I'm new but not improved... LOL

[wasp]

LOL

OK so... just signed up here. Spent a good deal of time with Marty last night in Ft.Wayne Indiana. Definitely a most pleasurable experience. A little bit of background...

First off, I've crossed paths with Marty in the past... he just didn't know it. I used to work somewhere he visited. I also used to work at the same company as his brother. We're both Chicago natives as well. But we never engaged in real conversation until last night...

I made the trek to Ft. Wayne Indiana last night and it was my first time seeing Marty live. All I can say is, LA Guns and Tracii finally have a frontman. Marty was great. He has the energy and vigor on stage that's needed. He knows how to work a crowd and he doesn't just stand there. I think he also does the LA Guns songs justice because he sings them as they were meant to be sung... and that includes sticking to the lyrics the way they were written - a big peeve of mine the former singer didn't do. Most of all, Marty's presence has elevated Tracii's playing to a higher level. I can see it. I've seen enough of Tracii to know when he's bored, when he's inspired and when he's just calling it in as they say. He's definitely enjoying himself.

I've known Tracii Guns for close to 15 years now. I'm a photographer for the last decade or so having worked with everyone from Black Sabbath to Ratt to Def Leppard to Megadeth. I've had a couple of things in Rolling Stone, SPIN, etc... some band T-Shirts, CD's, etc... it's been fun. I'll never say I'm the best but I do occassionally get a good shot... LOL... and while the lighting absolutely sucked last night, I did manage to pull of a few in case anyone is interested in seeing them... also managed to video a couple of songs as well.

Wish I could make the show tonight in Chicago... but alas, I can't. I had to make the tough choice of choosing to stay in Chicago and see the show tonight... or drive a few hours to Ft Wayne for a show in a much bigger venue. I chose Ft.Wayne... and I don't regret it. While the lighting and environment could have been better, I spent some quality time with Marty... that more than made up for it.

Pics coming soon...

[Sharon (sdbrins)]

wasp! Thank you for the really cool read. I'm glad you had such a great time at the show and with Marty. I look forward to seeing the pictures you took.

Nice to have you here!

[Amy]

Hi wasp - welcome to the Marty Casey message forum. We're glad you're here! Thanks for taking the time to post a review of the show, and we look forward to seeing your photos.



You said that you thought Marty was great and that Marty's presence has elevated Tracii's playing to a higher level. So, why the subject line of "New but not improved?"

[wasp]

So, why the subject line of "New but not improved?"

LOL Sorry... bad pun on my part. Just some stupid humor ... me trying to say I'm new here but not better... not improved... just the same ol' me.

[Amy]

Jul 23, 2008 17:11:00 GMT -5 wasp said:

So, why the subject line of "New but not improved?"

LOL Sorry... bad pun on my part. Just some stupid humor ... me trying to say I'm new here but not better... not improved... just the same ol' me.

Oh....sorry I misunderstood.

You have an impressive photography history! Hard work, but fun...right?

If you have some photos for Marty's site, please email them to: [e-mail]. Cindy will take care of getting on the site for you.

Thanks again for joining us.

[cfbj01]

wasp - Nice to see you here. Thanks for your review and can't wait to see your photos

[rockfan]

Hi Wasp to mc.com.

We all love pics & videos . Thanks for your review, too.

[wasp]

Thanks for the welcomes! I think it'll be fun having the Casey and LA Guns worlds collide together and hopefully both factions learn something new about each other.

As I said, I think Tracii finally found himself a worthy frontman. And notice I said "frontman"... not just singer. I also did notice last night that the Lovehammers songs that were performed, fit in seamlessly and you really could mistake them for new LA Guns songs if you didn't know any better.

[wasp]

You have an impressive photography history! Hard work, but fun...right?

Definitely fun but not easy. As a matter of fact, last night I've got people in the first row poking me in the back... tapping me on the shoulder...distracting me.... people tend to think you're just standing there pressing a button. It's harder than it appears to be. Alot of sweat. Alot of moving in spaces that you couldn't get a mouse to squeeze into... and I'm a big guy! LOL But still fun... to me though, the real fun is making the connections and meeting the people I meet... like Marty. And it's funny because as I said, I've been doing this a number of years... my buddy Sebastian Bach got me started in this... and my path has crossed with Marty a couple of times previously - always in a non-musical environment - and here we are, finally hooking up IN a musical environment. It most definitely is a small world.

[Cindy]

Welcome to the board, wasp. It is always great to have a new face drop by... but it is really cool when they have so much history with Marty and also with L.A. Guns. We look forward to pics from you and if you want to share some that I can post on Marty's web site, drop me an email at [e-mail].

Thanks for posting!!

[lhfan4life]

wasp!!

Looking forward to seeing your pics!

[wasp]

Thanks! I've got to comb through and crop, resize... but will do that ASAP... also have video of Pink Floyd's "Wish You Were Here" and LA Guns "Sex Action"... they both definitely showcase Marty's talent. Will get those converted and uploaded as well - in the next day or two!

