It's Sunday night and while most of you are contemplating sitting in the car parked in the garage with the engine running as Monday fast approaches, I am getting a double short black at Starbucks and wondering if all these people in town at 8pm have jobs.
Single Twin is Marcus Teague, his album which you can listen to below is a lovely piece of work - have a listen, it's nice!
I got there early because last time I shot Georgia Fair here it was sold out and I came away with about 300 photos from one position, this one on the other hand was anti-sold out. I think there were probably about 30 or 40 people there (including 4 photographers!) another thing that didn't show up was the light, which is great for mood. And not much else.
Support was from Chips Laffer, who for some reason is almost impossible to find anything online.. (he had lights though)
So I have this new favourite band, Yuck. I found them a few months ago and was pleasantly surprised that they were touring soon (instead of finding a band that toured last month). I kinda hesitate comparing bands to bands but it reminds me of Pavement with their sloppy summer sound.
I put in a request to shoot but was told that we were only allowed one spot for a sideshow (they toured with the Laneway Fest) and Sydney had already been approved, so I was to go as a paying punter. Which is strange. I even got myself a t-shirt.
I got there and the air was thick with hipster, so much it was hard to breathe, luckily between sets everyone went outside for some fresh air and I got up the front. Yuck came on, played an awesome set to what I saw was a room full of people just fucking standing there. I am pretty sure when I was little we used to dance. Maybe non-appreciation is the new black?
And I shot some on my phone. FTW!
Yuck (c) Michael Christian 2012
Yuck (c) Michael Christian 2012
some video proof that these guys rule..
Do you like 'em? are you glad I showed you all this?
Fitzroy. Where the guy hops out of the cab, lights a ciggy and checks his hair while his girlfriend pays. I had a bit of time to walk around while waiting for the doors to open. Had a coffee. Had another walk while still waiting for the doors to open. I'm not a nerd. The first band was supposed to start at 9.
Anyway, LuWOW is a bar in Fitzroy that's very... teak. It's awesome - my old boss in NZ would have a heart attack if he saw this place.
First band (The Sheriffs) were first up. The music was good - but I wasn't feeling it, photographically speaking. so. no. photos. for you.
Next up we had a three piece punk outfit, called The Spazzys, all ladies playing some nice punk, I don't really like punk, but their guitars were in tune so they basically ruled for about 40 minutes - worth a look or listen fersure.
Wolfy and the Bat Cubs were releasing their debut EP. They were kinda, um, indie-space-psycho-retro-grind music? I just made that up. They were good! I liked 'em.
I had asked the AU Review to request shooting this show for me, which they did but we got no reply. I was pretty keen to see this guy so thought I'd go anyway (and pay for a ticket. yes. pay) I also thought that I'd take my camera along too, and see how I go getting it in... So with a short black and a can of V in me, I was off to the Northcote Social Club (by myself - BOOO) Getting the camera in was sweet as, which is kinda annoying because I only took the 50D with a 50mm f1.8 lens on it in case I had to put it in the car, the 50mm on a crop body is a little too much zoomed in for me.
Anyway, I was also keen to see the support The Dad Horse Experience, after seeing a cool song on You Tube (see below). He was great, this was an evening of one man bands and it's interesting how they include the gaps between the songs to win over the audience (as well as the actual songs) I guess with no band standing there there is no need to move quickly from song to song.
Bob Log III has a song called Clap Your Tits (also see below), and that's the song that made me want to request to shoot this gig, anyone with a song called clap Your Tits deserves to be covered in every city they tour.
From his website: Bob Log III is an American, Slide Guitar, One Man
Band. During performances, he plays old silvertone archtop guitars,
wears a full body cannonball man suit, and a helmet wired to a
telephone which allows him to devote his hands and feet to guitar and
drums. The spectacle has been described as a guitar dance party, full
of sweaty smiles, jumps and kicks. Touring over 150 shows a year in
more than 30 countries, Log and his guitar never, ever quit. Bob Log's
version of quick Delta blues is a continuation the sound that Bob Log
and Thermos pioneered in the duo, Doo Rag. The major differences are:
greater emphasis on guitar showmanship, and drumming -one man band
style-with his feet. It sounds like three drummers, two guitar
players, and one sort of singer. Based in Tucson, Arizona, and
Melbourne, Australia, he has made frequent tours of North America,
Europe, Japan and Australia, Mexico, and Iceland.
Follow me on Twitter if you like, or if you don't like, that's ok, I don't really tweet too much. But I do tweet when I make a new blog so that could be a way of keeping up with the play? Maybe. I dunno.
Bob Log III (c) Michael Christian 2012
The Dad Horse Experience (c) Michael Christian 2012
Bob Log III (c) Michael Christian 2012
Bob Log III (c) Michael Christian 2012
Bob Log III (c) Michael Christian 2012
Bob Log III (c) Michael Christian 2012
I shot this video - it's a bit distorted, but not too unlike how it was sounding:
Since there is a lack of gigs coming up, I thought I'd do a top ten list of the gigs I have photographed this year, a retrospective if you will. I know what makes a good gig to me. Usually one that's easy to photograph.I was going to put a photos from each gig but just click the link and you will see the write up from each show... thanks for looking - have a great Christmas!
Coming in at number 10 is Ouch My Face live at some bar in Brunswick. It was the bass players last gig with them, luckily they found a new one and had their first gig back last week under the name TITS (which I didn't see but was just flexing my I know everything about everyone muscle (read: I spend a lot of time of facebook)) supporting them was another good band called Damn Terran. That's why it made my list.
