Saturday 31st August saw me visiting family in Southampton and my Dad had purchased a ticket to see one of his favourite bands Ugly Kid Joe at the Southampton 1865, a venue I had shot in before and have always made to feel welcome for someone so young.
My dad had managed to get me added as a photographer for the gig and we queued along with the rest of the public eager to get inside on a mild night on the South Coast.
Picking up my AAA pass and grabbing a drink I checked in with the sound engineer to make sure I was ready for the support act The Virgin Mary’s who I had only shot 6 days ago at a small but perfectly formed festival Rockwich in Cheshire.
As the time approached, I made my way into the pit (photo) via a member of the security team who gave me a welcoming smile. 3 songs of shooting seemed to go by in a flash and my time was done.
I then watched the rest of the set and got refreshments as I awaited Ugly Kid Joe. It had been 7 days ago since I had shot them as part of the press team for the Stonedead festival and had a great experience shooting them as the sun set near my home county of Lincolnshire. What made this experience memorable was that Whitfield the lead singer invited all the togs to the back of the stage to take photos for one song!
But tonight was going to eclipse that, but at this point I didn’t know it yet.
As Ugly Kid Joe hit the stage with a short intro from the rest of the band I was aware that I was the only TOG in the pit. After 1 song I was joined by Ugly Kid Joe’s tour photographer, and I made the most of my standard 3 songs and then I left to meet Dad.
Just as I got to him I was tapped on the shoulder and turned to see the tour photographer who said if I wanted to continue shooting the whole set I was more than welcome to. One look at my Dad’s smiling face and I turned and went straight back in.
Being alone in the pit was great and the movement on stage by all band members was really good and I had the freedom to capture each of the band with different lighting. I also managed to get several of the crowd as they were encouraged to move their arms and sing along. I was given water by the tour manager too as it was thirsty work.
Now after about 30 minutes Whitfield Crane (the lead singer) was singing and doing his thing at the front of the stage and whilst leaning forward catches my eye, I shoot 6 photos and then at the end of the song he smiles directly at me and invites me to the back of the stage to shoot the rest of the show. As I made my way onto the stage I was aware of 500+ faces watching me as he showed me the way safely to the back of the stage.
So here I crouched for the next 45 minutes right next to Cam’s (drummer) drumkit. He too gave me water and several smiles and I took numerous photos of his amazing drumming. Being a photographer I hardly get any good photos of the drummers as they are often hidden away at the back with the lights not hitting them, but tonight was a lot different in the best of ways.
All members of the band engaged with me, with smiles and poses which made the experience all the better. I swapped sides during the time to capture the other side of the stage to and took plenty of crowd shots from this great vantage point.
Whitfield came for a drink of water at one point and I shot him mid-drink and he came very close to my lens with a great smile of encouragement.
As their set ended Cam gave me a drumstick, thanked me and after they had left the stage I made my exit back to my Dad, who was still beaming as was I about the experience, he seemed to have a lot more refreshments than me during the gig!
Defiantly a major highlight of my time shooting at concerts and I know my journey is long as I am still learning but this gives me something amazing to tell the teachers at school on my return this week……….a massive thank you to the 1865 in Southampton, the management, staff and security, the band’s photographer and tour manager and of course Ugly Kid Joe for a once in a lifetime experience.
