ChiIL Live Shows Sunday At North Coast Music Fest #photo filled recap

 
Here are ChiIL Live Shows' Shots of Sunday at North Coast Music Festival 2012







  Sunday highlights were Chi-town's own Mathien, pictured below.

Mathien even got the "shreddy shirt boy" sighting  seal of approval!

We really dug seeing Rebirth Brass Band from New Orleans again this year (we also shot them opening for Dumpstaphunk at the after party at Bottom Lounge Sunday night).  

Official NCMF After Party Rebirth Brass Band, Dumpstaphunk, Lou Dooben, DJ RC

Even security got in on the squirt gun fun

We also checked out the vendors including the Chevy street team.   I told them I'd just won a week loan of an Inferno Orange Camaro SS and they said, "What are you doing HERE, girl?!   You should be out driving that convertible!!!!!"

We did see a number of families and kids Sunday.

More highlights were Van Ghost, Big Boi and Pretty Lights.











The Van Ghost girls, and Jennifer Hartswick (Trey Anastasio Band) in particular, just killed it with their stellar vocals and horns.   Sure there were some state of the art DJs & super stars at NCMF, but we chose to go old school and focus our lens predominantly on the musicians playing actual instruments and singing instead of the Mac/ scratch fever crew.   

 

Of course we also shot a lot of the creative, costumed crowd like this cow boy below who's out standing in his field.

 

 We wanna see a band named SLUTHAT next year.....   Whose with me?!

It was great to see familiar faces from the music industry/press world/blogosphere like Michael Berge, Michael Raspatello, Amy Ravit Korin (AKA:  Interactive Amy) and August Forte!

We hit the fest early Sunday afternoon with the plan to shoot most of Mathien's 2:30 set, then hit IndigoSky.   Unfortunately the media/photo pass SNAFU screwed up our shoot schedule again.    With no separate press entrance, I had to wait behind hundreds of festival goers to even get in, and then security gave me a hassle again about bringing in my gear.    

Year 1 we had lanyards/all access.   Year two we had a photo pit wrist band which wasn't ideal, but passable.   This year, we were approved for two media credentials, but someone had the brilliant idea that GA tickets would suffice. 

We were unable to shoot Friday at all, since security wouldn't let me in with my pro-camera gear and I had nothing to prove I really had press clearance.    I tried for over an hour to get someone on the walkie to get me in with my gear, and finally left in disgust.  I'd taken the el down and couldn't very well just ditch thousands of dollars in cameras outside the gate.   We were bummed not to catch King Khan & the Shrines,  Knife Party and STS9.

Later that night I e-mailed all my contacts on the fest production end and they assured me I had clearance to bring in a camera as press and that the gate fiasco was a mistake.   Yet we had the same issue again Sunday with security and were held up at the gate so long we missed shooting all of IndigoSky and just caught Mathian's final song after literally running across to the far side of the fest.    Grrrr.

Saturday went smoothly, aside from wasting shoot time in a mass of GA at the main gate and long lines for basics like portalets and water.  Every other major music fest we cover has a press area with free water and uncrowded toilets so press can work more efficiently.  It's a no brainer really.  Lollapalooza's press lounge is great, with a plentiful water and iced tea, private toilets, chairs for interviews, a free happy hour, swag, and more.    Unless things change for the better, this may be the last time we take the time to cover North Coast.   They seemed bent on making it as hard as possible for me to do my job and get good coverage for our readers!

Sunday I was fortunate enough to run into friends I shoot and review loads of shows for year round, who were able to escort me back stage to get some shots.    

Then I ran into one of the NCMF producers I've known for years, who FINALLY kicked me a guest wristband.    I still couldn't get any pit photos like we usually run here, but it was a big improvement over nothing.     Check out our extensive NCMF 2011 coverage where I shot pit photos from dawn to dusk every day of the fest.




That said, we'll be shooting stills again and catching Mathian's whole set at Reggies Rock Club this Saturday.   Come on out and check 'em out.   They're excellent.   Mathien's on at 7pm sharp, so come early.   ALL AGES.

Here's the scoop:

SAT SEP 08, 20126:30pm Doors/ All Ages/ $13 - $15 dos Click here for Reggies main site and more info

TRIBAL SEEDS
From San Diego, California, award-winning reggae group Tribal Seeds have become known for their spiritually driven, refreshing rock vibe they have infused with the roots style of reggae music.         

