Created by Robot House Creative
My photography was used in this new advertising campaign for The Spy. The online radio station and NPR affiliate is close to my heart, and I’m super happy to be working with them and Robot House Creative.
You can find a print copies in the Oklahoma Gazette and this summer in Oklahoma Today.
Photos by Nathan Poppe
I was taking photos so hot that my laptop exploded.
Actually, that was due to ancient MacBook battery but it felt cool to type. Last week, I returned to Spicewood, Texas for my second Luck Reunion. What’s that? Well, country legend Willie Nelson hosts a festival on his Luck Ranch near a bunch of Western facades and buildings he built for an ’80s western called “Red Headed Stranger.”
The boutique Americana-leaning festival hired me to shoot the main stage, and I teamed up with my great friend Adam Kemp to shoot the headlining acts. I ended up with nearly 200 GB worth of photos and edited things down to a more manageable figure.
I’ve got shots of Margo Price, Willie Nelson, Conor Oberst, M. Ward, Shovels & Rope and a lot more great talent. Also, I replaced my laptop because of the amazing freelance gig. I guess you call that balance.
Take a look at all my photos from the Texas festival here.
Photo by Nathan Poppe
Parker Millsap knew he was home.
In a packed Sooner Theatre, the native Okie songwriter performed to a full house. His friends and family were peppered throughout the sold-out crowd. How could I tell?
One of Millsap’s cousins requested a song and shouted a thank you from the back of the venue. The night also was full of tight performances and a rowdy room. Well, as rowdy as a seated venue can get.
Ticket stub provided by Joe O’Shansky
I chatted with Okie concertgoers about their favorite concert memories from today and yesteryear. I heard stories about The Who, Nirvana, Tom Petty and Phish. There’s even a great story about Vince Gill mooning a KISS crowd.
Read it here.
Photo by Daniel Muldiar
“For us, I think it was an eye opener. There’s people that really care about the music and really care about this band. The least that we can do is to keep it going.”
Cameron Neal reflected on getting robbed on the road and a lot more during our recent interview.
Give the story a read here.
Photo by Nathan Poppe
The sound of fist hitting face stopped me dead in my tracks. The fight happened and ended quicker than I could cradle my camera and take a couple steps back. A few friends stepped in between the brawlers and it was back to the music.
A couple women tried to explain to me what happened but all I could hear was hoots and hollers for the Turnpike Troubadours. Oklahoma is known for some rowdy acts but nothing compares to a crowd at a TT show. I’ve never seen so many empty beer cans in my life.
This was my first time catching the band, and I have a feeling I’ll be back to see an even bigger crowd sing along to every word. I especially enjoyed catching opening acts Charley Crockett and BC & The Big Rig. It was the most bustling, sold-out crowd at The Criterion to date.
See all my photos here.
Photo by Rambo
“I don’t really know what folk music means anymore. And I don’t think of myself as a folk musician so much as a storyteller. I want to make something honest and imaginative first.”
That’s Austin-based songwriter Adam Torres talking about being labeled as a folk musician. I caught up with him before an upcoming concert at Opolis.
Read the full Q&A here.
Photo by Cortney Kelley
“I didn’t know what I was doing. I paid for parking, and it cost me $15 because the NAMM trade show was going on at the same time. I think we made $10 that day, so I was in the hole $5. That sums up my Nashville experience.”
Things don’t always go as planned. Take it from David Leach. I spoke with him and his bandmate Kate Dinsmore about the road to their debut album, working with John Fullbright and gambling.
Read the full story here.
I caught up with my Tulsa-based buddy Kalyn Fay when she needed to turn around an entry into the Tiny Desk Contest real fastlike. Not bad at all for a new song and all in one take.
It’s crazy how much talent there is in this state.
Photos by Nathan Poppe
Every now and again there’s a concert so good that it reminds me why I spend half my year going to them. This was one of them.
Pinegrove’s frontman Evan Stephens Hall was driving across the country because his grandmother was too old to drive her car. So, he picked up the vehicle in California and made his way back to New Jersey. This Norman house show was one of his stops.
Hall tested a lot of new material and played several tracks from “Cardinal,” an album highlight of 2016. Check out some more pics below.
Photos by Nathan Poppe
When people give you a heads up that a unicorn is going to get wheeled throughout a concert crowd, it doesn’t actually sink in until you’re standing in the way of the glowing, horse-sized creature. Confetti, balloons and a Griswold family christmas amount of lights accompany most Flaming Lips shows but there’s always a surprise, too.
Kacey Musgraves at Diamond Ballroom. [Photo by Nathan Poppe]
Jan. 13 // Kyle Reid and Andy Adams // Blue Door
Jan. 15 // Aaron Lee Tasjan and Bonnie Whitmore // Blue Door
Jan. 22 // Andrew Combs // Diamond Ballroom
Jan. 22 // Kacey Musgraves // Diamond Ballroom
Jan. 22 // Chase Kerby and The Villains // VZD’s
Jan. 22 // Beau Jennings and The Tigers // VZD’s
Jan. 26 // BUHU // Blue Note Lounge
Jan. 26 // Hop Along // Opolis (Norman)
Jan. 29 // L.T.Z. // 51st Street Speakeasy
Jan. 29 // Bowlsey // 51st Street Speakeasy
Champagne was popped, pineapples were smashed and bags of potato chips were thrown into the crowd.
That’s the norm for a Rae Summered show, and the hip-hop duo landed in Oklahoma City just days after hitting No. 1 because of a great song and a ridiculous internet challenge. It was a rowdy concert filled with a sold-out crowd. I’d love to see more shows here because it’s tough to beat the bouncy wooden floors and old school appeal of the Farmers Market.
Check out all my photos from that evening here.
Photo by Nathan Poppe
I was really happy to see this Seattle band share some of my photo work from this concert.
Lots more photos from the night here.
Photo by Nathan Poppe
This wonderful lady put on my favorite concert at The Criterion.
You can see all my photos from her set here.
Photo by Mary McCartney
“I’m there on my own, so you’re hearing them the way I would have first played them to the band, and in some cases you’re hearing … something I understand about the song now that I maybe didn’t understand when I first wrote it.”
That’s Elvis Costello talking about his stripped down solo tour. I chatted with the music legend on the phone about Wanda Jackson, Chet Baker and his new memoir.
Check out the full interview here.
Photo by Nathan Poppe
All my photos from the rapper’s set are here.
Photo by Nathan Poppe
All my shots from the EDM show are here.
