Fleet Foxes @ Union Hall, Brooklyn, NY - pics

snooze

Look at all the crossed arms in the front row! Looks like everyone had fun!

j tillman joining fleet foxes was the fucking best idea since crystal pepsi.

"Look at all the crossed arms in the front row! Looks like everyone had fun!"

well, i happen to have a big smile on my face.

do i lose points for having my hands in my pockets?

Well I take it back. The one guy on the end with the bookbag looks like he is having the time of his life!

"Look at all the crossed arms in the front row! Looks like everyone had fun!"

Have you ever been to Union Hall? You are standing there awkardly inches from the band with people right behind you. Have you ever listened to Fleet Foxes? It's music that is suited for a seated theater. What do you expect someone to do standing there in the front row? Jump up and down?

Yo, I was in the front row, probably swaying like a drunk mother half the time, and bobbing my head with arms crossed the other half. That's what I do to ethereal music. And it felt good.

If there's a concert and no one takes any pictures, did it really happen?

Dear concert photographers,

I love photography. Taking pictures, going to galleries and museums, reading photography magazines, and looking at concert shots online are just a few of the photography-related activities that I enjoy on a regular basis.

I suspect that, much in the same way that I love photography, you love music. Whether or not you're being payed for your work, you probably take great pleasure in hearing an old favorite or checking out the latest buzz band. You may even love music so much that you spend most of your free time blogging about it. That's why it pains me to tell you that your photographing is, in many cases, both distracting from and disrespectful to the artists that you're shooting.

When 15 digital SLRs are clicking away during a quiet song (by the way, I'm pretty sure that you can turn that sound off on a digital SLR), when you're holding your camera above your head or in front of other people's faces, or when your focusing light is shining on a singer's shirt during what would otherwise be a beautifully intense moment, it is absolutely TAKING AWAY FROM THE MUSIC. This is only exacerbated in smaller venues where you're that much more noticeable and in the way. Is the 400th shot you take of the guitarist tuning really going to be that much better than the 4th? Couldn't you get most of what you need during one or two songs? The answer to those questions, I suspect, are no and yes, respectively.

I would never claim that taking photos to document a musical experience is without historical or artistic value (or even promotional value for the band). However, I would argue that it's not the optimal medium for the job - it's kind of like tape-recording a ballet. Mostly though, it competes with the performance onstage, which is what the people came for. Please, try to bring the obsessive photo-taking down a notch. If not for me, do it for the music.

I'll never understand why people pay money to see a show and spend the whole time talking.

The late show was better than the early one. and despite the crossed arms, the crowd was very respectful. no one at the back talking. It was a fantastic show.

so they can tell their friends back in williamsburg that they were there.

SLR means single lens reflex, which means that there is one light path with a mirror in the way that moves to allow the light to hit the sensor and create the image. that sound you're hearing? that's the mirror moving. so no, you can't turn that off.

but you're right, some photogs really need to learn how to be a little more inconspicuous during quieter sets.

9:38 and 9:39 are right on point. I like when the band calls people out for talking. How did the idiots talking get into this show... plenty of people wanted tickets that would actually have listened.

I'm guilty of the photo thing to some extent too... most still pictures don't even show up with the little point and shoot, so this is usually a waste of time anyway.

Most of the photographers show a lot of respect. That girl that holds her flash in the air was at the early show though. That might be what prompted this.

well, i didn't find kyle terribly disrespectful at this show. at one point, however, he went on a strange flash spree that seemed to capture every band member.

if you have a good enough dslr (high iso and fast shutter speed especially), there's really no need to bust out the flash at these shows, even at a place with minimal lighting like union hall. it's probably only appropriate to ask the band if they mind before their set. i don't know if most photobloggers bother though.

the vast majority don't seem to care about waltzing right in front of other patrons or shoving the flash in their faces for long periods, etc. that's going to be the type of thing - especially as more people acquire high-end cameras - that will lead to venue complaints and greater restrictions on photography at shows (which is how i think it should be, mostly).

the best new band in years

i was standing next to the girl with the bounce flash - her pictures looked amazing, it's just that she basically took the same 3 pictures about 100 times each.

Whattt?!?!? I'M SO ANGRY I ALMOST BROKE MY CANON EOS 1DS MARK II TYPING THIS!!!

probably the greatest new band since the ancient greek time

I thought the show was pretty fantastic (I caught the early one). Robin's voice sounded great, and the whole band seemed to enjoy the intimacy and banter in the small room.

