photos by: Tamara Lee previously published: Scene In The Dark
I don’t normally have so much to say because the pictures usually speak for themselves. But this was not a normal show.
As a music photographer I have experienced my share of rough concerts. Among the top few ranks SNFU at the Cobalt, King Khan and BBQ, Kool Keith (based on punk audience), and now ranking high up there is certainly Guitar Wolf.
Before the show I have staked a spot on one of the Biltmore’s friendly side stage boxes, crammed next to several other photogs with the same idea. As soon as they open the curtains I am glad for the protection it offers me, as the audience is already erupting in to mosh and shoving each other on to the stage. I’m thinking the scene is pretty hard core with full beers flying through the crowd and splattering on to my precious gear. Well, what can I say, I did sign up for this.
Thankfully, only one side of me is being pummeled while we wait and I am grateful to the other photog that let me take solace on the little box. But not for long. As soon as the Guitar Wolf 
himself (Seiji) takes the stage it becomes clear that he has other plans and nobody is taking shelter from the madness. He runs on and true to his bad-ass punk style, strikes a pose, shotguns a PBR, then crumples and angrily discards it. Then the tables turn.
He runs straight for me and the others, pushes us aside, jumps over my head and starts to perform from atop the little box. The crowd goes mental. In tow, a sound guy tries to fight people off and get him a damn microphone wading through aggressive drunken fanbase that all want a piece. A crowd surfer flies past and falls on to the stage practically kicking him in the face. The Wolf doesn’t even seem phased; it’s clear he has anarchy in his bones. Shades in tact, with or without mic he goes on playing, drooling and screaming inaudibly giving the crown exactly what they came for.
As for me, I keep my camera to my eye but have been tossed to the bottom of the mosh where it has become increasingly hard to not get trampled, let alone take a friken picture. And yet, I handled a mosh pit or two in my younger days so it’s nothing too foreign. Eventually I am lifted forward on to the stage where I snap another few and swiftly get kicked off by the bouncer.
On the sides I realize I have lost one of my lenses to the mosh- a career first. Although it is recovered a few days later (thanks Biltmore) it doesn’t really function properly and will need to visit the camera doctor. Maybe I’ll just let it go, a sacrifice to Japan’s punk rock deity, that is Guitar Wolf. Sacrifice or not, it was a show worth experiencing.
Full GALLERY here.
Read fabulous show review by Andrew Tape at Scene in the Dark HERE