Dave is also the lead singer in a Boston based band called The Daily Pravda. I asked if he minded if I photograph the band during their latest performance at The Paradise in Boston. And that I did. But I have to admit, I kind of wish I hadn’t photographed them because I was only able to half-way listen to the band – I missed out a bit. What I’m getting at here is that I was totally floored by The Daily Pravda! I had no idea that Dave had such pipes on him; a phenomenally dynamic range that he makes look easy. It’s almost as if he’s not even trying, because all the while he’s in control of the stage with,well, with a Peter Murphy-esque stage presence. From the accentuated throwbacks of his head with a touch of self-inflicted pain, to the way he tears the microphone from its grip and walks across the stage seeming to distance himself from the audience just enough to make you think he’s ignoring you, but it’s a game he plays and plays well. He’s definitely in control up there.

I admittedly didn’t meet the rest of the band before or after the show, but I wish I had, they all have a unique charisma, from the lead guitarist who rocks the strings and frets like a pro, and the drummer with uncharacteristically styled hair and glasses – a look you don’t usually find on drummers who groove as well as he does. I was most impressed, however, with the bassist who’s unassuming stance on the far right of the stage is totally overshadowed by his swift and delicate command of his 4-string. I mean, this guy can groove the bass. He controls it and he has fun with it. More often than not, a bassist’s job is to stand there and hold a groove just enough to provide the tide for which the lead and rhythm guitars can ebb and flow on, but The Daily Pravda’s bassist has no problem doing much more than that with a style that he’s clearly perfected over years of practice.

I left the club shortly after their set and on my drive back home was thinking how refreshing it was to see such talented guys hit the stage with ease and perform a great show, and do so without coming across as either self-entitled poseurs or starving artists with shattered dreams. The Daily Pravda was just damn good music played by damn good dudes.

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Photographing in those conditions has its challenges, but it also has its benefits – usually the performers are much more animated and engaged with the crowd. There’s that energy that starts flowing and infects everyone from the crowd, to the sound guy, to the artists. I can’t help but catch it myself.

I have to say I was blown away by Daughtry. I watched season 5 of American Idol and he impressed me, but seeing him do his own stuff and perform with less pressure was a refreshing site. He’s an extremely charismatic presence on the stage, bringing both a sort of fun, jovial, almost folksy vibe to the stage, but also a hard, edgy, heavy-metal-with-a-splash-of-pop-vibe as well. Perhaps its that very combination of sweet and salty that makes him so popular.

His band mates, who I believe are his friends from his band in North Carolina before his fame on American Idol, were equally charismatic bringing the same charm and edginess that Chris brought.

I could go on, especially about how kind he and his bassist were with the crowd at the closing of the show, and how his bassist hung out with people for a good 45 minutes afterwards, signing autographs and posing for pictures, kissing ladies on their cheeks, or about how the women in the place seemed entranced by Chris’ singing and jumping around the stage, but… I’ll let the pictures try and tell the story, albeit not as complete.

Enjoy!

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One of the coolest things about this tour is the policies that they created for fans. Being that NIN has a very strong presence online, both at NIN.com but also with their iPhone app, they actually encourage fans to take pictures, record video, capture audio, and therefore they had a very loose policy around these things. In fact, the camera policy clearly stated that all cameras with lenses and bodies totalling “less than twenty inches in length” would be permitted. So, I brought my 40D and my 70-200mm f/2.8 along, as well as my Flip HD.

This was by no means a “professional shoot.” I was merely a spectator two sections away from the stage. But I managed to take some pretty great shots nonetheless! Here are the pics for your enjoyment, and video below them.

Videos

Nine Inch Nails

Jane’s Addiction

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