For those of you who weren't blown away by the record/EP, may be worth seeing them live. A little like Grizzly Bear-- dreamy, low-key source material that manages to take a more powerful life of its own when performed live.

What time to do the tote bags go on?

Speaking as a photographer who always makes an attempt to stay out of the way of other fans and be as unobtrusive as possible, I'd like to make a request: please tell the photographer when they're annoying you. "Please don't hold your camera in front of my face" or "that flash is distracting" said in a decent manner will immediately solve the problem, unless the photographer is a total asshole. As for shooting constantly throughout the show, it can be annoying. However photographers can get caught up in the moment as much as anyone, so that's when a polite word will work wonders.

That being said, a lot of venues in this city have horrible lighting (union hall being one) and photographers have to use annoying flash or, if not using flash, take a whole lot of photos to get anything decent.

I am not looking forward to them opening for Wilco. Torture.

There opening for Wilco in Brooklyn?

I honestly feel asleep at the late show. Speaking of people talking at shows, the band was doing an awful lot of that themselves. Less talk, more "rock", if you will.

What time does daft punk photograph their broken macbook air?

No, only in the northwest I think.

Why no pictures of Casey the piano player?

"Why no pictures of Casey the piano player?"

Was he there?

I wish they were opening for Wilco in the Pool... that would be sweet

Hi all, thanks for the photo feedback. Please allow me to state my side of things:

I try my best to be respectful at shows. These quiet shows are always tough, as are any ridiculously low-light Union Hall/Mercury Lounge shows. Jose Gonzalez was probably the hardest of those, and I was as pissed at the woman shooting machine-gun style next to me as anyone. My apologies if I've annoyed you - I'm a big music fan and really try to be conscious of not affecting other people's enjoyment on the night.

That said, last night I took six shots with flash. Six. That's six more than I generally take at concerts. The super wide angle isn't fast enough for low light situations - they don't make one that's fast enough for Union Hall's dim red lights - but other than that there was no flash, which means I didn't shine any sort of light on the lead singer. Yes, the clicking happens, you can't turn that off - anon 9:46 got that one right. And never once did I hold my camera in front of anyone's face or block their view. I probably did take a few more photos last night than I needed to take - I'm a bit OCD about my photos. Apologies if I ruined your experience, that's not my aim.

As lori mentioned, if a photog is bothering you, please say something. That's all.

Oh, and no photos of Casey the piano player because he was standing directly behind Robin in my line of sight and I wasn't about to barge in front of people to get that shot.

the devils music

you should lay off the 50mm-70mm portrait shots dude. take some wide angles

They were good. glad we got some last minute tickets.

I was toward the back of the show last night, and there was a crew of about 5 or 6 people chatting away for at least half of fleet foxes set. They thankfully dissipated over the course of the second half of the show. Afterward I exited to see a couple of them manning the merch table! I guess that means they're label tools? who really love their band?

The first show had such a weird crowd. I saw a bunch of people writing the track-list down, over-doing the photo thing, making out. There was too much talking. I'm confused about why people would go to a show like this if they're not really interested in taking it all in. Wait for the Terminal 5 show if you're going to be half-assed about it.

wouldn't the second show have been full of only brooklynvegan readers since i don't think it was "announced" (at least with this type of readership) anywhere else?

I was at the first show in the front and had a great time. I agree with the sentiments about the photographers. It's not like Fleet Foxes setup changed during the set. Snap a ton of shots during the first 2 songs and then put your cam away and watch a show. That goes for the girl scribbling in her pad the whole time right in front of the stage as well. I'm a musician and I'd much prefer to see someone enjoying the music standing inches from me as I sing then scribbling furiously about me. Seems intimidating and no fun.

I like seeing the pics and reading the write ups after so I'm not saying these should be journalism free zones, but tact is great. And I'm not going to tell you to put your cam away. I shouldn't have to. It's obvious. I wouldn't expect you to ask me to put my shvantz away. It shouldn't have been out in the first place.

that show looked like complete pandemonium. those kids sure are wild! Zzzzz......

