Category: Concert Photography

There are two types of lives you can live–the life you live before you have seen Madeon live, and the one you live after. Less of a concert and more of a spiritual encounter, Madeon rocked The Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles on Friday November 18th for the last of his Good Faith Forever era, the culmination of 5 years of his work and vision.

Hugo Pierre Leclercq, better known by his artist name Madeon, has been in the spotlight for over a decade, emerging as a new artist after releasing his popular “Pop Culture” mashup on YouTube in 2011 when he was only 17 years old, earning six million views in just a few days. In this viral phenomenon, several of his musical influences were mixed together in a way that was never quite seen before, but quickly drew comparisons to the likes of Daft Punk, Justice, and other French House icons. Madeon capitalized off of this fame and released his first EP The City in 2012, followed by his debut album Adventure in 2015, leading us to his most recent album Good Faith in 2018.

With this, Madeon created a unique live experience for his fans, coined as The Good Faith Forever tour. Combining emphatic live music with striking visuals and vibrant colors projected onto a full-size LED screen, the experience is unlike any other. The halls of the Shrine Auditorium buzzed with excitement as loyal fans awaited the legendary French Electropop artist.

Leading the night was BAYNK (full name Jock Nowell-Usticke), a New Zealand-born electronic artist. His atmospheric blend of tropical house and future bass tracks allowed for his airy vocals to delight the crowd, rising up on popular tracks “Water” and “go with u.”

Madeon commanded the stage immediately with “All My Friends”, with the infectious bass line and crunchy synth leads, there was not a single attendee sitting down by the first song. With a setlist that many have come to know over the past couple of years, a few surprises were thrown in the mix alongside the expected heavy hitters such as “No Fear No More,” “Icarus,” “You’re On,” and “Be Fine.” Certain songs were electrified with bonus mixes and overtures featured in “The Prince/Hyper Prince” and “Technicolor/Innocence,” adding more juice to an already high-octane display. Fans were even treated to “Shelter,” a popular song in collaboration with fellow DJ Porter Robinson, who unfortunately did not grace the stage for a guest appearance for the song (although it would have been awesome.)

I was reminded just how special a Madeon show is after experiencing this final Good Faith Forever show. I’ve been following his work for over a decade now, and I am insanely proud of his progression as an artist and cannot wait to see what’s in store for the new phase of Madeon. If after reading this you’re curious about checking out a Madeon show, you may have to wait a bit to see him on stage again, but I can promise you it will be well worth the wait.

See the gallery below for photos of both Baynk and Madeon.

Transcending the boundaries of conventional rock, Tool’s concert was an otherworldly journey that left the audience spellbound. The atmosphere crackled with anticipation as the band took the stage, shrouded in an enigmatic aura that mirrored their intricate, progressive soundscapes. From the pulsating rhythms of drummer Danny Carey to the ethereal vocals of Maynard James Keenan, each member of Tool showcased virtuosity, creating a sonic tapestry that defied easy categorization.

Early on, Kennan reiterated the edict posted on the walls and seats of the TD Garden: No phones. And certainly no video/photo. Keenan said that the band was there to present an experience and one couldn’t enjoy it with their phone out. Jarring for sure, given how much we need our phones these days, but the majority of the audience respected the request (the predator-like focus of the security roaming the aisles certainly encouraged compliance.)

The weird thing was, that the show was better without the phones. The mesmerizing visuals, including intricate light displays and mind-bending projections, complemented the sonic assault, plunging the audience into a surreal experience. Without the phones, the performance and the visuals were even more poignant and outstanding. People were not focused on whether or not the video was quality enough for the socials. Rather, the epicness of the lights, lasers, and trippy visuals created a perfect complement to the band’s music.

The setlist, a meticulous blend of classics and newer tracks, kept the energy high, leaving the crowd in a state of collective euphoria. Tool’s concert wasn’t just a performance; it was a sonic odyssey that pushed the boundaries of what rock can be, solidifying their status as pioneers in the genre. Always an amazing show.

Old Dominion took their No Bad Vibes Tour to Los Angeles on October 27th along with Kylie Morgan and Chase Rice. Take a look through the gallery below for photos from the show!

Photographed by Ryan Young.

As fans waited for The Aces to perform, Modern Moxie took the stage, where they played and rocked out to songs from their album “Claw Your Way Out” and their recent EP “Gutter Honey.” After their set, the members of the band gathered at the merch table where fans could not only meet the friendly members that make up Modern Moxie, but also purchase copies of “Gutter Honey,” and could get t-shirts, stickers and pickles. 

The members of The Aces appeared on stage as they performed their songs such as “Daydream,” “Always Get This Way” and “Girls Make Me Wanna Die.” As the members of the band danced on stage to their songs, the audience began to dance along with them. At one point of the show, lead singer of the band, Cristal Ramirez, shared with the audience on how they came from Utah and since starting their careers and while on their journeys of self-discovery, never imagined playing venues in cities such as Charlotte. 

To an ordinary person, one might see this concert as another performance at one of the venues in Charlotte, but to The Aces and to their fans, it was a performance that gave them hope and created such an energetic and accepting environment. Check out the photos below, by Bethany Ivan.