Photos: !!! (Chk Chk Chk) @ The Underground (Venue’s Final Show)

One does not simply blog about the end of an era. Nor are these ordinary words surrounded by digital photographs on a screen.

During !!! (Chk Chk Chk)‘s headlining performance at The Underground this past Friday (July 27th, 2012), there was an urgency sensed throughout the venue. An urgency to finish all of the alcohol behind the bar in preparation of their end-of-the-day move-out on July 28th, that is.

All sadness aside, this was a fantastic closing party for The Underground and owner Remi Jourdan, with not only a jammy dance-punk wonky funk performance by !!! up-front, but plenty of late-night debauchery going on in the Treehouse Lounge out back.

There were beautiful, albeit extremely drunk, ladies and gentlemen brimming throughout, carrying on as if it may just be the end of the world (as we know it); and as expected, a good time was had by all … especially when singer Nic Offer took the stage with what could only be assumed to be a psychedelic acid trip-laced homage to John Heder’s dance scene in Napoleon Dynamite.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiAwpYIkRmU

Check out the clip above and compare to our animated GIF … we’d LOVE to hear your thoughts! Maybe we’re completely off target or perhaps this was a fantastic re-enactment?

VIEW SLIDESHOW

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In case anyone is wondering… ISO stayed between 1600 – 6400, shutter speed stayed constant at 1/250th of a second and aperture also stayed dialed-in at f/2.8 on my Nikon D7000 + AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED body + lens combo that evening.

While I’ve always found The Underground to be more on the dark side, and a challenge for me to photograph, this fast glass from Nikon really helped out a lot in capturing the ambient lighting without obnoxiously blinding everyone with a flash. Yeah, I care about your eyes… no matter if you’re a performer or party person!

Camera(s) Used:

Nikon D7000

Lens(es) Used:

AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED

Go On, Treat Yourself to Something Nice!

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BONUS: !!! (Chk Chk Chk) Animated GIF

Photos: Pennywise @ Knitting Factory Concert House

I can safely say that Pennywise’s headlining performance this past Friday evening at Knitting Factory Concert House in downtown Reno, NV was the single-most memorable show I’ve ever shot, hands down.

The factors of such an event include, but are not limited to:

a) A contact lens popping out of my left (viewfinder) eye during the first five seconds of the opening song
b) Technical difficulties with the Nikon D7000 locking up during the last minute and a half of the shoot
c) Dim stage lighting and red floods coupled with a beyond energetic performance
d) A pit full of (tall) photographers and extra security staff members

That having been said, this show ranks at the top of all of the performances I’ve had the pleasure of taking in during the past 15 months while reporting for I Shoot Reno. With melodic hardcore filling the venue and a don’t give a f—, just have fun attitude sloshing around the dancefloor, it was a great evening to be in Reno.

The best part? Whether you’re a die-hard punk rock lifer or not, Pennywise’s newest release, All Or Nothing (2012, Epitaph) is filled with a slew of quality tunes that merit repeat listening and volume pumping punishable by a court of law. It’s already made our list of top releases for the year, and we’re not even halfway through. Jus sayin.

As per settings on my Nikon D7000 + AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8G ED body and lens combo, a steady aperture of f/2.8 and shutter speed (1/250th of a second) along with a variable ISO range (3200 >> 6400) seemed to do the trick, all things considered.

Now to send this 1-year old Nikon D7000 to El Segundo for servicing. Well, at least they’ll clean it for me. Smiley face.