Jeff Campbell - "Stop and Go" CD Release - Red Devil Lounge

Oh how I love me some Jeff Campbell music. If you aren't familiar, Jeff is a San Francisco songwriter... and a damn good one.

I've done a number of photo shoots for this guy, usually for his band Pine & Battery (iTunes link). A few months ago I was commissioned to do some promo work for his upcoming solo effort "Stop and Go", and the other night I was asked to document his celebratory CD release show at the Red Devil Lounge in San Francisco.

What a fiasco! Not only were all the artists on the bill amazingly talented, but Jeff had like 9 people on stage with him throughout his setlist to help him deliver to a packed audience.

I should also mention that he has probably the biggest group of San Francisco talent make appearances on this record: Max Delaney, Charlie Wilson, Megan Slankard, Ryan Manley, Joel Ackerson, Brad Brooks, Kyle Caprista, Larissa Waters, Austin Willacy, Ezra Lipp, James Deprato, Jeff Symonds, and who knows who else.

Oh, and Jeff was a big proponent of me NOT moving to Seattle this year, which is part of the reason I still have a California address. So you can thank him for that.

Unless you wish I had left; then you can send him hate mail.

But regardless, here are a few photos from the event, and go listen to clips of his upcoming release at www.jeffcampbellmusic.com. There's a fantastic clip of his rendition of "Drive" by The Cars.

Jeff Campbell performs in San Francisco for the release of his solo record "Stop & Go"

Jeff Campbell performs in San Francisco for the release of his solo record "Stop & Go"

Jeff Campbell performs in San Francisco for the release of his solo record "Stop & Go"

All photos, of course, by Clay Lancaster. www.claylancaster.com

Meghan, Matt and the Ainsley House Wedding

This particular wedding was a special one for me, as I had the honor of shooting the wedding of my beautiful friends Matt Fazzi and Meghan Criswell in San Jose and Campbell, CA.

It wasn't too long ago that I was introduced to Matt at Shoreline Amphitheatre after his set with his then-band Taking Back Sunday (on the Blink 182 & Weezer tour). He was on crutches from his recent leg injury, yet he still hobbled up to our seats with my buddy Isaac to meet us and say hi.

After pumping my work on the TBS Myspace page, he and Isaac commissioned me to do promo work for their side project (at the time), Happy Body Slow Brain.

Fast-forward a couple of years and we had all invested hours of our time and energy getting HBSB off the ground. I've since done multiple rounds of promo photos for them, as well as a "making the record" documentary for Happy Body Slow Brain's debut "Dreams of Water", and a series of live in-studio performance videos. I am very proud to be a part of the the HBSB family.

However, I was even more proud to be a part of Matt & Meghan's family when they asked me to photograph their wedding. Not only do I love them to death, but many of our wonderful and talented friends were also in attendance.

The ceremony had a sort of vintage circus theme to it, with a reception at the historic Ainsley House in Campbell, CA. This was the first time I ever saw the groom be his own wedding band, as Matt performed with "The Zack Attack" (a cover band he formed with a bunch of old friends). The next day, the party continued at the Blank Club in San Jose as Happy Body Slow Brain performed with Lex Land and Gavin Castleton for a crowd of friends, family, and fans. The whole weekend was a blast.

Here are some of my favorite photos from the day. Congrats to the newlyweds! You both looked outstanding, and I can't think of a more pleasant couple to be involved with.

photo by Clay Lancaster

photo by Clay Lancaster

photo by Clay Lancaster

photo by Clay Lancaster

photo by Clay Lancaster

photo by Clay Lancaster

photo by Clay Lancaster

photo by Clay Lancaster

Jason Holthouser, Ian Fazzi, Matt Fazzi and Isaac Bolivar perform as "The Zack Attack"

Coming Around Again: The Current Trend of Re-Forming Bands

This post has nothing to do with photography really. I just felt compelled to post something about the subject.

I spent last night and this morning listening to a track called "Home" by Ben Folds Five. No, not Ben Folds... Ben Folds Five.

