#danadriano

20th Anniversary reviews (yep, TWO of them): Alkaline Trio – “From Here to Infirmary”

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DS58AC3NqU8

Ten days ago I sat in the drivers seat of my car, smoking a cigarette while the awful smell of Mountain Dew’s “Game Fuel” filled my nose. My twin sister Jordan and I were on the way to Cincinnati to see Alkaline Trio, & instead of Code Red she mistakenly bought that nasty crap that tastes like someone added water to pixie stix.

That really did not matter though, because we were on our way to see one of the many bands we grew up listening to. Soon, Matt and Dan would be on stage before us and we were ecstatic.

I took my camera, ready to try my hardest and get some good photographs of Jordan’s all time favorite band. Nervous, I told myself that I would probably not get many great ones, and that would be okay. Even if I just got one awesome one from the night I would be eternally grateful.

I got over thirty images of Alkaline Trio and about a million of H20, the band opening up for them.

It was not at all easy however. Standing in line freezing and being hit up by people for cigarettes after barely finding a parking spot made me never want to return to Cincinnati, Ohio for a show ever again in my life. We finally got into the venue, and somehow made it to almost the very front of the room. Standing two people away from the fence that separated the crowd and the stage, I was ready. I had my camera, a Canon Rebel Xsi with my-not-so-awesome-50mm F1.8 but trusty none the less ready to go.

Once H20 came on, a guy standing in front of me offered me his spot so I wouldn’t have such a difficult time shooting. Beaming at him with thankfulness, I pulled Jordan up with me, now behind only one person. Capturing awesome shots of H20, I still couldn’t wait for Alkaline Trio to come on.

They soon did, and I was right in front of Dan Andriano. With moshers behind me, an enthusiastic Jordan screaming lyrics right behind me, and crowd surfers above me, shooting conditions were less than admirable. Matt Skiba was on the far left of the stage and I had great trouble getting shots of him with a fixed 50mm lens, but still managed to get some awesome ones.

What I learned from this adventure is this:

          I never want to shoot such a well known band from the crowd again.

Thus I will push myself even further and never give up. I will have press passes to shows such as this and eventually I will be one of my favorite bands official photographer. I will be a concert photographer with the ability to shoot from other places but the crowd.

You just have to tell yourself you can, and you will.

 Now here are just a few of those moments captured...

Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio

H20

H20

Dan Andriano of Alkaline Trio

Matt Skiba of Alkaline Trio

Dan Andriano of Alkaline Trio

https://www.facebook.com/H2Ogo

https://www.facebook.com/alkalinetrio