#kyle kenehan photography

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No Sun, No Moon Tour in San Diego, 10/28

Had a Photoshoot at Soma San Diego with Veil of Maya. I shot the show afterwards too, up through headliners The Devil Wears Prada’s set. The VoM guys were all very kind and easy to work with and I was excited to see their set!

THOUSAND BELOW

San Diego natives played their hometown show opening the No Sun No Moon tour for TDWP and Veil of Maya.

SILENT PLANET

The next band up was Silent Planet, a group of musicians Ive heard a lot of great things about and was very excited to catch a set of theirs.

My buddy Mark Lewis was on the tour with them. I’ve run into him on runs with Phinehas and Sleeping Giant. He's a good guy, with a great smile.

Here Mark is watching Drummer Alex Camarena work. Good Times between two good Friends.

VEIL OF MAYA

Next band on stage was Veil of Maya! Ive seen these guys a couple of times before, but tonight was a little different. First, I got to work with them to create some press imaging and Also they had just released their newest album, False Idol, which is their second release with new vocalist, Lukas Magyar.

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

Headliners The Devil Wears Prada took the stage by storm. If theres one thing the guys in TDWP are not short on, its energy. Lead Singer Mike Hranica was all over the stage, screaming his aggressive lyrics into the mic while Jeremy Depoyster strummed guitar, bassist Andy Trick and backing guitars Kyle Sipress brought the show together with drummer Giuseppe Capolupo supporting on the drum set.

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Tilian Pearson

Last Year, I had the pleasure to meet and work with Tilian Pearson of Dance Gavin Dance on my birthday, April 24th! After exactly 365 days, I received his blessing to share the images we produced that day on my tumblr! I got the ok from his management a few months earlier during his San Diego stop of his solo tour. He had just gotten off Dance Gavin Dance’s 10 anniversary tour and was now doing a quick run with DGD’s ex-clean vocalists, all of whom have solo careers and projects. Jonny Craig has SLAVES and Kurt Travis was in A LOT LIKE BIRDS. but this day was about Tilian. 

He was out promoting his latest solo record, PERFECT ENEMY, released just a few months earlier. I caught up with Tilian in the bar of House of Blues with my buddy Jotham, the 16-year old son of my friends Leonard and Jerusha, who showed up dressed like a stagehand.

^ “Stage hand”

Tilian had some stuff to do, so Jotham and I waited around, chit chatting with Jonny who I had worked with a year earlier around the same venue.

When Tilian was ready, we wandered around Downtown San Diego, shooting some press for the Dance Gavin Dance singer.

We started with some basic white wall backdrop. Tilian was very gracious of his time, which was evident in the generous way he interacts with fans, and there are plenty in San Diego.

^ Top of a parking garage overlooking the streets of San Diego

This Purple wall was deemed appropriate, as this shoot happened just after Prince passed away suddenly. #PurpleRain

My thought process in these types of shoots are that I want to get a large group of differing shots to give variety in my product back to the client. Also, I like this shot in spite of the door frame not being straight. I think its unsettling but in an interesting way that doesn't detract from Tilian.

I changed the hue of purple just a bit in this one. I think I was just going for ‘pretty’.

^ “Beam me up into the MOTHERSHIP” (See what I did there?)

For more music from Tilian, check out his solo work on youtube HERE

or on Spotify. Dance Gavin Dance is also there. Go buy their latest album featuring hard hitting screams from Jon Mess, guitar licks (devotees call this genre Swancore) from the man Will Swan and, of course, the beauty of Tilian Pearson’s own vocals called MOTHERSHIP. 

INSTANT GRATIFICATION never felt so good...

THIS is my favorite DGD song

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Cloudside’s sophomore Album cover

I first worked with local San Diegans CLOUDSIDE in early 2016 when I was accosted by guitarist and friend Scott Szikla about shooting the band live at the House of Blues. My shoot then went well. I got some wonderful shots

This was a wonderful opportunity to meet the guys in Cloudside, and impress them with my skills as a photographer.

These photos ultimately led to the guys asking me to work with them again early in 2017 for some posed promo shots in the months leading up to the release of their sophomore effort, “IOLA”.