Some of you may be confused.

You see, many kids nowadays know and love Ben Folds. That's what they know: "Ben Folds"... as a solo artist. It seems a big portion of his newer fans haven't looked into his history to discover that he hit the music scene with Ben Folds Five (a trio) back in the early 90's.  I was a die hard fan of BFF, as was my brother.

Reunited Ben Folds Five in 2008 for a live Myspace concert.

Needless to say, it was heartbreaking to hear of their decision to disband in 2000... and for the last 11 years all I've had to go on was the three official Ben Folds Five albums, a live/rare album, and any demo or bootleg I could find.

Until yesterday, that is, when I was hit with "Home"... the first brand new Ben Folds Five song in over a decade. I was thrilled, and only become more thrilled to find out that a) there are THREE new Ben Folds Five songs on Ben Folds' upcoming retrospective album in October, an b) they plan to hit the studio in December to work on a new record! This would be their first new record as Ben Folds Five since 1999.

To my satisfaction Ben, Darren and Robert aren't the only ones reuniting lately. There's been a whole resurgence of bands that I grew up listening to that are now giving it another go: Smashing Pumpkins (sort of), Candlebox, Live, Soundgarden, Stone Temple Pilots, Sunny Day Real Estate (sort of), Faith No More, etc.

There must be a 10-year rule or something that gives fans enough time to move on, until they realize that much of the music nowadays is throwaway and they start longing for the bands that mattered. Actually, I shouldn't just say fans... the bands themselves needed a break to explore other career options, and are now finding their roots again.

Some of these groups (like Ben Folds Five) seemed to have split amicably and remained friends. Some (like Smashing Pumpkins) still have inter-personal issues and re-formed under the same name but with new members. And some (like Sunny Day Real Estate) have made a go at reuniting, but just can't seem to make it happen for the long term.

Either way, I'm stoked. In a time when new bands are cookie cutter clones and few offer more than a summer hit-single, it's nice to hear many of my former musical heroes coming back into the game. Maybe they'll inspire another generation like they did back then.

theFIVE10 Radio Live! - Otis Lounge, San Francisco.

Although a modest affair, Otis Lounge in San Francisco was kind enough to give us a bar tab and host our first-ever theFIVE10 Radio Live! event. Popchips also sponsored, handing out free munchies all night (which came in handy after a couple of drinks).

Our own host JC took the first DJ spot and spun some old school hip-hop, along with a rad Hall & Oates remix. Stepping up to the plate next was Danny Lannon (also known as the vocalist for the San Francisco band The Frail).

Music and drinks all night long... set on Maiden Lane; a little European-esque street crammed into Union Square and right in the heart of high-end fashion stores that I can't afford to even stand in front of. Enjoy some of my favorite photos from the evening!

Film maker Michael Franchetti and The Frail's Danny Lannon

theFIVE10 Host, JC

Calibree Photographer Jen Cash

theFIVE10 web ninja, Long Vo

Lucky ticket winners!

Host JC, Todd Buller and Isaac Bolivar (Happy Body Slow Brain)

Calibree Photographer Mike Cash, and theFIVE10 photographer Clay Lancaster

theFIVE10's JC and Clay Lancaster

theFIVE10's Long Vo handing out tickets to some lucky winners

A Perfect Circle - The Greek Theater. Berkeley, CA.

If Maynard James Keenan ever spends time on the internet, I hope he finds this blog and reads through it as I laugh in his face.

Why?

Because A Perfect Circle likes to make it almost impossibly difficult to take decent photos of them.

I'm serious. It was ridiculous. The stage was taller than I am, so I brought a stool. We only got 2 songs to shoot (instead of 3), one of which was like a two-minute intro. The lighting was all dim blue and purple. And last, but certainly most complaint-worthy: Maynard (the singer) is still in his phase of sticking to the back of the stage on a platform... with NO DIRECT LIGHTS hitting him.

