End of Year Wrap Up...
- Cheryl Alterman | The Music Soup Editor
- 7 days ago
- 7 min read
Updated: 4 days ago
Happy New Year from The Music Soup!
Although I'm not sad to see the back end of 2025, I'd like to mention some high points of my year. One of them at the top was absolutely without a doubt September 21st at Shoreline Amphitheater, covering The Who's farewell show. Standing a couple feet in front of Roger and Pete for the entire show will be one of the fondest memories of my life.
Photographing the first three songs was a dream come true for me. After those three songs and dropping my gear in the office. I ran back to the ampitheatre and had two of the best hours of my life. The icing on the cake was at the very end being handed Petes' guitar pick!
After the show whilst I was on cloud nine, I got another gift...A friend who I lost touch with about 20 ish years ago, found me on FB and reached out with a pm. I gave her my number and she called. I spoke to her on my way home from the show and we chatted and caught up on the last 20 years whilst I drove home. We used to go to The Who shows together in LA. as young adults and teens, 40+ years ago. Reconnecting with this friend was a lovely bonus to my amazing Who experience and to my 2025.
The following day after The Who I spoke to another friend whilst I was still on cloud nine and he suggested I do a collage, record my elation of the event via voice and then put it all together with the photo credential and Petes' guitar pick, and framing it all so I can be reminded daily about that happy place when I see it on my wall. I did just what he suggested, and it hangs in my home so I get to revisit that night in my head daily!
I'm reminded of a film called, Defending Your Life which is all about when one dies, watching your life, like a film being projected back at you. I hope I get to relive that night of The Who show again when my time comes! Until then, I get the memories replayed in my head as much as I want with this collage.
I'm sure that my "Defending Your Life" moments of watching my lifes' video will be filled with many magical music moments including that night. Hopefully fewer sad moments than happy. But I know that all of us will all have a mix of both when our end comes.
This last year we have had to say goodbye to many amazing humans of our time such as, Clem Burke, Sly Stone, Ozzy Osbourne, Rob and Michele Reiner, Robert Redford, Diane Keaton, Roberta Flack, Brian Wilson and Jane Goodall to name a few. And I personally lost a few friends, Elliot Katz, Harry Gale, Bill Ferguson, Jim Peterson and Frank Hayhurst.💔
Polar opposite to those wonderful people we lost... 2025 has seen the rise of an evil monster sitting in the White House. Never before has America been okay with a 34x felon, convicted rapist, racist, xenophobe, misogynist, moronic convicted perjurer, ignorant, unserious con man, lover of dictators, and a convicted fraud been allowed to occupy the Oval Office until now. But we live in weird, scary, dark times, my music loving friends. And because of this horror we have to watch daily, we are coming together in numbers as never before been seen here since the protests of the Vietnam war. I'm hoping our resistance continues to build to end this political shit show. And I know many of you feel the same. I'm a proud woke woman and unafraid to own that title! As Jane Fonda made clear all 'woke' is - is simply the people that care about others. We must keep on gathering together to resist. That's the only way we'll get through these terrible hateful upside down times and to have better days with democracy in the White House once again.
In 2025, I also started my own You Tube channel, The Music Soup Videos. I upload the video footage that I get from the photo pits and shows I'm at. I share with everyone so even those who cannot get to a lot of live music get to also have the experience with me.
This year I have also become involved with a local venue, The Cal Theatre. I was voted in as a board member, and booking bands seemed to be a natural next step for me. Now The Cal Theatre is close to my heart and I am hoping with the support of all the music lovers it thrives in the coming year in this beautiful music community that I call home. In 2026 The Cal Theatre will be undergoing many improvements to enhance your entertainment experience. Hoping you all get a chance to attend a show at the California Theatre, as it's a warm and friendly non profit venue. Please find a show on our website and support the arts.