And a few weeks after these, Singer Jeffrey Jackson approached me about shooting the Album artwork for the release. Having wanted to work on more album artwork, I gladly accepted!

Jeffrey expanded on his vision for the album, saying he liked a fisheye lens perspective. Also he wanted something very rock’n’roll. He shared the covers of two sophomore albums of famous bands (VS by Pearl Jam, and Around the Fur by Deftones) as inspiration. I went to work, first using my mind’s eye to create what I wanted and thought might work well. I thought ‘Maybe I’ve already shot it!’ and so I sent over examples of pictures I thought might be cool. Like chickens.

The shot was cool, but not Cloudside’s kickbutt second album cool. 

Onto the next idea. Obstacle #2, and Interpol reference: My mind was blank! I did not have any ideas coming to me! Do I panic? I asked Jefferey for a deadline. He said they wanted to release ASAP so something by next week. YIKES! Luckily for me, he’s a decent guy and easy to work with. He offered to find someone else if its too quick. Fortunately or unfortunately I’m stubborn and told him I will have something. Time for a Hail Mary!

I spent one Sunday afternoon at a close friend’s Jazz concert, where his 11-year old daughter joined him on stage. While Father and daughter shared a song, a picture came into my mind of her little hands holding a delicate flower, and I thought this would be my picture. 

We shot some images a few days later, edited and shared the photos with Jefferey. He and the band liked one photo

but wanted the flower purple!

Now we have an Album Cover!

Here are some rejected photos from the same shoot:

^ As you can see, the flower started out pink.

^ And most of the photos started out in color.

different distances between the flower and the grass create different variations in amount of focus in the grass.

To Hear Cloudside’s IOLA yourself, visit HERE 

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Veil of Maya Press, SOMA, 10/28/17

Hello Music Fans!

I got the opportunity to work with another great band back in October called Veil of Maya. This is on the heels of the release of their newest LP “False Idol” I caught up with the guys to create some dark metal images on the San Diego stop on the No Sun, No Moon Tour with The Devil Wears Prada & Silent Planet & Thousand Below.

I’ve photographed these guys live a few times, and really enjoyed their first LP titled, “Matriarch” with new vocalist, Lukas Magyar, therefore I jumped at the chance to shoot with them out behind the venue in an alleyway adjacent to the San Diego Ice Company.

^ Dan Hauser, Bass

^ Sam Applebaum, drums.

^ Marc Okubo, guitars

^ Lukas Magyar, vocals

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Through Being Cool, 11/24

I was invited by my friend and guitar hero Scott Szikla to come out to San Diego’s Emo Night, called “Through Being Cool”. I have always wanted to go to one but never found the time. Whats the difference this time? I was invited to make some pictures of the live bands, so I guess EMO NITE + PHOTOS = Mad Dog. I cleared my Schedule and made my way down to Blonde Bar, hidden in plain site by some of San Diego’s premier mexican food joints: Lucha Libre Taco Shop and the Legendary El Indio.

I was there to hang with friends and photograph the two cover bands, both of which named themselves after the bands in which they tribute: LOUDER NOW and BLEED AMERICAN. My buddies Scott (Above, right) and AJ Peacox (Above, Left) were playing with the second band of the night, BLEED AMERICAN: A tribute to JimmyEatWorld. I also got to meet Scott’s Girlfriend, Elena (Above, middle). 

Another great thing about Emo Night, besides the great music, is all the friends I don't usually get to see! I got a lot of hugs, and ‘Hows it goings. It was Great Fun, Plus I met new friends which was great too!

LOUDER NOW

The Live band to play that night was a cover/tribute to Taking Back Sunday, a band that is still active touring having become popular back in the early 2000′s with hits like A Decade Under the Influence and MakeDamnSure, the latter being a hit single off their third album and namesake for the night’s Tribute: Louder Now.

Another great thing about these nights is that everyone is passionate about the music being played. It was really a great night.

BLEED AMERICAN

Second band up was comprised of some people from different bands I worked with in the past. Guitarist/vocalist AJ Peacox played for Weatherbox on the band’s final tour and thus was a part of my photoshoot for the group. Drummer Jason Dean is in San Diego based Cloudside, Which I’ve done some work before for. Tying the Three bands together is my buddy Scott who played in both Cloudside and Weatherbox, and finally my new friend Sean Tolley who was  in both live bands playing at Blonde Bar for Emo Nite San Diego.