So... Maynard James Keenan, Billy Howerdel, James Iha, Matt McJunkins, and Josh Freese... if you're reading this, I got some pretty decent shots despite your best efforts. You rocked for sure, but I was more impressed with myself tonight.

A Perfect Circle at the Greek Theater in Berkeley. Photo by Clay Lancaster.

A Perfect Circle at the Greek Theater in Berkeley. Photo by Clay Lancaster.

A Perfect Circle at the Greek Theater in Berkeley. Photo by Clay Lancaster.

A Perfect Circle at the Greek Theater in Berkeley. Photo by Clay Lancaster.

A Perfect Circle at the Greek Theater in Berkeley. Photo by Clay Lancaster.

A Perfect Circle at the Greek Theater in Berkeley. Photo by Clay Lancaster.

A Perfect Circle at the Greek Theater in Berkeley. Photo by Clay Lancaster.

Soundgarden - Bill Graham Civic Auditorium (San Francisco)

You may have been aware that Soundgarden has reunited and started to tour after about a 15-year absence. You may have also been aware that they held a contest through Talenthouse a month or two ago to select photographers for each of their upcoming shows.

The contest, as I feared, was sort of a popularity contest... meaning: some people who were chosen as winners had very "meh" work, but 400 of their friends voted for them.

Anyway, I didn't win. I made my peace with it and moved on with life.

But last week I spent an afternoon at the pool with Mike, Danny, and Angela... and as I hopped out to dry off, I received a voicemail from Soundgarden management asking me to shoot their show on the 21st. The winner for that date had to back out, and I came "highly recommended" from Talenthouse. Go figure.

The show rocked, and was everything I hoped it would be. I never got to see them perform before they broke up in 1997, so the shoot was a big deal for me on that level as well. Not to mention the opener was the Mars Volta.

Because I shot for the band directly, my images are technically their property. I will post some killer photos here very soon, but I made an agreement that I would wait until they have a chance to post my photos on their websites first.

So... check back here in less than 24 hours!

UPDATE: After 4 days, Soundgarden finally posted my images online. So, now it's my turn!

Photos:

Chris Cornell of Soundgarden performs at Bill Graham Civic in San Francisco. Photo by Clay Lancaster. 

Matt Cameron of Soundgarden performs at Bill Graham Civic in San Francisco. Photo by Clay Lancaster. 

Kim Thayil of Soundgarden performs at Bill Graham Civic in San Francisco. Photo by Clay Lancaster. 

Chris Cornell of Soundgarden performs at Bill Graham Civic in San Francisco. Photo by Clay Lancaster. 

Chris Cornell of Soundgarden performs at Bill Graham Civic in San Francisco. Photo by Clay Lancaster. 

Ben Shepherd of Soundgarden performs at Bill Graham Civic in San Francisco. Photo by Clay Lancaster. 

Soundgarden performs at Bill Graham Civic in San Francisco. Photo by Clay Lancaster. 

Chris Cornell of Soundgarden performs at Bill Graham Civic in San Francisco. Photo by Clay Lancaster. 

Happy Body Slow Brain - San Francisco Promo Photos

You'll notice a number of posts lately. It's been a crazy few weeks, and my camera is probably close to melting from all the shutter snaps.

Ending their tour supporting RX Bandits, the ex-Taking Back Sunday boys of Happy Body Slow Brain came home to San Francisco and played to a packed house at Bottom of the Hill.

Straight in from San Diego, I let them have enough time to upload their gear at the venue before we headed out to do some new promo photos. This time around the group includes Matt Fazzi (guitars/keys/vocals), Isaac Bolivar (guitars/keys/vocals), Jason Holthauser (bass), and Javier Torres (drums).

A little piece of trivia: Javier's brother, Eduardo, is the drummer on Happy Body Slow Brain's debut record, Dreams of Water.

Here's a couple of photos from our session:

Happy Body Slow Brain. Photo by Clay Lancaster (2011)

Happy Body Slow Brain. Photo by Clay Lancaster (2011)