Fozzy/BuckCherry 5/13/14

Uproar 2012, B.B. Kings Blues Bar & Grill and now my home. Gramercy Theatre in Manhattan, NY has held a special place in my heart. It was where I shot my very first concert under Sinestra Studios, and now is the third time I get to shoot live photos of the Ayatollah of RocknRollah. Chris Jericho and the Fozzy crew came to town with Josh Todd and a little band called BuckCherry. Unfortunately, Heaven’s Basement was not on this bill stop and the show was moved from Irving Plaza to Gramercy Theatre.

Fozzy began their set a whole hour after doors opened. The bad news is that I had so much fun shooting this set, that the duration of time went too fast. Fozzy is one of my favorite acts to shoot. The lighting is always spot on and the level of uniqueness each individual has on stage is an additive spice to this 4 star plate of metal. Billy Grey, Rich Ward, and Paul Di Leo are some of the best live members of a band I can shoot. I love when a band can have fun and interact with photographers, audience members, security and patrons because the actions taken are all unique within their own environments. From the fatal 4 way of all four members posing for photos to Paul and Billy joking around making faces, kicking each other, and Rich Ward jumping around like a hooligan and making sure he knows you’re shooting photos of him. He took some guys cowboy hat at the B.B Kings show when they toured with Saxon. I mean COME ON! How freaking cool and hysterical is that?? The energy that is immersed in these fine gentlemen is something for the books. Frank Fontsere,  the bands drummer, is very focused and concentrated in his drumming duties. He entertains the crowd with drumstick tricks and high screams toward his fellow band mates, which is a nice change of pace for a drummer as that occupation is usually quiet and behind the fun. These guys know how to throw a party for a set and I can only compare them to my last shooting, a band called Sabaton. Absolutely amazing lights and even Jericho came down to the front barricade to sing with fans and take photos with them WHILE HE SANG. It was absolutely priceless. Rich even brought up a fan on stage to hold his guitar and play a bit as the final song ended. Yes, I got the photos of everything. If I didn’t like this band or the music, I wouldn’t follow. But being a Jericho fan when Fozzy played for World Wrestling Entertainment on occasions while he was on the active roster, I knew there was something about the band as a whole. I was right years ago and I’m still freaking right now. Only difference was, I went from seeing them on TV to shooting live photography. The set-list is down below.

1. Do You Wanna Start a War?
2. Lights Go Out
3. To Kill a Stranger
4. Inside My Head
5. She’s My Addiction
6. God Pounds His Nails
7. Spider in My Mouth
8. Enemy
9. Sin and Bones
10. Sandpaper
11. Eat the Rich

Fozzy Photo Gallery

BuckCherry began there set with class. Stevie D. and Keith Nelson at both opposite ends of the stage with bassist Kelly LeMieux hanging by the drum kit with Xavier Muriel. The setup was very basic. A lot of space and ample lighting to spare. Absolutely loved shooting BuckCherry. I got so much interaction from Stevie that I had no idea which photo was the best one, so i posted them all. Josh Todd is a brilliant performer. Captivating from the first second all the way down to the very end hitting all the classics like Dirty Mind, Sorry, Crazy Bitch and even covering Icona Pop’s song I Love It. Talk about variety and a very active audience. I managed to get some fist pounds and high five’s from both guitarists, all while they performed and threw guitar picks at the audience. Talk about participation level being at an all time high. With the entire place rocking and singing, what felt like almost three hours ended so damn quickly. Check out the photos and the set-list below:

1. Lit Up
2. Frontside
3. All Night Long
4. Recovery
5. Everything
6. Sorry
7. Dirty Mind
8. Next 2 You
9. Ridin
10. Big Balls
(AC/DC cover) (partial)
11. Gluttony
12. Water
13. Dreamin’ of You
14. Crazy Bitch
(with “Miss You” by The Rolling Stones intro)

BuckCherry Photo Gallery

This was one hell of a way to re-open the Gramercy Theatre. Not one bad photo, not one thing went wrong. What can I say except WELCOME BACK Gramercy, you been missed terribly! Go catch this tour and give it the welcome it freakin’ deserves!!!

Catch you rockers on the flip side!

—Derek Soto—

Check out the full flickr gallery HERE!

The Spoils from the night!