The Native Howl At Théâtre Corona

Some thing when mixed together can produce surprising results.  For instance, this past Saturday night at the Théâtre Corona in Montreal, The Native Howl, hailing from Detroit, Michigan, hit the stage to share a special mixture of their own.  By combining Thrash Metal and County Bluegrass, they have developed a style of music of their own that they like to call Thrash Grass.  It may not be as popular a mix as peanut butter and chocolate, but it certainly produced a more than pleasing sensation to the sold our crown who had packed the venue.  As I've said many times before, one of the more fun aspects of shooting concerts is discovering bands I had never heard of. The Native Howl go right near the top of the list of surprise opening bands that I really enjoyed.  I surely wasn't the only one either as they had won over the crowd early before sending them into meltdown with a mash up of Metallica's Harvester Of Sorrow and the song Man Of Constant Sorrow by the Soggy Bottom Boys, ofcourse from the film O Brother, Where Art Thou?  At that point, the battle was over, The Native Howl had successfully won over the sold out crowd and even got me to head over to their merchandise stand later in the night to purchase their two CDs.  Yes, they still do exist.  There was a long line at that merch stand, so I was surely not the only conver to the Thrash Grass movement.  The first photograph was taken at f/3.2, 1/250sec, ISO 1600 at 24mm and the second photograph was taken at f/3.2, 1/200sec, ISO 1600 at 35mm.  Here are several more photographs that I took during their eye opening performance.

f/3.2, 1/160sec, ISO 1600 at 33mm

f/3.2, 1/125sec, ISO 1600 at 24mm

f/3.2, 1/125sec, ISO 1600 at 24mm

f/3.2, 1/160sec, ISO 1600 at 24mm

f/3.2, 1/250sec, ISO 1600 at 24mm

f/3.2, 1/160sec, ISO 1600 at 24mm

f/3.2, 1/160sec, ISO 1600 at 26mm

f/3.2, 1/160sec, ISO 1600 at 70mm

f/3.2, 1/250sec, ISO 1600 at 70mm

f/3.2, 1/125sec, ISO 1600 at 70mm

f/3.2, 1/320sec, ISO 1600 at 24mm

f/14, 1/400sec, ISO 2000 at 24mm

f/3.2, 1/400sec, ISO 1600 at 39mm

f/3.2, 1/250sec, ISO 1600 at 24mm

f/3.2, 1/640sec, ISO 1600 at 24mm

f/3.2, 1/60sec, ISO 1600 at 65mm

f/3.2, 1/320sec, ISO 1600 at 24mm

If you'd like to find out more about The Native Howl and their music, you can do so by following the link to their website.  If you'd like to see the photographs of Airbourne, who hit the stage later that night, you can do so by following the link.  Thrash Grass was a new experience for me, but one that I hope to hear more of in the future.

Lovely Ladybug

With two Junior Partners running around the Head Office, I haven't been able to get out as much as I used to.  I still get to the occasional concert every few weeks, but I've tried to limit my outings to that.  My Lovely Assistant is the one who does the brunt of the work taking care of the Junior Partners, and I try to pitch in where I can.  Just because I'm home, doesn't mean that I can't still be taking photographs.  The insects in the backyard have become the star neighbourhood models.  The Heir Apparent and I have been having fun watching them in action.  One of her favourites are the little Ladybugs that have been visiting in great numbers this year.  This little one took a moment to stretch out from under its wings to have a taste of one of the leaves on our apple tree.  The photograph was taken at f/11, 1/180sec, ISO 100 at 200mm with a little bit of flash added to make her shine.  They might not be as spectacular as a bright red sunrise or sunset, but it's fun to watch these little characters move around the yard, and to see The Heir Apparent watching them do so.

