Gridiron- Homer’s bar Abilene, TX
Gridiron- Homer’s bar Abilene, TX
When Gridiron called and asked me to photograph their set in Abilene, it wasn’t even a question. This metalcore band has supported not just me, but Sound Deep since the very beginning. Their love for music and their fans show in their music and their live performances. I was so ready to hear them live again. It had already been a couple months and the anticipation of hearing their dropped bass rumble throughout another venue has been at an all time high. Playing right before the heavy well-known band, The Last 10 Seconds of Life, the crowd was ready to go, more frankly, I was ready to shoot. It had been months since I stood before a stage with horrible lighting and a sharp pain in my right shoulder blade from carrying a heavy ass 50mm lens.
From the moment they began putting their gear on stage, the crowd slowly began to pull in closer towards the sound. The sound that was delivered from Homer’s was quality. I did notice I had to get a bit pulled in to be able to hear the full potential of the music. It was still, nonetheless, fantastic. Starting us off with House of Serpents, the energy immediately submerged me in the sound. This was, without a doubt, a Sound Deep moment. With a catchy dropped bass riff, everyone’s head was bobbing to this heavy yet groovy tempo. Taking a moment to put my camera down on one of the front of house amps, I took it all in. I watched red and green lights fill the darkness as Gridiron divulged themselves on stage. I watched Gridiron somehow be able to connect complete strangers together as if they have known one another for years. I watched music become unity.
Lazarus Wretched Earth was next and the energy still remained in place. With some build ups and large breakdowns the crowd was eating that shit up. Atleast, I know I was. I shoot a lot of shows. It's my job, and it’s always so easy to tell if the moment is genuine or not. You can always tell if the band has a genuine passion for it or if they’re just killing some time. Gridiron shared their passion with us tonight. They gave a little love to all of us and that made it so effortless to fall in love with West Texas Metal.
Finishing their set with the epic World’s End and then Blood Crimson Throne, I was totally bummed that the set was over. I wanted more songs. Photographing them is and always will be quite the adrenaline rush. It’s addicting in the best way and puts Gridiron on a Sound Deep pedestal. Haha.
Catch Gridiron at Jake's in Lubbock January 21st and February 21st!
https://gridiron.bigcartel.com/category/apparel?fbclid=IwAR0txw04-mPXG7c6x4bdJeddiljNl1Pnost-XE4xOLmn2ydZrjcmMm75isE