jay gilbert

Rick Springfield “Songs For The End Of The World” covers (released October 9, 2012)

TOMMY SHAW / STYX :: Greek Theatre 05.06.12

I have a great deal of respect and admiration for Tommy Shaw. A multi-talented singer songwriter who has done it all; from bluegrass to heavy metal and done it well. (He’s also a very good photographer and a fellow Canon guy - but I digress…)

I first met the guys in 2003 when they released Cyclorama. A fantastic album featuring blistering rockers like “Do Things My Way” and “Waiting For Our Time” to simply stunning and poetic tracks like “Yes I Can” (my personal favorite). I was working for their record company at the time. 

JY called me one afternoon to discuss the marketing plan. I was impressed at how he got it. We ended up doing in-store appearances to promote the record at the Virgin Magastore in Salt Lake City, Tower Records in Las Vegas and Los Angeles. They were such hard-working, down to earth guys, you couldn’t help but immediately roll up your sleeves to pitch in. 

A few years later I had the pleasure to reconnect with them at Universal for an iTunes Originals recording session in Chicago. [check it out here: http://itunes.apple.com/us/album/live-session-itunes-exclusive/id78264440]

I’ve seen them countless times and I never miss them when they come to town.  The boys still put on an amazing live show. They’re not a “guilty pleasure,” they’re just a pleasure. Go see them and you’ll see what I mean.

Brian Ray :: February 2012

I met Brian in 2004. I liked him right away. He’s smart, funny and inquisitive. Plus he’s one of the most talented and melodic musicians I’ve ever known.

He had just finished “Mondo Magneto,” an album that sounds like it was written for a long drive down PCH on a summer day with the top down. Infectious pop songs like “Vinyl,” “Soft Machine,” “Good For Nothing,” and my personal favorite, “I Liked You Better.” 

Brian has a rich musical history, working with such music industry icons as Etta James (for 14 years) and Sir Paul McCartney (since 2005) but it was a track he wrote with Smokey Robinson, “One Heartbeat,” that first got my attention. 

Eventually, I even talked him into recording his blistering version of Smokey’s “Tears of a Clown” for an iTunes exclusive. [Download it for free here: http://www.brianray.com/index.php/blog/blog-entry/free-download-the-tears-of-a-clown ].

When you watch Brian perform you can’t help but have a good time because HE’S having such a great time! When he comes to your town don’t miss it. I’ll see you there.

Rick Springfield :: Hollywood, March 2012

Everyone knows his infectious pop songs, Mtv music videos, crazy cute dogs and his role on General Hospital. But what you might not know is that Rick is a superb guitarist, an underrated lyricist and his live shows are amazing.

A few weeks ago I was honored to be invited into the studio to shoot Rick and the boys recording the new album. 

FLASHBACK #1

On February 10, 1978, Van Halen released their self-titled debut album. It changed EVERYTHING.

I’ll never forget the first time I heard “eruption” lead into their brilliant cover of the Kinks’ “You Really Got Me.” I was a sophomore at Sprague High in Salem, Oregon. It sounded like a symphony of guitar players. We could hardly believe it was a single player.

Seven months later on September 26^th, I saw them for the first time, opening for Black Sabbath in Portland, Oregon at Memorial Coliseum.

I arrived as the lights went out and scrambled to get my Canon AE-1 out and set up. Van Halen lit it up that night. I shot one roll of Tri-X Pan film, which I planned on developing at school the next day.

Jockeying for position, standing on my seat when Eddie came out to perform “Eruption” I shot this at the part of the solo when he begins the infamous hammer-ons / pull-offs. Unforgettable.

RICKY WARWICK

In the fall of 2003, Ricky released “Tattoos & Alibis.” (Check out “Three Sides to Every Story”) I spent a few short days taking him to play for Amazon, dinner with retail in Seattle and finally to the BMG branch in LA for an acoustic performance.

I loved the album but it was his live performances that blew me away. He’d open for Def Leppard with just a mic and an acoustic guitar! By the end of the set we were all on our feet.

Ricky is the real deal.

I shot this photo at the Santa Barbara Bowl.

Hailey, Ready To Roll!

RICK & HAILEY :: The Greek Theatre, 06.04.11

 A few years ago, my 13 year-old daughter, Hailey, started showing an interest in Photography.

Shortly after accompanying me to a photo session with Rick Springfield, I bought her a little red Sony point & shoot. She began shooting photos of flowers in our back yard and close-ups of our pets. 

That set the stage for what came next. In the summer of 2011, I asked Rick if he’d mind if she shot the upcoming Greek Theatre show with me.

