July was a hot one for sure, but it was also a month full of awesome music. I definitely put some miles on the truck this month, but every single one of them was totally worth it. From country, to rock, bigger stages to corners of bars and breweries, to the middle of a farm, I had a great month of music and I hope you did too!
I kicked off the month with an invite from Gillian Smith and her band to photograph their performance at The Buck, opening for Thompson Square, Sawyer Brown and Tyler Farr at this year’s I 105 WIOV Country Freedom Fest Concert. Having just seen her the month before at Waynestock, I was pretty excited to catch them playing again and they certainly didn’t disappoint. I’m still getting used to how different the crowds are at country shows as opposed to rock or metal shows as I don’t experience them nearly as often, but I have to say I had an awesome time. Gillian and crew put on a fantastic show for an enthusiastic crowd and I was really impressed at not only how well they all performed, but specifically how Gillian interacted with her fans not only before and after the show but also while on stage. She absolutely showed a level of stage presence beyond her years and I have no doubt that she’s got a great musical future ahead of her!
A few days later we headed up to one of our favorite wineries, Iron Vines in Sunbury to catch Runaway Stroller. This Lewisburg based acoustic duo did a great job covering artists like Stevie Nicks, Tom Petty, The Allman Brothers and a lot more over the course of the evening.
The following week we hit up a new to us place, Back Porch Brewing in Carlisle. I’ll start off by saying they’ve got a pretty damn tasty menu of brews for I think almost anyone that enjoys a tasty beer. I’ve seen Dave Gates and Matt Jameson both play a number of times and it’s always a total blast, but this was my first time seeing them play together. Now I’ve never seen a barrel of monkeys to truly formulate a comparison, but I’m gonna say it anyhow…these guys together is more fun than a barrel of monkeys LOL. Their sense of humor feeds well off each other, as well as off the crowd and they both do a great job of covering a wide assortment of genre’s making each song their own. Just my opinion (and perhaps that of the crowd there that night)…but these guys need to do this more often.
The following afternoon I headed down to the Roadhouse Pavilion at Appalachian Harley in Mechanicsburg to catch another pairing of different acts: Crash (of Crash & Cross) paired up with Stephen and Chris from Hank The Buffalo to put on a show. Covering songs from Luke Combs, Chris Stapleton, Zach Bryan, Tom Petty and a bunch more; the guys put on a fun and entertaining show. Also of note, the Roadhouse is hosting free live music 12-4 Saturday & Sunday all summer long…something to keep in mind if you’re looking for some afternoon tunes.
Next up on my travels was down to a local favorite of mine, The Doyle Hotel in Duncannon to finally catch Dr Nyce playing a set. I’ve seen him play with Katz 22 but this was my first time seeing him at one of his solo shows. I knew Zach was a super nice guy and talented keyboard player from meeting him with Katz 22, but seeing him play solo really punctuated just how solid a musician this dude really is. Covering songs like Wish You Were Here, Midnight Rider, Reeling In The Years, and a ton more, Zach played a bunch of requests from the crowd even including a few songs that he’d never played before…all of this really showed off his talent and I was glad I finally got to catch him out.
A few days later I got to travel down to Boiling Springs on a friend’s farm for a show that had me really excited. I first learned of, saw and photographed the Adam Ezra Group about eight years ago…before I was with the magazine, and when I was really still getting started with this crazy ride I’ve been on in the world of music photography. I remember being struck at the time by not only his charisma and stage presence, but also his song writing ability and musicianship. He, and each member of his band for that matter, are just honest good humans who enjoy sharing their music. Looking back at those images from so long ago was at first really cringy, but then it gave me a moment to compare to where I’m at now and really see how far I’ve come which was cool. With a beautiful farmland backdrop, Adam and his group brought their “Gathering Series” to the stage cranking out tunes like Switchin To Whiskey (oddly enough, one of my fav’s LOL), Live Loud, and one of the most beautiful versions of Hallelujah that I believe I’ve ever heard. Rounding out the afternoon with my second fav of theirs: The Devil Came Up To Boston (think Charlie Daniels Band crossed with Dropkick Murphey with a dash of folk acoustic to spice it up LOL). Seriously, if you’re not familiar with these guys, I really recommend checking them out.
I did hit up one last show for the month just last night, but deadline is looming on me and I’ve gotta prepare for a little roadtrip tomorrow for a promo shoot with a group of musicians that I respect a ton and am honored to call my friends…so last night’s show will just have to wait til next month’s article (oooooooohhhhhh, cliffhanger! LOL).
So there it is, my month of music through my eyes and ears. I want to once again thank all the bands, venues, and everyone else involved in our incredible local music scene for everything they do. Just a reminder: if you’ve got a show coming up that I should see; make sure to send me an invite, shoot me an email or a message, let me know about it. Venues: please don’t hesitate to reach out to me as well. The majority of the shows that I go and shoot I find out about through invites from all of you or your friends. Hit me up on facebook: @chrisriderphotography or email: chrisriderphotography@gmail.com, stop me if you see me out & around and say hi. Until next month…go find some live music and give them and the venue your support, they truly need it more now than they ever did.