The first show had a 40 person Sub Pop ticket buy. The second show had none, just fans. Nuff said.

okay this is pretty funny: "Whattt?!?!? I'M SO ANGRY I ALMOST BROKE MY CANON EOS 1DS MARK II TYPING THIS!!!"

Well that explains why there hasn't been a peep out of Crystal Skulls for a while now. I wonder if their involvement in this band is going to result it in the death of Crystal Skulls. That would suck.

kyle, your portrait shots are rad - especially considering how low the lighting is at UH.

i <3 tillman. especially when he smashes shit. feet fuckers rule!

Spinal Tap is to metal as Fleet Foxes are to indie

The photographers were not half as annoying as the Mr. Monopoly talking guy standing near the back the late show who seemed very impressed with himself and his Daddy Warbucks bullshit. That joke got old halfway through the first time he did it and subsequently went from mildly annoying to on the verge of throttling him each and every time it was dragged out - quite a few if memory serves.

Fleet Foxes were great but the musk of smug self-regard that permeated the crowd really left a shitstain on the memory of an otherwise talented band's set...

Sorry to keep reading and commenting about myself / ourselves but yeah, like someone said up above the early show at Union Hall had a big label ticket purchase that we didn't know about - they bought 40% of the 100 available tickets so I don't know if a lot of people there were necessarily "fans" or people who wanted to see the band. I wish they would have told us about that so we could have booked a bigger place for the Brooklyn show, buying half the capacity of a place in tickets took the wind out of our sails a little bit. But everybody in the second crowd (and really most of the first crowd) seemed very cool and connect-with-able and we felt a little less "on display" so it was good. Both were fun but we also noticed the difference in vibe. Sorry about that, I know there were people who wanted to get in who couldn't because of the capacity. Welp, smell the glove everybody!

Love,
Nigel Tufnel

Oh, and to Chris, this isn't the end of Crystal Skulls or J Tillman - we are gonna start the next Fleet Foxes record as soon as we get home from touring in November but there will be periods in the next year or so where we're working on Skulls stuff, J Tillman stuff, and I'll be working on a different type of record on my own at home. The new Crystal Skulls songs are wonderful and J Tillman will be opening our next Europe tour with help from all of us so the other music in the fam will get it's time in the sun!

Best,
David St. Hubbins

Kyle, great shots!
I totally agree with Lori...if a photographer is being annoying or taking away from the show PLEASE just politely tell them and ask them to stop or chill out. Sometimes we get caught up in the moment and don't realize. I try to be aware of where I'm putting my body/camera and I'm usually pretty good about my flash. My apologies if I've ever ruined any show for you. I am also totally annoyed by photographers that have no consideration for the audience or artist, it makes me embarrassed to have my camera with me. Anyway...point is...if we're annoying you, please let us know!

@ anon 10:43 am: wide angle shots *are* always more interesting, but they're the ones that require more lighting, hence flash. there are a lot of us who feel like jerks using flash though, hence a pile of close-ups, which has been complained about here before.

but i agree about taking too many shots. i don't even bother anymore because you can barely make the shots look any more interesting than what the stage looks like, which you can capture within a few songs. but i wish the rule was last 3 songs instead of first 3 because that's when they get all sweaty and pull out tricks, and that's when people are in a better mood.

i especially don't bother with taking too many shots because that takes away from my own enjoyment of the music. but i myself have been pushed off by other photographers several times, even though i went super early to secure a spot and they didn't, and even though i'm holding my camera in my hand while not firing it like a maniac. just like bicyclists, there are jerks in every field.

what a fantastic show (late show)...we were all lucky to see it, as the band was in excellent form...tillman indeed stole the show (in my mind)..

and i don't feel the photographers interfered with the show, and neither did "daddy warbucks"...it seems anon 2:09 is simply looking to complain, to relieve himself of the terrible bout of ennui he is currently facing. it's too bad when people can't just enjoy a show, but oh well, not my problem. and the idea of anyone in this blog "throttling" someone is hilarious. tone it down a notch and enjoy the music.

Actually, Wide-angle shots typically let in more light from the wider field of view. Its just that in dark clubs, you get a lot more black space in the shot. which is not so great or interesting.

I would argue that photographers would be less intrusive if the audience didn't insist in pressing shoulder to shoulder toward the front of the stage, which I find is often an uncomfortable problem both as a spectator and a photographer. Then again, I don't presume to tell anyone how to enjoy a show, just saying.