The night of the show I took her backstage, and the guys were so great to her. We had her stand back to back with Rick’s sweet wife, Barbie, to see who was taller (Hailey was thrilled that she was taller by an inch!). Then it was time to get ready.

We were escorted to the photo “pit” just before show time. I got her camera rig set up for her and gave some last minute advice. Show time!

The house lights went out and Rick & the guys lit up the stage, posing and mugging for Hailey. She had the time of her life and took some amazing photographs – not just for a beginner. 

Midway through the set, I turned and shot this photo of Hailey. Simply beautiful. Thanks Rick.

McCARTNEY :: THE SECRET SHOW

In June of 2007, to promote his new album, “Memory Almost Full,” Sir Paul McCartney played surprise shows at a few small venues in London, New York and Los Angeles.

The gig in New York City was held at the Highline Ballroom. Paul and his band ripped through a 90-minute set of songs from the new album, Beatles classics, and Wings favorites.

With his 65th birthday coming the following Monday, we serenaded Sir Paul with “Happy Birthday.” 

Sitting alone at the piano, Paul dedicated “Here Today” to “our fallen heroes: John, George and Linda.” When the final chord rang out, he said, “It’s good to play that song in the town John loved and where Linda was born.” I was standing against the stage, directly in front of Paul’s piano.

I wasn’t allowed to bring my camera in so I shot this photo with my Amp’d Mobile flip phone! It’s raw feel and lack of perfection make it one of my favorite photos.

KISS PERFORMS AS A TRIO :: Soboba Casino Arena, San Jacinto, CA July 27, 2007

I first met my pal, Hab (via email) through a mutual friend. We share a passion for the music business and a keen interest in all things technology. 

He was on the KISS crew at the time so we planned on meeting in person at the upcoming show at Soboba Casino Arena in San Jacinto, 90 miles East of Los Angeles near Palm Springs.

When my buddy Tom and I arrived at Soboba we were slowed down by a long line of cars as screaming emergency vehicles sped by. 

When we got inside, I sent a text message to Hab to see what all of the commotion was about. He replied that it was a madhouse and that we’d have to reschedule our meeting.

We found out that Paul Stanley was receiving medical attention after his heart started beating at more than twice the normal rate. The apparent tachycardia happened when the band arrived earlier in the day.

KISS performed as a trio for the first and only time that night. The show must go on.

OWSLEY

In the summer of 1998 my friend, David Sanders from MCA Nashville sent me a CD with one word written on it with a Sharpie: “Owsley.” That CD remained in heavy rotation in my car for months.

I learned that, in addition to his own music, Will Owsley had released an album in band called The Semantics and was a touring musician with Shania Twain, Amy Grant, Kenny Loggins and others. His major label debut was released in March the following year. “I’m Alright” and “Coming Up Roses” should have been huge hits.

In 2004, I launched a digital label at Universal. One of the first artists I signed was Will.  It was a new idea at the time so we received some great press from the Billboard, the New York Times and NPR. Will was even chosen for “Song of the Week” at iTunes!

On October 18, 2004, Will called me to say that he was in town to play with Amy Grant on the Tonight Show and invited me to come down and hang out.

There was plenty of time to kill after sound check and prior to the 5:00 pm taping so we joked around back stage and talked about music while he noodled on an acoustic guitar. At one point he started playing “Good Old Days” from his first album. I instinctively joined in to sing the harmonies on the chorus; “There’s a parking lot where the church used to be…” Singing with one of my favorite artists, it doesn’t get much better than that.

Just before show time, we were in the hallway outside of Amy’s dressing room singing Beatles songs when Amy stood in the doorway and joined us, then Keb Mo walked up and joined in! Beautiful!

On April 30, 2010, Will passed away. It turned my world upside down. In time I found comfort with his beautiful family, his incredible music and in the words of an anonymous proverb, often attributed to Dr. Seuss: “Don’t cry because it’s over, smile because it happened.”

The last time I saw brother Will, he was in town to do some session work. He came up to the house for a BBQ (the photo above is from that beautiful day). My friends Eric, Amanda, their beautiful twins, my pal Scott and my two daughters relaxed in the back yard with Will singing Crowded House songs. He performed a duet with my youngest daughter, Heidi, as she knew all of the words to a song he had written with Vince Gill called “Lonely Comes Around!”

Before we said goodnight, Will sat at my piano and played “Matriarch.” We all got goose bumps.  I’ll never forget that as long as I live.

Will, I miss you brother.