Pemberton Music Festival!

Gah!

I can't even express how awesome last weekend was.

Coming from Southern California, moving to Portland was the farthest North I'd ever traveled. I always had my sights set on moving northward, mind you. I just never anticipated even leaving the state of California which came as a pleasant surprise. Immediately thereafter (I think within the first month of my moving up here, actually?) I set my sights even farther and took my first trip to Seattle, with which I fell in love.

Now last week I made my first trip even farther to Canada! I gotta say, I love the Great White North. I love Canadians, I have never had a negative encounter with a Canadian and they didn't disappoint.

I went North to Pemberton, British Columbia to attend the Pemberton Music Festival. I love music and festivals of all sorts and am honestly kind of bummed if there is ever a year in which I don't get to attend one (here's lookin' at you, 2011). I missed out on Sasquatch this year but it's okay, because I was able to go to Pemberton!

My one pleasant encounter with Canadians on this trip was when I very exhaustedly took a nap in the middle of the field only to be awoken by a group of people kissing and snuggling me. Once they woke me up they cheered and dragged me off to dance with them at Lindsey Sterling's set. Goes without saying but my day could've gone a lot worse.

Some of my favorite acts were The Flaming Lips, Empire of the Sun, St. Vincent, and Outkast. And, well, I'll let the photos speak for themselves.

I can totally have a portfolio based entirely off of Annie Clark photos, that's a thing, right?

oh please stay just this once anyway

What a bust! After all the trouble I went through to get my camera into the UCR Block Party last night, I didn't even have the equipment to follow-through. My little 50mm 1.8 lens might be superb for close-quarter shows like Sondre's at The Troubadour, but it's small reach is nothing for a real show when you're farther than 10 feet from the band. I ought to have known, but it's a lesson I wont soon forget.

I can't deny this is an expensive hobby, but for all the joy I get out of it it's definitely worth it. I have a mental list in my head of the lenses that I desire and their purpose: the wide-angle for stargazing and landscapes, the 85mm and 35mm for portraits, and now I know I need a damn good quality zoom lens for live music.

For all the years I've spent at UC Riverside I've really never felt like I belong and I felt that tinge again last night when they welcomed in the Freshman. It's my own fault for never getting involved on-campus though. I still had a good time last night, boasting about being on Starfucker's guest list (oh, the wonders of twitter) and overhearing people's conversations.

Going through the photos again I can't decide if through color-editing I have Autumn on my mind or of the foliage really is starting to represent the correct season. Either way I eagerly anticipate sweater weather and overcast skies with luscious clouds.

don't be ridiculous, sweet darling. it's so unlike you to be blue.

Hey, whoa there! It's been awhile! Sorry to neglect you, blog. Quite a lot has happened but I'm just going to go ahead and update you on the most recent and noteworthy experience.

Last week thanks to Grimy Goods I won tickets to see Sondre Lerche at The Troubadour in West Hollywood! The funny thing about that is that I've seen Sondre twice before: the first time at an in-store show at a Borders and the second for the Mondrian Sessions at Skybar. Now I love Sondre and his music, but for whatever reason I've somehow managed to see him thrice now for free! So I think I'll make up for it by purchasing some of his LP reissues.

Yeah, that sounds like a good idea.

Oh, and then there's the part where Sondre tweeted me giving me the go-ahead to bring my camera. After so many years of being used to being shunned at the door with cameras, it was nice to be able to take my camera in to a show. That was pretty awesome. ;)

...and so with that I'll leave you with the pictures I took last night of Sondre. 

Enjoy! I know I did. :)

 

sondre lerche, mondrian sessions

Last night was one of the best nights I've had in a long, long time.

I got to hang out at Amoeba for a bit, which is always a fun experience and overstimulates the music palate.

Then got to go to the Sondre Lerche Mondrian Sessions in West Hollywood! Seriously, the place is beautiful. I was completely bummed that I didn't take my camera, seeing as how I had my film camera all ready to go but since they had e-mailed me stating "NO, Cameras, sorry! )=" I figured I wouldn't risk it (except for my crappy Sony point-and-shoot) so this is all I got. And a video of a new song ;)

Also! I got to hug Sondre and make him chuckle, which ended up with me getting the only photo with him grinning ;) Fun times!