We photographers get up to the front and usually stay there to get the shot, rather than presume to expect people to let us through gracefully for a few songs and leave. If you think you deserve being closer and less distracted by photographers, then why dont you get there early, instead of strolling in for the headliners?

There are also definitely some jerks out there taking pictures that give others a bad name. Kyle certainly isn't one of them.

the guitar player on the right kindof looks like "rudy the rabbit" from meatballs

Thanx so much David for quelling my fears. I can't wait to hear all the new material and to the Skulls -> please please come back and play NYC soon. It has been YEARS since the last show.

@ anon 6:00 pm: but it's hard (if not super expensive) to get a wide lens with aperture lower than 2.8 (at least for nikon) and 2.8 seems pretty much useless for a dark venue like union hall.

i'm still trying to figure out the "they just sound like everything else indie" argument.
vocally, i see the MMJ comparison, and production-wise see the Band Of Horses comparison.
Past that...I think they sound like an archaic, ancient folk band with no modern comparison, really.

They're nice guys and doing something refreshingly different, if you ask me. Which you didn't.

I'm gonna go break my macbook air now.

and seriously...why does EVERYONE find a reason to complain these days? try living somewhere that doesn't get shows for a while and realize that you're blessed with a ton of options.

quit bein' so gawdamn negative, people.

"Spinal Tap is to metal as Fleet Foxes are to indie"

Why do i hate it that people still refer Indie to being garage rock. Indie can be a damn wanna bee pop singer....like that chic on the L at Union Square singing Madonna songs. Bad comparison but still.

"That being said, a lot of venues in this city have horrible lighting (union hall being one) and photographers have to use annoying flash or, if not using flash, take a whole lot of photos to get anything decent."

this is a lie. get a decent camera. anything 1.2 or 1.4 or even 1.8 works wonderfully in union hall.

union hall, mercury lounge, glasslands, knitting factory, pianos... all absolute crap to photograph shows. you know, the stage set-up may not change but the reactions and movement of the band do. sometimes when we're all snapping away it's for that reason not because we want 20 images of the same thing. nobody i know wants to have to edit through all that, but we do it anyway trying to get the shot.

^^^ But you have to realize that getting that perfect shot is sometimes annoying the hell out of people (most of whom paid to be there). it's nice seeing so many budding photographers, but please just be a little considerate to the people around you. sometimes your shots will be better than other times. it's really not that big of a deal.

I've been shooting w/a Canon EOS @ 3200 ISO and an f 1.2 50mm for years. No flash. Stand in the back and get a good zoom. Shoot 5-10 shots and be done with it. It doesn't bother anyone, and there's enough light, even at Union Hall. Fuckin' bounce flasher's drive me crazy. I've always been confused about the "low aperature, wide angle" argumeent. Kill two birds with one stone. Get a higher mm lens, and move to the back. Then you don't annoy anyone.

THAT BEING SAID, we live in New York, and these bands come to New York lots, and before tours, precisely so there will be photos for promoting the upcoming tour. We live in a media capitol, it's part of the game.

it isn't hard to rise to the top when your sister is one of the lead writer's at the seattle weekly and a major label subsidiary like sub pop is tossing you that much money in production.

ff do not impress me. sorry. forgettable songs overproduced by mr ek. throw in a flute and 15 layers of vocals. break the reverb dial by turning it to 'angelic baby, its angelic' setting. hooray. my morning jacket and band of horses recycled.

kill the reverb. get some politics. write songs whose themes you might leave the listener under the illusion of your actually having lived through.

for those of you who like them, cool, have fun at their shows. great you found something that grabs you. but don't make them out to be epic or having more than a 3 year shelf life. can't see either, sorry.

"like that chic on the L at Union Square singing Madonna songs. Bad comparison but still."

I love her.

its angelic' setting. hooray. my morning jacket and band of horses recycled.

Bite me...

ne diyorsunuz lan?

Fleet Foxes are a really great band you can always bank on.

I have never heard Fleet Foxes, are they really good?

Fleet Foxes is a matter of taste. As for me I like some of their songs. The words are very deep. And I like the voice of the solist. You know in orrder not to wonder you'd better download some of their songs. As for me I usually find everything at the files search engine http://rapid4me.com . Then you can judge if you like them or not.

