Music Photographer Advice? (Like Adam Elmakias)?

I'm a sophmore in high school and have a big interest in concerts and also photography. Someday I would like to be like Adam Elmakias. Go on tours with bands and take pictures of them while playing and everything similar. I really need a camera to start out with. Preferably a canon. I'm going to start going to local shows around where I live and take pictures there to build a portfolio. Any advice on what camera I should get? One for good low light situations? Also any advice on my career and how to potentially achieve where I would like to get?

Just get any dSLR you can afford then learn photography.

OK, start with losing "preferably a Canon". There's nothing that Canons do that Nikons, Pentaxes, Sonys, and various other brands can't. The guy whose link I provided below shoots some of his stuff with (gasp) film.

Your idea to start with local shows is a good one; consider it learning time and thus don't involve money. Shoot for the fun and for the experience; the band will get pictures of their show and you will get shots for your portfolio.

Work like mad at it if you're serious about it; unless you're a born photographic genius, you will have competitors who want to do the exact same thing as you and they will be busting their buns to do so.

I had to look up this fellow Adam Elmakias; his shots are alright, but I'd never heard of even one of the bands in question, so he's clearly not superstar status yet. Here is someone who has shot the big players:

http://www.chrisweeks.net/#/client/template.xml?aaa=portfolio/13517

That's the sort of thing you should be aiming for eventually.

There will also be an element of luck involved; you might be in the wrong place at the right time, or some permutation thereof.

Be prepared to get frustrated beyond belief at the colossal level of stupidity found among the world of wannabe photographers. You will feel bad because they say that they are shooting their first wedding (or gig, or whatever) after six months of photographic experience. Don't sweat this; they rarely mention the lawsuit and ruined reputation which follow. You will have to have a huge tolerance for idiocy and incompetence, and must set your standards way, way, way higher.

I haven't mentioned what kind of camera to get yet because, within certain parameters, it doesn't matter. A DSLR, as Keerok mentioned, is as good as any, and a fast lens. It will very much depend on where you are relative to the stage. If you're really up close, a wide zoom could work, but if you're way back, then a tele zoom. Primes could be good if you're in one position and can move around a bit. The key is high ISO performance, and that's something to research. We don't know your budget: if you happen to be loaded, you could get a Canon 5D3 or 1DX, or a Nikon D4. Most people, however, can't, so have to settle for what their budget allows for. Cameras continue to improve in this (and most) respects, so even an entry level DSLR paired with some good lenses might be enough. There are, however, a lot of variables to look into, like the kind of lighting the band uses, the lighting in the club/stadium/arena, etc. You'll pick these up as you go along and you WILL make many mistakes along the way (this is why you don't start charging at first).

Before you do any of that though, you also need to look into the issue of permission to shoot. With a local band (especially if you know them), then it's going to be pretty easy, but once you start moving up into the "bigger leagues", then you will have to demonstrate that you are good enough to be allowed to shoot, AND that you have the connections or affiliations. Usually, only accredited photographers working with magazines get to shoot, and often it's only for a few songs.

Still, you have plenty of time to get into all that. Just learn by doing: shoot some local bands, review your pictures, see what works and make a note of it. See what doesn't work and don't repeat it. Ask people to critique your photos and note what they say, unless they say nothing but positive things, in which case ignore them.