mikesaid

Wednesday, June 18, 2014

Hi.

Hello, firstly I'd like to apologise to my loyal reader for my absence... it's been a crazy first half of 2014 - I made a planter box and my partner and I had a beautiful baby boy named Theodore - he's awesome. If you follow me on instagram you may have noticed this.

So I am back in the saddle, on the wagon so they say. Speaking of Wagons, (did you see what I did there?) they have released a new album called Acid Rain and Sugar Cane and my photography features throughout it's pages. I didn't shoot the cover this time - that honor went to Kane Hibberd who also shot the band photo you see on the back of the album.

The new album is fantastic, it fits nicely into the music genre 80's Country, well for me anyway. I seem to recall hearing it on my mums record player in 1986 when I was nine, but that can't be true.

They are currently on tour promoting their new album and rolled through Melbourne recently with Jonny Fritz (USA) and fellow Melbournite Fraser A Gorman as support. I arrived early enough to start on the rider before anyone got there and finally got to see backstage at the HiFi (it's basically a wobbly staircase leading to a room with 2 couches, 1 frudge and a table. And a floor). It's been a long while since Wagons played a full band show in Melbourne, as usual it was fantastic - I really enjoy photographing for a band instead for a publication because you usually get AAA access, this provides two things: I get to capture the show documentary style, I can take time with my shots and I also think that a gig gets more interesting to shoot as the night progresses. With the usual 3 song rule that can be imposed on shooters means you end up with 800 photos quickly fired off hoping that you may get 50 or 60 decent ones, and 5 killer shots. Number two - I'm not going to lie, it's nice to feel important.

So time for pics and videos (I still remember the format!)

Photos included in the new Wagons album artwork:

Videos!

Jonny Fritz:

Fraser A Gorman:

Wagons:

Sunday, December 22, 2013

Milk! Records Christmas Party

Milk! Records was started a couple of years ago by Courtney Barnett, and has since grown to a nice young indie record label hosting the likes of Jen Cloher, Fraser A. Gorman and Courtney herself. It must be a nice feeling to start something up and in just a few short years you can hold a Christmas party at one of Melbourne's classic live music establishments and sell it out.

I recently photographed Jen Cloher when she toured with two other Australian musicians, Mia Dyson and Liz Stringer as Dyson Stringer Cloher (I have included photos from that gig in the below set) which was an awesome show - but tonight we were treated to what seems to be in fashion right now: playing entire albums. I'm not complaining - In Blood Memory is a wonderful, gritty (recorded live) studio album which is a departure from her previous, more elaborate albums. It comes across beautifully live.

I had not heard much of Courtney Barnett, maybe a couple of songs here and there, and I liked them. I loved her set, it's nice to know that there is still some rock in the local hipster scene.

Special mention must go to Jen's idea of starting a punk band called Vomit Cock.

I just wanted to say Vomit Cock.

Friday, August 30, 2013

Melbourne Recital Centre - Masterclass

Over the last few of months I have shot a couple of gigs for the Melbourne Recital Centre. They are called Masterclass and the idea is that they have an artist who is a leader in that particular instrument conducting a sort of open tuition class for performers.

First there was Christian Tetzlaff who is a violinist and this week we had Susan Bullock - who is a soprano, who I believe is Sandra's older sister*.

Both were amazing musicians in their own right and it was wonderful to see them at work. One theme that ran through both classes is even if you have the mechanics right, if you can play or sing a piece of music technically perfect (and they were just amazing to watch, don't get me wrong) - there is a level beyond recital, and that's where you live the song and play it with feeling, as if you were the one who wrote the words / music.

I had to shoot pretty safe on those nights, however, there is always room to get a couple of cool shots off, see below:

And some videos!!!

*Not true

Tuesday, August 20, 2013

Old Man Creep

It's been a while between shoots but I'm pretty sure you will forgive me when you see it in all it's awesomeness... I have shot a few times with Ben John Smith from Horror Sleaze and Trash - First was Cupcakes, then there was that girl, and then we had Cupcakes again, and then Sharah. But this one takes the cake (so far).

It was a pretty shaky start, there was a little too much input from everyone in the early stages - all ideas were good but there ended up being no clear story line, which I like there to be with the HST shoots. I was also keen for this shoot to have no gore in it, just 100% creep, so once we had that sorted, it mostly fell into place.

We had one SFX guy pull out about 3 days before the shoot and were lucky to be saved by Shona Leach, who did an amazing job at applying the old man makeup to Aerial Manx's face. Stepping in as the young impressionable young lady who has come to dinner to meet her boyfriend's Grandad, is (Manx's actual wife-to-be) Alyssa Warland. Both were stars on the day and their humor and willingness to do anything in front of the camera made this a really easy shoot.

Photos!!! AND a video!


(c) 2013 Michael James Christian / Horror Sleaze and Trash

Tuesday, May 7, 2013

Slightly OT

I have dabbled in video a little bit over the last couple of years, then I went cold on it, for whatever reasons (too hard). But a couple of weeks ago I filmed Sylvia Dardha from The Kytchen Wytch Collective making some of her soon to be famous food.

The video has finally been posted today and to say I am happy with the result is an understatement - the feeling that I have captured in this video sums up what it feels like to be part of this household.

You can find The Kytchen Wytch Collective on facebook, wordpress and instagram

Now, the video!

Monday, April 29, 2013

fuKING TUFF

Anyone who is anyone knows that I am a fan of King Tuff, his 2nd album 'King Tuff' is so good - you really have to hear it!

This was their first visit to Australia and we were lucky enough to have them play two shows in Melbourne, one was on a boat (!) the other at The Tote and I saw both, but only photographed one...

I drive in from my new home on Mars so missed a couple of bands, but I got there in time to see ScotDrakula who were great - well worth checking out if you get the chance.

King Tuff were great, and the Tote was nice to be in for a change - it had all the same people, they just wern't as fucked up and annoying!

Photos!

VIDEOS!