When I initially got a message asking me if I’d like to come shoot at this years Whisky Rocks Showdown in London from my friends in Rye And Silence, I was psyched! Then I asked Google how long it takes to drive to London on a Thursday night… Not surprisingly it was about a four hour drive no matter what day it was. When I finished grappling with the idea of getting home at 5 am and having to take care of my four year old on Friday…. I felt tired… But still really psyched!

So in true Rock n Roll style, that Thursday afternoon I hitched a ride with the singer’s wife and mother in the family minivan and off we went to London for the music show. Lucky for me I was up that morning at 4 am, so I was already dead tired before even leaving town, but at least I didn’t have to drive. Unfortunately I also can’t sleep sitting in a car, so needless to say it was a long day.

All joking aside, this really was an amazing experience. If you’ve never heard of the Whisky Rocks Showdown, it’s basically a battle of the bands where three finalists (as voted for by fans) get to play for some pretty amazing prizes and open for a band like Theory Of A Deadman. This year the finalists were Day Drunk, Paramount (sorry can’t find FB page) and Steve Costello (this year’s winner) along with Rye And Silence (who played in last years competition) opening the whole show. That’s four amazing bands before Theory Of A Deadman even hit the stage!

I had an great time and the folks at London Music Hall were super nice and hooked me up with all the wristbands and passes I needed for full access to the venue, so I got to shoot from anywhere I wanted all night! The phrase “Kid in a candy store” comes to mind.

Here are my favourite TOAD shots, but I have lots of the other bands too! For photos from the rest of the night, check out these galleries on my Facebook page for Rye And Silence, Day Drunk, and Steve Costello.