Royal Farewell

The planet lost one of it's most beloved figures the other day when Queen Elizabeth II passed away.  She was 96 years old and had spent more than 70 of those years as the reigning Monarch of the United Kingdom.  It's seldom seem for someone in such a position to be so universally loved, but it's quite touching to see all of the tributes that are being said of her.  Though not living in the United Kingdom, Canada is a member of the Commonwealth, and as such, I've seen Queen Elizabeth II in some form or other for all of my life.  Her departure reminded me of another Royal departure I'd experienced.  It doesn't really equate to a death, but this Monarch Butterfly had been teasing me for two days while on vacation a few years ago.  It would fly around me and land, just long enough for me to set up my camera, before taking to the sky once more.  All until our final day.  This time, she landed and just remained there.  Stretching her wings open and closed for a few minutes.  I snapped off a few quick photos, checked them out on the screen and was happy with what I saw.  I looked up and saw that my colourful friend was still there, waiting.  I gave an approving nod to show that I was happy with what I had captured.  She gave me one more wave of her wings before flying away, and I didn't see her again for the rest of that final day.  Again, my story doesn't equate to the loss of an important world figure.  It's just a little memory of a personal meeting with a Monarch of my own.  The Queen is Dead, Long Live The King.

Queen Elizabeth II

1926 - 2022

The White Buffalo At Théâtre Corona

I've photographed and attended many a show at the Théâtre Corona in Montreal over the years, but this was my first Americana/County concert.  I must say that it was a refreshing change to hear the songs of Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Johnny Paycheck and the immortal Kenny Rogers be broadcast through the building before the lights went down.  Though it was a Country Hall of Fame line-up that got the crowd ready, the man performing on stage was no slouch either.  I first learned of the man known as The White Buffalo back in 2015 in the pages of Classic Rock magazine.  His most recent album, 'On The Widow's Walk', was released back in 2020, but he has a deep catalogue of great songs and stories that he has shared with the World since the release of his first EP back in 2005.  Country music runs in my family veins, and I do love a good song that tells a story.  If that is the case for you as well, then The White Buffalo is someone you really need to check out.  His live performance is something to be seen as well.  I had thought it was going to be a more laid back kind of show, but that was not the case.  He may be called The White Buffalo, but he certainly doesn't move like one.  The energy was infectious as the crowd was bouncing along to the songs as well, while also hanging on to every spoken word, not wanting to miss out on the musical tales that were being spun.  The first photograph was taken at f/3.2, 1/160sec, ISO 4000 at 38mm and the second photograph was taken at f/3.2, 1/160sec, ISO 8000 at 39mm.  Here are several more photographs that I took of his performance.

f/3.2, 1/320sec, ISO 5000 at 24mm

f/3.2, 1/320sec, ISO 5000 at 24mm

f/2.8, 1/80sec, ISO 3200 at 70mm

f/3.2, 1/100sec, ISO 3200 at 35mm

f/3.2, 1/400sec, ISO 5000 at 24mm

f/3.2, 1/60sec, ISO 3200 at 24mm

f/3.2, 1/250sec, ISO 6000 at 24mm

f/3.2, 1/160sec, ISO 4000 at 24mm

f/3.2, 1/50sec, ISO 1600 at 24mm

f/3.2, 1/160sec, ISO 3200 at 24mm

f/3.2, 1/80sec, ISO 3200 at 26mm

f/3.2, 1/160sec, ISO 3200 at 26mm

f/3.2, 1/160sec, ISO 8000 at 24mm

f/3.2, 1/160sec, ISO 500 at 24mm

f/3.2, 1/160sec, ISO 5000 at 31mm

f/3.5, 1/100sec, ISO 4000 at 57mm

f/3.5, 1/80sec, ISO 5000 at 24mm

f/3.2, 1/50sec, ISO 3200 at 44mm

f/3.5, 1/50sec, ISO 2500 at 70mm

To find out more about The White Buffalo and his music, you can follow the link to his website.  If you'd like to see the photographs of I took of Bud Rice, who opened the evening, you can do so by following this link.  Thanks very much to Jeff Varner and Yunus Church of Revelation Management for getting me a pass to photograph the show.  It was a terrific show put on by a seasoned performer.  Good songs + good stories = happy fans.  A simple equation that when followed achieves a successful show like the one The White Buffalo delivered on Tuesday night.

