Dinosaur Jr

Two days before the show, i stumbled upon a website that had an add for Dinosaur Jr playing in Bergen Norway. I went wow, damn I hope I have time enough to get a pass for the concert. I've been a big fan of the band since the early 90's. A few phone calls and e-mails later I got the answer I never though I'd get; A pass will be available for you at the box office!! That was the day before the show, I started to see a light at the end of the tunnel. So big thanks has to go out to the label and management of Dinosaur Jr. 

Now I've never shot a concert before so I really started thinking about what gear to use, the Nikon D3 was on top of my list, with it's high ISO performance that was a pretty obvious choice. After much back and forth I decided to bring the Nikon 17-35mm, 50mm f/1.4 AF-S and the Nikon 80-200mmm AF-S. I originally planned on bringing a Nikon F2 with the 105mm f/2.5 and a handful of Fuji Neopan 1600 film. But as luck had it the day before the show I started getting really sick. I then dropped the F2, the 105mm and all the film. Right then I wasn't even sure if I would make it to the show. I woke up 7.30AM on the day of the show, and for each hour that passed I was getting sicker and sicker. The Show started 9PM, but even at 6 o clock it seemed like an eternity away. I went back to bed for the 100th time that day. 

At 8.20, I finally decided to go, I was really really sick, but since it's not overly likely that they would be back playing in my town anytime soon, I called up a cab and tried my best to get to the show.

I arrived at the venue about 8.50, stumbled in the door, got my photo pass after a little bit if hassle and went into the stage room. Now I really felt I'll, I nearly passed out a few times standing up, but determined to at least get a few shots before I had to run, was weighing heavy on my mind. I went up to the front of the stage and sat down on the floor waiting for the show to start.  About 9.10PM J Mascis entered the stage, followed by Murph and Lou. 

Crawling around the front of the stage I tried to do the best I could do. Having in the back of my mind the "bouncer" waiting to kick me out after the 3 first songs.. That was the least of my worries to put it that way.

Looking at their tour schedule Dinosaur Jr, had played every day for the last month. J Mascis looked quite tired at the beginning of the show. He kept looking at me crawling around with my camera at the front of the stage, he nodded at me, almost saying; ok I'll only do this once so you better be ready, he did one "head-bang" 2 seconds later the bouncer yelled ok that's three songs get out of here. I did manage to get a few more shots in before it was time for me to get home and bury myself in bed for a few days to try and recover from whatever it was that knocked me out. 

What I caught of the show was really great, I do wish that I would have made it for the last songs, Freak Scene and Forget the Swan. 

You can see a bit more shots here 

Again Big thanks to the band, label and management.