Dallas Crane

I thought to celebrate my 22nd birthday I'd go see Dallas Crane live. No drunk dancing to Fall Out Boy at Hot Damn for me (sigh). Dallas Crane were great and really energetic live - well at least the singer Dave was. They were supported by King Jack (sort of like Kings of Leon) and Mercy May (slighty Libertinesque but much better). King Jack were awesome. The singer looked a cross between Jake Grigg (Something With Numbers) and Wil Ferrier (Ohana). He was a nice guy too. I love watching support bands then falling in love with them. I enjoyed Mercy May too. I kept thinking that they were far more original than Mercy Arms. There was also an in-between band on the smaller stage called Boston Shaker. Quite a good night, but I still can't help feeling like a 12 year old at these kinds of shows.

A good show to end the year on.

Resist Tour 2007

It's been awhile since my last update. I got a Nintendo Wii for Christmas and have locked myself in my granny flat and have been playing the Wii for hours.

I went to shoot the Resist Tour at Manning Bar in Sydney on saturday december 22. I've been going to Resist Tour since 2004. In fact it was the second gig I've ever taken photos at. I missed the 2005 tour for some reason, but was back last year and then again this year. So, from now on going to the Resist Tour will be my Christmas tradition. The Sydney Resist show is on three days before Christmas every year so it is a special night for all who attend. This usually means that by the time the headlining band hit the stage there is fake snow and silly string everywhere. I sort of captured the moment when Carpathian were on stage. I need a more wide angle lens to capture it more.

The hi-light band this year was Irrelevant. My brother was the former bassist and back in those days I would see Irrelevant every chance I got. After he left I didn't go to as many shows. In fact I didn't see them once this year until Resist Tour. They are such an awesome band live and the members are so nice. I love every record they put out too.

All bands at the tour were great especially 50 Lions, Irrelevant and Carpathian.

There was a donation box for Andy and Damo's funeral and the mini-bus hire costs. I donated more than loose change and the box was full of gold coins, so I think hardcore scene have helped to take the burden of finding money fast away from the band and the boys' families.

I hope everyone had a good Christmas. I celebrated both Christmas and my birthday this week. Yes, I'm the big 22.

My break is over. Band photographers only have a week or less of holidays. There's seriously only two days when there's not a single gig on, unless you count the APEC summit.

Here's some more Resist Tour '07 photos:

See you all next year!

R.I.P Damo and Andy

Melbourne metalcore band The Red Shore were involved in fatal accident when their tour bus crashed down an embankment of the Pacific Highway. Two of the members died while 6 were injured.
My deepest sympathies go out to The Red Shore, their family and friends.
I've never been a huge Red Shore fan, but I love their music and I'm sure they were great guys. I just hope the rest of the band can remain strong.

Faster Louder Live 3

On thursday night I was asked to photograph Faster Louder Live 3 at Factory Theatre. It turned into FL's own Christmas Party. My friends Die Magic Band opened the show. The are unlike any band you've seen live. A bit of a comedy duo. Other bands that played were Jack Nasty Face, Goons of Doom, Shooting at Unarmed Men and King Brothers. Shooting at Unarmed Men were my second favourite of the night. King Brothers were incredible.

Check out http://www.fasterlouder.com.au/ for more photos.

For my work I was given two Faster Louder shirts and a hoodie. Oh and about 12, 000 FL business cards.

My old boss owns The Factory so I'll be able to shoot in there whenever I want.

The next night I went to shoot Between the Devil and the Deep at Empire Hotel. I was nursing a terrible hangover from last nights escapades fueled by Slate Bourbon, Smirnoff Vodka and Becks beer (which I don't even like). It was too much for me. I had to leave. Hardcore bands and hangovers do not mix. Must be why people go straightedge?

I stayed at my sisters, which fortuantely for me was walking distance from Empire Hotel. I kept on talking about Tim Rogers playing at The Basement and how it was too goddamn expensive for me to go to. The previous day I was prepared to spend $70 on Brand New tickets, so I'm not sure why I didn't want to fork out $35 for Tim. My sister tried to get me on the guestlist but ended up giving me entry fee money as a birthday gift.

Darren, who owns Factory Theatre thought it not wise for me to bring my camera so I didn't. At The Basement there was not a single DSLR in sight. The lighting in the venue could have been good enough for a 50mm f/1.8 lens if I hadn't already started on the drinks as soon as I stepped foot in the venue. It was more enjoyable having a few drinks and chatting to one of Tim's biggest fans than taking photos.

