The beginning of a promise fulfilled, after the break!

The Lost Years:
"The Concerts of 2011"

(Catch up on the first saga - "The Concerts of 2009 & 2010" - here!)

Part 1: January to May

Always make New Year's Resolutions. That's my motto. Whether I stay true to it or not, the initial thought usually creates a game plan or pathway for my year. Might get to walk away with a personal achievement on December 31st? Kinda cool, right?

2011 ended up becoming my first proof of concept with this belief as I made a promise to myself to see a Concert every month. No matter what! 12 Concerts... minimum. That's more live shows I had ever experienced in my life when the curtains of 2011 arose. Los Angeles gives you that option, you know? Not many cities provide an environment like that. A blessing that eventually turned me into a late-night fiend. Hunting for a memory within that one perfect shot.

I am beyond happy I kept to my word and conquered my New Year's Resolution in 2011. Didn't just see 12 shows. Ended up doubling the original goal! Didn't just stay in LA either. You can read all about that rogue adventure below!

This concert saga originally existed on Blogger once upon a time. Unfortunately, all those memories & moments were burned away in May 2012. I learned an important lesson that continues to be true even now... everything on the internet will expire when the money runs out. This nostalgic "concertholic" truly believes this series will suffer the same fate. I will do better archiving this time around. You can count on that!

The fact that Flickr keeps on running continues to shock this somewhat retired amateur photographer. Been a member for over a decade collecting over 13+ million overall views! Most of these 2011 photos used to thrive on Photobucket but I ended up moving over to Flickr by the end of this concert series due to the bigger reach. Only re-uploaded my favorite concerts from 2011 over there. Not everything you're about to see. Many of the photos below have never been seen anywhere before!

Putting together this Megapost took quite an effort as I pieced together all the fragments from countless computer hard drives & file folders. Ended up re-editing many of these pictures much like I did in my 2009 / 2010 recap! However... there were 25 albums after collating them all! Had to break up the groups into three uneven parts.

Below are the freeze frames of the shows that occurred between January through May 2011. Started my journey off quite slow. Didn't last like that... (spoilers!). Months of work are now far behind us. Enjoy the broken memories of a long-lost promise fulfilled!

Dashboard Confessional @ The Troubadour (01/21/2011)

Shocked I stepped away from the day job during Award Season to kick-off my New Year's Resolution. Quite impressive but this was one concert I knew I mustn't miss.

For Dashboard Confessional (really frontman Chris Carrabba) held a special three-day anniversary showcase for their debut album - 'The Swiss Army Romance' - at the Troubadour. Not only was I joined by my brother, but two of my friendly co-workers also made it out to that sold-out intimate venue this evening. Jinifer had such a sunset-strip Roxy rock-n-roll soul. We crossed paths multiple times during this saga.

I've mentioned before that coming across Dashboard Confessional's MTV2 Unplugged at the birth of my indie rock phase really changed my musical life. Turned me full emo! Experiencing my favorite acoustic anthems alongside our screaming beautiful energic voices within the Troubadour mirrored, and somewhat surpassed, that TV episode. Get chills reminiscing.

Photos

Grace Potter & The Nocturnals @ El Rey Theatre (02/04/2011)

Really dug Grace Potter's music around this time. Seemed like the kind of debuting artist you'd experience live, right?

This was also my first time visiting the historic El Rey Theatre, which eventually became my favorite overall concert venue in LA. It's style, elegance, and amazing lighting made it always a dream to shoot a concert at. Brought out the best of this amateur P&S photographer.

Photos

Girl Talk, Junk Culture, & Max Tundra @ The Hollywood Palladium (03/26/2011)

Have spoken a little too much about music blogging feeling like a wild wild west during the early 2010s. No other artist personified this outlaw mentality more than Greg Gills... whom you probably know as Girl Talk. Under the guise of this vigilante pirate DJ moniker, Greg released buzzworthy and acclaimed house music mixtapes featuring a stew of popular music mashups & samples without much clearance. A true pioneer of "illegal art" that I kept my eyes & ears on as I blogged daily. Hoping for another rule breaking soundtrack.

The fact I got to experience such rebellion live on my first trip to The Hollywood Palladium set the benchmark for what a DJ set should be. All I can remember were the crazy characters dancing along in the elevated pit and colorful balloons falling at the end. Kinda felt like prom in hindsight!

Photos

LA Beer Fest @ Sony Pictures Backlot (04/09/2011)

Originally thought I skipped a concert showcase in April 2011. None of my past records confirmed I did anything with my camera. However, when dug deep enough I found this long-forgotten LA Beer Fest event that featured a DJ & a tribute band at the SONY Pictures Lot? Totally counts, right?! I think so.

Only took a minute to recall all the personal memories that occurred this evening alongside family & old friends. Leaves me shell-shocked that I was able to visit (and work) at some of Hollywood's most famous studios during this age. Really puts this journey in perspective.

Photos

Prince @ The Troubadour (05/11/2011)

What would've YOU done if you received an email that read, "Prince, two-shows, One Night Only, at The Troubadour, buy tickets now"??? Immediately jumped at the chance! Still shocked I got tickets so quickly. Let alone two! Perks of working in a cubicle, I guess? Blessed be lady luck.

Texted my brother, left work, picked him up, and drove back to West Hollywood to attend Prince's first show of the evening. Which didn't start until around Midnight. The photos below were captured via my Blackberry phone for Prince & his team were kicking out anyone who they caught taking pictures or recording videos. We both broke Prince's law, but this was a historic MOMENT. Still brag about this show which remains my favorite concert of my life.

Maybe we peaked too soon?

All the pieces fell into place and I got to be in the room when Prince visited Hollywood to just jam on his guitar. No hits. Just jazz and rock channeled through his electric guitar. The early morning show got more of his hits. I didn't care though. This was f'n Prince at the Troubadour. You just had to be there. Happily, we were.

Photos

My Chemical Romance, Circa Survive, & The Architects @ The Hollywood Palladium (05/28/2011)

If I was going to force myself to concerts each month in 2011... some should be bucket list shows, right?!

Luckily, My Chemical Romance were nearing the end of their 'Danger Days' supporting "The World Contamination Tour". Major emphasis on END because these were technically their final row of performances for over a decade. Glad the stars all lined up. Might've missed out. Even if Gerard Way and Frank Iero both went solo soon after. And I got to see Frank Iero with the cellabration at SXSW in 2015!

And yes... this fan has contemplated going to see their 2025 "Long Live: The Black Parade" tour. Dodger Stadium though? Meh.

I absolutely adore MCR's entire discography and their fourth album fit my maturing timeline beautifully. This concert (and another show in a bit) only heightened my memories attached to "kids from yesterday" high concept, pop flavored, apocalyptic and dystopian age. Growing older into a mysterious uncertain future always returns when I play that record nowadays. Warms my heart every time.

Memories remember this event as HOT & CROWDED. We pushed our way stage right to avoid the rowdy pit crowd that nearly touched the ballroom doors. Pretty sure this was my first show with a mosh pit too? It didn't happen during MCR set... I think it occurred during Circa Survive? Could be wrong though. Both openers, Circa Survive and Architects, were awesome regardless. Kept them both on my radar soon after.

Love the obscured, blocked, photos I took in the dark Palladium on this evening. They continue to do numbers on Flickr all these years later. Most of them were luck. Capturing this rowdy spring night off Sunset Blvd.