Accept and Raven 9/15/14

September 13, 2014July 29, 2020 Derek Soto Canon, Canon 24-70, Canon 6D, Gramercy Theater, Live Concert, live event, Metal, music, nuclear blast, Nuclear Blast Records, Photography, Raven, Sinestra, Sinestra Studios, The Gramercy

When the words “SOLD OUT” come to play, I am impressed. However, for only TWO bands to play a 500+ capacity auditorium that is New York’s Gramercy Theatre, I begin to wonder how amazing this show has to be. As Accepts ONLY East Coast show before adventuring to Denmark and parts of Europe, and celebrating the release of their new album Blind rage, I would of guessed that this show would of been “SOLD OUT” and i’ll tell you, it was freaking amazing. Newcastle’s own Raven opened up the show with such ease, bringing the audience to its feet and was by far an amazing choice to start the show. Although the lights were below par, the energy and talent the Gallagher brothers (John and Mark) unleashed was magnanimous. They made up for the bad lights easily. Drummer Joe Hasselvander loved peering over his drum kit, making faces and showing us his talent. This was the first time I shot both acts and it won’t be the last. Raven are beasts in their own form, a true talent that is not denied by anyone. Check out their music and see them live, I implore you to. Check out the photos and their set-list below.

Take Control
All for One
Hard Ride
Rock Until You Drop
Speed of the Reflex / Mind Over Metal
Fire Power
On and On

Blind Rage….. Bright red and clear as day lighting was the atmosphere on stage for us photographers. How fitting the environment fit the profile. But, for the audience, the power was all endowed unto them. Mark Tornillo knows how to control his crowd. Almost with the crack of a whip, the man was meant to put on a show. With guitarists Wolf Hoffmann and Herman Frank at his sides boasting and show-boating, you have a photographers dream and an unrelenting energy that kept going all the way to the very end. Peter Baltes on bass was electrifying, making facing and interacting with people all around the stage, it was fun watching this band just be themselves and take their music to a height I have not experienced before. Count keeper Stefan Schwarzmann played the silent hero, keeping to his drum kit and maintaining the energy of the band. Check out the photos and i’ll prove it to you. The raw emotion from this band is all in the photography, some of the best highlights of my career working as a photographer in my home of the Gramercy Theatre. Check the set-list unveiled and also the photography below.

Stampede
Stalingrad
Hellfire
200 Years
Losers and Winners
London Leatherboys
Starlight
Dying Breed
Final Journey
Shadow Soldiers
From the Ashes We Rise
Restless and Wild
Ahead of the Pack
No Shelter
Princess of the Dawn
Dark Side of My Heart
Pandemic
Fast as a Shark

Encore:

Metal Heart
Teutonic Terror
Balls to the Wall

See you all on the flip side rockers!!

–Derek Soto–

Accept Photos

Raven Photos