Vertical Thinking...

So my first assignment for Exclaim! Magazine is out on the inter-web! It didn't really feel like a job at all...the writer was my talented friend Amanda Ash and the subject was non other than Mr. Tom Dobrzanski (of the Zolas).

The focus isn't the band, but Tom's recording studio, Vertical Studios.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE

Here's a screenshot, an outtake that I really liked but didn't make the cut, and the wonderful Amanda as my stand in model...





Oh and PS. my favourite, Hannah Georgas is on the cover!

Hockey Night on Hamilton Street

For the first time since the Olympics the CBC had an event out on the plaza. This one was called Hockey Night on Hamilton Street...they set up bubble hockey and slapshot tents, CBC Radio 1 was broadcasting live and the games were on the big screen.
On top of this Jasper Sloan Yip and the band were out on the plaza playing live to the On The Coast listeners and the crowd.

And after all this, and the rain starting to pour (no one stayed later on for the Canucks game), they even did the news live at 5. I got to see wonderful folk like Ann Luu doing the weather, Shane Foxman talking sports and even Sully, one of the infamous Green Men jumped on the news...oh AND the mayor of Vancouver was there.

The day was kinda cool I guess.

Sun Wizard

It had been quite a while since I saw the wonderful band Sun Wizard, so when I found out they were playing at the Biltmore, I hoofed it over after the hockey game to see them.
Simple as that, here are the photos:

AccolAIDS

This past Sunday I attended the 2010 AccolAIDS awards gala to photograph for the event page and Sean Horlor's column in Xtra West (during which I found out that we've dropped the "west" and are now JUST Xtra.)

According to the BCPWA website, AccolAIDS honors "the extraordinary achievements and dedication of organizations, businesses, groups and individuals responding to the AIDS epidemic in British Columbia, and the thousands of people living in BC who are affected."

Here are the tearsheets from this week's issue, and a shot that I took on the balcony of the Convention Center, which is probably one of the most beautiful venues I've been in in Vancouver...

Margaritaville

I found myself back at The Diamond to shoot another delicious looking cocktail.
This time it wasn't just on plain white, but a lifestyle-type shot as well, so I needed a volunteer to drink some booze.

Luckily Brenda (whom I mentioned in this post) and I would be attending a show at the Media Club shortly after my shoot was scheduled and she had no problem drinking in front of the camera.

Now out in the May issue of Vancouver Magazine, you can see her excellent modeling job on page 83:


It also just so happens that Dan Mangan also graces the pages of the very same issue. So I thought I'd throw in his interview:

Record Store Day

The 3rd Saturday in April is international Record Store Day.

I was sent out on assignment for Soundproof Magazine to shoot the happenings around Vancouver (there were also two other photos in Toronto and Glasgow!).


First up was a trip to Zulu Records to check out their sales and then over to Red Cat Records for their live music!

Vancouver's favourite Dan Mangan (who is also in the May issue of Vancouver Magazine) played to an overflowing crowd and then Ladyhawk rocked the tiny little stage.

The photos can be seen in the Soundproof RSD Gallery here...and below is a panorama that I put together after shooting behind the counter at Red Cat (click to see it larger):

How to Make A Negroni

Remember that cocktail I shot for Van Mag? We'll there is a video of how to make it. So if you think it looks good...try it for yourself!

CLICK HERE FOR A LINK TO THE VIDEO.

True Believer

Thursday was quite a treat. Not only did I get to see two of my favourites, Adaline and Laura Smith, perform at Little Mountain Gallery (my first time there too!), but Matthew Barber finally landed in Vancouver.

I haven't seen Matt perform since NXNE 2008! And actually, a photo that I took is STILL up on his MySpace from that performance:
It was a really fun night...lots of friends, great music...who could ask for more?
Did I mention that Jill also came up and sang? It threw me back to the first time I heard either of them. Said The Whale was playing in the small basement room of The Casbah in Hamilton and we heard these amazing voices coming from upstairs and all went up to find Matt and Jill on their Sibling Rivalry tour... excellent...

Frances May

My beautiful friend Jody Glenham started a wonderful side project with the talented Rich Britton called Frances May.
A few weeks before the show Jody had sent me the music they recorded and it made me beyond excited to hear them play it live.

The show was excellent, and I suggest that you click here to go to their myspace and have a listen yourself!

Photos of the show at the Biltmore below:

Nadia von Hahn and the Boy-Toys

The fabulous Nadia von Hahn played at The Biltmore last week and I was finally able to catch her show!

It turned out to be pretty interesting when her theater/actor friends all showed up. Dance party and a kick line ensued.

Nadia has a new video out for her song This Holy Night, click here to check it out.

The Voices....

More blog love, this time from the Library Voices themselves...

Earbuds & Ticket Stubs

My lovely friend Brenda has a pretty popular music blog called Earbuds & Ticket Stubs.

She just did a little post on Rah Rah and it includes one of the photos from my shoot with the band and the video that I made of it (which I could watch over and over...they're so happy smashing my pinatas)!

Here's a screenshot and the link to the blog post: