Dandy Warhols at METRO in Chicago

Kel and I went to the Dandys show in Chicago. It was our first time seeing them live and hopefully not the last. We ended up right in the front row in front of Zia. I had wanted to take some photos of the show so I called the Metro beforehand to see if they allowed cameras in. They said that small digital cameras were usually fine. I decided to take both our small Canon Digital Elph and my Sony DSC F828 which has a much faster lens. COming in the door the security guard was overwhelmed by my Sev Coat which has 45 pockets so he missed my larger Sony which was hanging over my back under the coat. So we walked right up front during the Out Crowd and planted ourselves there for the entire show. I first got harassed by Metro's security "team" after I started taking a few pictures. This one security guard wouldn't believe that my SOny was not a camcorder because of its shape and size. I let him see it and he proceeded to pretend to know what he was doing fiddling with the controls. He putzed with it for a good minute and a half and then asked if it could take video. I didn't want to lie so I told him that it had the capability of taking small video clips, but I said what digital camera these days does not? I assured him that I was taking only stills. He reluctantly let me have it back and said "I better not catch you taking any video or else..." in his best security guard authoritative voice. A little while later the Dandy Warhols came on and there was a switch in the security team. A different contracted company altogether than the Metro security people. I figured I was going to get harassed again so I starting taking some pictures to get it over with as soon as possible so I wouldn’t miss any of the show. They asked for my press pass which I told them I didn’t have. And basically again wouldn’t believe that I didn’t have a camcorder, just a nice digital still camera that happens to take video clips as well. After 3 security guards convened around me and started questioning me – I pleaded innocence as all I wanted to do was take some pictures of my favorite band. Finally the head of this security outfit gave a nod to the husky one who had started to grill me, saying just forget it and let him take his pictures. Finally- I felt a little better about having my camera out and not feeling like I had to hide it, although I kept getting looks from the main security guard in front of us in the little space between the stage and us in the first row. I think he was second guessing his decision to let me take my pictures because I kept taking lots and lots of photos, over 550 in all. I did abide by the no flash rule which kind of sucked because it was dark in there. Very hard to get a good crisp Picture. I sorted through all that I took and this selection of 157 Photos represents the best of the bunch. Not the greatest, but still ok. The show was awesome. There was a guy behind us that was there reviewing the show for some media outlet ( magazine, newspaper, zine …neighborhood flyer?) He was loud and obnoxious , liked to hear himself talk, he was explaining the history of the band and how he didn’t like the latest album, the relationship between the Dandys and the BJM. I feel sorry for whoever he was talking to because he was a pompous arsehole, and I think it was him who later screamed out “!!!Zia!!!!” at the top of his lungs right in the middle of her singing a lovely hushed lullaby at the end of the show. What a dick. But the show was super. We had a great time, heard some great music. Enjoy the photos. Sign my guestbook or leave a comment if you will.
Thanks