JEFF the Brotherhood is a Nashville garage/psych rock band consisting of brothers Jake and Jamin Orrall. For most, it’s really no secret how great of a band JEFF the Brotherhood is. Their live show never fails to deliver! And their show at Le Poisson Rouge last month was definitely no exception. I’ve seen JEFF several times, but this was my first time seeing them play outside of Nashville. It honestly wasn’t too different at all (besides not knowing every one there); they packed the room and got people to go crazy. I won’t even tell you you’re missing out if you don’t see them at some point; you really won’t know to what extent you’re depriving yourself. Hit the jump for a few more photos or go to my Flickr for the full set.

I was told ahead of time that Valient Thorr was a great live band, but I really didn’t have much too much of an idea of what to expect. I mean, does some one who likes a band ever tell you that they’re terrible live? Anyways, that bit of information ended up being a complete understatement. There are certain bands that are just so much fun to shoot, and Valient Thorr ended up being one of them for me. In short, these guys were badass live. If they’re playing near you ever, don’t second guess it, just go see them. There’s no way you’d leave disappointed or, at the very least, entertained. They have two west coast shows coming up in the next few days, and I’m sure they’ll be back in the NY area soon enough, so don’t miss your chances to check them out. Continue reading for more shots; the full set can be found on my Flickr.

I was able to catch Brooklyn locals, ELKS, play a set when they opened up for Valient Thorr, JEFF the Brotherhood and Pentagram at Le Poisson Rouge last week. I truthfully hadn’t heard of them prior to the show, but I ended up really enjoying their set. They manage to blend metal and punk, in a very authentic way, without delving into the painfully overdone realm of metalcore. That is, they stay far truer to the roots of both genres, maintaining that essential grittiness, rather than producing the modernized and excessively refined sound that’s all too prevalent at the moment. ELKS are playing their first headliner at Union Pool in Brooklyn on September 16 and then again toward the end of October (October 21st). They also have a few shows scheduled in various other cities within the next few weeks. I know I plan on checking them out again, and if you get the chance, I’d really recommend you do the same. Keep reading for a few more photos, or head over to my Flickr for the full set.

The move to Brooklyn has been really hectic thus far, and I’m, admittedly, a bit homesick for Nashville. So it was really great to take a break from unpacking and catch up with some friends and one of my favorite Nashville bands (actually one of my favorite bands in general), Heavy Cream. The girls (and guy) played two shows here in NY just a day or two after Keith and I got into town; one at the Mercury Lounge and another at the Knitting Factory. We were able to catch both, and, as always, had a really good time seeing them play. Here are some of my photos of their show at the Knitting Factory. Keep reading for more. The full set can be found here.

Here are some crowd shots from the Vans Warped Tour in Las Vegas, Nevada at the Plaza Hotel on June 30, 2011. You can find all the photos over on my Flickr.

The Devil Wears Prada was by far my favorite band to shoot at this year’s Warped Tour. The entire group just brings an insurmountable level of intensity to their performance that is absolutely contagious. I seriously had a blast just trying to capture it all. First off, Mike Hranica is nuts. He was sprinting, not running, sprinting across the stage, screaming, rolling on the ground, climbing onto the drumset, spitting, and drooling like a madman. Hranica literally did not stand still for a second during their entire set; I honestly don’t know how he had the energy to do what he was doing at all, much less during the hottest part of a Las Vegas summer day. Not only that, he somehow managed to be vocally on point, without letting up, throughout their performance. I’m not all that into most modern-day hardcore variations, but I really enjoyed their set and went away pretty pumped up. In short, whether it’s your thing or not, they put on a badass show, and I would really recommend seeing them play if you get the chance. Continue reading for a few more photos or just head over to my Flickr for the full set.

I’m not going to lie, I really liked Hellogoodbye back when I was younger (and still do). I saw them play several years ago (circa 2006) in Hampton, New Hampshire with Boys Like Girls and The Hush Sound, which was a badass show to say the least. Although there have been some line-up changes and the setting was definitely a lot different this time around, their performance was just as on point. For a band that’s had their fair share of the spotlight, they have such a laid back attitude and don’t take themselves seriously at all, which, combined with their sound, makes for a really fun show. They’re not playing any more Warped Tour dates, but they do have four shows lined up within the next two months, so you might get a chance to see them play. Keep reading for more shots or just head over to my Flickr for the full set.

Asking Alexandria is an English hardcore band that’s been rapidly rising in popularity since their debut album was released in 2009. With the recent release of their second album this past April, the guys of Asking Alexandria have been continuing and expanding upon their success. Their sound combines elements of hardcore punk and metal, not necessarily in a new way (let’s not kid ourselves, we know it’s been done time and time again), but certainly in a manner that’s catchy, melodic, and surprisingly smooth. I can definitely see the appeal, and it was pretty clear to me that a lot of people came out to Warped that day to see these guys. They’ll be playing the main stage for the entire tour, so you’ll have plenty of chances to check them out. There are more photos after the jump, and the full set is on my Flickr per usual.