I Shoot Rockstars: September 2013

I've got a lucky friend and by default I'm lucky too. My lucky friend wins concert tickets--all the time--and my lucky friend takes me to concerts!! You know who you are... thank you!! Wink-wink!

Tonight's venue was the Casino Ballroom up at Hampton Beach. I've seen a lot of shows here and I love the new renovation. It's brighter and more spacious and just feels cleaner. Back in the day the interior was completely black. Floors, ceilings, tables, chairs--everything was black. It felt dark and dingy and smelled like a frat house.

Everything is shiny and new now and it's a great place to see a show. The downside to seeing a show at this venue is that you need a photo pass to bring professional grade cameras in and yours truly doesn't have one of those coveted passes. I was reduced to taking pics of this show with my phone and BOY was THAT frustrating!! If you have any idea of trying to sneak one in I wouldn't, they check you and your bags pretty thoroughly and they will confiscate your goods or kick you out or both so it's really not worth the risk.

Bill and Jack

We got to the beach early and grabbed dinner before the show. The doors opened at 6pm and we wanted good seats before Blondie took to the stage, especially considering I had to shoot the whole thing with my phone!!! I was pretty psyched for this particular show because the band and their music would take me straight back to MY time--the 80's--and there's just nothing like that era when it comes to music!! As I sat there in my seat waiting for the show to start I had to wonder what Deborah Harry would look like and, more importantly, what she and the band would sound like. There is nothing more disappointing than seeing a band live only to find out that their awesome sound is all created in the studio and that they have nothing to offer you live. We had some pretty lively neighbors so we chatted them up a bit. As it turns out they were HUGE fans and good company. They kept the mood light and we had a few laughs as well. The conversation turned to questions about how old Deborah Harry actually was. Someone googled it and we were all shocked to discover that the woman is 68 years old!! This ought to be interesting............

The house lights went down and the stage lights came up and the opener took to the stage. They were OK but I was really impressed by the drummer. He was pretty awesome. As I looked around the room I noticed that the entire crowd was really getting into this opening act. Everyone was going nuts over the songs and people seemed to know all the words, including Bill and Jack. Hmmm, what's up with this? Who are these guys? I took to Facebook and commented about the band and confessed that I didn't know who the heck they were. It wasn't long before another friend of mine who was at the same show I was at commented to my post.... apparently the band was "X". That didn't mean much to me but apparently it means a lot to the head banging community because they are some big deal punk band. Who knew? I live under a rock and I've never really been a head banger anyway. Oddly, though, Blondie was also billed as a punk band. I guess they always have been billed that way but I don't consider them punk and I never have. They're more edgy pop in my mind but that's just my opinion.

Before long Blondie was on stage and the crowd went nuts! They sounded incredible, just like they did back in the day and their sound is totally pure, no studio enhancements here folks. I was a bit confused by the dunce hat that Deb came out in but she didn't wear it for long. The Casino Ballroom was the first stop on their No Principles tour and I for one felt pretty privileged to witness it.

They did all the fan favorites-- Call Me, The Tide Is High, Heart of Glass and so many others. They had a ton
of new tunes to share as well and I've got to tell you that their new stuff is just as great as their vintage music. Same great sound, same great songs!!!

I roamed around quite a bit trying to get the best shots I could with my phone and, at times, I was right up close and personal. I can tell you without a doubt that Deborah Harry does not look anything even close to 68 years old. That woman is as beautiful as ever and nothing was holding her back from rockin' the house! What a great show!!

While the quality isn't great, please enjoy the pictures below and see you at the next show!!

XO
Michelle