My Weekend: Shinedown, Walkin Boston After Midnight, and 2am Hot Dogs!

It was a big weekend, with Shinedown starting the new leg of their tour at the TD Garden. I got an invite from the band to head on down and see the show, so that was pretty much the center piece to my weekend. After the show- my buddy Scott and I stuck around town and set out to do some night photography in the city. What a night it was! But first- lets start with Shinedown.

Scott and I are both big Boston Bruins fans, and when we walked out on to the floor through the players tunnel - this hits you...

As pumped as we were for Shinedown- it wasnt lost on a couple of hockey fans where we were standing! I know the building is different, but this is the ground that Bobby Orr played on! And nevermind all the great Celtics!! Pretty damn cool being on the floor where all of that stuff took place! It's hard not to geek out!

We did get to hang with the band for a while before the show and had some really cool conversations with Brent and Zach -

It's amazing to me that these guys are as grounded today as they were way back in the beginning! They've grown from playing clubs- to selling out the TD Garden and they were beyond thrilled to be there! And it's astounding that Brent Smith remembers EVERYTHING along the way. I'm not a guy that thinks performers are ever going to remember my name. They meet hundreds of people every day, but Brent- has never ceased to amaze me with his memory. Not only does he remember names, He references conversations we had 15 years ago! Holy sh*t, I didn't even remember some stuff! Haha-

The show started out with bang - and it was a LOUD one! The sound was super loud in the opening couple of numbers (it happens on the first night of tours sometimes), but the sound guys got a hold of it and adjusted perfectly after that. They delivered almost all the favorites -

Symptom of Being Human was a highlight, as you'd expect when everyone in the place used their phone as a flashlight - but the intro to one of their newer songs- "365" brought tears to many eyes in the place. It was dedicated to anyone who had lost someone in their lives in the last year. That one hit home for me - and a lot of others.

They crushed it for 2 hours straight and it was a great night! After the show- Scott and I grabbed out gear and headed out to find places in the city to photograph. Night photography is so much fun - and night time is the perfect time for city-scapes. Its much quieter, nobody is around- and you don't have to worry about paying for parking! We walked from the Garden to Fanueil Hall, and on to the Common and Beacon Hill. We started at 11p and called it a night at 3:30am. Oh, did I mention that I had been up since 4am that day? hahah -

But here's some of the shots I got.

This is the most famous small street in Boston. It's a cobblestone street near Beacon Hill and it makes for great photos - especially at 1am!

The Zakim Bridge is always a good subject to shoot too - even if there's a couple sitting the park while you do it -

And along the Common-

So - we re walking around after show - and we hadn't eaten really anything since lunch - and we were looking for ANYTHING open serving food after midnight! We FINALLY found a place at 2am!

There was a hot dog cart near Fanuel (sp?) Hall! I asked the dude- "Bro - are you still serving?" - He goes "YUP!!" - I'm telling you ya, I could have HUGGED that dude!

That 2am foot long was the BEST F'N HOT DOG I HAVE EVER HAD IN MY ENTIRE LIFE!!! Haha- MAN it hit!!!

After that, I was feelin' all 'Merica and stuff!

We wrapped it up at 3:30am and got home at 4:45a - TOTALLY wiped!

Sunday- well, what do you think I did on Sunday???

You're RIGHT! NOT A DAMN THING! haha- The kids came over for dinner - and that put a wrap on the weekend! MOre pics and video to come though!

Hope you all had a good one!

g