wrapping it all up

Scott Avett

Here is my recap of Day Three of the Austin City Limits Fest.
http://ghettoblastermagazine.com/2012/austin-city-limits-festival-2012-day-three-recap/

I can't wait to do it all again!

home again home again

Me. Austin Airport 4:30 a.m. The only part of me that was fit to photograph

Yawn.

My flight was at 6:00 a.m., which meant getting to the airport at 4:30.

Bleck.

I had a great time in Austin and it was nice to spend almost a week away from work and mowing the grass and doing laundry and the day-to-day business of being Nora.

For my re-cap of Day Two of the Austin City Limits (with photographs!) click here: http://ghettoblastermagazine.com/2012/austin-city-limits-fest-2012-day-two-recap/

over.

My favorite shoes are staying in Austin.

Sorry Austin.

It has been a great vacation. I heard at least nineteen bands and watched at least twice as many Law and Order episodes.

The week was a nice mix of music, writing, watching television, and napping.

Between the flurry of wrapping up work and getting ready to leave town and the slight pressure to get the photographs edited and recaps written, not to mention the hours spent at the festival I was still a little tightly wound.

Today was the day of true relaxation. A lovely steak and a whiskey made it seem like vacation.

Just in time to pack and set my alarm for 4:00 for a 6:00 am flight time.

It was fun while it lasted!

red hot

Flea. Red Hot Chili Peppers. Austin City Limits Fest 2012

I was lucky enough to have photo credentials for the Red Hot Chili Peppers show at the Austin City Limits Fest. 

I’m blown away by the staying power and popularity of the band. At the risk of showing my age, my first RHCP concert was at the now defunct Indianapolis venue, the Patio in 1985. There are several grainy YouTube videos of the show (yes, there was video back in the day). 

I was in college then and I remember finishing my waitressing shift, driving the hour it took to get from Purdue to Indianapolis, changing out of my polyester Arni's uniform in the car, and spending my tip money on the cover charge and two beers. It was a crazy show. The band was all over the stage and in various stages of dress – there were tube socks involved, if you know what I mean.

Anyway, in the past 27 years I’ve seen them play in increasingly larger venues to arena stages. If anything the remaining band members – Anthony Kiedis and Flea – are in better shape now. Drummer Chad Smith joined the band in 1989; guitar player Josh Klinghoffer has been part of the lineup since 2009. For the record Klinghoffer was six-years old the first time I saw the Chili Peppers.

There were teenagers in the ACLF crowd that had been in the front row since 11:00 that morning that hadn’t been born when the band formed. The Red Hot Chili Peppers arrived on stage to thousands of fists pumping and screaming fans, and they started out with the energy to match the crowd.

They started with “Dani California” and played with an intensity reserved for younger men. Ironically Klinghoffer is nursing a broken foot and played a good part of the show from a chair, but couldn’t help jumping up and joining the fray several times.

The band ran through several of their hits, “Otherside,” “Suck My Kiss,” “Tell Me Baby,” “Under the Bridge,” By the Way,” and “Give it Away” during their two-hour set. I can’t imagine that everyone didn’t have a great time.

I know I did. 

success

Danny Matthews and Tyler Wheeler

My camera and computer are friends again!

I'm busy editing that photos of the eight bands I photographed today.

Here is a recap of yesterday's music: http://ghettoblastermagazine.com/2012/austin-city-limits-festival-2012-day-one-recap/

I'll leave you with one of the first photos that I took day. Check out the Wheeler Brothers, I think you'll like 'em.

trapped

I had a great day at at the Austin City Limits Festival.

I interviewed one band, the Wheeler Brothers and photographed five shows.

It was hot and muggy and I was sweating like an Indiana farm girl, but it's fun to be part of the fray.

I was looking forward to downloading the photos and posting a photo essay for Ghettoblaster, when I discovered that my new camera and old laptop don't talk to each other when you try to download RAW photos. Right now the photos are held hostage on my camera. I can't download the new software package because my computer has an older version of OS X.

So, I'll leave you with a photo of a photo on my camera of the beautiful and talented Esperanza Spalding.

And I've already adjusted my camera to a setting that my MacBook will like.

photographer

I picked up my photo credentials for the Austin City Limits Fest tonight.

The credentials are a wristband that you have to wear for all three days of the festival. Once you set the clasp the only way to take it off is to cut it. This insures that you won't share it with someone else.

Once I picked it up I worried that I would lose it before tomorrow.

I don't know why it didn't occur to me to put it on right away?

decompression

Today was spent finishing one book and starting another, watching three Law and Orders in a row, napping until my back hurt from laying down so long, and a trip outside the house to see my friend uber-talented Stanley Smith play in at the delightful Elephant Room in Austin.

Can't think of a better way to start my vacation.

panic

I left for the airport straight from work today.
It was weird to see my suitcase sitting next to my desk.

I don't know about you, but sometimes it is more hassle to get ready for vacation than it seems worth. It spent the whole day concentrating on getting the things on my list done - and I did it!

Made it to the first plane in time, and am now enjoying a two hour layover in Chicago. I'm starting to relax already - nothing to do with my dinner of an Irish whiskey and popcorn, I'm sure.

packed

I'm leaving for Austin tomorrow.

I have a photo pass for the Austin City Limits Fest. I'll be writing and shooting photos for Ghettoblaster Magazine. 

As you can see my suitcase is pretty small. I've got it down pat after five years. Cotton skirts, Indianapolis-centric tees, vintage Converse All Star shoes, a going to church dress, and plenty of undies.

Hauling my MacBook, camera, three lenses, and all of the cords necessary takes up more room.

And lest you think I'm crazy for announcing on the World Wide Web that I'm leaving town for a week absolutely anything of value that I have is going with me. If you swing by the house please water the plants.