Company of Thieves @ House of Blues

It’s been years since I’ve photographed a concert. On nights that concerts happen, I’m usually photographing a wedding, prepping for a wedding, exhausted from shooting a wedding, or editing a wedding.

But, when Company of Thieves announced they were getting back together for a small tour, I was all over it. It had been years since I had seen them, and I alternated between wanting to give them hugs and photographing the heck out of the show. In the end, I got to do both… and you can see some of the photos below (and thankfully, I wasn’t quite as out of practice as I had feared!).

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Quietdrive @ The Varsity Theater

Back in the day, Minneapolis-based Quietdrive traveled to Chicago all the time. We would see them live every few months, even did some promos with them (once at an ungodly 7am after a show the night before). Basically, they were no strangers to my camera.

But, as life happens, I’ve stopped shooting as much music work (instead focusing more on portraits and weddings), and Quietdrive has stopped visiting Chicago quite as often, so it’s been a while. However, they still put out music, and I still get excited about it. For the past several years, going to their annual holiday show has been on my to-do list, but winter travel and life kept getting in the way.

When I heard that the show this past December was going feature a reunion of old band members, that was it. There was no better time to commit to a road trip. So, road trip we did. And danced to old and new favorites we did. In a nutshell, it was amazing. There is nothing quite like music to instantaneously transport you to a different time. For that hour or so of set time, I felt 23 again. So, basicaly, thanks Quietdrive, for always being so great and welcoming, and for all the years of fun.

(c) Redwall Photo :: www.redwallphotography.com

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(c) Redwall Photo :: www.redwallphotography.com

(c) Redwall Photo :: www.redwallphotography.com

(c) Redwall Photo :: www.redwallphotography.com

(c) Redwall Photo :: www.redwallphotography.com

(c) Redwall Photo :: www.redwallphotography.com

(c) Redwall Photo :: www.redwallphotography.com

(c) Redwall Photo :: www.redwallphotography.com

(c) Redwall Photo :: www.redwallphotography.com

(c) Redwall Photo :: www.redwallphotography.com

(c) Redwall Photo :: www.redwallphotography.com

(c) Redwall Photo :: www.redwallphotography.com

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Hope Country @ The Varsity Theater

Hope Country was the main support for Quietdrive at their holiday show, and they were the big surprise of the evening for me. I wasn’t familiar with either opening band, and it’s always a treat to find a great band when you least expect it. They brought some great crowd interaction to their set as well as the quieter side of the singer-songwriter genre, and the two extremes made them blast to photograph.

(c) Redwall Photo :: www.redwallphotography.com

(c) Redwall Photo :: www.redwallphotography.com

(c) Redwall Photo :: www.redwallphotography.com

(c) Redwall Photo :: www.redwallphotography.com

(c) Redwall Photo :: www.redwallphotography.com

(c) Redwall Photo :: www.redwallphotography.com

(c) Redwall Photo :: www.redwallphotography.com

(c) Redwall Photo :: www.redwallphotography.com

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