Fleet Foxes is a matter of taste. As for me I like some of their songs. The words are very deep. And I like the voice of the solist. You know in orrder not to wonder you'd better download some of their songs. As for me I usually find everything at the files search engine http://rapid4me.com . Then you can judge if you like them or not.

This is really nice. I like the voice of the solist. You know in order not to wonder you'd better download some of their songs. Thanks!

I recommend to get some politics. write songs whose themes you might leave the listener under the illusion of your actually having lived through.
Regards,

I usually find these problems. You know in orrder not to wonder you'd better download some of their songs

I've known Kristeen since high-school (she graduated the year before me, and we had a few classes together), and to everyone who was hatin' on her because she made fun of their precious Morrissey, I say "Shut yer cakeholes, you poofs!"

good post mate.

rock on.....

nice rare pics.... thanks guys

fleet foxes are refreshingly different , i really like them ,

awesome guys really awesome..

classic pics mate, fleet foxes rocks!!!!!!!

I have a great interest in music i did love this very much.

well ... your pics are very good and you are rocking..
what a fantastic show (late show) thanks for sharing

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nice looking pictures.

here's really no need to bust out the flash at these shows, even at a place with minimal lighting like union hall. it's probably only appropriate to ask the band if they mind before their set. i don't know if most photobloggers bother though..

Think they would read the BILL if they had to live by it?

these are cool pictures.

this is a great site.

Thanks for good pos.Best regards Bobsa.

As for me I like some of their songs. The words are very deep. And I like the voice of the solist. You know in orrder not to wonder you'd better download some of their songs.

nice post

Drummer J Tillman is an awesome addition to the band. And except for the idiots that wouldn't shut up near the bar in the back of the very small room, I thought it was it was a great show

Wow, they are some awesome looking photos. Love the band too :D

I would argue that photographers would be less intrusive if the audience didn't insist in pressing shoulder to shoulder toward the front of the stage, which I find is often an uncomfortable problem both as a spectator and a photographer.

that's an excellent choice of guitar

where's your drummer?!

The pics are looking pretty great. The site is pretty awesome. Wish you all the best and Regards
Jugendherberge Wien

You are rocking.Your Drummer J Tillman is an awesome in your band.

The pics are pretty good. I like them a lot. Wish the band best of luck in future

These kind of articles are always attractive and I am happy to find so many good point here in the post, writing is simply great, thanks for sharing.

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Thanks for sharing wonderful information with us.

Amazing Pics. I really like them nice band.

great gig.

cool!

Very good information.Thanks

great post

Very interesting and helpful post. You have good command on the topic and have explained in a very nice way. Thanks for sharing.

Very interesting and helpful post. You have good command on the topic and have explained in a very nice way. Thanks for sharing.

the guitar player on the right kindof looks like "rudy the rabbit" from meatballs. http://filepasswords.com

Fleet Foxes are indeed progressing. Quite good as well.

Nick

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There are all ranges of accessories available here for the for the best players. They can order for any product they want online.

Great band. Love the way they sing.

Your post is amazing. Just wanted to say thanks for writing these great posts.

why does EVERYONE find a reason to complain these days? try living somewhere that doesn't get shows for a while and realize that you're blessed with a ton of options.

There are all ranges of accessories available here for the best players. You can order any product you want online.

hat joke got old halfway through the first time he did it and subsequently went from mildly annoying to on the verge of throttling him each and every time it was dragged out - quite a few if memory serves.

Very good pictures. They're full of action and music sound straight from them.
Thank you very much!

very nice and well quality picture thanks for share us

Very interesting and useful. You have good knowledge of the subject and explained in a very pleasant. Thanks for sharing.

rock on!

I have heard them online and i do agree! They are great. I really like the drummer he is very good!

I saw these guys a while ago and they rock!

In the front row! Looks like everyone had fun!

I like music and world people prefer the less noise one with moving their feelings to be comfortable .

Great band!

Love this band got them on the ipod right now.

like when the band calls people out for talking. How did the idiots talking get into this show... plenty of people wanted tickets that would actually have listened.

Does blog spamming really increase traffic to your shitty website? You are a total troll, douche.

idk why people even bother spamming, its not like it provides any value for the site whatsoever. i hate trolls and douches that do that.

I think it will be really awesome if you could post a video with the band two. I would really like to see them, and here them how they sing live.