I was shooting a band a couple years ago that was opening for Gary. I had heard of Gary but wasn’t very familiar with his music, so I hung around to check him out and am so glad I did. From the second he walked on stage I was blown away, and he clearly has that effect on many listeners and fans. Clifford Antone, proprietor of Antone’s night club, brought Gary in to play where he became a regular performer and started playing with the likes of Jimmie Vaughan. Clifford passed away in 2006, and since then Antone’s has relocated several times trying to rebuild itself. Gary is part of a group that is purchasing the venue to bring it back to its glory days. Gary is on the road a lot these days, but I always look forward to catching him when he’s back home in Austin.

“Lone Star on the Sunset Strip” is a photography exhibition at Andaz West Hollywood featuring the works of rock photographer, Rodney Bursiel. The exhibition consists of musicians with Texas roots photographed by Bursiel.
http://www.westhollywood.andaz.hyatt.com/en/hotel/news-and-events/events/LoneStarontheSunsetStrip.html

Purchase your prints at http://www.rodneybursielphotography.com/prints/

5X7 $35
8X12 $65
12X18 $125
18X27 $895
24X36 $1,295
30X45 $1,895
40X60 $2,995

Gary Clark Jr. by Rodney Bursiel

JD was my first musical assignment for Cowboys and Indians magazine. When they asked if I would be interested in driving to Amarillo to shoot JD, of course I said yes, even though it was a nine-hour drive. I didn’t actually know much about JD, so I did some research. Not only did he co-write some of the biggest hits for the Eagles, including "Best of My Love", "Victim of Love", "Heartache Tonight", and "New Kid in Town," he also had a respectable acting career. I was getting pretty excited about this shoot until I ran across an article talking about JD’s aversion to the media, noting that he doesn’t smile on his album covers because he doesn’t want to encourage strangers to approach him. I wasn’t overly concerned because I was just going to be tagging along with the writer, catching what shots I could – but the night before the drive to Amarillo, I was told the writer couldn’t make it; I would be going alone. I called JD on the way, and he told me to meet him at the entrance of Palo Duro Canyon at 6am. We spent the first half of the day driving through the Canyon, shooting and sharing stories. We took a break at lunch, and while he took care of some business, he told me to go drive around Amarillo and find a location for another shoot. Having never been there I didn’t have a clue where to go. While driving aimlessly (lost), I ended up downtown and passed on old gas station that had this old motorcycle out front. I asked the owner if I could borrow it for a shoot and he looked at me like I was crazy. When I told him what it was for, he lit up – he not only loved JD’s music but also read the magazine loyally. I called JD and told him what I found, and he didn’t sound excited at all. I asked him to trust me. When he arrived his eyes got really big, and I think he even smiled. We spent the rest of the afternoon shooting at this gas station and then went to dinner. When Don Henley called, it was time to go home. I had a blast hanging out with JD, and I even got a shot of his smile, but nobody will ever see that one. 

 “Lone Star on the Sunset Strip” is a photography exhibition at Andaz West Hollywood featuring the works of rock photographer, Rodney Bursiel. The exhibition consists of musicians with Texas roots photographed by Bursiel.
http://www.westhollywood.andaz.hyatt.com/en/hotel/news-and-events/events/LoneStarontheSunsetStrip.html

Purchase your prints at http://www.rodneybursielphotography.com/prints/

5X7 $35
8X12 $65
12X18 $125
18X27 $895
24X36 $1,295
30X45 $1,895
40X60 $2,995

JD Souther by Rodney Bursiel

One of my best friends called me up one day and told me that he had run into Jimmie Vaughan while taking a walk around his neighborhood. At the time they lived right around the corner from each other. He told me how great of a guy he was and that he would be the perfect subject for my style of shooting. Of course I’d had the same thought before. Something was in the stars that day because Cowboys and Indians magazine called within 24 hours of that conversation asking if I could set up a shoot with Jimmie. We have since done several shoots together including his performance onstage with ZZ TOP. The last time I ran not him was at Whole Foods in Austin; he asked for my assistant’s phone number because he had used all of his jokes and needed more.

