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Huey Lewis & The News

Lucky Guy: Mockingbird Sun, I’m Liking It

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Couldn’t resist posting another song from  Mockingbird Sun. I love  the share tool on the Bandcamp website that lets me embed songs right into WordPress. So enjoy another song and more photos from their opening during the Huey Lewis concert for Omaha Fourth of July celebration in 2012. I dare you to listen to just one song. 

Mockingbird Sun in Pictures

Mockingbird Sun in concert in Omaha Nebraska
Mockingbird Sun in concert in Omaha Nebraska

 

Mockingbird Sun
Mockingbird Sun

Just a little photography information. I was trying to get a handle on using my Canon 75-300 mm lens and get sharp images with the long lens. I ended up pushing the ISO up to 800/1600 so my shutter speed would stay at 1/100 or higher. That eliminated the blurriness I get from the hand shake. There is a general rule of thumb to keep your shutter speed half of your lens reach. So for 300mm the shutter aid for speed speed of 1/150 sec, 200 mm=1/100 sec and so on.

Another tip is open up the aperture as far as you can, the shot above was at f/5.6, you also achieve that nice dreamy blur background. My friend Beth used her monopod during the concert, which I’m going to have to start doing. I found out my husband has a monopod for his hunting scope. It may need to be re-purposed.

If you missed my first post about Mockingbird Sun check them out here.

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Mockingbird Sun Opens for Huey Lewis

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Normally opening bands are forgetful, but Huey Lewis would only have a band that was worthy of sharing their stage. Mockingbird Sun fills this requirement. During the Celebrate America concert in Omaha Nebraska Mockingbird Sun was a great start to the evening. Click on the streaming media button below and give their music a listen.

How would you describe their style? I’d say, clean, summertime country rockabilly with a good mix of tight harmony (including banjo). The lyrics and songwriting tells a story and the melody makes me want to cruise the countryside in a convertible with the top down, or sit by the lake with a cold drink.

Mockingbird Sun in concert in Omaha Nebrask
Mockingbird Sun in concert in Omaha Nebraska
Mockingbird Sun in concert in Omaha Nebrask
Bret kicking it up in Omaha

Mockingbird Sun in concert in Omaha NebraskI love outdoor concerts, somehow it makes the music sound better, They were very good and definitely worth a Music Monday shout out. Now to find some more outdoor concerts. Bands are fun to photograph, the instruments, the action and the sheer fun the musicians have playing off each other when they get into a good vibe. 

Lately I have rediscovered Mockingbird Sun and pull up their streaming music and listen to them while I’m working on the computer. It’s nice to rediscover good music.

U.S. Marine Upstages Huey Lewis

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Being a Mother of two U.S. Marines I’ve gotten to where I can spot a United States Marine in a crowd. Maybe it’s their presence, the way they stand as if at parade rest, but I really think it’s because of the distinctive haircut.

Earlier this month I had the pleasure of seeing Huey Lewis and the News in concert. However, for a time this Marine had all my attention. Reminded me of my Marines.

A Marine upstages Huey Lewis and the News
A Marine upstages Huey Lewis and the News

It’s not uncommon for Marines to act as security at public events, my son David has signed up in California for a few gigs. Although I don’t think he’s gotten any gigs like Huey Lewis yet.

I tried to get this security guards attention from a far, but he wouldn’t be distracted from his task and wouldn’t make eye contact. He just kept scanning the crowd. When he walked to the side I took off for the side rail.

After stopping him I asked “Excuse me, are you a Marine?”

“Why yes Mam I am” and he looked at me quizzically.

“I knew it, my two sons are Marines and I could just tell.”

Turns out he was last active in 1997 (? doesn’t look old enough) and after a little bit of chit chat he gave me a firm handshake and told me to tell my boys “Semper Fi”. I walked away with a smile on my face.

Now I can’t think of Huey Lewis without thinking about my Marines.

Music By Huey Lewis

Greatest HitsSports (30th Anniversary Edition)

Learn More About Huey Lewis

Huey Lewis and The News to kick off RAGBRAI

The Sioux City RAGBRAI Committee announced Monday that Huey Lewis and The News will headline the concert lineup on Saturday, July 18, in the Tyson Event Center parking lots, the day before the Register’s Annual Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa begins …
Collection: Huey Lewis and the News videos

Official video of Huey Lewis and The News’s I Want A New Drug from the album Sports. Buy It Here: http://smarturl.it/3xyujuLike Huey Lewis and The News on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hueylewisandthenewsFollow Huey Lewis and The News on …
Other songs that have ‘Blurred Lines’

My lawyer! The 1980s rocker Huey Lewis accused Ray Parker Jr. of copying a “Ghostbusters” song riff from the 1984 hit “I Want a New Drug” by his band, Huey Lewis and the News. Reports at the time said they settled and signed a confidentiality agreement.
Drawing the line: Four famous copyright feuds

Not Huey Lewis, apparently. In 1984, the musician brought a court case against ‘Ghostbusters’ singer Ray Parker Jr for allegedly infringing on his song ‘I Want A New Drug.’ The settlement agreement included a confidentiality clause, which Parker later …

 

Huey Lewis and the News: Heart of Rock and Roll

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My Adventure with Concert Photography

I love a good concert, especially if it’s free, and even more if it’s outside. Outdoor concerts are a hobby photographers dream, there are not “gate searches” or “bag inspections”, or at least not at the concert venues I’ve attended.

My favorite concert so far has been Huey Lewis and the News. I challenge anyone who grew up in the 1980’s to NOT like Huey Lewis and the News. Really, the songs from Back to the Future? “Heart of Rock and Roll”, “Power of Love“, and “Do You Believe in Love” are anthems of my generation. Ok, I might be exaggerating , but Huey Lewis songs take me back to my care free teenage days.

