First Time Shooting a Band
More tales from a working photographer - with little bro
"To be one, to be united is a great thing. But to respect the right to be different is maybe even greater" - Bono
<if reading in email click on "View entire message">
Driving out to Las Vegas in 2012 (halfway through my career) to shoot my little brother’s band, for promo, is a memory locked in monsoon weather and a range of interpersonal dynamics. It was a time of great change, stirred emotions, the kind bands notoriously carry.
As a brief intro to my brother, and only sibling, Adam Gunn, he spent a good portion of his childhood in the entertainment industry, pegged for cheeky roles, acting in shows like Little House on the Prairie (this thrills our homesteading family to no end, granddaughters calling him “very naughty” whenever they see him) CHiPS, Trapper John, M.D., Fallen Angel, Halloween II, and more.
Hello the 70’s is calling.
Funny enough, Adam had some good roles in most of the shows he did, with exception to Halloween II.
In less than a minute, for nearly five decades, the young Michael Myers, sitting in a jail cell, slowly turns around to face the camera as spine tingling chills excite audiences worldwide. Superfans line up for hours to meet the main characters from this insanely popular cult franchise. (Gotta admit, I am no fan of ghoul. Don’t like clowns either btw). Horror paraphernalia, costumed killers, mayhem, and autograph agents throwing large sums of money at signatures for resale on pictures, posters and knives ick are everywhere. We joined Adam at The Pasadena Convention Center for the 40th and 45th anniversaries and I have to admit we did meet the nicest people.
Adam and I worked in the industry as if it was a surreal side-gig to our very normal life. In fact, I googled Adam’s name for this piece and found quite a bit. It might have been the second time I’ve ever done that for him or myself!
Fast forward to the late 80’s. I was married and living an hour away from home, pregnant with my first child. Six years apart in age, Adam left home to work in hotel hospitality in Las Vegas. He’s got some wicked “bellman” stories that we might do a podcast about someday.
For years Adam also made a living as a drummer.
In the mid 70’s, dad inquired about drum lessons for Adam at our local music shop —in Granada Hills, California. He continued lessons throughout his teens which lead to some private lessons from a guy named Dave Garibaldi (Tower of Power!). Mom and Dad would drive Adam to Dave’s home in the San Fernando Valley — Adam almost unaware of the 30 something musical blessing — although dad knew.
Adam would grow up to play in jazz band, both in Jr high/high school, formed a garage rock band (police got to know them and our huge drooly guard dog, Duke) and performed at local events.
My favorite band was Adam’s first band in Vegas. It was a really popular band on the college circuit that had a reggae/ska-like sound. Professor Punn attracted huge crowds. They made it all the way to big record label interest at the Viper Room in Hollywood and began to play much larger gigs.
Typical band story on the cusp of internet, where they could have eventually marketed themselves better —> breaking up some of the music industry b.s. they encountered.
A roller coaster story for another time.
I love this casual history — because what did any of us know? We just lived back then. No one was after anything but a hard days work and a passion if they were lucky. The whole “Brits in America” getting into the entertainment industry was an absolute fluke brought on by a New York City agent visiting my local dance studio. End of story. We just took the opportunity - but neither of us were born passionately into acting. Hence, we both found our way in different art forms.
So back to traveling out to Vegas for the band shoot. I remember it like yesterday. Monsoon season in sweaty August. “Arms of America” was a solid U2 cover band my brother, not only named, but was the original drummer. His tenure lasted about five years as he moved onto other things by 2015, with an occasional special event show. Proud of the groundwork, they won best tribute band becoming even more popular after he left.
Arms of America’s lead singer moved back to his homeland of Canada during the pandemic — but continues with music. The band still gets together for St. Patty’s Day events on occasion.
John, or Jono, as the band called him, 100% mirrored Bono. I still laugh about the hyper chatter, and sudden Irish brogue f-bombs, as we made our way around town. I hopped in a van a few hours before Golden Hour the day after arriving, a bit worried about the weather which had been torrential all morning and into the afternoon. We headed to downtown Vegas, and began shooting at the Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health building, where I realized monsoon weather was settling into amazing skies, lustrous light and geek excitement. After that, we found a W O R L D sign, then raced back to the strip where more rain had just filled the streets, leaving storm-light bouncing off iconic luxury on the famous boulevard. I can still see it from the guy chatter-filled van, wishing I was a big-time shooter with hotel access. “Can we find a public parking place with a rooftop,” I said, my adrenaline pumping past possible opportunities. “Thinking somewhere with fresh puddles and light reflection off the hotel buildings,” got their attention. We ended up at “City Center” — then finished the day with a shoot at the edge of town for some desert vibes a bit but not really like the cover of The Joshua Tree album.
Bands are special. Having the opportunity to think creatively for one was the adrenaline rush, as usual, of working in time limits, meshing with four unique personalities, all while covering a “cover band.” Making it both U2 and Arms of America simultaneously. “Armed” (Gunn-punn) with images, I headed back to California — hoping I made everyone happy.
I harshly critiqued everything I shot. “Always” will.
Music photography is fleeting like bands. You do all that work and members come and go. People split up. Portrait work dies with it. But not the great memories.
My favorite was live concert shooting, which I was loving at the end of my career. By mid 2020 many bands, families, were suddenly torn apart. Even still, I truly believe everything has it’s season, no matter how harsh — — and to each season a purpose.
Above is a “first year” video compilation of Arms of America in 2010.
“It's very important for Christians to be honest with God, which often, you know, God is much more interested in who you are than who you want to be.” - Bono
Turn the music on.
Love you brother. ox
I want to run, I want to hide
I wanna tear down the walls that hold me inside
I wanna reach out and touch the flame
Where the streets have no name, ha, ha, ha
I wanna feel sunlight on my face
I see that dust cloud disappear without a trace
I wanna take shelter from the poison rain
Where the streets have no name, oh, oh
Where the streets have no name
Where the streets have no name
We're still building then burning down love
Burning down love
And when I go there, I go there with you
It's all I can do
The city's a flood
And our love turns to rust
We're beaten and blown by the wind
Trampled in dust
I'll show you a place
High on the desert plain, yeah
Where the streets have no name, oh, oh
- Where the Streets Have No Name - The Joshua Tree album
Tagging just a few in my community - (just trying to “stay in it” - sorry to bother!)
That wasd such a delight to read and the memories it stirred up in me are so special.
just don't tell bono you call it "st patty's day" coz he won't be your friend anymore 😁