Steve Morse leads The best band you never heard of? Now he tours with Deep Purple full time as well. That's right, the Dregs tour 12-15 dates a year... maybe. I was fortunate to be at stageside at the recent show here in Chicago. Band shots are hard in available light, no flash allowed and I was going for that late 60's early 70's tones with lot's of saturated colors. No post process other than crop and resize.
Think you reached the limit of your lens here! Handheld at 1/30th is definitely asking for trouble at a gig - been there and bought the t-shirt! (Not a dregs one though, unfortunately!)
your quite right about the flash, I'd never use one at a gig, the photos never looks right and it tends to annoy the performers anyway.