^ AJ Peacox and cheesin’ Jason Dean

Such a happy and content drummer

Those are my images from the night. They’re alright images of a pretty fantastic event. I highly recommend checking out an Emo night in your part of the country, these things are popping up all over the country. For now...

... I’m through Being Cool.

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Dolphins off the Coast

A week ago, I sped out to the Nine Mile Bank with Wildlife Photographer and friend Richard Herrmann. If that name doesn't ring a bell, perhaps his more popular clients will. He has produced imagery for and with BBC, National Geographic, and IMAX, just to name a few. At one point he even had dinner with Jacques Yves Cousteau, having worked as an underwater photographer with the crew on the Calypso. I’ve worked alongside Richard a few times, from being second shooter with him on a wedding to some Web Consulting, creating a SmugMug Website, which could be viewed HERE

Today our goal was to locate a certain species of dolphin in the waters off California: Pacific White-Sided Dolphins. On our way out to Nine-Mile Bank, we ran into very little in the way of life, except for a single Bottlenose dolphin which was casually porpoising in and out of the water uninterrupted by our speed boat. Once we reached our waypoint, we found life. Not the mammals we longed for but life none the less on an ocean that seemed as lifeless as a foreign planet.

Hundreds of Common Dolphins on all sides of the boat. Racing, Porpoising, jumping in and out of the water. We Met a boat of fishermen that had struck it rich in the middle of the frantic Common Dolphins: Tuna! It seemed that for every line they placed in the water, they pulled up a YellowTail.

After pulling the boat in to the docks, Richard Told me about a group of Black Skimmers that lived in San Diego, one of two groups of this kind of bird in SD County. They were just down the street from the boat launch. We headed there on the way home to catch some Black Skimmer shots.

For more Shots by Richard Herrmann, click HERE, or HERE or even HERE

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Zero Tolerance Tour 2017 at SOMA

The Zero Tolerance tour kicked off on September 15 at Soma San Diego! This tour package featured Belle Noire and Icarus the Owl with San Diego Locals, Our Second Home opening and headliners Dayshell.

I caught up with the Dayshell guys to shoot some promo stuff beforehand and was lucky enough to catch all four sets with my camera.

OUR SECOND HOME

The night started off super heavy with metal core locals, Our Second Home

Singer Jonny Magana found himself on the stage floor often, showing his passion for what music they’ve created.

BELLE NOIRE

The next band was the first on the tour package to perform. Hailing from San Jose California, the guys played a great set to a filling venue.

ICARUS THE OWL

Following Belle Noire was Icarus the Owl.

^ This is Tim. Tim is strong.

Be like Tim.

*Pretty Stage Lights*

DAYSHELL

DAYSHELL makes good music. Go listen to it.

^ Shayley  Dayshell Bourget, dayshell

^Zack Baker, dayshell

^ Mac, touring guitars for dayshell

^ Alex, touring bassist for dayshell

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#70in24 - Take 2

This is the second attempt this quartet has taken to beat the Guinness World Record of most amount of concert “gigs” in a one day period. Their first attempt in May came up short by about 10 gigs from the record, 15 from their personal target. Their intention then, as well as this time around, was to beat the current record of 65 by performing 70 times in 24-hours around San Diego Ca. Spoiler Alert: They did it! 

After their first attempt back in May 2017, a few months of brainstorming, planning and a pinch of organization, they beat the World Record!

Some changes this time around included a van, which carried the musicians and their team from venue to venue, especially when walking wasn't ideal.

Also before this attempt they had a lot more venues lined up beforehand allowing them access to play. I followed them to about 5 around Liberty Station in Pt Loma, San Diego CA including an office building housing support for California State Parks

Next, they drove to The New Americans Museum, which told the stories and shared the history of peoples who left their country of origin and relocated in the United States. 

Amidst these stories is where the guys played.

Next we High-tailed it to a restaurant named SOLARE, where we played comfortable on a patio just outside the doors to the eatery’s entrance.