Being sneaky at number 9 is Katie Vigo and Gerogia Fields at the Toff in Town. I hesitate to say kooky, it's not really... but it's also not that boring shit that girls can come up with sometimes. They still sing about girly stuff (I think) but the music is good and there is no auto tune raping everything. No rape, that's why it made my list.
Can't think of anything to say for number 8 which is [ME] live at another bar I can't remember the name of. Been a fan of [ME] for some time, for me it's the Queen it's ok to like (Queen have a couple of good songs - and I think my main memory of Queen was when Axl sung with them at some Freddie Mercury tribute concert, so it could be a little skewed). And that's why it made my list.
Number 7 go to heaven is Georgia Fair ar the Toff in Town.
This made my list for one reason. Hipster music is a dime a dozen in Melbourne. It's everywhere. And while it can be kinda ok, it feels like they spend as much time picking out their shoes as they do practicing. And hipster isn't even a particular music style, it's how they look. It's not 1973 and you aren't Tom Waits. Anyway, Georgia Fair were great, a real surprise. Hipster with substance, that's why it made my list.
Number 6 pickup sticks is Datarock live at East Brunswick Club. Kinda like the above: Datarock made my list for one reason. Dance music is fucking gay. It's everywhere (especially at dance clubs). And while it's probably ok while peaking on drugs and your brain capacity is so low it feels like it's actually at 110%, I feel they spend too much time trying to be musicians and taking themselves too seriously. Datarock on the other hand are fun! and like to take the piss! AND THEY PLAY DANCE MUSIC WITH IN-STRUM-ENTS. I came away from that gig a fan, and that's why it made my list.
Number 5 is alive! is Barbarian, at the Tote. See, I don't really LIKE metal, but I do like a good show. And this is why these guys were awesome. I was blown away and entertained at the same time. Are they taking the piss? or do they mean it? I dunno, and I don't care!
Number 4Puta Madre Brothers at the Cherry Bar.
Another band who go that extra mile to create something that's not the stock standard these days. They dress up, they have an interesting take on how they perform and they are fun. And that's why they made my list!
Number 3 look at meFly My Pretties at the Athenaeum Theatre.
I never thought I'd see these guys in Australia, let alone photograph them. One of the most slick, polished performances I have seen. The effort that goes into a show like this must be amazing. 16 awesome kiwi musicians blending together to make one awesome show.
Number 2 buckle my shoe is Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes at the Forum. Two surprises that night: Ed Sharpe AND Reggie Watts, never heard either, loved them both - now a staple in my music listening...
Number 1, had to be done is Wagons at Queenscliff Music Festival. I wasn't really judging this against any other acts I had seen this year, I was comparing it to the multiple times I had seen the Wagons play. They came on after the Triffids who gave their fans a very slick polished (2+ hour) performance. What do you do after that? Tear up the place? YES! These guys were on fire, what is usually a great show turned into a FUCKING WOOO YEA! ARRGGHHH YEA!!!!! WOOOO show.
Number 0!!!!!!!!!!!Grinderman at the Palace.
I didn't photograph this one, I went as a fan, and holy shit. That's all I can really say. There are bands and there are BANDS, these guys were the latter.
Noah Taylor. I didn't really know who this guy was apart from he is an actor and plays in a band.... like Keanu Reeves.
What kind of name is Keanu? It translates to "Cool mountain breeze" so, I guess his name is Breeze Reeves? that's pretty cool.
Noah Taylor was in a movie I quite like called Submarine, further investigation (ie. Googling "Noah Taylor" +"wiki") informs me that he also played the lead roll in Shine and played alongside Angelina Jolies breasts in Tomb Raider among quite a few other movies....
Breeze Reeves.
So anyway, he also plays music... I haven't heard Keanu's band, but I'm sure it's probably pretty bad. Noah Taylor and the Sloppy Boys on the other hand, are great. If you like Grinderman, you will like these guys... I haven't had a good listen to the lyrics but it's down and dirty music (a-la Grinderman) but with a bigger Axe to.. um.. Grind.
Money For Rope were on first. TWO DRUMMERS! now yer talking... great high energy set, made photographing easy. I have seen their name pop up a lot but never caught them - worth a view if you are in the area.
Noah Taylor and the Sloppy Boys - a bit hard to photograph as there was not much movement going on - but the music was great (in case you didn't notice) and I got enough photos to keep everyone happy. So I will talk about the drunk 'fan' who spent each song prancing (if you can call it that) around in his own 3m x 3m area he cleared for himself at the front of the stage. I did enjoy the air swimming almost as much as I enjoyed the rushes to the stage for a handshake at any moment Mr Taylor would come close enough to 'connect' with. He really solidified the friendship when during one of his interpretive dance movements he managed to push the mic into his face while he was singing, he kept on keeping on though - he was on a time trial and had to get to the other end of the pool...
Sarah Blasko, Sally Seltmann and Holly Throsby, all successful artists in their own right have combined to form Seeker Lover Keeper. They released an album in June 2011 which interestingly debuted higher than any of their own albums (#3). Currently on a tour throughout Australia called Heavenly Hands - A Tour of Churches and Cathedrals I had the opportunity to photograph them at St Michael's Church in Melbourne.
Te night started with Henry Wagons (had to be in there somewhere!) performing solo - quite different from the rip-roaring set I saw on Saturday, and no F bombs, despite me putting up $5 if he did. It's always interesting to see Henry perform as a support act, see him winning over the crowd - quote of the night was early on "Harry Wagons is great, you will love him".
Seeker Lover Keeper came on only about 15 minutes after Henry finished, which was fucking great, well done! There are only a few dates left on the tour so all three are comfortable with eachother, and they are all quite funny - I suspect by the end of the tour they will be out of church jokes.
It was interesting shooting this one - it was such a special venue that the performers were not the most important thing to capture!
