Le SOLD OUT Lacuna Coil 10/12/14

Let me begin writing this article by clearly informing you, this show is in my TOP THREE concerts of 2014. Easily. End of the story. I have been a huge fan of Razor & Tie records newly signed artist Starset, since they released their album “Transmissions”. This show was unmissable because of their tour stop in Manhattan. Throw in good friends of Nuclear Blast records own Devil You Know, and the Century Media kings that are called Lacuna Coil, and you got a potential SELL OUT show. Oh, wait. Thats right, THIS SHOW DID SELL OUT at The Gramercy Theater, well allow me to retort.

Starset opened their set at 7:30pm to a deep space blue and pale white light system. Complementary to the atmosphere as all the band members were in black with helmets (yes, helmets you read that right) and L.E.D blue lights encompassing the glass screen with microphones inside. The level of creativity and ingenuity that lead singer Dustin Bates has incorporated into his stage presence, along with the band as a whole, is something that the music community sorely needed. The atmosphere created to co-exist with the bands incredible music sets up a universe that Mr. Bates accurately depicts in his universe. Yes, universe. The scenery, the philosophy behind the music and the correlation to the story are all intertwined to consume the imagination and opinion of the people who choose to listen. This gripping universe puts performance to a whole new level. I found myself singing all three of the songs in the photo pit while shooting and I was in euphoria. It was comedic as people were complaining about the deep blues and darkness for the photography. I wasn’t. Everything here was perfect. Leaving the photo pit, I sang my head off. With songs in the set-list like Antigravity, My Demons (the first two singles off the Transmissions album), Halo, Carnivore, Rise & Fall, and Down with the Fallen rounded up the 45 minute set-list. The cheers were loud, the attention was demanded and received unanimously from the audience and the line to meet the band and buy merchandise after was long. This is a band uncompromising, different, and a massive surprise as no album has held my attention for such a long duration. I even got to meet them at the end and get a photo with all the guys. Hopefully I will catch them on tour with In This Moment and Twelve Foot Ninja. If you are in ANY of those tour stops. Just go, don’t hesitate and experience the future of music. Check out the photos and the set-list below.

Set-list:

Starset Photo Gallery

Before the show, I arrived at 4pm to do an interview with Metal Mark from Skullsnbones.com on Andrea of Lacuna Coil. Afterwards, Me and him got to hang out with the guys in Devil You Know as we interviewed drummer and Austrailian badass John Sankey back when they toured with Black Label Society earlier this year. Having photos from that show, the entire band had no quarrel autographing my photography work and having long conversations. It was Howard Jones, the bands lead singer, who has been really opening up and enjoying his time. Being that this was my second time meeting and talking to him, I still get starstruck. His music influenced me so much as a teenager and to be able to converse on new projects and send him well wishes is nothing more than a reality I thought would never occur. But, never say never. This is one band I can connect with as family, and having that tight relationship that can grow unto the future is more than just being a photographer shooting just three songs. By the way, those three songs had really excellent lighting, much better than the first time I shot them all red and black. Yuck. Having Howard give me a high five in between songs in the photo pit was a surprise, but it shows how much they care about you when you get them to know them as people. Check out the photos and set-list below.

Set-list:

Devil You Know Photo Gallery

Ah yes, the MAIN reason the show sold out that night. Last time Lacuna Coil graced NYC was on the Revolver Magazine hottest chicks in hard rock tour. They packed the house at Irving back in February and as soon as they finished, half the venue emptied out even though Sick Puppies was headlining. THAT’S how passionate and loyal Lacuna Coil fans are. I am a fan of this band severely because of their stage presence and sheer positivity they bring out of everything they touch. I am hard on myself to produce better work as I continue to grow, this was one of those moments, along with many others, where I held true to my word. Seeing Cristina and Andrea open up with Trip of Darkness off their 2012 album “ Dark Adrenaline” was a literal punch to the chest. The entire venue erupted with screams and ovations as the FIRST SONG continued to play. The lights were cotton candy style with purples, pinks and yellows flushing out skin tones and detail, but I did not worry. The stage lights were unleashed following the singing duo which led to beautiful contrasted photos. Their bassist Marco, was absent due to a stomach ailment caught on tour which the band decided to send him home. His replacement did the job nicely. I managed to get backstage thanks to good friend John Sankey of Devil You Know and watch the show side stage until I was tasked with shooting the band portrait at the end of the set. I was enthralled and excited, only to nail the shot out the park no problem. A SOLD OUT Lacuna Coil concert with my work being the centerpiece to the bands history was an honor I never though I would capture. It went on Instagram and my pages as well as twitter. I ended this night with high hopes on an old phrase. “Never Say Never”. Check out their set-list and the amazing pictures below.

Set-list:

Lacuna Coil Photo Gallery

Closing:
I completed this night with an observation. I never wanted to “blend in” with others. As journalists, we are given opportunities and options with the assignments granted unto us. It is our job, as professionals and human beings, where we take our career. Do we become that neighborhood icon that covered all those shows and never branched out beyond. Or do we become more? Why have the peanuts to give the elephants when you can own the circus. Thats been my motto since I was 19 years old. It still holds close to that day. Times like this prove to me, that my ambition to own that circus draws closer and closer. Being able to know these people and learn more about them day by day is a testament and a divider between those who “do the job” and those who “live the life”.

See you rockers on the flip side.

–Derek Soto–