Sprite Photography

I find this title to be suiting, as my lover is away and I'm still at home, passing the time working and taking photos like I always do.
He by no means took my whole heart, as I have my camera with me, but I definately feel his absence.

Last night was a spectacular show at DV8. I had a meeting with Nicolette, my mediator of sorts from the school, and went straight to the tavern after that. I was there before 9 and one of the first people to arrive. It wasn't so bad, sitting by myself. I bought a drink and chatted with the bartender for a while. Shortly after I arrived Joe Vickers of Audio/Rocketry arrived and we said our hellos and he asked where my posse was, so we chatted a little bit about the short tour Owls By Nature has embarked on. He went about his pre-show duties and Ryan and his friend Paul appeared shortly thereafter. They were already rather tipsy but were welcoming to my presence and are good company.
Katelyn and Jenn, 2 of the girls I met at the BOTM showcase (the Zombie girls from the bathroom photoshoot) arrived as well, and we hung out and chatted for a bit.
As more familiar faces joined the crowd Rusty got on stage and played a wonderful and unplanned set with Joe's guitar. He was a good start to the night, and there was a drunk fella named Jeremy dancing around that was extremely amusing.

I took a few shots of Rusty (and Jeremy) and concluded that the lighting in DV8 was no good, and pondered what to do with my flash. A girl at McBain told me the other day that a film canister is a good diffuser, but alas I had none. So I grabbed a napkin and used my hair tie to hold it inplace around my flash. Paul made fun of me because I had a fancy camera with a tissue on my flash, but it served me quite well and DIY is the way to do it anyways.

After Rusty's set, Spencer Jo of Rum Runner got up on stage. He played a FANTASTIC set, and everyone was having a good time. He sang songs of rain and growing up in Calgary, made jokes about monkeys, and mentioned that it was his first show since he'd awoken of a coma, explaining that he started playing harmonica as means to regain use of the right side of his face. And he was damn good with it. Joe played a couple of songs with him and they sounded great together.

Next on the bill was the Old Sins. They, too, were fantastic. It's been years since I've seen a good punk band play, and the lead singer even played harmonica. They had fantastic stage presence and sounded great from start to finish. I got some pretty awesome photos of them and enjoyed myself thoroughly.
At some point during this set, Jeremy noticed me running around with my camera and decided I'd be someone fun to hang out with. So he motioned to my camera, and I let him hold onto it and try to take pictures. I did not, however, let go of the strap and this frustrated him midly, but was too drunk to really care.Hence my holding onto the strap. It was slightly awkward and a lot of people were staring but he was having fun, and my camera didn't get hurt so all was well.

During the break between Old Sins and Audio/Rocketry, I had a nice little chat with Ryan and Paul. We discussed drunkeness and the price of alcohol. I mentioned how I can't justify buying drinks in the bar 'cause it's too expensive, and Ryan tried to gimme 5$ for a drink, which I refused. Paul made jokes about how its classier if he just gives me the drink. So Ryan moseyed down the bar to purchase a drink for me, and I talked with Paul. After about 10 mins Ryan wasn't back yet, and Paul needed a drink, and offered to buy me one as well. I just responded with my usual. "I won't say no to a free drink." He went to get our drinks.. and Ryan came back with my rum and coke. When Paul came back he looked a little miffed, but shrugged it off and said "You need to catch up, anyways."
Around this point Jeremy came over and was leaning/hanging onto me and my chair, and took it immediately when I stood up. My stool wound up right in center in the front 'row' and he sat there for a good chunk of their set, managing to get in a bunch of pictures he was not meant to be in. -__-

Audio/Rocketry played an amazing set, as per usual.I just can't get enough of these guys! They've got a new member, whose name is Blair, that plays washboard and mandolin or something, and there was tons of interaction with EVERYBODY. There was this drunk guy that had been creeping on me at the Wunderbar a few weeks back that was up on stage for half their set, Spencer was on and off the stage, Laine was up there with a tambo at one point and the washboard at another, Ryan was up on stage with the tambo, Jeremy was dancing.. It was insanity, and beauty.
The boys hammed it up a little bit for me, as did various members of the audience. I bounced between a tungsten and cloudy white balance. I can't decide which effect I like better.. FYF at Lyve was mostly tungsten, but last night was mooostly cloudy. Dunno. I have no niche I suppose.

After the show everyone milled about for a bit visiting. I had a bit of a talk with Ben, the lead singer of the Old Sins. He asked if he'd seen me tearing down a poster for the show earlier in the evening,and when I sheepeshly admitted to it he laughed and said it was okay 'cause he saw me roll it up and put it in my bag, and just that it had concerned him momentarily when he drove by and saw it. I told him that I took pictures, that I was impressed, and that I'd be coming to their shows more often. He seemed excited to have someone taking pictures of the band, and said I might be on guestlists in the future. Swiicked.
When Ben and I finished our conversation, I went and chatted with Spencer for a good length of time. He is a lovely man if I've ever met one. Despite his high level of intoxication, we had a lovely talk. For some reason he had 3 beer, so he gave me one, and he managed to drink 2 during our conversation, and was eyeballing a stray Kokanee for good 10 minutes at the end before Joe came and grabbed it. LOL.
I sat down with him and we talked for at least half an hour. He's one of those really awesome people that you meet that is genuinely good, and can hold up a good conversation. We spoke of the close friendship of our circle in Edmonton, and I believe I have him convinced to come out to Backwater Bash next year. Mikey came and Spencer told us the story of his coma, how he'd been in a fight and his father was told he'd be a vegetable.. But he pulled through, and while the right side of his face is still partially paralyzed, he is happy and thriving, playing music and even invited me along to the next stop on his mini tour ahah!
He was very sweet, and I am very glad to have met him.
While I tried to say goodbyes, I kept getting distracted. Joe gave me a tshirt, and said I owe him a beer.
I helped them take gear out to their vehicle, and then stood and chatted a bit more with Matt Murphy and Spencer.
Murph thanked me for taking pictures and said that I've got an eye for it. It meant lots.

I just wonder when these guys are going to realize that I don't need thanks for doing what I love!
<3

Here are the photos..
Tomorrow night, I'm hoping to catch the Weekend Kids at the Wunderbar, and the I'm scooting to On The Rocks to catch Feast Or Famine.
I got Feast Or Famine's new album last night at the show, it's fucking fantastic!! I highly reccomend you grab a copy if you can.