In 2025 I interviewed a few talents in the music biz. I hopped on zoom with Steve Hackett (from Genesis) twice in '25. Once with my friend Jamison (TMS Prog expert), and once with Doug Jayne (overall music head at KRCB). Both times, Hackett was chatty and an easy interview. And in the early part of '25 I spent some time with the iconic music photographer, Henry Diltz.
It wasn't my first time meeting Henry but it was the most relaxed chat we've had since our first meeting at NAMM, a few years ago. Henry has provided the music industry with some of the most iconic images of our time. And he's a super nice and chilled human. He even dug up a photo he shot of me and a friend from our first meeting at NAMM 2022. Another highlight was working with my pal - badass camera man Dave Rutherford. Dave was on a job in California for the film, 'Women in Blues'. He hired me as his second shooter and we filmed an interview with Maria Muldaur at her home. We worked the whole day with Maria and we got on so well after work we went out to dinner. What a fun day that
was. It ended with Maria and I discussing the show, "Mom" and how we love it. Then the day ended in a conversation about the four of us discovering we are all sober! And as a very cool sidenote...the kicker is that Maria Muldaur was the first concert I ever attended 50 years ago at the Hollywood Bowl. She opened for the Grateful Dead. To hang with her and then sit down to dinner with the artist that opened my world to live music, being the first ever live music I got to see, 50 years later was such a gift for me. Imagine seeing a performer when you were a kid and then 50 years later sitting down and getting to know them in a very different light. Wow! That day was a memorable one for sure. And she's a real sweetheart!
I shot loads of promo photos for bands/artists during '25 as well as a few album covers. I hope that 2026 provides even more photo shoots. Stills remain my primary focus. However, this year I'd like to get better at video editing so I can take on more video work. And of course, I'll keep on writing and producing photos for The Music Soup. "Do what you love and love what you do" - remains my fave quote. If you are in a band or know any that need new promo shots for socials, posters or albums, contact me AltermanImages@gmail.com
I also shoot events, parties, weddings etc.
There were many other highs and lows to my 2025, as we all have. I've met some amazing new people that I have a feeling I will be friends with for a very long time...and reconnected with old friends too. At the very top of my bright spots from the year was when my daughter accepted an amazing job to head up her own chocolate factory in Estes Park Colorado. After accepting this dream position, her and my future son in law moved from the UK to Estes Park to a beautiful home in the mountains surrounded by elk and fresh air! She's a real life Willy Wonka with the job of her dreams! I suddenly see a lot of Colorado in my future. If you happen to be in Estes Park, near the Stanley Hotel and fancy some delicious handmade chocolate, say hello to Jade, my very talented chocolatier!
As for 2026... I intend to stay on my path of growth, service, self care and lots of live music. Maybe one day in the future I won't be leading recovery meetings but for now they still bring me an inner peace helping others. Live music has always been, and will always be my primary addiction as well as my medicine. When I looked back at photos to include here, I realize that it's all about the people I meet along the way that makes my life rich. It's not about money, although money does make life easier, and it helps me deliver The Music Soup to you...but the beautiful part of life for me is all about community and gratitude. That makes life beautiful. I am so grateful I landed in this fab place called Northern California where the music community is rich and the people are genuine, caring and music loving. I appreciate NorCal for providing such a warm, and loving music community! The Music Soup team wishes to thank you all for reading. Hoping for a safe, happy, healthy and music filled 2026 for us all. Please take care of each other. Laugh as much as possible. Be kind. Reconnect with that long lost person, because you never know how great it may turn out. And as always...support live music! "Hoping '26 is a good year", With love, peace and music, The Music Soup xo If you've been enjoying The Music Soup, please consider donating any amount to help keep us going and continue bringing you live music highlights into the next year! PLEASE....
SUBSCRIBE to The Music Soup Videos You Tube channel. Below are a few of my fave pics, people, and moments from my year ❤️🎵📸 .... ©Cheryl Alterman Photography 2025
Comments