Panic! At the Disco – Live @Stubbs for SXSW

Up Photographer Creek Without a Camera by Jared West
Every year I cruise throught the SXSW music line-up searching for a few shows this local could get into without forking over the paycheck for a music badge…. usually doesn’t end well as all of the acts I have heard of are always playing the larger venues with the inevitable longer lines and “I am god” security/door guys. This year was different. This year I scored a platinum press badge.
I’ll begin by applauding all of the “upandcoming” music acts for playing their hearts out during SXSW. You are the reason SXSW is what it is, keep up the good work. I wasn’t able to balance the day job with the music badge, so I didn’t see you. The one show I was really excited about was the Panic! show on Saturday night at Stubbs – I was going to this – I wouldn’t miss it – I dig this band.

The line outside was long, place was packed, and my sacred badge has someone else’s picture on it. I was banking on security being tired of dealing with the madness, a touch of smooth talking, and that it was dark. It worked. I honestly can’t remember what I said to the guy when he raised that eyebrow while comparing the picture on the badge to me. Whatever. It worked. The next step was seeing what this bad boy could do – and I wasn’t let down. My (actual SXSW) photographer buddy was there and we walked down to the “photographers row” area in front of the first line of sweaty fans. In front of the barricade. I’ve seen many a shows in my days from all areas (GA, VIP, sitting on crates by the sound board, backstage, balcony, etc) but I’ve never been actually able to touch the stage from in front of the front row. This was epic.

Our boys opened with my favorite song – a great uptempo track – very fitting (and somewhat ironic) – “The only difference between martrydom and suicide is press coverage”. They killed it – It’s so refreshing to hear real people playing real instruments and actual singing. Check out my boy’s pictures from the show below…

[photography by Daran Herrman]