Sneak Previews

I photographed two amazing gigs last week... my first for a couple of months. Its just been one of those situations where I got so busy with other things that photographing gigs kinda slipped a bit. The first gig was on Wednesday at Islington Assembly Hall. It my first time setting foot in the venue and I have to say I'm a fan. A really lovely place with fantastic lighting and it made me realize I've missed this. What a way to re-ignite my passion for photographing live music. The headliners were The delightfully unusual Handsome Family, with support from Dutch trio SnowApple. 

Rennie Sparks - The Handsome Family

Snowapple

The following night I was at one of my all time favourite venues, Shepherds Bush Empire. I say this every time I go there, but they have the best staff in the business, polite, knowledgeable and helpful. The headliners on this occasion were the sublime Felice Brothers and I was so excited to get the opportunity to photograph them again. Support came from Willy Mason.

The Felice Brothers

The Felice Brothers set list

Willy Mason

A full post will come later once the review & live galleries go up on God Is In The TV...

 

The Avett Brothers - The Forum - 14th March 2013

Oops! So I logged on to post a sneak preview of last weeks gigs and I found a draft I'd completely forgotten about... So busy I don't know whether I'm coming or going... anyway... I shot this gig for The Line Of Best Fit, see them on the site here.

The Avett Brothers

Grace Potter and the Nocturnals

Trail Of Dead - Scala - 10th October 2012

Scala is fast becoming my nemesis... Or at least their smoke machine is... First it was El-P with the no lights/overactive smoke machine setting (if the front rows are choking turn it down a tad eh?) Then a few weeks ago it was Trail Of Dead. Anyway... one of my photos from this gig is featured in this months Loud & Quiet! Pretty much sums up the smoky view from the crowd. As we left the pit after our allotted 3 songs, Conrad helpfully yelled "Hey can we turn the lights up?" indeed mate, indeed...

Lower Dens - Hoxton Square Bar & Kitchen - 16th August 2012

A couple of weeks ago I photographed my second gig for Loud&Quiet. I'm always wary of any band with the media tag of 'next big thing' but Lower Dens live up to the hype. The lights for the show came solely from the projections that swirled across them as they played so conditions were tricky, but I like the results... Who knows if they'll be the next big thing, but they are a great band and played a blinding set, can't ask for more that that! 

One of the photos appears in this months Loud&Quiet. Click here for stockists.

In Print with Loud & Quiet

It's been a strange old year so far... It started out with the sad demise of Ragged Words (or sad pause, I hope?) who gave me the opportunity to photograph so many amazing bands and musical heroes. However, the loss of the work I got through them spurred me on to put myself out there a bit more and approach new sites. Happily, alongside the work I already do for The Line Of Best Fit and God Is In The TV, I've now been taken on by The Fly and have my first gigs for them under my belt. 

In addition, I shot my first gig for Loud & Quiet earlier this month. The new issue came out yesterday and as luck would have it, I was at an in store performance at Flash Back records in Islington last night & they'd had their delivery, so I was able to grab a copy on release day. Rather excitingly I have a photograph of Sunless 97 featured, fulfilling one of my long time ambitions of being in print, in a music paper. I have had stuff printed before, but Rock sound didn't credit me and the other two publications weren't music press as such. I know, I'm splitting hairs here, but it's an important distinction for me!

You can pick up a copy of Loud & Quiet at any one of 105 music venues, pubs or cafes in London or 119 venues nationwide. They have a full list of stockists here.

So anyway, here it is and I hope to be shooting many more gigs for them!

Cursive - Cargo - 2nd June 2012

I'm very excited to have been taken on to shoot gigs for The Fly. There are so many great photographers working for them, so it's a real honour for me! My first gig happened to be photographing for a review Lewie was writing for them. It was a great night, with support from the sublime Kevin Devine. I love Cargo as a venue, but lighting wise, the support and most band members other than the lead singer are invariably in almost complete darkness, therefore the photos make it look like Cursive is just one man... they're not! Tim Kasher happens to be a great front man though, snarling, gesticulating & menacingly pointing throughout the set, providing a great visual focus and the opportunity to grab some interesting shots.

Read the review on The Fly here.

Cursive

Cursive

Cursive

Cursive

Cursive

Cursive

Cursive

Cursive

Cursive

Cursive

Kevin Devine

Bob Mould - Shepherds Bush Empire - 1st June 2012

Earlier this month I got to photograph a true legend for The Line Of Best Fit. Bob Mould performed all of the seminal 'Copper Blue' album live for the first time, along with solo songs and Husker Du classics. Not only did I have the great privilege of photographing, as my boyfriend was reviewing and I was his plus one, I got to stay for the whole show. This involved a lot of running about between the stage door & main entrance (via the street!) to get to and from the pit & the balcony where we had a seat almost right over the stage.

As ever, the security at Shepherds Bush Empire were brilliant. They are consistently the most professional, knowledgeable and likeable bunch of guys 'n gals in the business, they are one of the reasons shooting here is always such a pleasure.

Support came from Cloud Nothings.

Read Lewies review here & see the photo gallery over at Line Of Best Fit here.

Bob Mould

Bob Mould

Jason Narducy

Bob Mould

Bob Mould

Bob Mould

Bob Mould

Bob Mould

Bob Mould

Bob Mould

Bob Mould

Cloud Nothings

Cloud Nothings

Cloud Nothings