Warped Tour 2009 Chicago

So Warped Tour made its way to Chicago, celebrating its 15th year plowing through the country.

I have to begin this entry by saying Gallows is my new favorite hardcore band. Not only because they put on a stellar performance, but also because they encapsulated pretty much everything hardcore stands for, and everything that Van's Warped Tour evokes. By that, I mean they applauded veteran bands and gave respect to the Tour's original purpose of supporting punk culture, but jeered its blatant commercialism and put to shame its exploitation of teenagerism.

All this while performing in the midst of the biggest circle pit I have ever seen. So very... hardcore.
Lead singer Frank Carter even said I "must be out of [my] fucking mind" to keep shooting in the midst of all the swirling chaos:

Also notable were Bad Religion for going strong longer than Warped Tour has, Anti-Flag who were probably my first political-punk band ever, Chiodos for possibly being the loudest, 3Oh!3 for being very energetic and pulling the largest crowd. Congrats to local 8-bit pop punk band I Fight Dragons, whom I covered at I AM Fest, and thanks to Scary Kids Scaring Kids for getting me the press pass and putting on a great set.

I just now learned the all-time record was broke for largest attendance in Warped Tour history with 23,000.
If you weren't there, click any photo to see the full set of what you missed.

2009 Wicker Park Fest/Thriller Zombie Walk

Wicker Park Festival returns even bigger and better this year, featuring bands such as Black Francis' new project Grand Duchy, homegrown Chicago superheroes Treaty Of Paris and Smoking Popes, and closing the weekend was Junior Boys (photos shown respectively.)

Also happening was a Michael Jackson's Thriller Zombie Walk. Hundreds of people put on their messiest makeup and fakest blood, ripped up their clothes, and amassed in the park, ready to lurch through the streets.
One guy wearing a Richard Nixon face mask instructed dozens of fellow Dead-Zeds how to dance the Thriller, which they performed several times like straight out of the music video. Also funny were some militant costumers acting as some sort of Anti-Zombie League "defending" the general public from the approaching onslaught à la Shaun Of The Dead.

Everyone was having such a great time -- whether participant or onlooker -- that it kind of dawned on me that in all actuality, possibly even ironically, the Michael Jackson Zombie Walk was really quite a celebration of life.

Finch + Scary Kids Scaring Kids @ Metro Chicago

Last night I shot Finch, with opening act Scary Kids Scaring Kids. I never really heard of the other opening acts, tho.

The show was at Metro, which is across the street from Wrigley Field. Coincidentally, there was a Cubs game that night that let out at the exact time the show did, making getting home rather difficult.

But the bands had fun, and so did the crowd.
So, without further ado:

The Faint and Jaguar Love @ The Vic Theater

Oh man what an amazing show!!
I would have got more photos but the crowd surge was making it impossible!!

So I just gave up and put my camera in my bag and danced my ass off!
:D

And one of Jaguar Love

It’s Getting HOT In Hair

New photos.

This is Lilith Ave Satanas. I noticed she had hair nearly a yard long. Had to take advantage of that! The last one is my personal favorite.

BOMB THE BLOGOSPHERE!

Welcome to Justin Gill Photo blog! This is my first post, where I'll post new photos, or links to galleries for event photography, or whatever the hell I want.

I'll post in the news section on the home page any time I update the blog. I'm trying to get photo passes for shows in Chicago. So far I've landed a pass for The Faint with Jaguar Love. I'm really excited about that. Hopefully I'll land more soon.