First off... phoooo-ey WHAT A FUN WEEKEND! I apologize if this isn't insightful to anyone, or any fun. I just really wanted to share my experiences.
Before coming to Japan for a study abroad program this year in April, I had been following a Japanese indie band for the past 3-4 years. Susquatch has gotten me through exam periods, long drives, and everything else you can imagine. Of course, being a fan, I researched whether I would have the opportunity to see them live while in Tokyo. I got to see them live for their album tour final in late May, and I thought that the show was going to be the last of it, and boy was I wrong.
After the first show, I ended up befriending the band, and we became FB friends. I then got to go see them live again in early July, but had not reserved tickets for the show. As luck would have it, the show was sold out and I was a bit bummed, sitting outside of the venue letting the emotions of missing the show sink in. I had brought my camera out for the show, ready to take some pictures to remember the trip by. The heaven's smiled upon me as the leader of the band ended up walking by, and we said our greetings. He ended up getting me on the guest list and I was allowed to get into the show. Took some pictures, listened to a lot of great music, and had a blast. After the show, I inquired whether there were any more shows that were going to be held sometime within July and August in the Tokyo area, since I will be returning to the States on the 25th of August. Sadly, I was told that the only shows happening within the 2 months were going to in the Kansai region, specifically Osaka, Kyoto, Tanba, and Kobe. It was going to be a 4 day tour (Aug 16, 17, 18, 19) with an indie math rock band, Qooland. I'm currently doing an internship, which requires me to work M-F from 8AM-5PM. I was pretty bummed.
BUT! I found out that the company I was interning at gave us a week long vacation during the week that the tour was being held! I was estatic, knowing that I could go down to Kansai and see two absolutely awesome bands, Susquatch and Qooland. I had planned to get transportation, find places to stay, and follow the band to 3/4 locations to see them play. I was ready to plop down the money to make it all happen. On the 15th, I got a phone call from the band. They had told me that a space in their van had opened up, and that they would love for me to tag along with them in their van to all of the destinations.
So for the 4 days I was with the band, I was playing the role of "photographer." I got backstage passes and was put on the staff list. I shot 3 shows, maybe 10 bands, all with my stupid Sigma 30, Canon 50 f1.8, and Canon 100L. I was kicking myself the entire trip because I had not invested in a fast normal zoom. Throughout the entire tour, I was incredibly frustrated that I didn't have a 17-5x varient of somekind because sometimes I was just too close with the 30, and things were sometimes too far for the 30. I would switch to the 50 and same problem. I would then go to the 100L to take shots of the drummer, and something dynamic and awesome would be happening on some other part of the stage and the 100L was too long. Over the 3 days, I took about 1,250 pictures, and only 1,250 pictures due to memory problems. I went up with 20gb worth of cards expecting to only shoot Susquatch and Qooland, but ended up shooting 95% of the bands that played. I ended up buying another 16gb card, and filled it very quickly within a night.
Every stage was different. Every band's stage was set up differently. Every band's lighting was slightly different in color and intesnity. Every band interacted differently. Every band's drummer hid behind cymbols. Different colors get captured differently. Sometimes I could shoot at ISO 800, sometimes I'd have to crank it to 6400. AND THOSE FREAKING RED AND GREEN LIGHTS!! After every night of shooting, my back would hurt, my knees would be sore from kneeling and crawling around, and my shoulder would be killing me because of the camera and lenses hanging from them. I always kept walking away from each gig dissapointed with the shots I got, and with the depressing feeling that I was letting the bands down because of the quality of my pictures seemed subpar. There were times I got great shots, but were extremely blown out because of the dynamic lighting that was happening. Sometimes I would miss great shots because I metered for certain lighting but didn't notice my shutter was too slow, and didn't have time to adjust ISO to compensate. Sometimes I missed great shots because I couldn't focus fast enough. But the shots that I missed and regret the most were shots that I missed because I was too shy and scared to get up close to the stage. I'm pretty sure that I got some decent keepers, but getting even 50 out of the 1,250 sounds great to me.
In conclusion... Through the 4 days, I had a blast as a music fan and as a hobbyist photographer. I made a lot of very good friends, got to meet many different bands, and take a lot of pictures. Even though I felt like I failed every band I shot, when they got to see some of the shots on the LCD, they were thrilled and were very appreciative of the "work" I did. To those shooting concerts and gigs, my hat comes off to you. The dynamic settings, lighting, and fast paceness of shows was very demanding on me, and I wasn't even shooting for assignment or money.
This stuff isn't easy, and when I see the shots you guys post, I appreciate it that much more. This was a really humbling experience, and I have SO much more to learn. To those who read the entire post, thanks!
tl;dr
Shooting bands is tough and those of you who do it frequently are MACHINES! And I can't wait to look through all 1,250 of the photos to pick out keepers 