Huey Lewis
Huey Lewis ( ISO 800, f/5, 1/100 sec, 230 mm)

Huey is one of those rare performers that sound even better live than the recordings. Can’t say that about today’s artists that need a recording studio and a back-up of electronics to make a Top 10 song.  He has real musicians, including saxophones, trumpets and he really  rocks the harmonica! It was awesome!

Huey Lewis and the News
Huey Lewis rockin the harmonica (ISO 1600, f/5, 1/125 sec, 220 mm)

This concert was in part of the 4th of July Celebrate America free concert sponsored by Bank of the West in Omaha Nebraska. What’s better than Huey Lewis in concert, watching him for free. My friend Beth volunteered her son to set out blankets at 7 am to reserve a spot for that nights concert. So much of the time the singing idols of my youth have been disappointing as they look like aging rockers. Not Huey, he looks just as good and his voice is still pure and timely. He puts on a great show and everyone thoroughly looked like they enjoy what they do.

Huey Lewis and the News in concert Omaha Nebraska
Over 60,000 attended the Free Concert
Huey Lewis and the News in concert Omaha Nebraska
Thank You Omaha

We sat about 25 yards from the stage and below is a shot I took from our blanket. This is the closest I’ve ever been at a concert and it was very easy to go right up to the stage. The top two photos were from right up next to the stage. As I use my Canon Rebel XS more I’m learning how to tweak it to get great shots.

All Access: Your Backstage Pass to Concert PhotographyConcert Photograpy: How to Shoot and Sell Music Business Photographs

I have to say the top is my favorite, but I have many of the night. There are a couple I’ll post in the future. Scarlett Drive and Mockingbird Sun were the opening bands and they were very good. I took the opportunity that night to practice with my 75-300 mm lens and night photography. I’m becoming more pleased with the results all the time.

Huey Lewis and the News
Huey Lewis and the News (ISO 1600, f/5, 1/125, 130 mm)

Night Photography Tips

This year I have upgraded to a Canon 7D camera, but you don’t need a fancy camera to get the great shots. All the photos here were taken with a low level Canon Rebel XS camera. The secret is knowing how to use all of your cameras resources.

  1. Shoot on manual, seriously, you can make your camera take better pictures when you have more control.
  2. Don’t be afraid to push your ISO to the highest level. If it’s grainy Lightroom has a great noise feature to fix in processing
  3. Shoot RAW, you can get another 2 stops exposure steps in a really dark setting.
  4. Shutter speed, the more you zoom in the faster your shutter speed will need to be to compensate for hand shake.
  5. Use a tripod, or mono-pod, if that option is not possible, brace your hand/arm against an immovable object. This is NOT your friends shoulder as she jumps and dances around. Let out your breath as you click the shutter.
  6. Push the aperture as low as you dare, most of mine were taken at f/5, it allows more light in and gives you a higher shutter speed in return.
  7. Meter for the light. Most stages are well lit and you don’t want to blow out the lights. The dark backgrounds on the stage remains “pure” Push your shutter half way down and move your camera to the background and the lighted foreground. Notice how the red light on your meter moves.
  8. Don’t be afraid to experiment and take LOTS of pictures. They can be deleted in Photoshop or Lightroom in editing and post production
  9. Use your histogram on the back of the camera, to a point. It’s night time, it will push to the left, but aim to have a lot of the information in the midtones.

Canon EOS 7D Digital SLR Camera Kit with 18-55mm IS II Lens and Canon EF 75-300mm III Lens + 16GB Green’s Camera Package

Night and Low-Light Photography Photo WorkshopNight Photography and Light Painting: Finding Your Way in the Dark

My Favorite Huey Lewis Songs and Videos

 

The Power Of Love (2006 Digital Remaster)Huey Lewis and the News Songbook

Information and Facts About Huey Lewis

The Classical Beat: Tanglewood Defines Summer Music in the Berkshires

Sunday, June 28, 2:30 p.m. in the Shed: Huey Lewis and the News 2015 Tour: Featuring special guest artist Jamie Kent. • Monday, June 29, 1 p.m., 4 p.m., and 8 p.m.: Tanglewood presents their traditional String Quartet Marathon featuring string TMC …
Have A Question For Huey Lewis and the News? Go To …

Ironically, for important news on Huey Lewis and the News, the “Ask Huey” section of his website might not be the best place to go. … Latest Galleries · 2015 Summer Blast Off – Seaside Heights, NJ. Radio.com; Music News.
The 5Cast: Top 5 Huey Lewis and The News Songs …

In this week’s episode, Tyler and Ben rank the Top 5 songs of one of their favorite bands, Huey Lewis and The News. This is what pop music used to sound like, before these damned kids turned it into bleep blorping computer …
{outfit} Romping Around with Huey Lewis and the News …

We got to see Huey Lewis and the News, who were amazing! They did one of my favorites songs, … new post: http://melodyjacob1.blogspot.com/2015/06/summer-style-kimono-inspiration.html. ReplyDelete · Rachel Dinh June …
How Back to the Future II Got 2015 Surprisingly Right

Marty inadvertently stumbles upon a Huey Lewis and the News concert, but realizes in short time that the band isn’t actually there. Instead, it’s a realistic hologram on a theater stage, eternally preserving his idols in their best …
Huey Lewis Talks ‘Frightening’ New Song | Billboard

Huey Lewis & the News are starting to think about new music — and even have something in their pocket already. … Hot Rock Songs Jan 10, 2015 8 With A Little Help Fro… Classic Joe Cocker: The Universal Masters …