Galleries

The 100 Best Live Concert Photos from Matt Carmichael

These are my 100 favorite shots from bands like The Rolling Stones, Arcade Fire, Foo Fighters, Beyonce, Coldplay, U2 and more.

Chicago Concert Photos

Galleries from Farm Aid, David Bowie, the Rolling Stones, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Neutral Milk Hotel, Green Day and many many other of your favorite bands photographed in Chicago between 1996 and 2006.

Metro

Galleries from my time as house photographer at Chicago's famed concert venue, Metro. I shot bands big (Foo Fighters, Coldplay, Garbage) and small. These are some of my favorites.

Tweeter Center

Galleries from when I was first "house photographer" for the Tweeter Center and served as such for several summer seasons. My main job was decorating: lining the bleak cinder block walls, with life and personality and rocknroll. As far as I know some of those prints are still there in the backstage halls and catering.

Lollapalooza 2005

The first time Lollapalooza docked in Chicago was 2005. I photographed it for basically all of my clients including real-time updates for MTV News. The shows included Arcade Fire, Weezer, Primus, Pixies, Liz Phair, Billy Idol, Widespread Panic and many more bands of course. Standing on stage during Arcade Fire ascendency was a highlight, and those shots have been included in every Lollapalooza greatest moment collection published since.

Other shoots

I had the chance to shoot non-concerts, too. Including Robin Williams, a book signing by Martha Stewart, political rallies for John Kerry and for Barack Obama, the opening of a John Cusack film Ice Harvest and Cubs games with Debbie Gibson and Journey.

Rock for Kids

Wanting to give back, I pitched Rock for Kids on doing a calendar as a fundraiser. Working with John Shearer, I made portraits of Chicago musicians including Rick Neilsen, Frank Orrall, John and Laurie Stirratt, Jon Langford, Sally Timms, Nora O'Connor, Kelly Hogan, Archer Prewitt, Robbie Fulks, Nicholas Tremulis, and Scott Lucas. And then they canceled the project. So these portraits have never really been seen before now.