Openair St.Gallen: La Brass Banda

La Brass Banda live at Openair St.Gallen, Switzerland

Every single one of their instruments is over 100 years old - and cost less than 100 Euro. Enjoying their music: priceless :-)

La Brass Banda performing during St.Gallen Openair

Openair St.Gallen: Bonaparte

Swiss/German stage artists and musicians Bonaparte during their live performance

Bonaparte during their concert at Openair St.Gallen in St.Gallen, Switzerland

Openair St.Gallen: Billy Talent

Dropped off of my daily posting routine a bit - my apologies to those who thought "huh? only 1 show from oasg?". I got a good excuse though: I took my black belt exam in Karate last Sunday (and passed!), and since then, my body feels like it needs a whole lot of laying on the sofa napping.

Billy Talent during their performance at Openair St.Gallen

But back on topic of the pictures you see in this post: One out of 3 festivals didn't have rain! Instead, it had insane sunlight. I only left the press tent to shoot a band; I'd even wait for sunset to go out on a food stroll.

Billy Talent playing a live concert at Openair St.Gallen in Switzerland

My favorite festival food is Crêpes, as sweet as I can get them. Cinnamon and sugar, Nutella, you name it. I have never understood people who want them with blooy pepper sauce. Isn't that forbidden or something? Oh yeah, and I don't go to festivals to eat kabob, no thanks.

Openair St.Gallen: 30 Seconds To Mars

We got 3 songs with no flash, and were allowed to shoot from anywhere but the pit. We rolled our eyes - at least no contract to sign, eh? I figured that at least it wasn't as ridiculous as with a well known female singer with changing color of hair whose request it was that photographers shoot from FOH, and only with wide angle lenses (we stayed home that night...), and so I decided I'd shoot from the audience.

Jared Leto of 30 Seconds To Mars during their live concert at Openair St.Gallen

My pal Gerry had a lens the size of an um-brella-ella-stand and shot from the roof of one of the VIP tents. I didn't, but the people in the audience were very friendly, some guys even offered to lift me up or to be my tripod. The atmosphere of the whole festival - totally peaceful :-)

Jared Leto interacts with fans during 30 Secons To Mars's concert in St.Gallen, Switzerland

I ran into Mr. Leto that night when he was walking back to his bus. He explained to me that he consciously made the anywhere-but-the-pit request because the pictures from the there "are like the biggest rock 'n' roll cliché", and that he wanted the photographers to go out and find new perspectives.

Jared Leto performing with 30 Seconds To Mars at Openair St.Gallen

Thinking of it, I wish more artists would allow us to do so. Thanks, Jared!