Blog Posts:
Lollapalooza 2009: Day 3
So I really hit my stride come Day 3. I kind of think the festival as a whole did too. Even after every muscle in my body ached from lugging around camera gear the previous two days, it was kind of a Custer's Last Stand to get great shots on Sunday.
Boys Noize really got a huge crowd warmed up for MSTRKRFT.
I didn't get more than a few shots of MSTRKRFT because some stage manager had a bone to pick with me and didn't let me shoot them. Which turned out to be a good thing because I just decided to leave and camp out for Jane's Addiction instead.
I'm glad I did, since they only allowed the first handful of photographers to enter the pit.
And that band knows how to end a weekend festival. So I got the best photos of the whole weekend out of them. Dave Navarro was back in the saddle on guitar backing Perry Farrell's screeching vocals:
And by the end of the show I was at the right place at the right time to catch this:
Lastly, thanks go to www.urchicago.com for providing press credentials for the weekend. Check out the well-written full reviews of the weekend there.
Full Day 3 gallery HERE
Lollapalooza 2009: Day 2
The weather completely 180'd on everyone for Day 2 of Lolla. In fact, it almost threatened to break 100 degrees! I was commenting with a fellow photog about how irritating it is when sweat drips in your eye when trying to shoot.
Yeah Yeah Yeah's put on a great closing set, but the stage lighting was awful because it required a lot of blacklight. So it was difficult to get good shots of them, especially amidst the most photographers I've ever seen gathered in one pit elbowing for a decent shot. Next time I think I'll rent a longer lens.
Lollapalooza Weekend Warmup
So this is more of a warmup for me, considering it was only Thursday. But Berlin was hosting a whole flurry of DJs including from Passion Pit and Brazilian Girls, so it seemed like a great way to crack my knuckles in preparation for the upcoming weekend. In fact, I think most people there were of the same mindset.
The thing I like about Berlin is it makes my job easy -- it's open til 4 AM and the drinks are poured with a heavy hand. There's nearly 100 photos of people dancing and drinking til the wee hours. If you were there, chances are your mug is in the gallery. Click any photo to find out.
Warped Tour 2009 Chicago
So Warped Tour made its way to Chicago, celebrating its 15th year plowing through the country.
I have to begin this entry by saying Gallows is my new favorite hardcore band. Not only because they put on a stellar performance, but also because they encapsulated pretty much everything hardcore stands for, and everything that Van's Warped Tour evokes. By that, I mean they applauded veteran bands and gave respect to the Tour's original purpose of supporting punk culture, but jeered its blatant commercialism and put to shame its exploitation of teenagerism.
All this while performing in the midst of the biggest circle pit I have ever seen. So very... hardcore.
Lead singer Frank Carter even said I "must be out of [my] fucking mind" to keep shooting in the midst of all the swirling chaos:
Also notable were Bad Religion for going strong longer than Warped Tour has, Anti-Flag who were probably my first political-punk band ever, Chiodos for possibly being the loudest, 3Oh!3 for being very energetic and pulling the largest crowd. Congrats to local 8-bit pop punk band I Fight Dragons, whom I covered at I AM Fest, and thanks to Scary Kids Scaring Kids for getting me the press pass and putting on a great set.
I just now learned the all-time record was broke for largest attendance in Warped Tour history with 23,000.
If you weren't there, click any photo to see the full set of what you missed.
2009 Wicker Park Fest/Thriller Zombie Walk
Wicker Park Festival returns even bigger and better this year, featuring bands such as Black Francis' new project Grand Duchy, homegrown Chicago superheroes Treaty Of Paris and Smoking Popes, and closing the weekend was Junior Boys (photos shown respectively.)
Also happening was a Michael Jackson's Thriller Zombie Walk. Hundreds of people put on their messiest makeup and fakest blood, ripped up their clothes, and amassed in the park, ready to lurch through the streets.
One guy wearing a Richard Nixon face mask instructed dozens of fellow Dead-Zeds how to dance the Thriller, which they performed several times like straight out of the music video. Also funny were some militant costumers acting as some sort of Anti-Zombie League "defending" the general public from the approaching onslaught à la Shaun Of The Dead.
Everyone was having such a great time -- whether participant or onlooker -- that it kind of dawned on me that in all actuality, possibly even ironically, the Michael Jackson Zombie Walk was really quite a celebration of life.
Redheads Have More Fun
This was a shoot I pulled almost last minute while I was in Columbus, Ohio for Thanksgiving:
Dani Fatal is Inked
Me and Dani did a long awaited shoot. We're gonna try and get these published in Inked Magazine.
Hair by Brianna at Prink Salon
Hair Salon Photos @ Prink Chicago
These are photos I did for Prink Salon. They do amazing, amazing work. Especially in the extensions department. Ask for Brianna.
I might add more of these later.
Finch + Scary Kids Scaring Kids @ Metro Chicago
Last night I shot Finch, with opening act Scary Kids Scaring Kids. I never really heard of the other opening acts, tho.
The show was at Metro, which is across the street from Wrigley Field. Coincidentally, there was a Cubs game that night that let out at the exact time the show did, making getting home rather difficult.
But the bands had fun, and so did the crowd.
So, without further ado:
The Faint and Jaguar Love @ The Vic Theater
Oh man what an amazing show!!
I would have got more photos but the crowd surge was making it impossible!!
So I just gave up and put my camera in my bag and danced my ass off!
:D
And one of Jaguar Love
It’s Getting HOT In Hair
New photos.
This is Lilith Ave Satanas. I noticed she had hair nearly a yard long. Had to take advantage of that! The last one is my personal favorite.
BOMB THE BLOGOSPHERE!
Welcome to Justin Gill Photo blog! This is my first post, where I'll post new photos, or links to galleries for event photography, or whatever the hell I want.
I'll post in the news section on the home page any time I update the blog. I'm trying to get photo passes for shows in Chicago. So far I've landed a pass for The Faint with Jaguar Love. I'm really excited about that. Hopefully I'll land more soon.