Later that night, Bobaflex performed at the Boise Knitting Factory in direct support of Ill Niño. With Marty on rhythm guitar and Shaun on lead vocals, they opened their set with the dynamic “Start a War” off their latest album Anything That Moves. They followed with “Chemical Valley”, “Pretty Little Things”, “Mama (Don’t Take My Drugs Away)”, and “I’m Glad You’re Dead”.  At this point Shaun and Marty traded the mic and guitar, and the band continued with “Never Coming Back.” They momentarily slowed things down a bit with Marty McCoy’s and Tipple’s beautiful vocal harmonies on the intro of “A Spider in The Dark”. They closed out their set with “Losing My Mind” and their hit song, “Bury Me with My Guns On.” Fun fact: the official video for “Bury Me with My Guns On” was filmed at the Knitting Factory in 2011, where yours truly was in attendance.
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Despite the band’s two-year absence from Boise, the crowd received Bobaflex very enthusiastically. The audience sang along, pumped its fists in the air, and moshed in front of the stage. During Ill Niño’s set, the band hung out with fans.

The next morning, a couple of friends and I drove to Eastern Idaho to watch Bobaflex perform at SEIRAM Fest in Blackfoot. The guys hit the stage in the early evening with a set list similar to the night before. About halfway through the set, Marty lit up a cigarette. Fans familiar with the band’s catalog cheered excitedly, aware that could only mean an older favorite, “Home,” was to follow. The set ended with Marty, in typical fashion, climbing on n unsuspecting security’s shoulders to sing “Bury Me with My Guns On” and interact with the entire front row of the crowd.
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I don’t often get to photograph concerts in daylight so the day’s shoot was rewarding. The large, partly enclosed stage was the ideal backdrop, though a bit more fog and some stage lights could have made everything that much closer to perfect.

​My last date with Bobaflex was a somewhat early outdoor headline show in the small town of Jerome, the same place Nikki Sixx lived as kid. The fairly small stage was positioned against a building with AC units and other unappealing objects on the roof and shaded with tarps, making the backdrop less than ideal for photos. I decided early on that this show would be more about enjoying the band than trying to get the perfect shots.

The band added a few more fan favorites to their headline set list, including “Low Life”, “Vampire”, and “Bad Man”. At the point in their set when they usually slow things down a bit, Marty picked up a guitar and joined Tipple on vocals for the band’s rendition of “Sound of Silence”, which predates Disturbed’s recent take on the Simon & Garfunkel classic. The Bobaflex cover of the song is heavier, with both acoustic and electric guitars, but the vocals equal the original in both intensity and expression.

There is a raw quality about Bobaflex, a genuine rebellious rock and roll vibe balanced by the elegance of the vocal harmonies for which they are acclaimed. These seasoned musicians have dedicated their lives to creating and playing music; there is no plan B. They are truly one of the hardest working bands and some of the most down-to-earth people I’ve had the pleasure of meeting.

My highlight of the weekend was being granted all-access to shoot from pretty much anywhere my little heart desired. The opportunity to capture shots that are different from the typical images taken from the photo pit is priceless. But the endeavor is also stressful. I easily get lost in the excitement of trying to capture the perfect moment, rushing from the pit to the sides of the stage, back to the pit, and out into the crowd. I have to be aware of my surroundings and keep out-of-the-way of the band and their crew. The last thing I want to do is trip over an instrument cable or guitar stand. Yet even with the risks, all-access is worth every exhilarating minute.

Halestorm headlined the Revolution Concert House in Boise on June 10th. Rival Sons and Royal Thunder played support.

Rival Sons.

Royal Thunder

On August 21, 100.3 the X brought the band Otherwise for another Free X Show at the Boise Knitting Factory. Earlier in the day, the band stopped by the station's Studio 1X  for an on-air interview and acoustic performance.

That evening, Otherwise headlined the show with a dynamic set. Three Boise bands, Sprockets, Bukkit, and Pause for the Cause, played in support.

On Friday, August 8th, Bobaflex stopped by the Boise Knitting Factory for another highly energetic performance. The West Virginia quintet is truly one of the hardest working bands in the country. This was only my second time seeing and photographing the band, but I've been following them on Facebook for a few years now - these guys are always touring!
Their passion and dedication is authentic.

The band is fronted by the very charismatic brothers Marty and Shaun McCoy (yes, of that infamous Hatfield-McCoy feud) who take turns with lead vocal and guitar shredding duties.

Jerod Mankin (bass) and David Tipple (guitar) also contribute their vocal abilities as Tommy Johnson (drums) keeps everyone in time.

Don't miss Bobaflex next time they roll through your town! You will not be disappointed.

Check out the full  GALLERY.

In May, I photographed the Swedish metal band Avatar. It was quite possibly the coolest gig I've shot, second only to
Rob Zombie. These guys know how to put on a show. And make killer music. They gained many new fans that night, 
including yours truly.

Earlier in the day, the super awesome 100.3 the X arranged an acoustic session at a local pawn shop. It was an impressive two-song performance. The guys had figured out the acoustic arrangement for their single Bloody Angel the day before,
and the stripped down version of the song showcased Johannes's superb vocal abilities. (Video here - not mine.)

So much energy... and synchronized headbanging.

Is it possible to wear out a hole in a CD? Well, I've been trying to do just that with Hail The Apocalypse and Black Waltz, while
impatiently awaiting their next show.

Click for full GALLERY. And it is full. I shot their entire thirteen song set!