^ Matt, the percussionist, played a metal heater during this set. He is just two or three days into his marriage when he helped take the World Record.

“Grazie” Thanks for playing!

Next we zoomed over to Pinot’s Palette, a Wine and paint shop to play to an empty room of paintings and tables and chairs.

The guys’ biggest little fan showed up for a few gigs. His name is Ray, and he is pretty cool.

Just down the street was the Recreational Music Center, where the guys played to a house of kids

The final gig I stayed for was in front of a restaurant whose name escapes me.

Ray, Again.

Well Done, Guys!

You can find an online write up from the San Diego Union Tribune HERE

THE BAND

Mackenzie Leighton, Stand up Bass

Ed Kornhauser, Keys

Matt Smith, Percussion. Definitely not the Doctor.

Leonard Patton, Vocals.

This whole thing was Leonard’s Brainchild. He was the backbone to creating and organizing the while event. Hats off to him!

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Leonard Patton’s attempt at a World Record!

Hi Friends!

My good friend Leonard Patton (Far Right) and his small gang of SoCal musicians got together in early May 2017 in attempt to obliterate the Guinness World Record with 70 performances in 24-hours! The current world record is 65 in a 24-hour period.

In the days leading up to Leonard’s attempt, I helped him and his wife, Jerusha, contact venues and set up the schedule of performances. I also volunteered to photograph and witness the final 4 hours, from 6AM to 10AM Wednesday, May 3. These are those pictures.

I met up with LP and the guys just after 6AM in front of the Museum of Art in historic Balboa Park. During performances, and sometimes in between, Leonard would update his social media sites with his location, so that people could come catch a show. At 6AM not many people showed up to this spot.

LP & Friends took advantage of the space in Balboa Park to catch up on venue locations and performance numbers. 

This was in front of the Botanical Garden building, on the bridge over the Reflection Pond.

The third and final spot in Balboa Park was on the Prado. At this point, several joggers started making laps. 

Leonard had already been featured on several local news channels the night prior, as well as the front page of the San Diego Union Tribune, so a few joggers running by recognized him and took some pictures of the band as they played. 

The runners who didn't recognize him got to enjoy some free entertainment as they exercised. 

The next few stops for the guys were coffee shops around the La Mesa, San Diego, CA area. Here is Public Square Coffee House. 7:00 AM and I am finally getting some coffee inside me!

The band met up with some friends here who came to enjoy the music and, maybe, some Music History!

Next on the tour of local coffee houses was Bugsy’s Brew Coffee in La Mesa. Awesome spot to play, they had a bookshelf full of books, a guitar waiting to be played and, on this morning, LIVE music!

People are starting to wake up and watch the shows. As time is winding down on their 24-hours, the excitement begins to build in the gut of my stomach!

Leonard is a pro in Audience participation!

Although there were only a few people in the shop that morning, LP got them up for an energetic rendition of “You Are my Sunshine”!

“You Are My Sunshine” was the highlight of my quick 4 hour stint with the quartet. 

Next on the Coffee House Tour: Brew Coffee Spot!

At Each spot, a friend of the musicians’ was filming video. I think he’s planning to create a video promotional for the guys!

^ Matt “The Doctor” Smith on percussion

This was the most populated venue yet -- Finally! A Real Audience!

As Time dwindled down, the second to last performance was at Kaffee Meister Coffeehouse in Santee! In this shot, Ed Kornhouser plays with Leonard Patton.

The first spot and Last spot was an important choice for this event, the brainchild of Leonard Patton. For his final performance, LP and his band played the Off Broadway LIVE stage in Santee! Leonard has been a part of a number of the theatre’s productions, including currently, “The Road to Woodstock”!

News 8 sent a reporter and cameraman to film some of the band’s final performance of the 24-hour run.

The band was quite sleepy, but still played with all their hearts!

The darkened venue allowed me the chance to play around creatively with slow shutter speeds and my 18-70mm zoom lens.

At the end of the gig, Leonard got interviewed by CBS News 8 for a local story. His goal was 70 in 24-hours, and he walked away with 55. The Guinness World Record was 65, The boys came up 10 short. 

