Sugar - In Concert - Esker Point 2012

I finally got around to processing a few more photos from this past summer. On July 19th I saw Sugar in concert at Esker Point Beach for the third year in a row. Once again the band did not disappoint!

My photo gallery from last year's concert is probably my personal favorite of all my work. And, while I don't know that this year's gallery is up to the same standards as last year I do like it a lot. Here are a few of my favorite shots from the 2012 Sugar concert. Enjoy!

Sugar Concert - Esker Point 2012
See the entire album!

You can also see the pics on Facebook here if you wish.
And while you're there you can "like" that page, too, but only if you do like it...

A great venue for a concert!

Marcy

Rickie

This drum stick has seen its last concert

Israel

Most (but not all) of the fans were thrilled by the loud, upbeat music.

Mike

Israel recognized me because of my photos from last year.

Don and Shelley drew a crowd of their own when they showed off their cha-cha skills during a brief intermission.

Harkness Park Seascapes

Here are a few shots from Harkness State Park taken at a windy picnic I attended in the middle of October. A few of my friends have already seen these none of them made it to my photo blog... until now, that is. You like?

B/W Conversion

Wedding Pavilion - Too Windy for Vows

Texture and Light

My favorite of the day.

This is probably the highest surf I've yet seen on Long Island Sound. Usually our waves are small.

Probably too similar to the last one to justify posting but I like the way it is framed so here it is anyway...

Sugar - In Concert - Esker Point 2011

Sugar put on one of the capstone performances of the Summer SoundWaves Concert Series, and they really packed the beach with fans again this year. (You can visit the band Facebook page here.)

I saw Sugar perform last year and was really looking forward to seeing them again. Apparently I was not alone. The line to board the shuttle bus stretched down the sidewalk and around the corner of Fitch High School. I debated walking the two miles but wisely decided to wait it out. Once on board the standing-room-only short-bus the higher volume of traffic resulted in a much longer bus ride down to the beach than usual. It was well worth the wait, however, as Sugar put on another great show!

The crowd was treated to energetic dance hits, beautiful beach weather, a bit of Zumba, and an engaging and crowd-pleasing performance all around. The kids packing the stage with the band for the closing number 'Don't Stop Believing' seemed to be having the time of their lives. (Unfortunately, not everyone who wanted to dance with the band was able to make it up on stage...)

I can't wait until next year's show!

Sugar Concert - Esker Point 2011
See the entire album!

Breathtaking Evening on the Beach

My favorite crowd shot.

(This one won a ribbon at the Guilford Fair photography competition!)

Ian Kelly - Drums, Andy Chaney - Bass, and Klyph Johnson - Sax

Natalia Mortrude - Vocals

Scott Boland - Guitar, Marcy Kelly - Vocals, Israel Malek - Keyboards

Ian and Klyph - Cool in Shades

Klyph on Sax

Percussion!

If the sand pit was crowded for the first half of the concert, it was PACKED for the second half which started with a couple of intense Zumba numbers.

Slide! I took my life in my hands to get this shot from amidst a Zumba-crazed frenzy...

Zumba for the People!

Crowds of Adoring Fans

Israel - A Concert Done Well

Sign Me!

Never Enuff - In Concert

Never Enuff played in concert at Esker Point Beach on July 28, 2011 as part of the annual Summer SoundWaves Concert Series. It was a beautiful night and the concert drew a pretty lively crowd.

These guys really know how to rock! They played a mix of classic dance rock cover songs. Lead singer Mick Marra demonstrated a powerful voice that was equally at ease belting out AC/DC or any of the several more contemporary hits on the set list. The crowd got involved and the show had fans of all ages screaming and dancing with their hands in the air. By the end they had a stage full of kids (I think one of the guitar amps actually got shut off when a kid stepped on a switchboard) and there were people wearing Never Enuff bumper stickers in all sorts of creative places (not sure that was the intent, but folks were sure having fun...) One of their last songs was entirely dedicated to teaching the rising generation the careful art and discipline of head banging!

Once again, I took too many photos, deleted most of them, and still ended up with a huge gallery of pics. I processed them all in one evening in LightRoom and was pretty happy with the results. Here's a link to the full gallery along with my favorite shots from the evening. Do you have a favorite?

Never Enuff Concert
See the entire gallery!

Sunset Concert

Dave Siswick plays like he means it!

Jen Hebert - Rumor has it the band found her working in a restaurant wearing a guitar pick for a necklace...

Joe Goddard on drums

Tipsy hoopers daring me to take their picture...

Yeah, I dared.

"It's easier to hoop when I'm not drinking," he told me right after I snapped this.

Jami's Gorgeous Green Guitar

Head Bangin'

Jami Blackwood on guitar. Probably my favorite guitar picture to date.

Jami and Jen Over Cymbals

Mick Marra

Never Enuff

Jen on the Bass Guitar

Last One For this Post...

From My Car Window

Here are three pictures taken from my car window this afternoon.

Jordan Cove, Waterford, CT

Creeping Plox or plox subulata

Scratch That Itch!

Groton Long Point - Seascapes

Groton Long Point - B&W

Here are a few more filtered black and white conversions. It was cold with a brisk wind on the sound side of Groton Long Point this Saturday but there was calm water just a few hundred yards inland in the harbor.

The New London Ledge Light is visible on the horizon.

In contrast to the waves on the sound, the water in the harbor inlet was calm and glassy.

Looks like the winter wind has taken its toll on this flag.

Groton Long Point Close-Ups

Spring is coming! After a jog in brisk cold wind at Haley Farm State Park I stopped in Groton Long Point and took a few pictures. These are a few close-ups that I found interesting.