Thursday Sidewave

Just a quick post. I shot the Thursday sidewave last wednesday @ The Forum in Moore Park. I originally just wanted to shoot this show than shoot the whole Soundwave Festival, but beggers can't be choosers.

It was a great lineup and a great night, despite no barrier. But it was easier enough to weave my way through the crowd.

I'm just taking it easy now. I might shoot Gyroscope this week or The Hot Lies next week. Getting back to the local gigs. I'm going to upgrade to another lens or two soon.

Brand New

I've noticed that a lot of Brand New fans are really arrogant when it comes to comparing Brand New with other bands. I admit I've also been guilty of this. It's worse in males from 16-18 years old. It could have something to do with their personality, but at least 1 in 5 Brand New fans act this way. Those figures are not really correct. Sure they are an amazing band, but when people act as though there is no other band greater it makes me not want to have anything to do with them.
I went to see Brand New at Enmore Theatre. With no camera this time. I didn't really push for a media pass. They're quite a hard band to get access to. I just wanted to enjoy them.
Jesse Lacey (the singer) played an acoustic set for half an hour or so. It was to be a suprise, but all of the nosey fans in the front of the line found out. The rest of his band joined him shortly after. They were incredible, but lacking power. I guess they were exhausted and Jesse's voice was straining. They cut a whole lot of their songs from the setlist. It was a bit dissapointing. It was all over by 10:30. At least there were after-show drinks to be had in The Duke.

The exhibition on Australia day was in both Sydney and Melbourne. In Sydney my Tim Rogers photo was displayed and in Melbourne my photo of The Hot Lies at Coke Live 2006 was displayed. I didn't go to either as I was supporting The Stray Assembely's very first show. There were other reasons why but I'd rather not get into that right now.

I haven't photographed a band since December 29. I hope that all changes soon. I've got about three shows in febuary I'm keen on. I'm thinking about moving to Sydney and finding work up there so the band photography is on the backburner at the moment.

New Years Resolution

First, let me say that this has been my most exciting year as a band photographer. I had to leave my friends and friends bands behind to shoot more popular bands. Although many of my friends are now famous rockstars. Last year I was all about the Wollongong scene but this year I stopped going to College there, so I've missed the scene so much. 7 Sins (the merch shop that all the kids used to hang out in) closed so the closeness of that scene is now over and will never come back again. That has been one of the most depressing thoughts of the year.
Early this year I shot Fall Out Boy, 30 Seconds to Mars, The Used and Anberlin as well as popular Australian bands such as The Hot Lies, Kisschasy, Evermore, Gotye, etc. 2008 will hopefully be pretty much the same. I've been trying to get into the Boys of Summer tour and at least one festival. 2008 is all about international band as well as national, festivals and the odd promo shoot.
So, here are some other resolutions of mine:
New Years Resolutions.
1. Finish reading Snakehead so I can buy more books.
2. Buy battery charger for my flash.
3. Buy f/1.4 lens.
4. Buy either 85mm f/1.8 or 100mm f/2.8 lenses.
5. Get a full time job.
6. See Horsell Common live and tell them they are the greatest band in the universe.
7. See Gyroscope live and tell Zoran how awesome he is.
8. Buy non-Harry Potter related games for Nintendo Wii.
9. Get better manga drawing skills.
10.Actually get my stories on paper or in electronic writing form.

Bands to see/photograph this year:
Silverstein, Brand New, Thursday, Alexisonfire, From Autumn to Ashes, The Matches, Fall of Troy, Killswitch Engage, Saosin, Plain White T's, Scary Kids Scarying Kids, Bleeding Through, Carpathian, All Time Low, Sugarcult, The Black Crowes, etc.

Bands I want to see/ photograph:
Bayside, Fall Out Boy, You Am I, Avalon Drive, Trial Kennedy, The Hot Lies, The Pictures, Panic! At the Disco, Chiodos, Funeral For A Friend, Far-Less, The Vandas, The Exploders, After the Fall, Behind Crimson Eyes, Something With Numbers, The Cops, etc.

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?