Despite having a broken foot, Vesperteen (A.K.A. Colin Rigsby) sang, drummed, stomped and danced his heart out at 416 Wabash in Indianapolis. Rigsby was accompanied by bassist Michael Bare of The New Schematics and keyboardist Michael Michael Cronin.
L.A. Guns at The Vogue 2/28/18
L.A. Guns, featuring original guitarist Tracii Guns and original vocalist Philip Lewis, wrapped up their Reunion Tour with a bang at The Vogue in Indianapolis, proving that they can still kick ass with the best of them!
Budderside at The Vogue 2/28/18
California-based Budderside showered their brotherly love on an enthralled Indianapolis crowd.
Hero Jr. at the Vogue 2/28/18
Indianapolis-based Hero Jr. had the crowd fired up with their hard-driving, original rock sound.
The Mowgli's at The Hi-Fi Indy 02/26/18
The Mowgli's brought a much-needed dose of west-coast sunshine and positive energy to the Hi-Fi Indy. Colorful, retro beach scenes provided the perfect backdrop for their catchy tunes and heartfelt messages.
Red Sun Rising at Old National Centre, 2/18/18
I saw Red Sun Rising for the first time in 2015 and was immediately hooked on them. They rock hard, with a post-grungy sort of edge and a sound that is completely their own. In addition, these guys know how to throw down a good show, and they do it with such energy and passion that you can't help but get caught up in it!
Flint Eastwood at The HiFi Indy, 2/9/18
I was both exhausted and exhilarated after photographing this amazing act from Detroit. Great, original music and positive messages, along with a fun, party atmosphere made for a fantastic evening at The HiFi Indy.
Live Review
Flint Eastwood, NYDGE at the HiFi Indy February 9, 2018
By Laura Fox
After my daughter, Kelly (aka Vixen Visuals), photographed Flint Eastwood last year, she told me it was one of the best shows she had ever seen. That’s high praise from someone who’s seen and shot about a hundred concerts in the past couple of years, so when I found out Flint Eastwood was coming to the HiFi Indy, I jumped on the chance to see for myself what she was talking about.
I was not disappointed. Although the Detroit-based group had no cool light effects, pyrotechnics, fancy backdrops or any of the trappings of a major event, they put on one hell of a concert. I completely understand now why the show sold out, and why Flint Eastwood’s fans will drive hundreds of miles for a live show.
Fellow Detroiter NYDGE (pronounced with a hard “i” like Nigel), currently on tour supporting Flint Eastwood, likewise needed a minimal amount of gear to entertain the packed house. His dreamy, original, synth-created compositions were as smooth as silk, creating a super chill atmosphere. Although he lists his genre as electropop or indietronica (TBH, I didn’t even know that was a thing), I also detected a pleasant R&B undercurrent in some of his songs. Whatever you call it, his music put everyone in a relaxed state of mind, kind of like a nice glass of wine before dinner.
When Flint Eastwood, came out, however, any sense of tranquility vaporized. Striding onto the stage like she owned it, vocalist Jax Anderson immediately took command of the audience, who willingly bowed to her will. When she told them to dance, they did. When she told them to crouch down, they did. When she told them, “Shhhh,” the entire room fell silent. That’s a lotta people to get to be quiet, especially people in a party mood on a Friday night. Frequently leaning over the edge of the stage, Anderson alternately wooed and challenged her audience, who hung on to her every word.
Backed by brother Seth (aka Sybling) on drums, touring bassist Joel Parks, and some slick tracks, Anderson was a ball of energy on stage. Dressed in Carhartt work overalls and sporting her signature braids, she belted out song after song with a sweet voice and a polish rivalling that of any mega-pop star. Her swagger, however, was more like that of a rapper, and there was a healthy dose of gritty Motor City mojo in her attitude. The genre-defying set reflected pop, rock, indie and techno influences with crowd favorites like “Glitches,” “Small Victories,” “Rewind,” and the latest single, “Monster,” all of which are as unique and different from each other as Flint Eastwood is from other artists. And maybe that’s the crucial element in Flint Eastwood’s fan base – there’s something for everyone to love.
Or maybe it’s the fact that Jax Anderson seems to genuinely care about her fans, and about people in general. More than once Friday night she exhorted them to be strong, to be kind, and to work hard. Before launching into the encore with her signature anthem, “Queen,” she again silenced the audience and spoke directly to them, saying “I have a message to the ladies out there…you are just as good as your heroes. The only difference…is that your heroes have put in a butt-ton more work than you have. So get out there, work your ass off, be nice to people and get shit done,” adding, “That also applies to the gentlemen in the room.” I’m pretty sure I’m not the only person who left the show both exhausted and inspired…and looking forward to seeing (and hearing) more from Flint Eastwood.
NYDGE at The HiFi Indy, 2/9/18
NHRA Nitro Spring Training, 2/2/18, Phoenix
NHRA Nitro Spring Training continued at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park as teams put new equipment, drivers, and crew through their paces.
NHRA Nitro Spring Training 2/1/18, Phoenix
The action was hot, fast, and loud at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park as NHRA Dragsters, Funny Cars, Pro Stocks and Pro Mods flexed their muscles in preparation for the first race of the season.
