R.E.M. at SXSW 2008 - more photos... photo by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer

by jeff barringer
club kingsnake staff

I had heard way back in December that R.E.M. was going to headline SXSW in 2008 and immediately began hearing rumors that they were going to be this years surprise guests at Roky Erickson's Ice Cream Social. As the date's grew closer more and more confirmations came in, from very, very reliable sources. By the day of the Ice Cream Social the tension was palpable, everyone was hoping, and in fact the production schedule had an hour slotted for them right before Roky. Listed as "Special Guests" everyone had their fingers crossed.

It was just not to be.

It turned out that Austin City Limits had invited them to film a set and it was at exactly the same time they had been slotted to be at the picnic.

Instead of ME filming an intimate performance of R.E.M., the lucky bastards over at KLRU got the privilege. My loss, however, is definitely the worlds gain. Instead of my grainy, bouncy YouTube videos everyone will get to watch R.E.M.s performance on Austin City Limits in rich H.D., with excellent production quality audio, starting this Saturday on your local PBS stations. It's a great set too, R.E.M. was in rare form the night before and the energy just carried over to the ACL set.

Maybe next time Austin City Limits will invite me too.

To check out the set list, see pictures, and watch streaming video from the show online check out the Austin City Limits page at http://www.pbs.org/klru/austin/

Technorati Tags: Austin, Roky Erickson, R.E.M. , Austin City Limits, SXSW

ZZ Top at The Backyard - more photos... photo by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer

by jeff barringer
club kingsnake staff

Well, I didn't get approved to cover Iron Maiden down in San Antonio tomorrow, but I did get approved to cover last Thursday's ZZ Top show at The Backyard.

It was hot, humid, and sticky from the preceding days storm's. With the parking area muddy, Jay West, Gary Miller and I all hopped a shuttle bus over at Home Depot for the last 5 minutes of our trek for what turned out to be a jam packed show. We all chuckled when the Direct Events valet admonished us with the "Remember no cameras" as we boarded. Between the 3 of us we probably had $20,000 worth of Cannon and Nikon gear, and what turned out to be the only 3 photo passes.

Great set. I took lots of pictures and had a lot of fun, even though I tripped in the mud in the pit and almost skidded to the ground. Billy saw me lose it from onstage and reacted. Ouch!

While we were busy out at The Backyard, club kingsnake photographer Jaime Butler was over at Stubb's BarBQ covering the Nylon Magazine Tour. She got to check out and shoot some neat bands including Be Your Own Pet, The Virgins, and the Switches. Look for more Austin concert pics from Jaime throughout the summer.

The Switches At Stubb's

The Virgins At Stubb's

Be Your Own Pet At Stubb's

Technorati Tags: Austin, ZZ Top, The Switches, The Virgins, Be Your Own Pet, Stubb's, The Backyard

Billy Gibbons at Roky Erickson's 2008 Ice Cream Social - more photos... photo by Jeff Barringer - Staff Photographer

by jeff barringer
club kingsnake staff

Gee whiz, another venue bites the dust. One of my favorites too.

This summer will be the last season for Austin's The Backyard, at least in it's present location. Tim O'Connor owner of The Backyard and Direct Events announced back in April that the venue would close at the end of the summer and that they are working with the City of Bee Cave to develop a new Backyard. Until then we have all summer to enjoy a bunch of neat shows.

First off will be ZZ Top this Thursday and tickets are still available. We have a request in to shoot the show so we've got our fingers crossed that we will be there. I got to shoot Billy Gibbons backstage at Rocky Ericson's Ice Cream Social during this years SXSW, but have been dying to shoot the whole band for a long long time, and this might be my last opportunity for a while.

On June 1st The Backyard will host The Steve Miller Band along with Joe Cocker, then 311 and Snoop Dog will be pulling a 2 nighter on August 2nd and 3rd. I got to shoot 311 at The Backyard last year and it was a great show. In fact I saw a bunch of great shows at The Backyard last year including The Black Crowes, Incubus, Chris Isaac, Dream Theater. Redemption, Into Eternity, David Alan Coe, and Widepread Panic. I will really miss The Backyard. For tickets to any of their upcoming shows see http://www.thebackyard.net/

Technorati Tags: Austin, ZZ Top, Steve Miller Band, Joe Cocker, 311, Snoop Dog, The Backyard

Geddy Lee of Rush- more photos... photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer

by jeff barringer
club kingsnake staff
Ok, music photographers out there know what I am talking about. We all have bands that we would like to shoot but haven't yet either through lack of touring, not having the stones to get the credentials, or draconian photo policies.

I got to take one of those bands off my list last month when I got an opportunity to shoot Rush, a band on my list since the 70's when their album 2112 was one of my first album purchases. What a fantastic show to shoot too, I want to thank Alex, Geddy, and Neil for giving me the opportunity and for inviting me to stay to watch the whole show. It was a once in a lifetime opportunity to get to shoot the gods of my youth, and how appropriate that I should get to shoot their Snakes and Arrows tour!

That got me to thinking, again, about all the other bands that are on my "must shoot before I die" list, who ranks, why, and just how far would I go to shoot them. After much internal dissension, here is my list, but I am terribly conflicted. Now a few disclaimers, the majority of the important band members must be alive, and there must be more than a small hope that they will either tour or play together again.

1. Led Zeppelin - I would go anywhere in the world for an opportunity to shoot them. I don't see it happening
2. The Rolling Stones - When they played Austin they only allowed 3 photogs to shoot. Next time I plan on being one of these 3.
3. U2 - They will never play Austin, but if I had a photo pass I'd fly to either coast.
4. The Sex Pistols - I would go anywhere in the states to shoot them. I would fly to London if the photo shoot included at least 2 minutes of verbal abuse directed at me by Johnny Rotten.
5. Pink Floyd - Who wouldn't want to shoot an inflatable pig? Got to be the whole band though.
6. KISS - This would be a can't miss for me, BUT it would have to be the original 4 members.
7. Judas Priest - This one may come true this summer! Not bloody likely, but it might.
8. ZZ Top - This one may come true THIS MONTH! YAHOO! And at The Backyard too, one of my favorite venues!
9. The Cure - This one may come true in June! Got my fingers crossed for their stop at the Austin Music Hall. If I don't get it I will be hosed all the way around since the show is way sold out and I didn't get a ticket.
10. Motorhead - This one may come true this summer, but very unlikely. They clamped down on photogs like the hand of god reaching down from the heavens to smite them at their recent Stubb's gig during SXSW

What bands would be on YOUR list and how far would you go to either shoot them or see them?