BALLYHOO!
A rock band with punk energy and pop, reggae grooves, Baltimore’s BALLYHOO! are a fun, fan-loving powerhouse. 

MATHIEN 



Till next year NCMF....

Dralion Rocks United Center Through July 1 #original live show shots

ChiIL Mama/ChiIL Live Shows original live show shots-Dralion, Chicago 2012 (full set).    Double click on the slide show to go to SmugMug and browse through the photos at your own rate.

We were so stoked to be invited to shoot the first act of Dralion LIVE, during their two weeks in the Chicago area.  Cirque du Soleil's Dralion is THE must see this summer.  What better way to celebrate 2012--The Year of the Dragon?  

Costume Facts:

(*Via Cirque du Soleil Dralion's site)

The primary sources of inspiration for the costumes of Dralion come from China, India and Africa. The palette favors vibrant solid colors, while the shapes are guided by the artists’ movements and choreography.

Each of the four elements and its associated family are represented by their own unique color. Blue is identified with air, green symbolizes water, red is for fire, and ochre represents the earth.

• Over 5,000 meters (16,000 feet) of fabric were used in creating the costumes;
• The fabrics come from regions around the globe, including China, the United States, Italy, France, England and Quebec;
• Materials that might be considered unusual were used in creating costumes and accessories: horse hair, raffia, metal, window screen, emu feathers, crystals, Styrofoam, plastic, bubble wrap, fun fur, springs and an array of hardware items
• To create the texture on the chest plate on the singer’s costume, bugs were glued on and then molded into different shapes;
• The artisans at the Cirque du Soleil costume workshop in Montreal worked for over three months fabricating the original costumes, hats, wigs and footwear required for Dralion. New costumes are continuously made.
• The majority of the Dralion costumes are custom-made for each artist, including shoes and head pieces.
• Dralion has close to 1500 costume pieces including shoes, hats and accessories.
• The Dralion wardrobe team includes 4 permanent touring staff and 3 local wardrobe employees in each city. The wardrobe team is responsible for maintaining and repairing all costumes.
• The Dralion tour travels with washers and dryers because most costume pieces are machine washable and then hung to dry.
• Over 300 pairs of shoes are cleaned and painted by hand every week

The Set:

A mammoth structure creates the huge backdrop that dominates the stage. This metallic set piece is 60 feet wide and 26 feet tall and is suggestive of a futuristic Chinese temple or a giant plate of medieval armor.

The most imposing feature is the metallic wall which spans the full length of the stage. Covered with perforated aluminum tiles, the wall is strong and resilient while giving the impression of being light and flexible. The six giant claws attached to the structure allow artists to climb and suspend themselves from the wall.

Three concentric aluminum rings are suspended high above the stage. The first serves as a catwalk for performers and technicians. The second is used to support technical and acrobatic equipment, including the enormous lantern that descends at the end of the first half of the show. The third ring is used to move performers up, down and through the world of Dralion.

What is Dralion:

Fusing the 3000 year-old tradition of Chinese acrobatic arts with the multidisciplinary approach of Cirque du Soleil, Dralion draws its inspiration from Eastern philosophy and its never-ending quest for harmony between humans and nature. The show's name is derived from its two emblematic creatures: the dragon, symbolizing the East, and the lion, symbolizing the West.

In Dralion, the four elements that govern the natural order take on a human form. Thus embodied, each element is represented by its own evocative colour: air is blue; water is green; fire is red; earth is ochre. In the world of Dralion, cultures blend, Man and Nature are one, and balance is achieved.

Characters:

(*Via Wikipedia)

Dralion features 50 members in its performance troupe.   Here are the major players

• Azala (air): The goddess of air who is dressed in blue, keeper of the sun and the guardian of immortality.
• Gaya (earth): The goddess of earth, dressed in ochre.
• Océane (water): The goddess of water, dressed in green.
• Yao (fire): The god of fire, dressed in red, who is both good and evil.
• L'Âme Force: The show's singers who symbolize harmony between the four elements.
• Kala: Represents the heart of the wheel of time, making time evolve.
• Little Buddha: The chosen child who possesses powers that will eventually allow him to become an Âme-Force, but dreams of being a regular child.
• Dralions:   Dralions: Mythical creatures inspired by the imagery of the Chinese lion dance and dragon dance.
• Clowns: The clowns manage to push this otherwise harmonious universe slightly off-kilter.    