L-R: Ed Kornhauser, Matt Smith, Mackenzie Leighton, Leonard Patton

They may not have succeeded this time, but Leonard’s determination will not be shaken. He is already thinking and planning attempt #2 in six months with all that this “Practice run” has taught him. Plus he achieved another goal through this trial run, which was to bring attention to and raise funds for, a non-profit organization to provide music education to Schools.

To read the U-T’s article on Leonard, click HERE

For the Video Reports from News Channels click HERE

Also Right HERE

More on Leonard’s Non-Profit HERE

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A very LEONARD PATTON Christmas

(L to R: Peter Sprague, Johnny Steele, Leonard Patton, Mac Leighton, Paul Nowell & Matt Falker)

I was invited to attend my friend Leonard’s Christmas carol extravaganza at OFF! Broadway in Santee (Claus) California. It was a wonderful nite with friends, listening to Leonard and his ensemble perform their renditions of classic Christmas songs, and even a few of their own compositions. I brought my camera, and wandered around shooting the show and enjoying some sweet Christmas tunes. I was very snoopy taking photos. It was a show of Woodstock proportions.

^ Johnny Steele is a 17-year-old drumming prodigy!

^ Paul Nowell is well known for his popular YouTube channel! His videos can be viewed at YouTube.com/PaulTheTrombonist

^ This was a true joy: Leonard Patton and Paul Nowell on stage together. These two have created a bunch of great YouTube videos together awhile ago! Visit their YouTube Page and have a listen at YouTube.com/LeonardandPaul !

For more music from these artists, visit their respective web pages:

LEONARD PATTON

PAUL NOWELL

PETER SPRAGUE

MACK LEIGHTON

MATT FALKER

 Leonard’s Albums are all available at a pay-your-own price now at LeonardPatton.com/store

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Sumerian 10-Year Pt. II

Part two of my coverage of the Sumerian Records 10 year anniversary tour featuring Veil of Maya and headliners: Born of Osiris!

I want to jump into my second post of images from this show in San Diego, with images of VoM and BOO:

VEIL OF MAYA

These guys were just coming off their latest release of “Matriarch” which in my opinion is just a downright awesome record! I think their newest member and current vocalist Lukas Magyar KILLED the vox both clean and unclean vocals! Favorite tracks are “Ellie” and “Mikasa”

The drumming on Veil of Maya’s newest was clean as well. I was introduced to their latest and single “Mikasa” through a drum-thru video with VoM percussionist Sam Applebaum featuring The Word Alive’s Luke Holland.

^ This photo of Sam at his kit was also used to advertise his TEI workshop on Warped Tour 2016.

^ Lukas Magyar on Fiyahh

^ Now YOU sing!

BORN OF OSIRIS

Finally Headliners Born of Osiris put on one impressive show! Love these guys’ live production. Two screaming vocalists, a bassist with dreads, this band is everything awesome in Metal! If you get a chance see these guys!

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Time with mewithoutYou

Hello there!

I’d like to speak today about some of my favorite people out there on the roads of the Earth, traveling making fantastic music! They are the lovely gents of mewithoutYou based outta Philly PA USA. 

I first met the guys in mewithoutYou back in 2014, when they stopped at The Epicenter in San Diego on a tour they co-headlined with Touche Amore. at the time I had not heard of mewithoutYou, but I was intrigued by the name they had chosen for their band. It was one of my most memorable concert experiences as the venue was over-flowing with kids, fans wanting to see and experience their idols play songs like “Bullet to the Binary”. I also remember the heat of the night, the windows fogging up as well as my camera’s lens which caused the discovery of my camera capturing the cosmic starring of the lights pointed towards my lens.

I caught some of my favorite images that night, and met some new friends in the form of the guys in mewithoutYou. 

Fast forward to 2015, I caught up the guys in a great photoshoot at The Soda Bar, a venue in the North Park area and shot a mix of full band and individual portraits of the guys. I am finally getting around to posting and sharing these online now, in June 2016, in light of some of my favorite people on the road losing one of their own as well as their bus making its ascent to ‘Bus Heaven’.

I wish only the best for these guys in the future and look forward to seeing them again soon!

