“My body tells me no, but I won’t quit, ‘cause I want more.”
Singer Sameer Gadhia’s voice was almost inaudible over the sold-out SOMA crowd singing (more like screaming) along to encore tune “My Body” on Friday.
“SAMEER! SAMEER!!!” I don’t think there was ever a moment when the lucky front-row girls weren’t reaching out in hopes of touching the singer (which makes for great photos when kneeling down in the pit underneath the outstretched arms).
There is such intense energy in every note Gadhia sings; and when he’s not singing he’s dancing around the stage playing his tambourine like a mad man.
This makes for awesome concert photos! Although it’s more challenging, photographing a lively band is much more enjoyable.
This was also the case with opening band Walk The Moon. They were the perfect opener for Young The Giant. They recently released a 3-track EP in anticipation of their full-length album coming in May and they are clearly excited about it. All four members are incredibly energetic; as the only photographer I was all over the pit in an attempt to get as many good shots as I could!
At this show there wasn’t any spotlight consistency or pattern, so my ISO was a little higher than I would have liked (about 1000 most of the time). But there was something at this show that I’ve never seen at any show before; colorful images projected onto the ceiling. There were rose petals and other artistic patterns, usually in green or red light, circling the stage like the light from a disco ball.
So the majority of the time I chose to take wider shots, unless of course Sameer was belting out a note.
Overall this was a great concert photography experience! The only bad part was the venue. When SOMA has big names the place always gets incredibly crowded; at a sold-out show it’s extremely difficult to push through the crowd to get up to the pit. I asked a bouncer at one of the side exits if I could walk down the path outside to get the door closest to the stage and they did not allow it. Also, I’m 5’11” so people really don’t want to let me in front of them. You’ve got to be aggressive!
Anyway, check out the photo gallery to get a good visual on the show!
Set list:
I Got
Guns Out
Shake My Hand
12 Fingers
What You Get
Cough Syrup
Every Little Thing
Strings
Camera
St. Walker
God Made Man
Encore:
Apartment
Islands
My Body
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