Acts: 
The acts of Dralion combine unique western and eastern acrobatic skills.

• Single handbalancing: A single woman balances on one hand and accomplishes a variety of poses.
• Bamboo poles: Five acrobats twirl and throw 25-foot-long (7.6 m) bamboo poles while Yao waves a flag as the acrobats jump over it.
• Juggling: An artist performs juggling infused with breakdancing and acrobatics.
• Trampoline: A group of acrobats perform on trampolines using the set's futuristic backdrop both as a diving board and landing pad.
• Dralions: Three acrobats and three Dralions perform tumbling feats and Chinese lion dance-like dance.
• Medusa: A group of artists execute graceful and lithe movements, in the style of acrosport.
• Aerial hoop: A single artist performs choreography using a hoop suspended in mid-air.
• Spirits: Four couples perform a gravity-defying ballet.
• Aerial pas de deux: Azala and her male counterpart perform an aerial dance in silks.
• Hoop diving: Acrobats jump through a tower of hoops, which is sometimes spinning.
• Skipping ropes: A group of acrobats perform jump rope alone or together in pyramids and in towers.

WHAT THE MEDIA SAY ABOUT THE SHOW:

"I would recommend Dralion highly to those who can appreciate the artistry and acrobatic talent displayed in the show."

The Examiner

"Truly a wonderful experience."

Reading Eagle

"Cirque's unpretentious "Dralion" offers one visual gravity-defying stunner after another."

The Philadelphia Inquirer

Make some lasting family memories with this multicultural feast for the senses.  Hurry and book your tickets today.   Dralion is only in Chicago at The United Center through July 1!   Click here for tickets and more.

Behind The Scenes at Cirque du Soleil's Dralion #behind the scenes photos

ChiIL Mama/ChiIL Live Shows original behind the scenes shots-Dralion, Chicago 2012.  Double click on the slide show to go to SmugMug and browse through the photos at your own rate.

ChiIL Mama/ChiIL Live Shows was thrilled to be invited to rehearsal and a private behind the scenes tour.  The care, creativity, talent, and attention to the smallest detail that makes Cirque du Soleil shows so stunning was even more apparent up close.   The grace, pageantry, live music, handmade costumes, stunningly original acts, and gorgeous set design are unrivaled.   

The clowns are a nod to good old fashioned physical comedy and Vaudeville Acts from days of old.   The aerials and acrobatics are a sophisticated, artistic, melding of not only Eastern and Western cultures but of traditional, ancient circus arts and modern twists.   If you're looking for death defying hype like motorcycles in a metal globe, head for Navy Pier and check out Cirque Shanghai.   If you have an appreciation for the finer things in life, the intricate beauty of Cirque du Soleil is well worth the price.

We've loved their shows for years and were happy to cover Ovo, shoot video interviews with the performers, and offer our readers tickets for Quidam and Dralion.  Check back in early and often.   *We have another original Dralion cast interview with Amanda Orozco, Goddess of the Air right here.  

If you missed our prior video interviews with acro-dance juggler extraordinaire, Vladik, and Dralion PR maven, Vanessa, click here.   We cover a LOT of circus arts and Cirque du Soleil has never failed to astonish us.    

ChiIL Mama's Favorite Dralion 2012 Fun Facts:

Back stage there's a trampoline, weights, a full gym, Spanish web, and outdoor sports gear for fun and fitness.  A number of the performers run together and  book races ranging from 5k's to triathlons that coincide with their show dates in a given town.   While in Chicago, various Dralion performers and crew ran in both a half marathon and a 5k the weekend of June 23rd/24th!!  

The globes are made of wood and hand painted in house

The silks for the bamboo pole act are hand painted, as are the costume fabric patterns which are unique to Dralion

New hats are traded out anywhere from approx. every 3 months for the hoop divers who are hard on their head pieces, to closer to once a year for others.   These fabulous headpieces were brand new when we got a sneak peek at the impressive wardrobe area.

Make some lasting family memories with this multicultural feast for the senses.  Hurry and book your tickets today.   Dralion is only in Chicago at The United Center through July 1!   Click here for tickets and more.