^ I told Beav to look over there and react

^ Two of these guys  are brothers. Ill give you a clue who: They're looking at each other.

^ Rickie, drummer extraordinaire!

^ fantastic smile on guitarist Brandon Beaver

^ Greg Jehanian, Currently on his last tour with mwY, badassist. Slaps the electronic fish for mwY.

^ Guitarist Mike Weiss, straight outta Philly

^ Aaron Weiss, frontman and guitarist and new-ish daddy.

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The Menzingers, The Observatory North Park, 11-10-2015

Mad dog here again.

Opportunity to shoot at The Observatory North Park, formerly The North Park Theatre as my buddys in mewithoutYou, came through town with The Menzingers, Pianos Become the teeth, an Restorations on the bill!

This was my first time shooting at ONP, but I think the lighting is great there, and my new friend Rikki is Production Manager there.

RESTORATIONS

I was late to the photo pit for this first band but security was kind enough to let start shooting 3 songs from when I got to the pit.

PIANOS BECOME THE TEETH

PBTT were billed second on the list of artists performing that night, These guys were surprisingly rough compared to what I was expecting from the other bands playing. Nabbed some shots of their set before my guys in MWY came out.

MEWITHOUTYOU

I have been fortunate enough to build and grow a relationship with mewithoutYou through photography. I first shot their set live at San Diego’s The Epicentre a few years ago, Where I asked a few band members to stand in and Let me take their portrait. Fast Forward I did more professional work of the whole gang this past June or July. It was great catching up with the guys. They are some great people and I was over joyed to see them again in San Diego.

The MENZINGERS

This is one band I had hear of only because they were managed by the team at Good Fight Ent. whom I had done some work with last year. I was able to use my connections there to acquire a photo pass to photograph these musicians. This was a great experience that I don’t believe I will be able to duplicate.

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Kurt Travis at The Epicentre

Better late than never!

I got the opportunity to photograph Kurt Travis on his San Diego leg of his solo tour. For me, what was remarkable about this tour was that Travis was on the road with his wife supporting him on-stage. Also supporting him was his guitarist, Zach Garren. Both Travis and Garren were ex- Dance Gavin Dance, one of my favorite groups out of the scene.

A few great openers started the night off...

CHARLOTTE HILL

My buddy, Jeremy, drums with this instrumental local band. Loved their music. Sad they are no longer a band.

HOTEL BOOKS

H.B. were a great opener for Kurt Travis. I have herd a lot about this band fronted by spoken wordsmith Cam Smith. Expect Great things from these guys:

KURT TRAVIS

Travis took the stage after Hotel Books with his supporting band, including Mrs. Travis and Garren. I felt excited for this occasion, as I was a fan of Travis and Garren’s former band DGD and was excited to see two of the band’s alum together.

 ^ Zach Garren takes a rest.

^ Liv Chelsea, Light tester and Photographer 

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FBF: Within Ourselves Promo

Hello Again!

I would like to take this post to acknowledge local acts, and the benefits they have to your health, and to the health of the music scene, and to me and my music photograhy. This band is a (former) local San Diego hardcore band called Within Ourselves. These guys are GREAT! They may have not been my #1 listen on my IPOD but, as people, they were pretty awesome! And most Importantly, they let me take their Picture. 

I would often see them at shows and, having shot some of their live shows, I knew the guys well enough to say hi and ask if they would stand in and help me test my lighting. That often turned into a full band shoot (see above).

I also took individual pictures of the guys.

^ Vocalist Damon Rue

^ Guitars, Conrad Daniels

^Guitars, Nathan Rue

^ Bass, Moises Magana

^ Tommy Thompson, drums

So, these guys were great to do that stuff. Recently I came across a promo shoot these guys hired me to do when they acquired a new guitarist, and were getting ready to release their 6 ft ep.

^ Poster I made for fun using the artwork from their ep with an image I shot 

^ ditto

In Conclusion, I cannot fully express the importance local bands have on the music scene. They help raise the individuals who work the professional touring/arena music industry, the managers, the photographers, the merch guys, etc etc. all while expressing themselves through their art. I am incredibly thankful for the love and support shown to me as a wee tadpole music photographer by Within Ourselves and other locals here in San Diego.