Category: On The Road

THE GREAT NORTH AMERICAN ECLIPSE

For the second time in seven-years, a total solar eclipse recently swept the United States and Lou Brutus was on hand to photograph the spectacle. Dubbed The Great North American Eclipse as it crossed from Mexico into the USA and then finally up into Canada, it was the last total eclipse in the lower forty-eight states until 2044.

After months of planning, LB flew into Columbus, Ohio the morning of the eclipse. He had chosen a spot just north of the city in Lewis Center, Ohio to set up his equipment. The location was picked as it got him far enough into the Path of Totality to see a total eclipse of one-minute and fifty-seven seconds, but not too far away from the airport as he needed to be on a flight back shortly after totality ended. The plan came off without a hitch and Lou was on-the-air according to schedule that night.

In the run up to the event, a number of news outlets used Lou’s eclipse photographs from 2017 in new articles including Yahoo Entertainment here.

There are three major eclipse events on the way in the coming years including Spain 2026, Egypt 2027, and Australia 2028. Lou his hoping to catch at least one of those. As he said shortly following totality in Ohio, “You have got to see a total solar eclipse at least once in your life. It will fill you with shock, awe, and a sense of wonder. It’s kinda like a Slipknot concert in that respect.”

ROCK RESURRECTION TOUR

Lou Brutus will make his (somewhat) triumphant return to Green Bay WI as host of The Rock Resurrection Tour on Saturday February 18th 2023 at the Epic Event Center. The tour features co-headliners Skillet and Theory of a Deadman, along special guests Saint Asonia.

Along with acting as emcee, Lou will be backstage conducting band interviews and then hitting the photo pit to shoot the concert. Prior to the music, he’ll be at the Merch area as doors open. You can get a picture, an autograph, and/or a limited-edition Green Bay Packers-themed guitar pick designed especially for the show. This pick will ONLY be available the night of the concert! We’ll have details closer to concert day. Plus, we’re working on having copies of his book “Sonic Warrior” on-sale, too. Of course, you can purchase a book ahead of time and bring it in the venue. Go here to get it on Amazon or just pick up a copy wherever you get books.

This event is now SOLD OUT. However, as many folks are bummed to miss Lou in town, he will be back to host AVATAR with Veil of Maya and Orbit Culture on their Dance Devil Dance Tour at the Epic Event Center Saturday May 13th. We can neither confirm nor deny rumors of a special Avatar-themed guitar pick from Darla the Wonder Dog for the gig.

You can find info and tickets here.

BRUTUS RETURNS TO HOST ROCKFEST 2020

For the fifth straight year, LB will return as host one of the premiere concert events in America: Rock Fest in Cadott, Wisconsin.

This year may very well be the best lineup in the long history of the festival. It includes Slipknot, Disturbed, Staind, Papa Roach, Limp Bizkit, Theory of A Deadman, Hellyeah, Saint Asonia, Anthrax, Of Mice & Men, Bad Wolves, Chevelle, Hollywood Undead, All That Remains, Like A Storm, Crobot, Bones UK, Avatar, We Came As Romans, Fozzy, Memphis May Fire, Gemini Syndrome, Through Fire, Hyro the Hero, Rachel Lorin, and many more.

Brutus will host onstage, interview the artists backstage, and be in the photo pit capturing the action. You’ll also have chances to meet him in person at special signings for his new book SONIC WARRIOR: My Life As A Rock N Roll Reprobate. Darla the Wonder Dog will not be appearing.

Lou was recently a guest on The Rock Fest Podcast with Cooper. They cover the festival, getting baked with Snoop Dogg, and what is now being referred to as The Darla Factor. Listen to it here.

For ticket information and more hit Rock-Fest.com.

SLIPKNOT AT THE IOWA STATE FAIR

It was a history making event as Slipknot headlined the Iowa State Fair with LB on hand to interview and photograph the band, as well as act as stage emcee.

The group had dreamed of playing the hometown event for twenty-years, but a variety of factors kept them from making happen. However, on Saturday August 10th, 2019, it finally happened. The gig, which occurred the day after the new album “We Are Not Your Kind” was released, was completely sold out with French metal gods Gojira opening the proceedings. Lou was given the honor of announcing the band at this momentous occasion, having been introduced to the crowd by his friend Andy Hall from longtime hardDriveRadio affiliate Later 103.3 in Des Moines. He gave a short, emotional speech on his love for the band and the importance of live music.

Before the show, Lou conducted at 30-minute interview with the band’s Corey Taylor which covered every aspect of the new album and latest tour cycle. He then photographed the concert from the photo pit then ended the night joining the band backstage. In the days leading up to the concert, Brutus drove the diehard maggots into a frenzy with limited-edition stickers commemorating the show featuring the fair’s legendary butter cow, which is literally a cow carved from butter. Droves of fans combed the fairgrounds in search of LB calling out the phrase from the sticker “You can’t see Iowa without the butter cow’s eyes!” The stickers are now completely gone.

THE ROLLING STONES

Brutus was honored to once again photograph The Rolling Stones and spend the evening backstage at their “Stones No Filter Tour.” This latest show was the July 3rd stop at FedEx Field outside of Washington, DC. Lou last joined the band at Twickenham Stadium in London in June 2018. He posted some thoughts regarding the band…

“‘Ladies and Gentlemen, The Greatest Rock N Roll Band in the World: The Rolling Stones!’ With that wonderfully boastful declaration the guys showed why they are still on top 57-years after it all first began. Later, I’ll post some show reviews that are more eloquent regarding the current tour than I could do currently. For now, allow me to say you are out of your head if you miss what could be your last chance to see one of the most significant chapters in the history of popular music. I laugh in the face of people who make jokes about the ages of the Stones members. Those people are fools. When you see how Mick Jagger works the stage and the crowd you simply can’t believe it. I couldn’t move like that when I was 16. The guitar interplay between Keith and Ronnie is like few other things you’ll ever hear. It’s a joy. And through it all Charlie Watts sits there like a Rock N Roll sphinx keeping it all together, moving it forward. Of course, he’s always been the band’s secret weapon. The other musicians, including the legendary Chuck Leavell and Daryl Jones, are spot on. Special mention should also be made of backing vocalist Sasha Allen who gets to shine with Jagger during “Gimme Shelter.” Finally, while the stage production is magnificent, it still comes down to the songs. Every single one will make you crazy and happy and sing and play air guitar. I truly hope you have plans to see #StonesNoFilter. If you don’t, make them. Now.”

LB will look to make other stops on the tour including the final show in Miami on August 31st. In the meantime, you can check out his pics from the tour in the Images of the site as well on his verified social media accounts. Many thanks to Lou’s old-time tour friend MW for the hospitality!