Cloud Haiku, beckoning the New Year

The clouds on the plane trip back to Sacramento yesterday were breathtaking frothy mounds of softness. Even looking through the pictures now is awe inspiring. Beauty like that is to be savored. I wish everyone so much beauty and inspiration in the fast approaching new year. This is one I'm really looking forward to.

Haiku is a type of Japanese poetry. Themes often include the season, nature, feelings, or experiences. Haiku is usually three short lines. The first line usually contains five (5) syllables, the second line seven (7) syllables, and the third line contains five (5) syllables. Haiku doesn't rhyme.

inspiration calls
get off the internet now
go write a haiku :)

The countdown is on!

Joy to the world from sunny, uh, wet and rainy Sacramento California! It's been wet all day but there is nothing like listening to the rain outside when you are cozy safe and warm inside. I love the rain, the smell of it, the look of it, the feel of it. And it's as close as we are going to get to snow around here. :)
This photo is of the official christmas tree outside of the State Capitol in Sacramento and you can even see the building reflected in the giant silver ornament. Govenor Arnold and his lovely wife Maria Shriver were there with all pomp and circumstance for the official tree lighting last week. Note these bulbs-- they look ordinary enough but they are led lights donated by SMUD. Quite twinkly pretty, use MUCH less electricity than regular lights and this is the first year the've been used on the state tree-- new technology making an appearance. Over the ten weeks the tree will be lit for many hours each night they will save somewhere over 75% of the electricity normal tree lights would use.

Happy Holidays everybody!

Oh My My, Oh Hell Yeah

It's doubtful that there's a person on this beautiful earth who would call me a country fan. In fact I may own four country classic CD's in all but there is a new country today and things are changing!
Keith Urban played Arco Arena last night emerging from a cloud of smoke with a killer smile and an amazing band to put on a show with a little bit of this, a little bit of that and a definite rocker influence. There was a guitar cam, some good sing-a-longs and Urban even did some great covers of bands like Aerosmith, U2 and Sir Paul McCartney.
Then the theatrics, oh my my... Sitting on a small platform placed in the crowd Urban performed alone, the band still on stage. The visual of him lit by a cool spotlight and the thousands of people surrounding bathed in warm light cheering was just absolutely gorgeous.
When it was time to go back to the stage he went flying through the air Bon Jovi style and I think my eyes were ten feet wide just taking it all in, mesmerized and thrilled like any other giddy audience member. Even as I sat there I felt a wave of gladness that I haven't become jaded by all the crazy things I have seen because this is what concert going is all about-- the quest to be entertained, to have a little greatness rub off on you just by being in the room and to feel so good when you leave you're a little sorry it's all over. Note to self, must make trip to Tower today... :)

Check out the photo gallery at eMusiConnect. Urban and Deanna Carter pics are up.

Fall Out Boy

It appears that a Google image search is bringing throngs of breathless girls to this blog thanks largely in part to my posting months back about the band Fall Out Boy. I shot them live at The Colonial and interviewed Peter Wentz, the charming and articulate mouthpiece for the band.
Now I get emails from girls all the time about these guys-- especially Pete-- so I thought I would go ahead and post one more photo of him.
Fall Out Boy has one helluva promotional machine backing them, getting their music out, their name out, and the fan base is expanding by leaps and bounds. When I was walking towards the venue the day of that show there was a line of girls around the block, and a surprising number of them with tupperware containers filled with home baked cookies for the guys in the band. :)

What's that a Pout?

One of those priceless moments... I pan the camera as I see the couple walk past. I doubt they ever notice me even though I'm incredibly close, it's dark in the room. I sure wonder what was going on that produced such a wonderfully expressive world-class pout!

Jingle Ball, so much sex appeal...

Jingle Ball, so much sex appeal...
Originally uploaded by Charrmer.

The Jingle Ball at Arco Arena was lot's more fun than I expected with an interesting mix of talent too-- Rihanna, Reliant K, Frankie J, The Click Five, Pussycat Dolls and Lifehouse on the bill.
Rihanna and the Pussycat Dolls filled the arena with sex appeal. Things sure were different when I was a teenager. These ladies are full of their own female power and make an art of strutting it, grinding it and inviting all manner of appreciation.
The Click Five was just plain fun and they sure had a retro appeal with their matching suits and boyish charm even while they jumped and thrust their guitars in the air. The keyboardist was a live wire and watching him was an entertainment experience all it's own. Lifehouse headlined with great songs and a musical maturity, a pleasure to see and hear. It was a pretty full house but from what I could see it was predominantly teenage girls, some in kitty cat ears, many escorted by patient and indulgent mom's.

Party Party Party

Had a job shooting a big party the other night and though it started out slowly, as parties often do, by the end the joint was hoppin'! They had four floors of the most amazing food and drink, beautiful decor, everyone in fancy clothes looking beautiful, handsome and polished-- and an outdoor rooftop discoteque. At the point a couple hours passed and a few drinks took effect people were tapping me on the shoulder to get my attention for photos, even dragging me by the hand to their favorite people and putting on quite a show too. I love that stuff. It just makes the night so much fun for me too!