Pac Div -- A Much Needed Mental Break

Recently, I spent about two weeks in Pittsburgh helping out with a family emergency. Anyone who knows me knows that, in crisis situations, I just go into what I call "Go Mode". "Go mode" means I'm fully available for anything anyone needs, and I put all my own personal needs and wants on the backburner. It's not something I have to try to do, it's just how I'm made. But, being in Go Mode for extended periods of time is draining! Thankfully, I was doing some research on music venues in Pittsburgh (because shooting live music--and being around crowds of people that love live music--is one of the best stress relievers I have in my arsenal) and discovered that Pac Div had a show at Shadow Lounge coming up. Not only was this live music, it was live music from an awesome group that I was already a fan of, and I had missed their show back home in North Carolina (along with many of my hometown favorites opening) because I was in Pittsburgh on this family emergency! Needless to say, I went, and it was exactly what I needed. Pac Div puts on an AMAZING live show, and they are just about the most down to earth people I've met.

Thanks guys! Bet you didn't know how much you helped ME out the other night!

On the left: Mibbs and on the right: BeYoung

On the left: Like and on the right: yup, that's BeYoung using TWO microphones!

Like, rocking an AWESOME hat.

Like, "chillin" (I can't say it enough...DOPE live performace!!)

Mibbs stuck close to me most of the night, so I got some pretty nice close ups! (I've been trying to read that forearm tattoo upside down since I started editing! Can't quite make it all out.)

And here's BeYoung. With another really fly hat.

He showed me lots of camera love! I appreciate it!

Personally, my favorite pics of the night are of the ladies just LOVING these men (can't say I blame them!!). Check THESE expressions out:

Ok, that's all for now! Go download their mixtape, it's definitely worth it. I had it on repeat during a long drive the other day for almost three hours! And, if you're in Pittsburgh, the Shadow Lounge is a pretty dope venue. There are paintings all over the place, they had candles on the stage, and at one point, a chick was set up with a canvas, an easel, and paint...painting right in the middle of the venue! Dope!

As always, I look forward to your comments.

Luv,

Angie

Michael "Myk'l" Hanna and the Sound Syndicate

Meet Myk'l Hanna, and the Sound Syndicate. These guys (plus the occasional guest appearance from a super-talented lady saxophone player) could arguably be some of the most musically talented people I know. Plus they are just awesome people in general! In any given performance, you can see them cover songs from The Roots, Elton John, and Jamie Foxx, plus some traditional jazz, and a few Myk'l Hanna originals thrown in there as well (THOSE are my personal favorite). In the spring, they had been playing a regular gig at the Broad Street Cafe in Durham on the third Sunday of every month. These pics are from two of those performances. They took a break during the summer, but they will be back on starting August 22nd, 7:30 p.m. at the Broad Street Cafe. I HIGHLY recommend coming out to see them. Not only will there be amazing music, but the Broad Street Cafe has really yummy food and an awesome atmosphere. Plus, it's free! You really can't beat that.

Hope you enjoyed the pics, and more importantly, I hope you come enjoy the music!

Luv,

Angie

Azon Blaze and SkyBlew at The Library!

So, somewhere, somehow, thanks to twitter, this GEM of awesomeness found ME! He needed some portraits to use for promos, etc., and wanted some performance pics too. Here are just a few of the performance pics. Oh, by the way, his name is Azon Blaze, and his buddy is SkyBlew. I HIGHLY recommend checking out their music! They did a mixtape project together called Blaze the Sky, and you can listen and/or download that right here. (I have to admit, since Azon Blaze hit me up out of nowhere, I didn't really know what to expect. I was VERY pleasantly surprised when I checked him out! The same for SkyBlew! They are seriously BURSTING with awesomeness!) Below, check out just a few more performance pics:

Hope you enjoy them! Feel free to leave me some feedback...

Luv,

Angie

Actual Proof

So, today's pics are of this awesome group, Actual Proof. These pics are also from the May 9th Wonder Artist's Showcase, but I just gave them their own post, because they are that awesome! (Yup, I used awesome twice in two sentences! That's how....awesome...they are!)

This is Sundown...

and this is Enigma.

These guys are not only amazingly talented artists, they are also GREAT performers! I highly recommend seeing them! They will be at the artists showcase at the Brewery this month also! (See the last post for more info).

Luv,

Angie

Ok...now we're getting to some old pics...9th Wonder Artist's Showcase (May!)

So, now we're getting to the old pics...the pics I had time to shoot over the past few months (or...uh...even further back than that!) but didn't have time to post, with working and finishing up graduate school! So, let's just forget about the fact that these are super old by now, and focus on the fact that they're awesome! Oh, and by the way, just to give you a little glimpse into how I see myself as a photographer...me thinking these pics are awesome really doesn't have anything to do with my photographic ability. I see my job as recognizing awesomeness and having really good timing (or just taking TONS of pictures)! So, if I get a good shot, it really has nothing to do with me, and everything to do with the awesome folks that I take pictures of! So, thanks guys!

Ok, back to these pictures...so, 9th Wonder has a monthly showcase here in Raleigh at The Brewery, highlighting the local artists signed to his label. These pics are from the May showcase (ok, so these aren't THAT old...but believe me, it'll get worse! I promise!).

Here's Kourvosier and his DJ (sorry, didn't catch his name!)

K Hill

Khrysis (secretly, one of my favorite performers to photograph. well, guess it's not secret now!)

Rapsody making grown men get the smitten face! I love it!

Sean Boog

 and last but not least, Tom Hardy

I hope you enjoy these pics, and leave me some FEEDBACK! But more importantly, I hope you get to experience performances by these awesome folk! This month's showcase is at The Brewery on Hillsborough Street in Raleigh on July 23...and it's only a $5 cover! Come experience the awesomeness all for yourself.

Luv,

Angie

Oh, PS, these are NOT all the performers! Big Remo missed this month, but I'll be posting some pics of him from another performance in a few days. And Act Proof, my favorites (wait, I don't have favorites...wink wink) are getting their very own blog post next week, because they gave me so many amazing pics!