Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Wagmania

For those of you who have just joined us - over the last 8 or so months I have had the opportunity of photographing a Melbourne band called Wagons, not only live, but in the studio recording their 5th album and also providing the photography for this album. The band started a nation-wide tour on May 27 in Tasmania - I went along with them partly because I wanted to see Tasmania and have a long weekend, and partly to photograph the start of the tour which finishes in Melbourne at the Forum on July 16.

There was some pre-flight entertainment before I boarded to Launceston in the form of someone being denied boarding their plane as they were too late - anyone who knows Jetstar know that even if you think about being late, they will take your bags off the plane, set fire to them and say bad things about you on facebook*

First impressions of Tasmania? 'gee... it's. um. white?' I am from the South Island of New Zealand and that's also pretty white - this is neither a good thing or a bad thing, it's just an observation. And it was cold - real cold. The kind of cold that burnt your nose if you breathed in too hard. I managed to have a quick walk around while the band was resting - it's all very old and the buildings remind me of home. And they have Monkeys. Yep. Monkeys. With Herpes B. Which is pretty exciting if you ask me. I was shoo'd away by the groundskeeper so had to return in the morning to watch them pick ticks off each other's bum. The gig went well - it was a good warm-up for the tour and cool to hear a bunch of new songs. Quote of the night came from some lady who, when Henry said they were about to embark on a massive 20 date tour around Australia, yelled out "what about B.B. King?". Excellent.

The drive from 'Lonny' to Hobart is pretty straightforward - two and a half hours of smooth riding. People say Tasmania is a lot like New Zealand, not what I saw, it was more like Australia landscape with New Zealand temperatures - but I think off the beaten track is quite beautiful and New Zealandish. I will be going back very soon as there are a few other ways to go that take a lot longer and look a lot better.

Arrived in Hobart and after sound check we high-tailed it to MONA (see below post). Had some awesome dinner at the venue (I had lamb arms) and watched a great gig.

* statement is not true.


Photos!

See the whole set here
































































































































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