Extreme At MTelus

The twisting web of destiny can sometimes weave a mysterious tapestry.  Let us take another ride in this photographer’s musical time machine as we set the dial to April of 1991.  For a Career Day project, I had mentioned an interest in radio.  I was actually hoping that I would find myself on the sports broadcasting side, wanting to call games for the Montreal Expos.   But, my radio experience would take place in the studio of Montreal’s top Rock music radio station, CHOM 97.7FM. Upon leaving that day, DJ Ken Conners offered each of us a cassette tape of our choice.  I didn’t really know much about the tape that I chose, except that the third single had become a huge radio hit.  That cassette tape was ‘Extreme II: Pornograffitti’, their second album, and that hit song at the time was 'More Than Words'.  Here we are, all these years later.  I never became a sports broadcaster and it’s been 20 years since the Expos left town, but Extreme are still around and filled up the MTelus for the final date of their ‘Thicker Than Blood’ tour.  Opening with two of the bigger hits from that second album, ‘(It’s A) Monster’ and ‘Decadence Dance’, Extreme quickly established that they still rocked that it was 1991.  The songs from Extreme's funked up fairy tale are still as awesome today as they were back in the day.  A more recent track, ‘#Rebel’, from their latest album, ‘Six’ followed and the party was in full effect as us photographers left the pit.  Guitarist Nuno Bettencourt joked that they have become a band that releases a new album every sixteen years, but with ‘Six’, released past June, Extreme certainly makes the wait worth it.  Singer Gary Cherone dominated the stage, bouncing from corner to corner like a super ball, all the while belting out his songs without even a hint of being winded.  Known for their melodic sound, Cherone, Bettencourt and bassist Pat Badger make a formidable vocal trio.  Combined, their voices sound perfect together.  On the guitar, Nuno Bettencourt has very few peers.  A fellow photographer mentioned how he had to remind himself to take some pictures as he was completely taken in by experience.  I too tried to make a point of getting a shot of his fingers in action. All of the photographs were taken at f/3.2, while using various different shutter speeds, ISO levels and focal lengths.  Here are several more photographs of Extreme during their performance at the MTelus in Montreal.

If you would like to find out more about Extreme and their music you can do so by following the link to their website.  If you would like to see the photographs that I look of Living Colour, who performed earlier that night, you can do so by following the link.  Much thanks to Robby Hoffman of Primary Wave Music and Christopher Gonda of V13 Media for getting me a pass to shoot the show.  As always, it is very much appreciated.  Brian May of Queen once said that Extreme was the band that most resembled his own, and it is easy to see where the comparison could be made.  Sadly, the show in Montreal was the final one of this tour.  'We saved the best for last!’ said Nuno Bettencourt to the cheering crowd.  Living Color and Extreme together made for a live experience that left the entire crowd feeling satisfied, yet also clamoring for more.  Be sure to check them both out should they end up touring soon near you.

Living Colour At MTelus

Montreal's MTelus was the scene for one of the most groovy concerts to kick off the autumn season.  Living Colour and Extreme, follow the link to check out the photographs, brought the worlds of funk and rock together for a truely unforgettable evening.  Opening the show was Living Color.  Bursting unto the scene in the mid-1980s, Living Colour made their mark with their amazing debut album, Vivid, from 1988.  The lead track off of that album was 'Cult of Personality', a song that has defined the band through the years.  It has also brought Living Colour much attention from outside the world of music as it is used by WWE SuperStar CM Punk as his theme song.  'Cult of Personality' went on to win a Grammy Award for Best Rock Performance in 1990 and getting to hear it performed live was an incredible experience.  As the lights slowly came up the multiple Grammy Award winning group slowly walked out onto the MTelus stage, but would soon set the building alight with their performance.  Guitarist Vernon Reid, in my opinion, is one of the most underrated guitarists to take the stage and his performance was electric, soulful and wild.  Sometimes, accomplishing all three feats during the same song.  Corey Glover was in fine voice and always being generous with a pose or two for us photographers while bassist Doug Wimbish regaled us with tales of his time playing with some of the biggest names in funk and rock, while also pounding all in to submission with his heavy playing.  All of the photographs were taken at f/3.2 while using various different shutter speeds, ISO levels and focal lengths.  Here are more photographs that I took of Living Colour during their performance at the MTelus in Montreal.

If you would like to find out more about Living Colour and their music, you can do so by following the link to their website.  If you would like to see the photographs that I took of Extreme, who headlined the show that night, you can do so by following the link.  Living Colour was a very unique band in a very unique time.  The uniqueness hasn't been lost over the years as they are still at the top of their game.  Living Colour will be heading off to South America this Fall, so be sure to check them out if you have the chance.  This unforgettable band is sure to give an unforgettable performance.