Incubus | 10.03.2017 | Red Rocks Amphitheater
It's still difficult for me to put my thoughts into coherent, eloquent sentences from this past Tuesday, honestly. It's crazy, how things work out; it's funny how things just fall into place. Two weeks ago, I was not in a good place. Hell, I hadn't been in a good place for the better part of a year. I'd planned a trip out to Denver months ago and when it came down to it, I really wasn't sure I was going to be able to make it out and that bummed me out beyond belief because it was something I so desperately needed: to get away for a bit. A couple good friends helped make it happen and got everything squared away. Then another friend referred me for a job I was/ am genuinely excited about and I quit the job I'd had for over 3 years and had become increasingly and incredibly dissatisfied with. I had been making such strides to keep myself together and take care of myself and finally it felt like things were happening. At some point I'd emailed Julian, Incubus' photographer, because I've been a fan of his work for some time now and figured, what's the worst that could happen? I wouldn't get a response, and that was something I've gotten used anyways when it came to emailing venues. Well, because he's not only an great photographer but also an incredible human, he said he'd try his best to get me in with a photo pass. Again, I didn't expect much because I knew it was a huge thing I was asking for but at least I went for it. Turns out as my friend and I were chilling in Colorado Springs the night before the show on our third (or fourth...?) brewery of the day, I got confirmation about getting to photograph the following night.
I've been a fan of Incubus since I was about 15... they've been my favorite band since then and always will be. I've been lucky enough to have seen them a handful of times over the years and I've even gotten to meet them, but photographing them has been a dream of mine for years. Seeing them at Red Rocks has been on my bucket-list for a while. Photographing my favorite band at Red Rocks was a dream I never thought would have been realized or could happen... but here I am. It happened. I have photographs that document it happened! This wasn't just another show for me... besides getting to catch Incubus at Red Rocks and getting to finally photograph them, it was like this was a culmination of everything that happened this past year and everything that I've worked for since I fell in love with photography and photographing live music.
I cannot thank my friends enough for making this trip happen for me and I cannot thank Julian enough for giving me a chance and getting me into the show to photograph (and also for his endless patience with meeting me at the venue entrance when I had no real idea where I was going and having a hard time with security).
I've said it before, this was literally a dream come true, and I find it fitting that all of this happened the way it did.