“Lone Star on the Sunset Strip” is a photography exhibition at Andaz West Hollywood featuring the works of rock photographer, Rodney Bursiel. The exhibition consists of musicians with Texas roots photographed by Bursiel.
http://www.westhollywood.andaz.hyatt.com/en/hotel/news-and-events/events/LoneStarontheSunsetStrip.html

Purchase your prints at http://www.rodneybursielphotography.com/prints/

5X7 $35
8X12 $65
12X18 $125
18X27 $895
24X36 $1,295
30X45 $1,895
40X60 $2,995

Jimmie Vaughan by Rodney Bursiel

Joe is another long time Austin musician whom I’ve been listening to for a couple decades, but I didn’t meet him until he did a concert at Blue Rock Studio where I shoot portraits of the artists before the shows. This shot was in between setups. I told him to relax while I moved the lights. Fortunately I saw this moment and captured it before we moved on. I’ve had the honor of photographing Joe several times now and becoming close friends with him and his wife Sharon. Some of my most memorable nights have been hanging with Joe by the bonfire and listening to his stories of playing with The Boss and touring with The Clash. 
 
“Lone Star on the Sunset Strip” is a photography exhibition at Andaz West Hollywood featuring the works of rock photographer, Rodney Bursiel. The exhibition consists of musicians with Texas roots photographed by Bursiel.
http://www.westhollywood.andaz.hyatt.com/en/hotel/news-and-events/events/LoneStarontheSunsetStrip.html

Purchase your prints at http://www.rodneybursielphotography.com/prints/

5X7 $35
8X12 $65
12X18 $125
18X27 $895
24X36 $1,295
30X45 $1,895
40X60 $2,995

Joe Ely by Rodney Bursiel

The day Lone Star Music Magazine called I missed the call. They left me a message and said they had a shoot they needed done and wanted to know if I was interested. They didn’t say who it was so I anxiously called back to find out it was Lyle. I couldn’t believe it – as this came to me just after Robert had warned me about how difficult it is to get a hold of Lyle. Lyle wanted to do the shoot at Anderson Fair in Houston because it was where he got his start after college. When Lyle arrived he asked us if we would be interested in listening to his new album; he had recorded it at Blue Rock Studio and it wasn’t yet released. It was a great day: hanging out with a Texas legend listening to his latest record in his old stomping grounds. Most of the shoot was indoors but we needed one shot of him outside with the venue in the background. Of course every car that drove by recognized him and stopped to say hi, and he shook the hand of everyone that stopped. He was a true gentleman in every sense of the word. I look forward to working with him again.

“Lone Star on the Sunset Strip” is a photography exhibition at Andaz West Hollywood featuring the works of rock photographer, Rodney Bursiel. The exhibition consists of musicians with Texas roots photographed by Bursiel.

Purchase your prints at http://www.rodneybursielphotography.com/prints/

5X7 $35
8X12 $65
12X18 $125
18X27 $895
24X36 $1,295
30X45 $1,895
40X60 $2,995

Lyle Lovett by Rodney Bursiel

Robert was my first cover story for Lone Star Music Magazine. We shot this in Robert’s writing cabin on his ranch in the Texas Hill Country. It’s the place he goes to get away and do most of his writing. I’ve been listening to Robert for over 25 years, so it was exciting to see where all the music comes from. After the shoot, I mentioned that I would like to do one with him and Lyle to recreate the days when they would sit out on his porch at Texas A&M playing music. Robert laughed and said, “Good luck getting Lyle these days – he’s so busy I hardly get to talk to him anymore.” Two months later Lone Star sent me to Houston to photograph Lyle. Not much longer after that Robert and Lyle toured together and I got to shoot them on stage at the Paramount in Austin. I’m still holding out for my front porch shoot though.
 
“Lone Star on the Sunset Strip” is a photography exhibition at Andaz West Hollywood featuring the works of rock photographer, Rodney Bursiel. The exhibition consists of musicians with Texas roots photographed by Bursiel.
http://www.westhollywood.andaz.hyatt.com/en/hotel/news-and-events/events/LoneStarontheSunsetStrip.html

Purchase your prints at http://www.rodneybursielphotography.com/prints/

5X7 $35
8X12 $65
12X18 $125
18X27 $895
24X36 $1,295
30X45 $1,895
40X60 $2,995

Robert Earl Keen by Rodney Bursiel

The first time I met Ryan was at a party at Joe Ely’s house shortly after the success of Crazy Heart. He was in town for an ACL show the next night. I had been shooting for Cowboys and Indians magazine, and after meeting Ryan I knew we had to do a story on him. I pitched the idea to the magazine and it wasn’t much longer that I was flying to LA to interview and shoot Ryan. 
Ryan grew up in West Texas and was on the rodeo circuit for several years but has since traded in riding bulls for riding waves. I think my photo of Ryan with his surfboards might be the only surf shot run in Cowboys and Indians magazine.
 
