Grinderman - Review!

I have been pretty excited about seeing these guys again. I saw them in Sydney in 2006 and remembered it was a great show. I was granted the opportunity to scramble around on the day of the show and try and find someone who wanted to go to the show after a friend pulled out - fellow New Zealander, Matthew filled the shoes at the 11th hour and we were off!

We arrived stupidly early and got to see Conway Savage who has been on a few Bad Seeds releases since 1990. It was mellow... real mellow. So mellow that I think it was intentional.

Grinderman came on and here started the onslaught of noise and awesomeness... Warren Ellis is the master of distorted mayhem and maraca madness - such a sight to behold. Nick Cave is (still) the king of cool at 53. The bass player and drummer were just laying down nice solid rhythm for Nick and Warren to scribble over with their demented crayons. So good!

I couldn't take my big ol' gig shooting camera in to the show so I thought I'd take a film point and shoot camera instead! see below!

All the pics here

Studio time

As mentioned before, I have been photographing Melbourne band The Wagons in the studio as they record their new album. I got on to these guys from photographing a gig of theirs, they liked the pics and next thing ya know, I was on a photoshoot with the singer - I have been working with them for a few months now, and more to come! bunch of good guys and really easy to work with!

I recorded a little video the first day I wa sin the studio, not thinking anything of it - but managed to get something kinda cool produced (above). Far better than what I expected from my first go at video, so hopefuly not the last..

National

This band has more buzz surrounding them than a vibrator convention, people are gushing over their live shows, they are bigger than.. um.. Coldplay or something.

I didn't connect though, I like their album and the show seemed good from what I saw. Who knows, I wasn't sitting down and focused on the show - I was only allowed three songs and from the side of the stage - then I had an hour watching the show before I was told to leave by security. The amount of people saying it was an awesome show makes me think it was me and not them...

Support was from The Middle East (the band, not the place) who were pretty cool.

The one thing that annoyed me however, was the sheep mentality of the audience and this isn't limited to just the National show...

Lights flicker "WOOOOOOO HOOOOOO"

Lights change colour "OOOOOO MAI GAWDDDDDD!"

Lights turn on "AAAAARGGGH MY HEAD IS GOING TO EXPLODE FORM AWESOMENESS"

All pics here

My McChicken was good though.

I think you were meant to be there

The band I play in is having an album release gig on February 4 at the Cherry Bar in Melbourne (followed by a NZ tour at the end of Feb) have a listen to a song from it :)

It would be great to see you there!

If you were ever meant to be there by audiac

Stalk us on FACEBOOK!

Track us down ONLINE!

Party like it's 1959 ptII

I had the pleasure of photographing Kitty Daisy and Lewis again. Pretty similar to the last time I saw them (one of the girls didn't look too into it though) they played a few new songs from a forthcoming album, which sound pretty cool - interesting how they have a real reggae feel in the new ones....good times.

They were supported by Henry Wagons, from The Wagons - someone who I have been working with sine I photographed them last year at the Corner Hotel... I have been in the studio photographing them recording their new album and toying with my 5D's video, which i have not done before (very time consuming so far!)

Pics from DK&L and Henry Wagons:

Kitty Daisy and Lewis (c) Michael Christian 2011

Kitty Daisy and Lewis (c) Michael Christian 2011

Kitty Daisy and Lewis (c) Michael Christian 2011

Henry Wagons (c) Michael Christian 2011

Henry Wagons (c) Michael Christian 2011

Foo Fighters - Everlong (Live)

When I wasn't photographing gigs, I used to attend them with my Sony Point and shoot, which recorded pretty good video. I have quuite a few from various gigs so I thought I might as well post some here! The poor camera is no longer with us now - I had to cloak it at the Strokes concert and it never worked after that (but that may have been because the last few times I used it, it was attached to a kite)