I like Tim's music. It makes me think, but not in a "my hearts breaking so much without you" way that I'm used to. In a way that anyone can relate to it. I like how he is constantly taking the piss out of the Indie scene and such bands as Kasabian.

The next day was an early Christmas lunch. Nothing really related to photos or bands, so I'll stop right here. My brother gave me a Fall Out Boy wallet that he bought in the States. It is all kinds of awesome.

The Wellingtons

Another weekend spent in Sydney. This time I was taking photos for a new club called FUCKEN A! Fridays at Qbar, Darlinghurst. I'll be going there every friday from now on as the official photographer. Club photographers really do make it more easily than band photographers.

The opening night didn't see too much of a crowd, mind next door was The Levity Christmas Party. I was enjoying doing a lot of celebrity spotting in between taking photos. First I saw Andrew G from Australian Idol, Evermore and Operator Please. I realised (or Zac Anthony of Wellingtons fame told me the day after) it was because those bands were going to play at Homebake, so what happened to the good bands? Haha I kid, but I would have loved to see Behind Crimson Eyes there.

Spotted: Dann Hume from Evermore

My friends Ted and Brett (of Die Magic Band fame) were also at that party.

So was a good family friend Eamon.

He's the one with the hat...er in the flanny...wearing the backpack. When Brett met Eamon they were instantly...abusing each other. And then Ted came over and so he to was abused and well, Ted is not one to modestly walk away. So, my good family friend and new friends were verbally abusing each other. The discussion was oh so intellectual and it wasn't long before the subject of a tattoo involving Jesus making out with a unicorn was bought up.

The next day...

I went to see The Wellingtons at Hopetoun Hotel. I'd never been inside the venue before so I thought I'd check it out. It wasn't too bad. Lighting was fair. The Wellingtons were great as usual.

Here are some photos:

There was also a band called O'neders, which I quite enjoyed. Here are some photos of them. They also played at The Lansdowne that night but my friend was having her 22nd birthday party.
Did someone say photos?

I nicknamed this place The Garage of Love or The Garage of Refuge. It's basically were we all went when the party got too hectic. Or maybe because it was warm.

The funny thing was that he didn't and still doesn't know who Jon Hume actually is. I overheard him and a friend saying "isn't he the guy that made the Hume Highway." Haha, I love drunken banter.

Well, that's it for now. I'll have more photos to take tomorrow. Oh, and I've been approved to shoot RESIST Records Tour @ Manning Bar...and review Nightwish. Well, a free show is a free show. Who is Nightwish by the way?

Indie Rocks!

I was contacted by a Mexican magazine called Indie Rocks a few days ago. They're writing an article on Klaxons (I think it was a feature article) and asked to publish three of my shots. I don't normally get asked to have my photos published (besides in A Fine Line) so I sent a few off to them. If you're in Mexico keep an eye out for it, ok? Or I guess you could just check out their MySpace or Indie Rocks.com.

Greetings

Hi there. I am Shanti (self nicknamed LTTL), a band photographer with three years experience. In my short time I've photographed over 170 bands, both local and international. I've been to small pub gigs to huge arena shows.
I'm located in the South Coast of NSW but I'm more active in Sydney.
I often rant and rave about the shows I've been to or the bands I've shot, so I thought I'd put it all down here in words.
I'm by no means arrogant. I've met my fair share of arrogant band photographers and I'd like to give them a good slap. I'm just looking for different ways to get my photography out there.

I've got a few gigs coming up including:

Dec 7: The Outlaws (UK) @ Fucken A launch, Q Bar / Angela's Dish @ Empire Hotel
Dec 8: The Wellingtons @ The Hopetoun Hotel & The Landsdowne Hotel
Dec 13: Faster Louder Live #3 w/ The King Brothers (Japan) @ The Factory
Dec 14: Between the Devil and the Deep EP Launch @ Empire Hotel
Dec 22: After the Fall + Ruin Gloria and others @ Engadine Community Hall
Dec 29: Dallas Crane @ Annandale Hotel (two days after my birthday)
Jan 10: Silverstein @ Roundhouse UNSW
Jan 12: Bomb Festival (venue TBA)
Jan 24: Brand New @ Enmore Theatre
Feb 24: Soundwave Festival '08 @ Sydney Park (not shooting....way too exhausting)

So, stick around. I will (hopefully) be adding some interesting stories here soon.