“Lone Star on the Sunset Strip” is a photography exhibition at Andaz West Hollywood featuring the works of rock photographer, Rodney Bursiel. The exhibition consists of musicians with Texas roots photographed by Bursiel.
http://www.westhollywood.andaz.hyatt.com/en/hotel/news-and-events/events/LoneStarontheSunsetStrip.html

Purchase your prints at http://www.rodneybursielphotography.com/prints/

5X7 $35
8X12 $65
12X18 $125
18X27 $895
24X36 $1,295
30X45 $1,895
40X60 $2,995

Ryan Bingham by Rodney Bursiel

I first met Sam in 2008 at Blue Rock Studio in Wimberley, TX. He was a regular at their monthly concerts, and we quickly became friends. A few months after getting to know him, Blue Rock announced he would be performing there. I had no idea he was even a musician. Sam never talks about himself and always makes whomever he is talking to feel like they are the most important person in the room. I have done several shoots for Sam over the years but this is one of my favorites. I shot this at his house, and the paintings in the background are a series of his. 
In 1986, Sam was on a train to Machu Picchu in Peru when a bomb exploded in the luggage rack above his head. It killed seven other passengers including the three people who had been sitting with him. Sam sustained brain damage, a cut artery, and blown-in eardrums which required 17 reconstructive surgeries. He has a constant case of tinnitus and the fingers of his left hand were left gnarled. He did retain enough dexterity to grasp a guitar pick and over time, re-taught himself to play his guitar left-handed.

“Lone Star on the Sunset Strip” is a photography exhibition at Andaz West Hollywood featuring the works of rock photographer, Rodney Bursiel. The exhibition consists of musicians with Texas roots photographed by Bursiel.
http://www.westhollywood.andaz.hyatt.com/en/hotel/news-and-events/events/LoneStarontheSunsetStrip.html

Purchase your prints at http://www.rodneybursielphotography.com/prints/

5X7 $35
8X12 $65
12X18 $125
18X27 $895
24X36 $1,295
30X45 $1,895
40X60 $2,995

Sam Baker by Rodney Bursiel

Who doesn't love Willie?  He is one of my favorite musicians to work with. This shot was taken at White Water Amphitheater just outside of New Braunfels, Texas with the Guadalupe River as its backdrop. When photographers do a show, they are generally allowed to shoot the first three songs and then they have to clear out. This night I got to shoot the entire show from the stage, and I’m so glad I did because I got this one during the last song. After the show it took him well over an hour to walk the 100 feet to his bus. He stopped to take pictures and sign autographs for every person who asked. My buddy Jon Green, owner of Calton Cases, recently made a custom case for Trigger. I got to go with him to present the case to Willie for his 81st birthday at the ceremony where he received his 5th degree black belt…and I finally got to fulfill a musical dream of hanging out with Willie on his bus.


“Lone Star on the Sunset Strip” is a photography exhibition at Andaz West Hollywood featuring the works of rock photographer, Rodney Bursiel. The exhibition consists of musicians with Texas roots photographed by Bursiel.
http://www.westhollywood.andaz.hyatt.com/en/hotel/news-and-events/events/LoneStarontheSunsetStrip.html

Purchase your prints at http://www.rodneybursielphotography.com/prints/

5X7 $35
8X12 $65
12X18 $125
18X27 $895
24X36 $1,295
30X45 $1,895
40X60 $2,995

Willie Nelson by Rodney Bursiel

Welcome to the Wish You Were Here! podcast, in conjunction with a photography exhibit at Andaz West Hollywood featuring the works of Rock Photographer, Natalie Escobedo. 

In this episode: Natalie photographs Incubus at a show at Chicago's Charter One Pavilion. She's presented with an unexpected challenge, listen to her explain how she overcomes it out of sheer desperation.

We invite you to visit the exhibit and see more works by Natalie Escobedo, it's free and open to the public. Natalie captured striking images of touring musicians on the road and in their element. For more info about Wish You Were Here! visit http://bit.ly/1yjx1vE

Wish You Were Here Brandon Boyd of Incubus

A modern boutique hotel by Hyatt, located on the Sunset Strip. This iconic hotel was once known as the Riot House. Legendary stuff happened here.