Music Box Dressing Rooms

Music Box Green Room

the schedule for the evening

Daniel Hodges A.K.A. "wizard" and steel train front man Jack Antonoff

Lighting the way to the green room.

 Pre Show, I wander around trying to be creative. 

Jacks guitar, at the ready.

before the show starts the wizard scouts the venue

Jack waits for the show to start.

Daniel checks to see how the sound is in the balcony

We find the roof and enjoy the view of Hollywood Blvd.

the sellout crowd gathers

the stairwell to the balcony

setting up after Jarrod performs

wiring up Jack's peddle board

tuning Jack's guitar

Daniel checks each of Jack's peddles to ensure they are working properly

Jamey of absolutepunk.net and Steel Trains tour manager checks Daniel Silbert's peddle board

Daniel Silbert instructs Jamey how he likes his amp set

Danny gives Jack one final note

Daniel loads the show file

maybe this is why they call him "wizard"?

the Music Box FOH sound rig, Avid SC48 + outboard rack

left to right, Daniel Silbert, Evan Winiker & Jack Antonoff.

 Justin Huey – vocals, piano, wurlitzer

Daniel continues to tweak his mix

Jon Shiffman plays as Jamey waits ready to leap into action at the first sign of trouble

Steel Train is currently touring with a band called fun. 

Daniel resets the stage and re-checks Jacks guitar

even the smallest details are important for a successful show

line Checking Emily Moore's keys

checking Emily Moore's vocal microphone. 

 fun plays

watching fun's set from the balcony of the music box

another night is almost done, Daniel texts his girlfriend and waits for the load out

This was only the second steel train show that I have been to but is was a good one.  

So here are a selection of photos from the rest of my trip and time with the newest of my gadgets.

Friday we spent time at freedom park in Charlotte were Alison decided to give

David some fashion tips. 

Brother moment. Had I been sitting there I am sure I would have assumed the same position. 

David Hodges.

Amen and Danny sharing a moment. 

Amen showing his stuff. (photo by Jeremy Hodges)

Amen proves pink is a manly color, if its on an ATV!

When not on tour Daniel mixes sound at Nexus church while dad preps the video content.

Sunday Afternoon I went for a photo walk around Charlotte. 

This is as clear as the signage around NC gets. 

Now that I have had the camera a couple of days I am shooting full manual, sometimes.

The city presents some interesting combinations of architecture. 

I'm still trying to understand how this city can be large, and yet small at the same time. 

This is the performing arts center as well as the bank of america building.

Im really happy with my 18mm lens and the fact that I can get the entire building on one shot.

Here I go trying to be artistic again. 

On memorial day we headed to Boon NC to picknick with Nikki and her kids. 

Gaves, my sister Nikki's youngest  is cooler than most 2 year olds.

At two, I don't think he remembers me much from this past christmas.

Liliana on the other hand knows that uncle Randy can be fun. Well, when he wants to be anyway. 

This is a face I am sure I made her mom make, many times. 

Graves just wanted to eat, why wait for his cousins when he is hungry now!

Don't tell anyone, but I think Niki still like to spin in circles.

Ok, to be fair she might claim that's all she does all day with the kids and her job etc..

Liliana successfully hides from my auto focus. 

Liliana continued to evade the autofocus. I think would could create an add for Trader Joe's however. 

Someday I hope I can remember how to get back to this lovely spot that we had lunch at.

 Liliana discovers that chips are waiting for her. Of course in that moment they become her favorite. 

I was attacked. That my story and I'm stickin to it. (photo by Jeremy Hodges)

Regardless of what is going on the kids just want to play in the dirt.  (Photo by Jeremy Hodges)

What are you looking at?

After lunch we all went on a short hike. 

Hmmm, I think I like being your cousin, says Liliana.

We hiked as far as David's stroller would make it. It turns out this is right next to a beaver damn.

Crystal became the pied piper on the return journey. 

Tuesday we headed to Queens Landing.

Dad took Daniel, Alison and myself on a dinner cruise on Lake Norman.

Ahhh, even a power plant can be attractive, in the right light. 

Put a camera in my hands and even on vacation I will hang off the side of a boat to get the shot. 

Sunset on Lake Norman.

Once again I try to be artsy. 

A bit of romance on the lake. 

The view from my bed, well couch. 

Friday was spent roasting and delivering coffee at Bald Guy Brew world "head"quarters.

I am editing the footage we shot here, but if you can't wait for fair trade coffee, check it out.

This is Julieana my brother Jeremy's daughter.

This is Amen Jeremy's son.

David, Jeremy's youngest, explaining to his granddad that

he hit his lip on the high chair. (Taken by Jeremy)

Who needs toys when you have dishes!

Siblings love to share, and play on pbskids.com

Jeremy prepared a sign for his wife's sale, really he just wanted to

play with the squareup card swiper that he purchased.   

Jullieanna asked me to take a photo of her jumping. 

David did not need a "Flavor Savor" to save some dinner for later. 

My sister and law Crystal (left) and Sarah Stine (right) Setting up

to sell there goods at the NoDa Gallery Crawl. 

I thought this was a bar. Later I learned its a vintage clothing store. 

Sunsets always inspire me to get artsy. 

North Carolina is full of interesting buildings. 

Apparently putting furniture outside your business is just as fun

as putting it in the front yard of your home. Keep it classy NC.

Live music is a great way to spend an evening.

The carolinas are most defiantly, still Marlboro country. 

 The 5D's ability to shoot at high ISO has not disappointed. 

So a great day spent with my family, playing with the new camera. I have to say this camera is amazing. I am very pleased with its capabilities.

 A note from the Department of Redundancy Department.

It is getting late and I think I will start telling my story later.