Scott Newton Photo

I like this shot because it appears he’s ensconced in his throne, hand on sceptre, surveying his kingdom. The King of the Blues. For the first time, however, I won’t show a shot of BB playing and mugging; he was so expressive with both hands and face…because he’s no longer the BB of old, folks. I guess we’ll all get there, but it was shocking to see the change since last time. He’s still BB, he just doesn’t have the same capabilities. However, All Hail the King. Reputation and 86 years of accomplishment count for a lot.

This has been a great year for photographing performers who had remained unshot (by me)….yes, I do have a List of Unshot Living Greats. There aren’t too many left…Springsteen, McCartney, Radiohead …who else? Anyway, she was, as they say, worth the wait. Hasn’t lost a thing.

Well, here we are in 2012! Some things, and people, never seem to change…Like the beaming smile of Willie Nelson straight into the camera. Yeah, Happy New Year, Willie! …and Happy 2012 to everyone. Let’s see if those ancient Mayans were/are right….and let’s hope not. We’ll see, won’t we.

Local guy made good. Black Joe. Check it out.

My personal favorite band is Wilco. Jeff Tweedy is my favorite performing musician. Hope you like the shot. Sometimes lighting helps convey those nebulous soul qualities…like here.

Have you seen Ghostland yet? There is Nothing like them… Best two man group this side of The Black Keys.

My current favorite female performer is Regine Chassagne, the living Muse of Arcade Fire. She’s poetry in motion, incorporated grace. It’s impossible to NOT watch her as she moves from instrument to instrument, just a seeming cog in the machine that is Arcade Fire. What a band.

Miranda Lambert is a high energy, good time, surprisingly perceptive country performer. This shot, all blown out with flare though it is, conveys the energy and experience…

I love getting my mind blown by someone who makes music unlike anything or anybody else. Florence + The Machine is just that… Original. Unique. Wow.

One of the nicest surprises of this year was seeing The Dude, Jeff Bridges, play himself on our stage as a fine musician and musical performer. He deserved that Academy Award for Crazy Heart. The hardest part was deciding which shot to show… What a pleasure it is to shoot someone who is aware of how they look and how to naturally convey their visual essence. He knows how. Guess that’s why he does what he does.