Dragonforce

Somewhere in 1985 a timewarp enveloped a band and spit them back out 20 years later, no really Dragonforce plays metal like metal was when metal was king. No grunting, no lack of talent being covered up with angst. This is the real deal. Next time these guys blow through this part of the world expect them to be in the big venues headlining.
God what I wouldn't give to shoot them at one of the big venues where there are enough lights to really get great shots. Every member of this band has that quality on stage that a photographer looks for. Most of the time it's one or two guys at most that draw the lens, not with Dragonforce though.I had to constantly keep looking around to try to catch everything which turned out impossible. Everyone was just too dynamic. They got the chemistry right and should if there is any justice go far.

One of the guitarists by the way cracked me up.. he has cup holders mounted to the mic stands and he had Corona Lights with a bendy straw in them so he could get a drink no matter which side of the stage he was on at the time. It's amazing watching this guy play and play fast all the while leaning over his beer drinking it through a straw. .. and they say Americas Got Talent.. bah
The light was a bit red tinged and the haze in the room from the humidity of 1000 sweating bodies made many shots less sharp than I'd have liked. Luckily though the sweat pouring off my head didn't short the camera out. Seriously the A/C was strained to capacity between Houston August and all the people in the club. Security pulled out at least 7 or 8 people from the front row area that were overheated or passed out. I think more people came over that barrier to get air and water than from crowd surfing. The club and band were passing out water bottles and spraying the audience with water just to keep em alive I think. In an odd way it made the show more "real" and not the homogenized choreographed crap you get in most concerts, I know that sounds strange but it's exactly what I remember live shows being when I was a kid. Sweat, smoke and real music.
Satyr
8/18/2006
satyr at satyrgraphs.com