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!"
