Tuesday, February 4, and I am so ready to photograph Marty Friedman at The City Winery in New York City in support of his recent solo album ‘DRAMA’ alongside his Japanese band members. The show was supported by Patrick Kennison (Heaven Below and Lita Ford) and Nikki Stringfield (Heaven Below and The Iron Maidens) . So I started my day working out, as usual, because it’s my day off from work. The show starts at 8 PM, and I arrived on time because I don’t want to miss this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for me. I’ve idolized Marty since his time with Megadeth, from "Rust in Peace" to "Countdown to Extinction," and then "Youthanasia" came; these were the albums that were my jam. Marty still played Megadeth with albums like "Cryptic Writings" and "Risk." They changed their style on these two albums, influenced by Metallica’s "Load" and "Reload" albums.
The show started at 8 PM, and man, Marty has never aged. He’s like a vampire walking and shredding guitar like in the old days. The fans were screaming and shouting; we were very excited to see Marty and his band. In the middle of the set, he introduced his bandmates and asked them what their favorite things about America were. His guitarist, Naoki, said he likes Popeyes, and people started laughing. Then his bassist, Wakazaemon, said she doesn’t understand why men’s urinal bowls in the US are so big. LOL. Then he called his drummer, Chargeee; he was very funny and entertaining, and he said he likes Target and Walgreens.
They played "Tornado of Souls," and the room erupted with fans smiling and banging their heads. In the middle of the song, they stopped; Marty and Naoki were arguing about who was going to play the solo. Chargeee interrupted, saying that was Marty’s part. It was very fun, and Marty is very entertaining and fun to photograph. I raised my camera, capturing the intensity of the moment as Marty’s fingers danced across the fretboard, his expression a mix of joy and concentration. Each click of the shutter felt like a snapshot of history, a moment I wanted to remember forever.
As the last chord rang out, the band took a bow, and the audience roared with appreciation. I felt a rush of gratitude wash over me. This wasn’t just a concert; it was a celebration of music and a connection to an artist who had influenced my life in so many ways.
That night, I wished they could have played more; that night meant so much to me. As the final notes of the last song echoed through the venue, the crowd erupted in applause, chanting for an encore. The energy was electric, and I could feel the palpable excitement in the air. Marty stepped back to the microphone, a broad grin on his face, clearly enjoying the moment just as much as we were. He thanked the audience for their support and promised to play one more song.
After the show, I hung around, hoping to catch a glimpse of Marty and his band as they exited the stage. The excitement of the night lingered in the air, and I struck up conversations with fellow fans, sharing our favorite moments from the show. Many of them had similar stories about how Marty’s music had impacted their lives, creating a sense of camaraderie that was heartwarming.
As I walked back, going out at the venue, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of fulfillment. The night had been everything I had hoped for and more. I knew that the memories I had captured, both through my camera and in my heart, would stay with me forever. This experience had ignited a passion within me, reminding me of the magic that live music can bring.
With the city lights twinkling around me, I felt inspired to dive deeper into my photography, to keep capturing moments that resonate, just like Marty’s music had done for me all these years.
Patrick Kennison and Nikki Stringfield
Marty Friedman
Comments