Rouge Pompier At Théâtre Beanfield

We're a little bit backed up on getting my concert photographs up here on The Old Blog.  I suppose we will catch up at some point, but this would be a good time to remind you that my concert photographs can be seen in a much more timely manner by visiting V13 Media, which you can do by following the link.  If you'd like an even more direct route to my photographs, you can visit my personal page over there but using the following link.  Had another great visit to the Théâtre Beanfield back in August for a terrific show.  Getting the chance to get the party started for this crowd was Rouge Pompier.  Translated to English, a ‘pompier’ is a firefighter.  But on this night, they were looking to start a fire rather than putting one out.  I feel a little foolish that I have never heard of the band before.  The self proclaimed ‘meilleur band de rock à deux’, came out to party like a Friday night.  Even if it was Sunday.  Rouge Pompier opened their set with ‘Vendredi’ and I knew right away that I was going to love this band.  If there was any remaining doubt amongst the others in the crowd, they disappeared after ‘Maniaques’.  A punk rock cover of Michael Sembello’s ‘Maniac’.  “There may be lots of you who are over 40 out there,” said singer Jessy Fuchs, alias Jess Pompier, “but that doesn’t mean you can’t make a circle pit.  Get moving!”  With that, the band broke in to “Rouge Pompier” and the place began to cook.  Rouge Pompier kick ass on the stage.  Which is a good thing, because they kind of suck as firemen.  They ended up setting the joint ablaze.  All of the photographs were taken at f/3.2 while using various different shutter speeds, ISO settings and focal lengths.  Here are the rest of the photographs that I took of Rouge Pompier while they performed on the Théâtre Beanfield stage.

If you would like to find out more about Rouge Pompier 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 The Tea Party, who performed later that night you can do so by following the link.  Rouge Pompier provided a smoking hot blast of awesomeness.  They definitely burnt the place to the ground.  Don't you dare miss them when they perform in a city near you.

Deep Purple At Place Bell

We're a little bit backed up on getting my concert photographs up here on The Old Blog.  I suppose we will catch up at some point, but this would be a good time to remind you that my concert photographs can be seen in a much more timely manner by visiting V13 Media, which you can do by following the link.  If you'd like an even more direct route to my photographs, you can visit my personal page over there but using the following link.  Some bands hold an immortal place in history.  Deep Purple certainly has a place in that group.  One could trace the lineage of hard rock and heavy metal back to the group’s beginnings.  It has been over 50 years since the band witnessed a casino engulfed in flames.  And still we stop whatever we’re doing today when that opening riff plays over the radio or stereo at home.  Their current North American Tour rolled through the Place Bell in Laval.  I ended up just missing out on their previous visit so I was really happy to get the message telling me I would be able to cover the show.  Though some of the names and faces have changed over the last 50 years, the music that the band has created continues to rock as hard today as it did then.  As the dust settled, a rumble began to be felt from the crowd.  We were mere moments away from seeing some legends.  I for one, could not wait.  As the arena went dark, a video played featuring an aspect of every Deep Purple album that has been released.  From 1968’s Shades Of Deep Purple up to Splat!, which dropped back in July.   Ian Paice led the band on stage.  Rather appropriately as he remains the only member to have appeared in every version of the band.  Simon McBride’s guitar roared to life with the opening notes of “Highway Star”.  Roger Glover was laying down a rocking groove on the other side of the stage, rarely straying from Paice’s side.  Finally, Ian Gillan appeared from the center of the stage.  It may have looked like he was straining from time to time, but that voice is still there.  And still remarkable.  Deep Purple did play a few songs from Splat!.  Notably “Diablo”, for which JeffersonAirplane’s David Freiberg and Cathy Richardson returned to the stage for.  Of course, it was the hits that got the biggest reaction.  Deep Purple closed out the show with “Perfect Strangers” and ‘Space Truckin’”.  But it was “Smoke On The Water” which saw the fans in attendance explode.  The flammable energy threatened to blow the Place Bell roof straight to Montreux.  Though they are old enough to be grandfathers to a number of current rock stars, they demonstrate that ones age is merely a number.  The band continues to release rocking albums and tour the world.  Deep Purple put on a show for the ages.  They proved that you are never too old to rock.  Deep Purple are indeed immortal.  All of the photographs were taken at f/3.2 while using various different shutter speeds, ISO settings and focal lengths.  Here are the rest of the photographs that I took of Deep Purple while they performed up on the Place Bell stage.

If you would like to find out more about Deep Purple 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 Kansas, who performed earlier that night you can do so by following the link.  A big thank you goes out to Deep Purple's management group, Evenko and Christopher Gonda at V13 Media for getting me a pass to photograph the show.  As always, it is very much appreciated.  Deep Purple remain on tour until the end of the year.  Don't you dare miss it if they play in a city near you.