[dustyblue25]

Hi Wasp. Greetings from Canada. Welcome to MC.com. Looking forward to seeing your pics and videos!!

[feather]

Nice t have you on the boards, wasp
Can't wait to see your always an asset to have another dedicated photographer on th site.

[bostongirl]

Greetings Wasp !!! Welcome to our community. Interesting history. I bet you had a great time. I have not seen a live show yet, but from the vids, and old vids of Tracii on YouTube, I would agree with you. I would also say that Tracii and Marty have elevated each other. Who knew what there was higher octane for our fav frontman...wow!!!

Look forward to seeing the pics and vides.

Thanks,
Liz

[BBE]

Hi Wasp,
Welcome! We saw each other in the photo pit there--I was the tall gal in white.

I really enjoyed your comments about how much Tracii is inspired by Marty. I think they have a great energy going between them, and they are clearly both enjoying this.

I think what you were getting from the people tapping you, etc, is the same stuff I get when I'm shooting shows--if you happen to be more than about 5 feet tall (I'm over 6' in my shoes or boots!), there are always going to be shorter people behind you who get mad. Well, what can you do? You can't shrink yourself! If you stand in the back to shoot from behind everyone, your photos suffer from either having tons of arms sticking up, or not having your flash be able to reach, if you're shooting flash. But I'm guessing that the same people who are complaining will still be enjoying the photos when they're posted.

I think of it this way--when I get there early enough to stake out a spot down front, anyone who stands behind me does so knowing how tall I am. If they can't see past me, they shoudn't stand there, because I won't be getting any shorter during the show!

Each show is a moment in time that won't be repeated, and the photos are a permanent record of that moment. If people could just cut the photographers a little bit of slack when we're working, it would make it easier for us to get the best photos possible for the fans to enjoy and cherish for years to come.

Could you tell me a little about your camera? It was rather unusual-looking.

[wasp]

Whew! OK.. where to start...

First... thanks again for the additional welcomes!

As far as tapping, poking, etc... I can go both ways. First, I understand it. I don't want to be in anyones way. I'm 6'4"... BUT... here's the problem. The staff at Piere's put the barricade SOOO close to the stage that there was literally no room to move. I mean, the "feet" of the barricade were butted up against the stage... and I have a size 13 shoe... so it was literally a broken ankle waiting to happen. I've shot many bands at Piere's and I don't know WHY they put that damn barrier so close. It's never been that close before. I've always had room to walk back and forth, crouch down, etc... but Tuesday night, no way. No room to move at all once you planted yourself. Now... my other issue is this. I'm working for the band. I'm shooting for the band. I don't go to shows just for the fun... although it IS fun, it's work. You don't enjoy the show the same way everyone else does. You're constantly aware of everything that's going on that's NOT aural. So when people poke me, tap me... my biggest complaint is when they bother me to get them a guitar pick! AAARGGH!! If someone wants to ask me to move over or out of the way... a little courtesy goes a long way. Tell me between songs. Not while I'm in the middle of shooting. I'm not in anyones way to be rude. I'm not trying to be ignorant. I'm trying to do a job.

As far as my camera... I'm using a Nikon D50 and a Sony DSC-F828. It's about 4 years old... they don't make it anymore but the reason I hold onto it and use it is because the lens tilts a full 180 degrees. So you can really get some awesome angles without having to distort yourself or move around. You can hold the camera and tilt the lens. It's very cool. I wasn't getting much out of the Nikon considering the piss-poor RED lighting and the fact that my mobility was nil. So I ended up using the Sony the bulk of the night... and used a Canon ZR800 MiniDV with external mic to record the two songs.

I hope to finish cropping and resizing tonight...

[Stiletto]

Welcome Wasp.

Enjoy this community and I too am looking forwrd to seeing the pics and hearing more from you.

[wasp]

Funny lil' story I'm sure all will get a kick out of.

OK so lets go back about 8 months to the winter. I was a security director (as a second job) for a 50 story condo in downtown Chicago. Marty would come by to visit a friend in the building and he'd always stop at the desk to sign in. Those were the rules. Nobody would have to ask him though, he just always did it. Always nice. Always polite. Always cordial. And it was just funny because having to work that job, I looked like your typical bozo in a suit and tie... but I knew who Marty was. I never led on though. I just did my job. He was probably thinking I didn't know who he was. And before that job, I worked at the same company as Marty's brother. Now... it's just even funnier because as I said, Tracii has been a bud of mine for many years... literally before I knew who Marty was and before the Lovehammers even existed. So here we are YEARS later, and the guy that would come in my building... the guy whose brother I worked with... is in a band with a very good friend of mine. It most certainly is a small world.

[dlh]

Welcome and thanks for sharing a little history and insight with us. Can't wait to hear more.

About taking pics and being tall. I'm only 5'3" so my pictures are usually arms and the backs of people's heads. My best pics taken at a Lovehammers concert were ones where I handed my camera to someone that was 6ft tall so I DO appreciate those pictures taken by those that are not vertically challenged. My avatar is one of them taken at Joe's in Chicago.


Den