The Story of My First Official Photo Pit Experience
https://mad4itmusic.wordpress.com/2019/06/13/the-story-of-my-first-official-photo-pit-experience/
MAD 4 IT
A blog for music junkies
Menu
The Story of My First Official Photo Pit Experience
Written by Mad 4 It
TONIGHT: TROPA MAGICA WITH FIDLAR AT THE OBSERVATORY
I stare at the sign, reading it over and over and over. FIDLAR. One of my all time favorite bands, ever. A smile makes its way across my face as I make my way up to the box office. I’m nervous…shaky even, but I tell myself to relax, to exude confidence.
“Hi! Photo pass and ticket, please. I’m on the list, Maddisen V. Media,” I say to the cute, grunge-y box office boy.
“Um, yeah, you’re not on the list,” he grumbles, as he and his co-worker exchange a scoff. Suddenly, he isn’t so cute anymore, and my confidence begins to waiver. How could I not be on the list? I was SURE I was…100% positive. I ask him to check again, to no avail, and suddenly find myself sitting curbside, camera in hand, as I try to figure out how to get into the venue. I was GETTING into that show, and I wouldn’t take no for an answer.
Feeling defeated, I rummage through my emails, and take screenshots of the email confirmation, call band management, and wait outside for 45 minutes after doors had opened as I dishearteningly stare at the eager fans shuffling inside…but, still no luck. I still can’t get in. I just about give up hope, when low-and-behold, a man with a piece of paper walks up to the box office. He hands the not-so-cute boy the paper, “Here is the band guest list. Our media coverage is listed, too.” He smiles and walks back inside. OF COURSE! The headlining band hadn’t submitted their guest list yet! That’s why I wasn’t on the list! I immediately hop up to the window.
“Hi, it’s me again, can you check that list, please?” Box office boy looks at me, annoyed, and hands me the beloved wristband that would allow access into the show and photo pit. I place it in its rightful place, on MY wrist.
My first official photo pass on my own; for my own business, my own blog, and my own website. My name will be on photos of one of my favorite bands. So surreal.
Click Here to View Photo Gallery
I finally walk inside, still a little shaky, but radiating happiness, catching the last song of the opening act. I made it… just in time. I walk up to the barrier, flash my magic wristband, granting me access to heaven…I mean the photo pit, and take my rightful place near the stage.
The photo pit: my happy place. The in-between. Residing in the space between the band and the crowd, AKA the most euphoric place to be. It’s almost like an out-of-body experience. You are seeing the band in its most intimate capacity; you are so close, you could touch them. You see them, they see you, and you are both engrossed in the essence of the show; you pursuing your passion, and them pursuing theirs. On the other side, you witness the madness of the crowd. Each person completely lost in the energy of the live show; hands thrown in the air, epic stage dives and crowd surfing, lyrics being belted, shouted, and screamed with a ferocity and sincerity that you didn’t realize existed. It’s the most incredible feeling and sight, and words will never do it justice.
Snapping back to reality, I re-adjust my lens, and my position in the pit for the remainder of the last photographable song (we only get to shoot the first three songs). Click, click, click: the song ends. The crowd erupts into a fit of applause, as security ushers us to the barrier, releasing the media into the crowd. I look back and smile; my first official show, what an accomplishment.
I walk to the back of the crowd, securing a spot just on the edge, where I can get a little rowdy with the mosh pit, but not wild enough to put my camera in harm’s way. This is the point in the show where the photographers get to relax, and, let me tell you…I still get chills thinking about this performance.
I was amazed at the energy of this band. FIDLAR, a garage punk/skate punk style band from L.A., are known for their edgy, thrash-y, surf-style sound that brings an authentic SoCal vibe to the punk genre. FIDLAR aren’t afraid to be real with their lyrics, and often talk about controversial topics throughout their albums. Modern and angsty, they bring an energy to the stage that I have NEVER seen before. The bassist, Brandon Schwartzel, was bouncing around so much you would have thought he had 20 shots of espresso before getting on stage, and his head banging was 10/10 the best I’ve seen. I have never had so much fun watching a bassist, and I wish I could relive the show just to watch him do one more epic head bang. And, Zac Carper (vocalist and guitar) brought the laughs and the fun with his lighthearted digs at East Coast fans, and his epic guitar moves, (and um, let’s talk about that hair! #longhairdontcare). The whole band was having the time of their lives. It didn’t feel like it was the 100th show they had played, it didn’t feel like their third album; they played with a passion that a lot of bands tend to lose as they grow. They were entertaining, high-energy, and totally down-to-earth. Definitely on my “Top 3 Shows of All Time” list.
As the show concludes, there are appearances of all-girl mosh pits, dancing pandas (yep, you read that right, check the photo gallery for evidence), and not one, but TWO encore songs. From beginning to end, it couldn’t have been a more perfect gig.
The fans reluctantly make their way to the exit, but not before stopping by the merch table to grab a t-shirt, of course. I exit the venue with the best concert high I’ve had, yet, clutching my camera to my stomach in excitement as I hurry to my car to take a look. I can’t even make it to my car before stopping to take a peek. Wow…just wow. I can’t believe that I took these photos… I hop in my car, throw on FIDLAR’s latest album, ‘Almost Free,’ smiling and singing the whole way home, eager to get home and start my favorite process: editing.
All in all, the show was amazing. If you’re a punk fan, or even a rock fan, give FIDLAR a listen below.
If you don’t like the music, that’s totally okay, it’s not for everyone, but you can still view my full photo gallery from the show on my website: maddisenvmedia.com, and don’t forget to follow me on Instagram to see more photos and videos from the show!
Until next time,
The Story of My First Official Photo Pit Experience
June 13, 2019 by Mad 4 It Edit
TONIGHT: TROPA MAGICA WITH FIDLAR AT THE OBSERVATORY I stare at the sign, reading it over and over and over. FIDLAR. One of my all time favorite bands, ever. A… Read more
A Day in the Life
6:45 am: First alarm of the day goes off; hits snooze once. twice. three times; aching for just another 5, 10, 20 minutes of sleep… 7:00 am: Struggles to open… Read more
Hardcore + Psychedelic
April 12, 2019 by Mad 4 It Edit
On April 10th, I saw my two current favorite bands, Turnstile and Turnover. It was my second show in San Diego, and my first time to The Observatory North Park.… Read more
Advertisements
Occasionally, some of your visitors may see an advertisement here,
as well as a Privacy & Cookies banner at the bottom of the page.
You can hide ads completely by upgrading to one of our paid plans.
Share this:
Related
June 13, 2019 · Tagged band, bass, California, concert, instruments, music, photography, San Diego, SoCal, The Observatory, vocals · Edit