Bud Rice At Théâtre Corona

It's been a few months since my last show at the Théâtre Corona in Montreal, but no matter how long I am away, I always feel welcome in the old place upon my return.  On this evening, there was some Country and Americana music on the menu.  The evening was opened by Bud Rice, from right here in Montreal.  He got a good chuckle out of the crowd when asking if there was anyone from Montreal in the audience.  He has two albums under his belt, 'Belfast' was released in 2015 and his most recent, 'Piece of Heaven', which was actually finished in 2020.  It didn't actually get released until this year due to a certain something that impacted the planet.  he has obviously built a large hometown following as the floor of the Corona was already mostly full moments before he took the stage.  The first photograph was taken at f/3.2, 1/320sec, ISO 1600 at 24mm.  Here are several more photographs that I took of his performance.

f/3.2, 1/100sec, ISO 1600 at 47mm

f/3.2, 1/160sec, ISO 1600 at 42mm

f/3.2, 1/500sec, ISO 1600 at 47mm

f/3.2, 1/200sec, ISO 1600 at 30mm

f/3.2, 1/250sec, ISO 1600 at 24mm

f/3.2, 1/125sec, ISO 1600 at 24mm

f/3.2, 1/30sec, ISO 1600 at 24mm

f/3.2, 1/160sec, ISO 1600 at 70mm

f/3.2, 1/250sec, ISO 1600 at 24mm

f/2.8, 1/125sec, ISO 1600 at 70mm

f/3.2, 1/160sec, ISO 1600 at 41mm

f/2.8, 1/200sec, ISO 1600 at 70mm

f/2.8, 1/200sec, ISO 1600 at 35mm

f/3.2, 1/80sec, ISO 1600 at 55mm

f/3.2, 1/100sec, ISO 1600 at 47mm

f/2.8, 1/100sec, ISO 1600 at 70mm

f/2.8, 1/200sec, ISO 1600 at 42mm

To find out more about Bud Rice and his music, you can follow the link to his website.  To see the photographs that I took of The White Buffalo later in the evening, you can do so by following the link.  It was a stellar evening of music and joking, even mentions a sound tech who was charging him $500 to cause some feedback from his guitar.  Bud Rice and the band were true professionals and delivered a great set that left the fans wanting more.  A memorable performance indeed.

Sunless Sunflower

It's hard to teach an old dog new tricks.  However, in this case the old dog in question is me, and I sometimes have a bit of a hard head when it comes to getting something right. In this particular instance the trick would be using flash as a fill light.  We have a nice bed of Sunflowers in the back yard, and I wanted to photograph them as the sun was setting.  With the setting sun being behind the flowers, another source of light is obviously necessary, otherwise the flower would be rather dark.  But, I also didn't want to wash out the background light and lose those golden sparkles in the background.  I ended up shooting the photograph at f/16, 1/50sec, ISO 400 at 70mm with a diffuser on the flash head.  I had originally found a setting that made the background look nice, and then played around a little bit after turning on the flash to get the look that I wanted.  The flower looks nice and crisp, and my little golden sparkles can still be seen.  It's still a work in process, but I think I'm headed in the right direction.

If He Thinks It's Hot...

It was a pretty busy Summer here at The Old Blog.  You saw many of the concerts that I managed to shoot, but there were lots of other sporting events, personal shootings and even a couple of weddings thrown in there.  So, we took a little break from things over the last few days.  However, Mother Nature wasn't always that friendly.  While things have cooled down a bit, back at the beginning of the week the temperature once again went past the 40C mark when the humidity was factored in.  On that day, we were at the Granby Zoo, where I found a kindred spirit.  This elephant was obviously looking for a way to cool down.  He comes from Africa, so if he finds that it was hot outside, imagine what this simple North American thought.  I caught him spraying himself the first time and tried to time my shot for when the water hit his head the second time.  The photograph was taken at f/2.8, 1/1600sec, ISO 100 at 70mm.  Don't worry big guy, the worst of the heat is behind us and more comfortable temperatures are ahead.