Best gigs of 2009

In no particular order, what I saw, what brought my attention, what was fun to shoot and made me cry. What made me to buy the band’s CD or just Youtube their stuff for the whole day. What stuck to my skull and will be there even after this year’s concert season will finish…

…or in short: the best things I saw in 2009. Lot’s of text, links to photos so be prepared! However, if you’re looking for reviews filled with professional comments, enlisting the best chords the guitarist played that day, naming all the genres the band has stepped into during the certain gig – don’t waste your time. This list is just about the sole love for live music. And all the photos and feeling that come with it.

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Coke Live Festival @ Kraków – 20/21/22 VIII 2009

Last year I went to Coke Live Music and got back with a huge amount of dissapointment. The gigs weren’t great, the atmosphere was so-so and I was thinking of not returning this year…However, when I saw James, The Killers and NAS on the poster I decided to go. Contacted the folks at WP.pl (a website I collaborate with) if they were interested with the photos plus a review of the fest and after getting the “green light” I applied for the photo pass.

Really, concerts this year – brilliant! Got a total blast from James, NAS and Lupe Fiasco. James was a pretty nice suprise to the line-up, but the band managed to play a great performance! The same goes for Lupe Fiasco and NAS – two great hip-hop artists. Lupe came with his DJ and a drummer, while NAS put a great show with a live band (plus – a DJ of course;). Hell of a show!

The Killers -a big dissapointment for me. I loved the first record, I really did. But the rest…well. A copy of a copy of a copy from the first LP. The songs sound flat and they do not posess the magic, the ones from “Hot Fuss” did. What’s worse, I got the idea that the band is aware of this: almost all pieces from the last part of the concert came from the debut… And the “no-photo” policy plus the lack of small (but always nice!) things like comming from the stage info the audience. Come on! James started playing FROM the crowd and often the singer would get off the stage and interacted with the audience. Personally, I love those kinds of things!

While the line-up consisted mostly of hip-hop and reagge, it didn’t bother me that much. From politically-involved to pure fun – all faces of those genres were shown. I just hope that next year, more electronic and pop will be present. But inviting The Roots, Beastie Boys or Kanye West wouldn’t hurt a bit!

(Excuse me the absence of The Killers photos, but they did not allow photographers to enter the pit. Their photos were provided by their private photographer, and Brandon’s brother-in-law, Torey Mundkowsky. Well, the guys always seemed to be a “big” friend of all the photographers ..)

And if you are interested in buying any of the photos for a publication, please contact us. More photos can be seen on Wp.pl.

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