Bandanas & Backaches
Charley Crockett in Cleveland, OH
One of the exciting (and frustrating) things about photography is how unpredictable it is. Things quite frequently do not go according to plan. You have to learn how to be flexible - in both a physical and emotional sense.
Recently, my back has been facing the repercussions of my job. The lack of stretching and hydration has caught up to me, causing a bit of stiffness and pain. My schedule is normally jam-packed, so I had finally planned a relaxing evening after work to go get a massage from my friend who is a massage therapist. I was going to then stay in for the night, catch up on some editing, and be a hermit. It was going to be perfectly blissful…
That changed at about 11:17am when I received the email saying, “Confirming you are all set to photograph Charley Crockett tonight.” I looked at my coworkers and said, “Uhhhhhhh, apparently I applied for this show and I just got approved…in like 8 hours.”
I began to have an inner battle between the urge to stay home and rest, but also not wanting to miss the opportunity. So you know what I did? I rushed home after work, plugged my batteries in to charge, raced to my massage appointment, sped back home to grab said batteries, and booked it back downtown to the show. I made it inside about 15 minutes before the opening act, pushed through the crowd to the pit, and met up with my pit buddies for the night. Evan Duly (@dspcle) and Sami (@disastrousbeauty) make me feel right at home and we work so smoothly together.
People don’t realize how much of a team effort it is to be a concert photographer. There are rules of etiquette and respect. You want to ensure that everyone is safe and able to complete their job. Always making sure to not be in each other’s way and not making it competitive. Music photography is about collaboration, not competition. We were a well-oiled machine that night, weaving in and out of our pockets within the small barricaded area.
It was hard not having time to emotionally prepare myself for the show that night, but in a way it made it more spontaneous and exciting. No room for overthinking and feeling as though I didn't belong there. I had no time for those thoughts to infiltrate my excitement. I was simply experiencing it all in the moment.
Drayton Farley was the opener, filling the space with his melodic and emotional music. I was just as excited about the opener as I was the main act. I will be on the lookout to shoot his shows again in the future.
Charley Crockett’s performance was even more magical than I anticipated. I hadn’t had a chance to look up what the stage setup would look like ahead of time, or what the lighting situation would be. As I saw him appearing out of the smoky haze under the blue lights, dressed head to toe in denim and turquoise jewelry, topped off with his cowboy hat, I knew this was going to be a good show.
I recently spoke to a mentor about that feeling we get moments before the artist appears onstage. We know we’re going to experience something fleeting and special that we will never forget. It’s like butterflies, adrenaline, and determination all blended together. The feeling that we belong there. That this is what we are meant to do. It’s a feeling that never gets old and, ultimately, is worth all of the back pain and crazy flexibility.
This was my first country show, filled with bandanas and cowboy hats in the crowd. Pedal steel guitar drones and upright bass plucking. The country style sign hanging 20 feet up in the air. I saw some friends in the crowd, ready to experience their favorite artist perform. It’s these moments that tie the whole experience together. Not just the artist onstage, but the crowd reciprocating the energy.
Overall, I would definitely say this show was absolutely worth the mad dash and the stiff back muscles. Also, getting a massage right before a show may be something I do more often in the future…
See more images here on my Instagram
