Favorite Concert Photos of 2016

It is hard to believe how fast the year has gone. 2016 was a particularly hard year for me personally. From losing the outlet for my work, that ultimately keeps the studios lights on, after the sale of Corbis Images. As well as the direct effect on my family of the Fort McMurray fires, and by far the scariest, my father's health. These thing all had a affect on how I pictured things through the lens, but I had a great year working the Juno Awards, the inaugural YYC Music Awards, and of course the many talent artists I have had the privilege of working with in 2016.

I have to thank all the artists that have allowed me to photograph them throughout the past year, as well all my clients for your creative projects, and choosing me as your photographer. Most of all thank you to anyone has for a moment enjoyed a single photograph I have taken, wether you have realized it or not. If only for a moment one of my captures touched you, I am eternally grateful. 

On that note please enjoy my favourites from 2016 (shown in order of date taken).

Have a happy holiday season, and wishing you a happy a prosperous New Year!

Cheers

JD

NOFX + Pears @ MacEwan Hall

The roots of punk rock still run deep in Calgary. MacEwan Hall was at capacity with a sold out crowd there to take in Los Angles based punk rockers NoFX. After thirty plus years NoFX is still going strong, the crowd was pulsating awaiting Fat Mike and the rest of the crew to take the stage. Crowd surfing was happening among the crowd before the first note was even played. But what was different about this crowd was the number of young punk fans in the audience. I mean young, as I spoke to a man who had brought his seven year old son, as they both loved the music, the father from his skate days, and his seven year old in the now. There were dozens of similar stories this into the crowd. Lots of high fives for the young fans, as there was a comradery among the fans that was palatable.

NoFx and Pears would not disappoint with a high energy moshing good time. Fat Mike donned the sunglasses by the second song as he indicated they have been playing hard on the tour. With Trump being presidential-elect the day before and American NoFX, still firing on all cylinders, and a very young fans in attendence it seems like the perfect storm for a resurgence of punk.

A madhouse, tongue and check, and full of life.

If you have the chance check them out on this tour. You will no regret it.

Photos and words originally posted on Concert Addicts.

Halestorm + Lita Ford + Dorothy @ MacEwan Hall – October 18th 2016

The crowd had assembled to take in probably one of the most powerful lineup of female rockers that held center stage. Dorothy opened the night, a Los Angles based band, who for good reason were on the bands you should know list put out by the Rolling Stones. Dorothy’s smokey vocal are captivating, and gave a solid performance.

Up next was the legendary Lita Ford. Or as it was put by guitarist Patrick Kennison, “The Legendary Lita Fucking Ford!” Lita lit up the stage switching guitars that she jokingly pointed out kept getting bigger and bigger. As she went through her set Lita reminisced about writing with Lemmy Kilmister (we miss you Lemmy), and called for the crowd to hold up their phone for “Close Your Eyes Forever”. Notable was the drum solo by Bobby Rock, in which not only would he push over sides on his drum kit to near topple, but concluding with several headbutts causing the front of his kit to rock forward each time.

Finally for the night Halestorm took the stage. Fronted by the charismatic and vocally intense Lzzy Hale. Hale dominated center stage with her powerful voice, and flawless guitar work. The crowd was electric. Lzzy asked the crowd how many had seen there last show in Calgary, to which the crowd erupted in cheers. It had been just under a year since Halestorm had played the very same stage as they were on as openers for Three Days Grace. This time however, it was their show, and without a doubt, shredded the stage to the pleasure of all those in attendance. While the ladies ruled the night, I will note that Arejay Hale performances are phenomenal. Halestorm belted out the like of mz. Hyde, It’s Not You, Apocalyptic, Mayhem, Miss the Misery, and I am the Fire.

So here is to the powerful ladies of rock, and to the incredible amount of talent to share the stage in a single night!

Originally published via Concert Addicts