SHINEDOWN & BUSH PROVED ROCK STILL BURNS BRIGHT AT KIA FORUM
Now and then, a concert comes along that transcends the music — a show that becomes a personal milestone. For me, this night at the iconic Kia Forum wasn’t just another assignment; it was a moment I’d been working toward for years.
Bush has been a part of my life since 1995. Their music was the backdrop of my childhood, their sound a defining piece of the era that shaped me. Sixteen Stone wasn’t just an album — it was a gateway into a lifetime love of rock music. From the raw grit of “Machinehead” to the haunting echoes of “Glycerine,” Bush embodied the ‘90s in a way few bands could. From the very beginning of my photography journey, they’ve been at the top of my bucket list of bands I dreamed of covering. On this night, that dream finally became a reality.
As I stood in the pit, camera in hand, watching Gavin Rossdale take command of the stage, it hit me — this was a full-circle moment. The energy, the passion, the unmistakable voice that once blared through my childhood speakers was now just a few feet away, and I was capturing it through my lens. Every song was a time machine, yet the performance was anything but stuck in the past. Bush delivered with a fire that reminded everyone why they’re still standing strong nearly three decades later. For me, it was more than a show; it was a personal victory.
But the night wasn’t over.
The headliners Shinedown closed out the evening with their Dance, Kid, Dance tour, and they came armed with enough pyro to heat the entire venue. This was my first time photographing a concert with full-scale pyrotechnics, and it was an experience unlike anything else. The timing, the intensity, the sheer unpredictability of fire exploding into the air — it demanded a level of focus that was both nerve-wracking and thrilling. Every blast of flame felt like a heartbeat, syncing perfectly with their high-energy performance. Brent Smith’s powerful vocals roared through the arena as the band ignited both the stage and the crowd into a frenzy.
The Kia Forum was more than just a venue that night; it became a furnace of sound, light, and heat. Shinedown’s set was a masterclass in live performance — loud, explosive, and impossible to ignore. For me, it was a trial by fire, quite literally, as I navigated capturing those split-second moments where music and flames collided.
This night will forever be a defining chapter in my photography journey. Shooting one of my lifelong favorite bands and tackling my first pyro-laden show in the same night was the kind of experience that reminds me why I’ve chosen this path. It’s not just about getting the shot — it’s about living those moments, feeling that adrenaline, and knowing you’re exactly where you’re meant to be.
