GWAR fans chime in... Photographed their show on 5/7, Photos posted inside!
 

So this may turn into a Photography thread once I have some photography to add to it, but for now I figured this would be best left in the General Entertainment section so that we may discuss GWAR, in general.

Anyone a fan? Ever been to a show?
I just secured a photo pass to their 5/7 show at Crocadile Rock in Allentown. I'm so excited, I'm so scared!

One response from a friend was "you're gonna get blood all over you"

and the other response so far is from a convo I just had with a friend who knows about these things:
me: got a pass to gwar. smaller venue, not the bigger one
Mike: awesome, what venue
me: Crocadile Rock in Allentown
Mike: good luck
me: you think i'm ready? i feel like i need to do some prep
Mike: you may need to figure out how best not to get eaten by a monster
me: lol

Here's a review of one of their concerts if you don't know about them and are interested... http://blogs.denverpost.com/reverb/2...othic-theatre/

I went to a GWAR show in West Chester at Rex's a few years back. I am not nor ever was a fan but I figured it would be cool to see how out there they are...I was shocked at the "carnage" these guys put on. I watched a stage monster eat a baby and they make a serious effort to spray blood on anyone and everyone. It is an experience you will never forget and it is a good time just keep an open mind and be ready for some crazy ****e. Enjoy

Yeah, updating my camera insurance before the show and will also be going with the 'rain gear' for the camera to try and keep it clean/dry.
Anticipating some issues with keeping the front of the lens clean though, so I'll have to have some cleaning supplies handy, or just bring multiple UV filters to swap out for a quick change.
I'm hoping the lighting is good so that I can make the most of the madness... I've shot a lot of concerts in the past but its been a while so I'm looking forward at getting back into it. Working on shooting some other shows this summer as well so hopefully things will pick up from here on...

I cant speak for the venue but the lighting may be poor just cause too much light takes away from the GWAR illusion, but it could have just been Rex's since it was such a hole of a bar/venue.

edit: post your experience/thoughts afterwards please

the venue SUCKS... it's SMALL.. especially for someone like Gwar. If there's a lot of people in there you're going to have to deal with it being hot and foggy for the camera probably... You're going to get wet... it's guaranteed. Wear a white TST shirt and take before and after pics haha.

Gwar itself is AWESOME. I love this band and they have the best stage performance ever. It's been a long time since I've listened to them. Def take pics. you're going to have fun.

Your going to get F'd up... screw the camera, make sure your health insurance is in check.

Tell the tattooed bouncer he's gay

GWAR is nutz Bry....stay the hell away from teh Mosh pit....it getz insane in their and those cameras are expensive you run around with!

Wow Gwar at crocrock, are they even goin to fit? I know when KMFDM played there it was pretty insane. I cant imagine what its gonna be like with Gwar, all I can say is goodluck lol

Edit: after checking prices I might have to go to this.

can i have the forum after you're killed at this concert? lol

good luck with it

GWAR is awesome. You will get soaked if the place is as small as I here it is. I have seen GWAR 5 times. Mostly at the electric factory. You get sprayed with stuff 50 feet away from the stage. I don't know what everyone is so scared of. I have never been hurt at a gwar concert but I would not bring an expensive camera.

After one show me and my brother went to a bar after the concert. We were covered from head to toe in a colorful goo. The looks we got were priceless.

Sleazy P Martini is back as well!!
See ya there!!

Shoot me a text if you want to grab a last meal before the show hahaha

take some pics of inside the mosh pit haha.

ps they have a song called meat sandwich lol.

GL with the camera... Ive seen peoples cameras get majorly messed up at those shows. IMO a ziplock baggie and an iron grip are necessary.

Ive seen them twice... def wear a white tee because you can get the best souvenir that way from all the blood stains! If you are up front, you will get soakeddd and its a blast. The pits can get pretty brutal but hey, what else do you expect from gwar?

Who else is playing the show?

Where are the pics?


The show was great as usual.

The show was great visually... the lighting was pretty crappy for the first 2 bands, but it was great for Gwar... I gotta give it up to them.

Shooting conditions were very challenging but I walked away with some good shots so it was a success. Beyond trying to shoot the action while keeping the front of the camera lens out of the stream of blood spraying everywhere, it was very sweaty/humid which had the front of my lenses fog up whenever I tried to get into the pit to shoot from there. The only time they would unfog is when I would move to a less crowded area with a little more airflow.

I shot the first 3 songs from in front of the barricade, then tried to shoot from the pit after that which didnt work as I just mentioned, and then I ended up moving toward the back and shooting long for the second half of the show which worked out decently well.

Oh and I had my camera in a plastic rain sleeve when I was up front to keep it clean and it worked out great. I got some pretty interested looks from fans in the crowd about the camera, bag, and the fact that I was even doing what I was, but people were mostly cool considering I was moving in and out of a pit at a metal show. At one point a cute girl saw me trying to work my way in with my clunky ass backpack in one hand and camera in the other, and she asked if I needed some help getting into the center of the pit, where she used her female persuasion to lead the way effortlessly through the crowd for me... thanks mystery girl.
Luckily I've spent plenty of time at (mostly punk) shows both as a fan and a photographer so I was in my element, even if the music was a little different than what I'm used to.

Honestly this stuff isn't my scene, but I'm always interested in new experiences and this was a great one. There were one or two kids under the age of ten there sporting little mohawks, etc. and even one very young kid who was probably 2 or 3 right up front, and one of the Gwar band members threw him a high five before they walked on stage.

The opening band was called Cattle Decapitation I think? I dunno but I wasn't into it... then Priestess played which was pretty decent actually. Then Gwar... I edited a few photos so far and have more to do, but I think these are my favs...

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3384/...32a0d360_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3349/...2b9b3f1f_o.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3403/...9e81a22e_o.jpg

and here's my shirt... I was up front the first 3 songs in front of the barricade which is when most of this happened... I learned to avoid most of it after my first gory lesson... take not of my photo pass sticker placement (which someone took at some point in the show? jerk...) and you can see backpack straps sorta too...
http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3545/...a6b4f740_o.jpg

haha nice.. good to see you survived. Cattle Decapitation is good, I always enjoy them

Love GWAR... Cattle Decap is ok not near my favorite but whatevvv any clue as to the setlist (gwar)

hahhahahah you actually listen to gwar? wow.... thats like, ... nevermind. your too cool to understand.

LOL...well looks like we pretty much found it to be everything we said it was and more. Great pics!