SLEEPING WITH SIRENS KICK OFF ‘AN ENDING IN ITSELF’ TOUR AT HOUSE OF BLUES ANAHEIM
Sleeping With Sirens kicked off their North American tour, An Ending In Itself, at House of Blues Anaheim just two days after playing Aftershock Festival. As someone who has followed the band for years, I was especially looking forward to photographing the opening night of a new tour. Rain City Drive came on before them and got the night moving as the crowd filled in for Sleeping With Sirens.
I have always enjoyed Rain City Drive, and their music has a lot of emotion behind it. That came through in their set, with real feeling in the songs and the way the band performed them. They also gave me plenty to work with from the pit, moving around the stage and giving me different moments to catch. I found myself paying as much attention to the performance as to getting the photos.
Once Sleeping With Sirens came out, they started with “Break Me Down,” followed by “Kick Me” and “Leave It All Behind.” It was a strong way to open the tour, and the crowd was ready from the first song. Kellin Quinn moved all over the stage, while the rest of the band kept things moving behind him. There was never much time to stand around and wait for a shot.
The photography itself became more difficult once I had to leave the pit. House of Blues Anaheim does not offer many easy angles from outside the pit, so I spent a lot of time moving around and looking for openings. People, equipment, and the room layout could easily get in the way. I had to be patient and take whatever opportunities came up.
That did not take away from the night. If anything, it made getting the shots I wanted feel more rewarding. I'd photographed Sleeping With Sirens before, and I knew there would be plenty to capture once they hit the stage.
It was also pretty cool to see one of my favorite bands start a new tour. I was close to Disneyland, but that night I did not need a ticket to find the happiest place on earth. House of Blues Anaheim was good enough for me.
