Night Six!! Really?! No way, that has to be a mistake...right? The OC Music Awards showcases are already waning, though it seems like they began only yesterday. Night six was yet another great acoustic performance, featuring five up and coming talents - Justin Soileau, Micah Brown, Parker Macy Blues, Danny Maika, and FoxxHound - as they battled ahead to attempt a spot in the Best Live Acoustic Finals, which will take place at the Fullerton Museum on Thursday, February 24th.
I learned a lot this evening, as it happens. First, it's nice to have friends at your side. I was pleased to have company tonight with my friends Rico and Eric. Rico has a brand new camera, and was excited to join me to try his hand at live band photography. I also learned that it is more difficult than it appears to navigate a filled-to-capacity coffee shop in order to get into prime shooting position - helps to have friends in this case, too. After all, there's safety in numbers when you have to shove your way up to the front. Finally, I learned that there are two different Gypsy Dens in Orange County, and if you wanted to see live music on this fine Tuesday, you weren't going to find it back down at the Anti Mall (home to the other Gypsy Den). So after the drive back up from Costa Mesa to Santa Ana, I was a bit tardy arriving tonight and, as a result, missed Justin Soileau's set entirely. I was bummed, but I hope to catch him next time around.
Please enjoy some of my favorite shots from tonight...and be sure to tell your friends who perform live - Jason Barrett Photography is available for hire, and ready to capture their live energy as well!
Micah Brown
Parker Macy Blues
Danny Maika
FoxxHound
The OC Music Awards Showcase continues next Tuesday with the Best Live Bands, night seven, at the Slide Bar in Fullerton, CA. Two of my recent favorites, Echo Echo and Stereofix will be playing. Make plans to check them out, won't you?
The time passed quickly last week. It seems like yesterday I was down at The Lab, listening to acoustic rock and getting into minor traffic accidents, courtesy of the teeny, tiny, impossible to negotiate Anti Mall parking lot. But enough about me, it's time to enjoy some more images. This week the OC Music Awards, along with the usual sponsors like KROQ radio, Wahoo's Fish Taco, and Popchips, made it's way down to the Tiki Bar in Costa Mesa. Now, I used to work at the Enchanted Tiki Room at Disneyland, but this place is completely different. Flocks of macaws and Bird of Paradise are replaced with Red Bull energy drinks and sweaty fans. But since this week's line-up was decidedly harder edged, featuring such bands as Entice, Railroad to Alaska, Pistolero, and Seedless, the sweatiness was more than appropriate. Please enjoy this round of images, as always.By the way, if you happen to be in a band and you like what you see here on my blog, feel free to hit me up. I am in business to serve local bands and performers with live concert photos as well as portraits for album art or personal use! Need to update that lousy headshot of yours? Give me a call!
Entice
Railroad to Alaska
Pistolero
Seedless
**My apologies to any fans or members of She Screams Remedy - I was not present for their set**
Another Tuesday in January, another opportunity to take in some live music. This time, a little softer than last. Night Four of the OC Music Awards showcased some of the best acoustic talent in Orange County, and took place under the stars and adjacent to the heat lamps at The Lab in Costa Mesa (AKA The Anti-Mall). Tonight's line-up featured many crowd favorites, namely The Orange Effect, The Relative Strangers, I Hate You Just Kidding, Case Brothers, and Fast Forward Romance. Even though you can't hear any of these bands here on my blog, I bet you'll still enjoy seeing some of the best images from the night (check 'em out!).As a footnote to tonight's post, I happened to get to the show early enough to score one of the "first fifty are free" tacos from Wahoo's! Free taco, free acoustic show, rockin' images...I was a happy guy. 
The Orange Effect hit the stage first and featured a wide array of acoustic instrumentation.
The Relative Strangers - more than just a clever name. They are comprised of two sets of identical twins.
To my loyal blog followers, I Hate You. Just Kidding.
Case Brothers brought with them a massive pack of supporting fans. And they were loud! 
Fast Forward Romance, a dynamic and sweet sounding duo, closed out the evening in style.
Please leave some comments if you are so inclined; your feedback is welcome!
