Day Three- Music by Train... we can see the light at the end of the tunnel

Sunday Night- Train. This is the night we've all been looking forward to. It was a sold out show. I'm not sure about the actual number, because every time I spoke with someone else the number kept going up. I first heard 6500 people, then 8,000, then 10,000! So I'm not sure what to believe. All I know is that it was quite a crowd, and it looked amazing from the stage

The band was pretty good, and they get extra points in my book because they actually let us shoot for three (yes, 3!) whole songs. There were twice as many photographers trying to get into the pit area. I do have some admiration for the high school kids who manage to talk their way in by claiming that they're shooting for their school paper. But I tell each of them to please stay out of my way or I will run them the hell over. And bless them, they do.


It's a good thing they stayed out of my way. The lead singer was one of the more active front men I've photographed. He ran back and forth on that stage like his pants were on fire. It was difficult to find that perfect position because he didn't stay in one place for more than a second or two. Luckily I had three whole songs to figure it out.


The sponsor tent was so crowded that I decided to roam around the festival and see what else was going on. I was hanging out with some friends at the other Entertainment stage when I got a phone call. Apparently the Jaycees were going to get some photos with Train right after the show, and the show was about to end. So I hightailed it through the park to the backstage area again- the whole time thinking how glad I was that I brought my flash. I had been cursing the extra weight, but now it was worth the trouble.

The guys in the band were actually pretty decent and friendly. I think we stressed out their manager a bit... but managers are easy to stress out.


But enough about that! Because, the last big night concert was finally over and it was time to kick back and have some fun. My friend Stacy celebrated by demonstrating the techniques that she hopes will win an award at next year's Strongman competition.
And then we blew off some steam like only the Jaycees can do. I'm not sure what that kid's doing there... pretend that he's writing a report, or doing research for some homework assignment.

Here we are sliding down the back half of summer. Summer concerts are still all around us, though. Lollapalooza just wrapped up tonight in Chicago. I've been shooting some of the shows that we've had out in the 'burbs. I photographed most of the bands that played in Naperville's Ribfest for a local magazine. And I recently I was hired by a local venue to photograph the great Smokey Robinson.

It's a great place to catch a show-

Everyone really enjoyed the show, and luckily the bad weather just missed us. There was another concert going on in downtown Naperville and my friends told me they got about 10 minutes of rain.
And of course Smokey is smart enough to know that even if you are a musical legend, it never hurts to bring along some ladies in colorful costumes and skin-tight lycra pants.

In a matter of weeks I'll be covering Naperville's Last Fling festival. There's two acts I'm looking forward to then- Robert Cray on Friday night, and Train on Sunday. I'm in the Jaycees, and we put on the whole festival so I have my fingers crossed for good weather!