I am often asked the question "if you could shoot anyone, who would it be" and "do you ever get star struck or nervious shooting any band you are really into?"

this past weekend i had the privledge of getting to photograph a band, that, to me, has been a big part of my life since before i was even a teenager.

EARTH CRISIS

so in order - a brief history - the photoshoot - and the show.

they broke up in 2001 and on jan 27th in maryland they reunited for the first time in over 5 years.

if you know me decently - you know that I am straight edge - which means i do not do drugs - i do not drink - i do not smoke - i am drug free-poison free.

for those who do not know who Earth Crisis is - they are a band the brought the Straight Edge message to the frontlines of heavy music with an amazing hybrid of Hardcore and Metal.

Growing up I knew i never smoked, drank - yada yada - but i never labeled it until i really got a clear message of what straight edge was - and that message came from earth crisis.

so - enough history.

I got the thumbs up-greenlight to do a press shot for the reunion which means....

I got to do the first photoshoot with Earth Crisis in (what i believe to be) YEARS!

here are two of my favorite images from the shoot

Then on to the show.

From before the first note to after they were done there were between 5 - 10 people in the air at all times - headwalking - crowd surfing - pile on vocals - etc.

the crowd was a good mix of younger and older fans - however i think the older fans were more rowdy and intense then the younger fans.

you could easily tell the older crowd consisted of many whos lives were changed by the music of Earth Crisis - and it felt like 1993 all over again to so many in that room - and for so many it was their first time getting to see them.

The audience was fueling off the bands energy and the band was fueling off of the audiences energy - as both were unrelenting with a fury I have never seen before in my entire life - in going to over 1000+ concerts.

I have never heard a band play so tight - no mess ups - perfect sound - amazingly on point

Then came the moment that gave me goosebumps

Gomorrah's season ends - in which the end consists of a breakdown and "I AM STRAIGHT EDGE!" being chanted 4 times.

it got to the breakdown

but the band stopped dead and the 1,500+ crowd took over by chanting "I AM STRAIGHT EDGE" 4 times

then the band kicked in and all together - another four "I AM STRAIGHT EDGE" chants

to me - hearing 1,500 people scream I AM STRAIGHT EDGE - means alot to me - and to the way i live my life - to know we arent few and far between.

This was not just the greatest hardcore concert ive been to but the greatest concert in my lifetime.

"in this self is all i need, with this oath that keeps me free. To this, I am, forever true... I AM STRAIGHT EDGE!"

tonite was the last night of the killswitch engage, hatebreed, bury your dead tour.

completely sold out, jam packed at lupos in rhode island.

to say it was amazing would be a gross understatement.

also due to it being the last night of tour... shananigaaannnnss.

during bury your dead adam d of killswitch fame pulled his pants down to reveal bury your dead across his buttcheeks, while during killswitches set, mark (of bury your dead) came out in a swim suit made of duct tape, and a helmet.

aside from the shananigans, the sets were as tight and solid as they have ever been.

hatebreed and kse are probably the only 2 bands I could watch every single day of my life and never get bored.

which I guess works out well cause im shooting hatebreed 3 times in the next 10 days. haha.

it was great to see everyone from home (all three bands) come home, and end their tour on such a high note.

welcome home guys.

some photos will be posted tomorrow.

as some know

ive started work on a tattoo book - today was a slower day.

i shot Nic Reddy (best know as Ace Frehley (sp?) from mini kiss) - and ended up hanging out with him for a while - ill upload a photo for you all to see.

and later on in the day shot a model named Anna.

nothing too exciting BUT! - i did get a brand new pet bat. no joke! - its adorible.

this week should bet getting more and more solid - in flames - lacuna coil - shoots for draven - should be good times.

that is all.

for now

<3 J