Beating old marching band equipment, buckets, trashcans and kegs, the Street Drum Corps ignited Projekt Revolution’s main stage with a kinetic, in-your-face set that had the fans screaming for more.
Having conquered festivals like Warped Tour, Coachella, and Taste of Chaos, it only seems fitting that the Street Drum Corps continue their domination as the kickoff act that warmed up fans for Linkin Park, Chris Cornell, Ashes Divide, and the Bravery.
Led by the intrepid Bobby Alt, the punk rock percussion group launched into a pummeling assault from the moment they took the stage, mixing drum line beats with DIY inventiveness.
During the first few songs, Alt seemed to be off of the stage nearly as much as he was on, as the frontman spent the majority of the second song on the barricade getting up close and personal with fans (as well as with this photographer).
Photographer’s Notes:
This set was really an adrenaline rush to shoot and went by in a flash.
Between his barricade antics and wild performance on-stage, frontman Bobby Alt was really the center of attention for me as I covered this gig. Alt was constantly mugging for the camera, getting in close, and generally being a photographer’s dream of the interactive lead.
I have to admit that every time I turned my lens away to try and focus on another band member, Bobby’s magnetic stage presence pulled me right back to him. He even took turns singing into the lens of several of the photographers, which, needless to say, was excellent.
End Notes:
Stay tuned for the rest of the sets from Projekt Revolution, including main stage bands Linkin Park, Chris Cornell, Ashes Divide, and the Bravery, as well as Revolution Stage acts Atreyu and Armor For Sleep.
20 Comments Add your own
1. Jessie | August 26th, 2008 at 11:23 pm
the close ups with him screaming into the camera are amazing, so i guess musicians that take time to pose for you are hard to find huh
2. Todd | August 26th, 2008 at 11:57 pm
Hey Jessie, thanks for the comment. Performers who pose for photographers are generally rare, and those who pose to the degree that Bobby Alt did are really unique.
Of course it depends on the type of band and the genre, but most acts don’t give photogs more than a passing glance.
3. Peter | August 27th, 2008 at 3:30 am
Amazing Shot, Todd! I think you used the 14-24, right? The most exciting lens i ever owned, always ready for outstanding images…
Greets,
Peter.
4. Todd | August 27th, 2008 at 6:51 am
Hey Peter, nice to hear from you. Yes, the last shot was made at 14mm with the 14-24mm. As you know, it’s an excellent lens with a really addicting perspective.
Thanks for your comment.
5. Bryan Kremkau | August 27th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Awesome shots! The last one is excellent! I still wish I had that 14-24mm lens haha. Did you use wireless or off camera flash for these?
6. Todd | August 27th, 2008 at 7:52 am
Hey Bryan, thanks! No wireless flash on these, though there was generally plenty of light.
7. Keath | August 27th, 2008 at 8:12 am
I love these guys! Bobby Alt gave me a kiss on the cheek when I shot them in Tampa. These guys are pros at working the pit :)
This is the first time I’ve gotten to see what you’ve done with bands I’ve also shot and I’ve got to say - man, I’m getting an inferiority complex! Ha ha. Your shots come out much more vivid than mine - is that lighting? Camera? Photoshop? How can I get that fabulous Todd Owyoung look?
8. Todd | August 27th, 2008 at 8:37 am
Hey Keath, thanks for the feedback on this set. These guys were completely nuts, especially Bobby.
That look is a secret family recipe ;)
9. Chris | The Brosef | August 27th, 2008 at 8:52 am
YES YES YES!!!! These guys absolutely rocked it.
10. Todd | August 27th, 2008 at 9:54 am
Hey Chris, I agree 100%. They killed it on stage. It was great shooting with you, can’t wait to see what you got from Projekt Revolution.
11. Keith | August 27th, 2008 at 12:12 pm
I’ve been waiting to see what you got out of this set. It was one heck of a performance. Bobby was the man! Love the last one!
12. Todd | August 27th, 2008 at 1:43 pm
Hey Keith, thanks. Bobby is definitely the most friendly frontmen I’ve photographed in recent memory. Hard to top.
13. Ashes Divide @ Projekt Re&hellip | August 27th, 2008 at 11:30 pm
[...] fame, Ashes Divide laid down a fiery set on the main stage of Projekt Revolution. Following the Street Drum Corps, the band launched into a heavy, epic set of rock that proved to be just what fans [...]
14. Chris | September 1st, 2008 at 8:27 pm
Bobby Alt [and Justin Tranter] have officially become my favorite 2 men / leads in the world that I ever want to photograph. From this set to last night, both of them put on such an amazing show [I only have your & Keith's photos to tell from Alt, but I've never seen such a man do this]. My picks of your beloved photos are 3, 6, 9, 10, 11, and 14. I think 3 and 9 are similar in one a way, but give a little wider shot of Alt on stage that sets up what the show really looked like. 10 is a great angle of him beating the drums [great framing job too, getting his hand and stick in the photo -- I have trouble with that]. 11 is such a power pose — I am really drawn to this photo, and had it not been for 6 and 14 would have most definitely been my favorite - I guess I’ll put it in its own “favorite” slot since 6 and 14 are similar ;). 6 and 14 just blow me away — I had seen 14 on your flickr, but when I saw 6, my jaw just dropped and I let out a, “..Holy f*#$.” Had it not been for the lights in 14, 6 woulda been the winner, but 14 just has everything.
15. The Bravery @ Projekt Rev&hellip | September 1st, 2008 at 10:00 pm
[...] the Street Drum Corps and Ashes Divide on the main stage, New York synth rockers The Bravery lit up the Projekt [...]
16. Todd | September 1st, 2008 at 10:33 pm
Hey Chris, thanks for the detailed comments on this set! Yes, Bobby Alt is quite the performer, and I think it’s safe to say that he loves the camera.
17. Lisa | September 3rd, 2008 at 7:15 pm
These guys were incredible! Soooo much fun!
18. Atreyu @ Projekt Revoluti&hellip | September 9th, 2008 at 5:35 pm
[...] performance that was the highlight of the Revolution stage for me and the perfect setup for the Street Drum Corps´ set [...]
19. Linkin Park @ Projekt Rev&hellip | September 24th, 2008 at 11:12 pm
[...] by the double-barreled attack of Chester Bennington and Mike Shinoda on vocals, Linkin Park delivered a sonic chokeslam to close out Projekt Revolution with the biggest performance of the [...]
20. Todd | September 25th, 2008 at 11:36 am
Hey Lisa, I agree. One of the best bands of the festival to photograph, I think.
speak up
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