Step aside Spinal Tap

Something many people may not know about the title track from my band’s CD “Loch Ness Monster” is that it was originally written and recorded as a heavy metal song.

Consider the review from the Houston Press that said:

The album opens with the wonderfully dark ode to the creature lurking beneath the murky waters of Loch Ness. Here the beast is less the benign and almost dopey plesiosaur used to sell trinkets to tourists and much more the accursed beast with “Huge red eye, long sharp tooth / slicing knives, ragged spines” which will drag you from the banks and tear you to pieces despite your screams and struggles. Nessie, indeed.

And that’s in reference to the acoustic folk version! The heavy metal version of Loch Ness Monster is a bonus hidden track at the end of the CD.

The origins of this song go back to when Greg Henkel came up with a band called Rocrament and wrote about 10-12 heavy metal songs and his brother, Jim Henkel, recorded them. Jim laid down all the tracks and mixed it in his home studio.

Recently, Greg has been working hard with a hand-picked group of musicians to bring Rocrament to the stage and his evil brilliant plan comes to fruition this Thursday night, June 21st at the Houston Continental Club.

Show time is around 10:30 and follows the regular Thursday night performance of Jim Henkel’s Beatles tribute band “Beetle.”

Only Greg knows for sure what this performance will entail, but early reports are of elaborate stage props and costumes. Greg let me know that Rocrament has about 45 minutes of live material so you won’t be out all night on a weeknight.

This is going to be a rock show for the ages!

Check out Rocrament’s Myspace page for more information.

Click here to hear the song “Rocrament” from the original CD.

Wayne “The Train” Hancock

For concert photography I have been favoring my Sony 50mm 1.4 lens quite heavily. It’s a fantastic piece of glass and the results speak for themselves. Last night I decided to break with the 50mm and work with my Tamron AF 28-75mm f2.8 XR Di while attending the Wayne Hancock show at Fitzgeralds.

Wayne Hancock at Fitzgeralds
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Wayne Hancock at Fitzgeralds
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As you can see, the Tamron did fine in terms of clarity and exposure. On top of that I was able to capitalize on the wider angle when framing up my shot.

I was still interested in close up work and the Tamron did not disappoint there, either:

Wayne Hancock at Fitzgeralds
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Wayne Hancock at Fitzgeralds
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But the true joy of this lens is the ability to shoot at a wider angle and from a greater distance so I am not having to crowd the stage…

Wayne Hancock at Fitzgeralds
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I am definitely going to experiment with this lens some more in the coming weeks.

Disco Expressions – Prom Night

The Disco Expressions show/prom night event last weekend was a huge success. Basically, it was a concert at the Houston Continental Club featuring 70’s disco and 80’s new-age/punk/pop and the audience was invited to dress in a prom theme.

Of course you can’t have a prom without adult supervision.
Meet Continental High School Vice-Principal Henkel

Opening act was Molly and the Ringwalds for the 80’s portion of the night.


Jennifer Ringwald


Carrie Ringwald

And a rare sight ladies and gentlemen. A candid photo of Dekan Ringwald!

That’s right, he’s not staring directly at the camera! This must be what those Planet Earth camermen felt like when they captured those rare images of the Snow Leopard in the wild.

Next up, Disco Expressions playing all your 70’s disco favorites.

It’s hard to tell if Jim is about to give me the OK sign, or if he’s about to flick me like a bug.

Paul was in rare form

All in all, another excellent evening. I wanted to shoot audience pictures to capture those in attendance wearing their prom dresses and tuxedos, but they didn’t come out so well. I don’t do well shooting with a flash and the club is too dark to shoot without one.

I did, however, get one outstanding shot.

Disco Expressions (again)

Disco Expressions had their second “official” gig last Friday at the Continental Club this past Friday.
By all accounts, it was a huge success.

My best picture of Jim performing to date:

Disco Expressions
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Paul Beebe was a little bit frightening:

Disco Expressions

Random shots

Disco Expressions
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Disco Expressions
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Disco Expressions
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Disco Expressions
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