I’d guess I’m what you’d consider a concert-going vet. For the last thirty years I’ve attended concerts of various shapes and sizes and my experience has run the gamut: a starry-eyed teenager taking in his first local bands; an adult getting to see world famous acts; a musician slugging it out on the road to tens of people; nearly ten years working in the music industry around Halifax; a dad taking his kids to their first concerts. These days, I’m also attending shows as a local concert photographer.
Through all these different lenses, the experience of walking into a venue, seeing the crowd, and hearing the music still gives me goosebumps.
Whether it’s being front row at a local club, seeing your friends being just awesome or sitting in the back of an arena, letting the waves of joy from the sounds wash over me. After all this time. After countless bands.
Goosebumps.
I can remember sitting in the back office of the Marquee (which is backstage at the club), filling out paperwork and being able to hear the bands bursting through the walls.
Goosebumps.
The riffs. The epic drum fills. When the singers suck you in. The bass rumbling your guts. The pure chaotic joy of being shoulder to shoulder with hundreds of people singing along to the same song.
Goosebumps.
Tuesday, March 3rd, I walked into the Scotiabank Centre in Halifax, NS, with a photo pass. My first arena shoot.
Goosebumps.
Getting led through the massive crowd with the other photographers all the way to the pit in the front.
Goosebumps.
This was no ordinary show. I was there to take pictures of the godfathers of thrash metal: Exodus, Anthrax, and headliner Megadeth.
From the beginning of each of these legendary bands’ sets, that same energy, the excitement I felt at sixteen and throughout these many years, hit just the same. Looking at the crowd felt like looking at my past, present and future.
Teenagers, young adults, parents with kids of all ages (even a frickin’ toddler!), friends, and the next generation of metal fans – all with horns up, rocking out in true Maritime fashion.
Watching the bands rip through their sets, it really felt like they could feel this same energy and were feeding off of it.
Loud and energetic. Engaging with the crowd. These bands have not slowed down or toned down their thrashiness. Their crushing riffs, their desire and joy to just get caught in a mosh, it felt like–even after 4 decades–they haven’t lost a beat.
10/10 head bangs.
