On August 16, 2024, I caught Young the Giant and Cage the Elephant at Van Andel Arena in Grand Rapids. I brought my Ricoh GR IIIx expecting to shoot from the crowd — no photo pit, no special access — just a camera, a seat, and a good view. What I didn’t expect was getting pulled into the front row midway through the show.


Young the Giant

Young the Giant opened the night with a set that was tight, clean, and emotionally layered. They moved through tracks like “Jungle Youth,” “Superposition,” and “Cough Syrup” with a balance of precision and energy that had the whole arena singing along. From my seat, I shot wide and minimal. The GR IIIx isn’t a concert powerhouse, but it handled the lighting better than expected. I focused less on perfection and more on capturing the mood — still moments between notes, quick glances, the crowd swaying in sync.


Cage the Elephant

Right before Cage the Elephant went on, one of the credentialed photographers I’d talked with earlier came up to me and handed me their extra front row ticket. No strings — just a simple, “You want this?” It changed everything.

Matt Shultz came out injured, wheeling around on a medical scooter, but you’d never know it from the way he performed. The set was raw and loud — “Broken Boy,” “Cold Cold Cold,” “Social Cues,” and “Come a Little Closer” all hit with full force. Up front, I shot handheld, mid-crowd, no barriers. It was chaotic and perfect. The kind of shoot where you don’t think, you just react.


Notes from the Floor

  • Camera: Ricoh GR IIIx
  • Settings: Mostly f/2.8, 1/250, ISO 1600–3200
  • Style: Street-documentary approach — no zoom, no switching lenses, just framing and timing
  • What worked: Fast response, low profile, sharp files
  • What didn’t: No stabilization, tough autofocus in heavy strobes


Final Take

This wasn’t a polished assignment. It was a reminder that sometimes the best coverage comes from showing up prepared — even if you don’t know how the night’s going to go. Cage the Elephant brought chaos, Young the Giant brought balance, and the Ricoh kept up with both.


I’ll take more nights like this.