In This Moment-Hell Pop II

    When the Hell Pop II tour came to Winston Salem, North Carolina, I had the chance to try
my hand at concert photography. In This Moment has been a favorite group of mine
since ‘Blood’ first hit the local radio station, and I had read of their mesmerizing
performances in several reviews and articles, so as expected I was excited for the opportunity
to see it for myself. Needless to say, I wasn’t disappointed. 
    From the moment the musicians entered the stage they had the crowd’s undying
attention and excitement, the place booming to life as the first bars of ‘Adrenalize’
came blaring through the speakers. It was when Maria emerged from the fog though,
that the crowd truly showed their enthusiasm in an uproar of whoops and hollers, their
screams escalating as Brink began to sing, moving to the rhythm with a Blood Girl on
either side. This energy carried on through the entire night, building with each wardrobe change,
new choreography, usage of stage props and musical escalation. 
    Each song pulled the crowd deeper and deeper, as they played several favorites from
material fresh off the newest album Blood to oldies such as ‘Daddy’s Fallen Angel’ to a cover
of Nine Inch Nails’ ‘Closer’ which had everyone, including all of the photographers in
the pit, dancing and singing along.  The mixture of Maria’s powerful vocals and the musician’s
ability to pound out each song with just as much oomph as the one before, along with the
prevailing chemistry and stage presence shared by the band, all created the captivating
performance that is the staple of In This Moment. They finished their set with one of their most
recognized anthems ‘Whore’and encored with ‘Blood’. 
    To sum up my experience, it was the best I could have asked for as my first time
shooting a concert. It was visually pleasing, entertaining and made for some killer shots. 

Written by: Shannon Rae​