night, my favorite pieces by them were the vivid, visual, lush melodies such as “October Song” and “Avalost.” Talk to me, work with me, look at me… chances are that if you and I have ever been together and interacted, I have had “October Song” running through my head at least one of those times. Seabound (and Edge of Dawn) have been the soundtrack to my life recently, and I think they deserve every moment of their success. Intelligent, human and approachable, I would support no other kind of artist.

265940706 4VWTQ XL 1 Day of the Century

All the same, my satisfaction of seeing them finally was largely internal. As I moved about the room and eventually ended up front-and-center, I was close enough to grab naughty Seabound bits if I was That Fangirl but of course I would never do that. Both of them offered their hands to the crowd several times but some force of reason kept my own paws cemented to the camera.

Choosing to shoot at the show was a tough one. I have never done that before, actually, because I would generally rather enjoy the music than worry about settings and focus. In a way the people moving around me were satisfying in and of itself, but I was there to capture the moments in a more permanent way than in an excited flush or beads of sweat. In the very end, however, I gave in. Relinquishing my camera to Trav I had to dance to “The Promise.” I may not remember every moment of their too-short set because I was focused on the photography, but I will never regret missing a few extra frames to dance with them.

265935428 mLxJM XL 1 Day of the Century

Good times, good times. All the photos are up here.

Tags:

Comments Off

Several hours after climbing around in the world’s worst soup of carcinogenic particulates with an upper respiratory infection, I went out to the Depot to support a very good friend, Sara and her infamous Mark Nicholas. You don’t need to know me very well to know that I don’t really do clubs anymore, and I certainly don’t do live shows. But this was well worth it. Both Sara and Mark are incredibly talented people and it was worth every agonizing hour waiting in the freezing cold dark choking down the recycled sidestream smoke to see their set. When you see beautiful god beams INDOORS, that’s bad…

163895221 XL 1 Duchess and the Snapp

My husband is the person who can make me laugh the most, but Mark gave him a real run for his money. And it was in a good way. There were times when it was hard for me to focus because I was laughing pretty hard, and that is the only way I’ll ever be satisfied with missing a shot!

163896698 XL 1 Duchess and the Snapp

Check them out and see them if they ever come near you.

Tags:

Comments Off