Epic update! In a true indication of my procrastination, all of the gigs I will be discussing in this update happened in 2009. Seeing as today marks the first day of February 2010, you get some idea of how slack I have been.
In my defense I did turn 30 (yeah, I know, right! THAT alone was a lot to deal with), move house and have all that xmas/NYE stuff in between then and now. But still... I suck.
So lets start waaaay back in October, early October.
October 3rd and the lovely Sarah Blakso played to a sold out crowd in the beautiful surrounds of the Norwood Town Hall. With a set that was seemingly divided into two part - we saw her start with music from her new album, while the second half was a visit through he back catalogue and this really go the crowd up and dancing.
I was lucky enough to get to stay for the whole set, and this was the first time I had seen her play live. She managed to replicate the sound from the album brilliantly and it was a pleasure to hear her vocals live!
Oh and her dress was just amazing!
See more of my Sarah Blasko photos @
The DwarfMy entire set of Sarah Blasko photos @
Flickr
In very exciting news (for me!) the Buzzcocks added an Adelaide date to their already confirmed Australian tour schedule, pushing back the date in Perth and heading to Adelaide on November 24 - which just happened to be the day I turned 30! What better way to spend the start of my descent into middle-age-dom that at a gig by a punk/pop band who originated in the 1970's! ha! Seriously, the Buzzcocks are one of my favourite bands of all time, and I was super excited to get to see them again - especially on my birthday, and especially with a photo pass.
They played an AMAZING set, and the crowd were totally in to it! Last time I saw them was to a small crowd at Fowlers, and while everyone was into it, I don't remember it being anything like this gig! A first for me at The Gov, I saw not only crowd surfers but also a circle pit! For real! At a Buzzcocks gig! Hilariously awesome.
As expected they played a gazillion awesome songs that everyone knew and sung along to. Steve Diggle laps up the crowd adulation and Pete Shelley delivers some wonderful vocals - and you just stand there wishing you had been at CBGB's in the 70's when the Buzzcocks et al, were doing it the first time round.
My entire set of Buzzcocks photos @
Flickr
Jive was the venue for a two night stand by former Tea Party lead man, Jeff Martin. I get the feeling that Jeff Martin is the kind of performer who has a strong, loyal fan base - and the turn out was decent though the venue didn't seem full to capacity. The stage was scattered with unusual instruments and strange looking guitars which peaked my curiosity, and I'm sure the night would have been an interesting musical adventure for the audience.
I decided not to stay for the whole gig, and from a photographers point of view I was a little sad that Jeff sat on that chair for the whole of the first 3 songs. It resulted in a lot of similar shots. The lighting is also always terrible at Jive, so it was a frustrating gig to shoot due to those two issues. But that is part of the job, you never quite know what you are going to get - but you have to be prepared for everything - or at least try to be prepared.
See more of my Jeff Martin photos @
The DwarfMy entire set of Jeff Martin photos @
Flickr
December starts and I head off to Thebarton Theatre to see Karnivool rock the kids. Last time I shot them was at HQ, so this was a big step up in venue. It didn't appear to be sold out - but it is definitely good to see Aussie bands progressing to bigger venues on the back of a lot of hard
work.
Visually Karnivool are quite interesting to shoot. I do like the way their singer moves, and anyone who is a little quirky wins points with me. Some really nice shots came out of this set.
Their music isn't really my thing, but it is starting to grow on my a little. Though it doesn't really matter because when I am shooting I tend not to hear the music anyway, especially if its a band I don't really know.
My entire set of Karnivool photos @
Flickr
Pulp is one of those bands that I wish I had seen live. So I feel very lucky to have seen Pulp front man Jarvis Cocker twice now. His performances are always amazing, and you can't help but swoon as the skinny man in the dapper sports jacket throws shapes and moves that no one else could pull off!
My first experience of the big J.C. live was at Thebarton Theatre as part of the V Festival side show that toured here. I was down in the front row to see Jarvis, the New York Dolls and the Pixies! *yeah, all on the one bill at Thebbie!* but seeing him at his own gig in the small confines of The Gov was always going to be infinitely more special.
Jarvis came on stage baring Cadbury pick'n'mix' - I was the lucky recipient of a 'Twirl' which sits in front of me as I type this. Not because I particularly want to keep it for prosterity but because I am vegan, and it is milk chocolate :)
His set was brilliant, even thought it was full of technical difficulties Jarvis has been doing this for so long that he was easily able to fill the down times with conversation, interesting facts about this day in history, comments on the venues 'Balls and Cock' approach to Xmas decorations and an improv version of 'Sitting On The Dock Of The Bay'.
My entire set of Jarvis Cocker photos @
Flickr
Adelaide girl Sia always manages to sell out her gigs at The Gov. This was her second visit here this year, and she could probably have played an even larger venue, but the intimacy of The Gov is a nice setting for her.
There is an amazing juxtaposition between Sia's personality and her vocals. Such a sultry, jazz voice with her gorgeously honest and endearing style and personality makes her a truly original performer, and one who is so obviously herself. During the course of the gig she says the wrong things, makes mistakes, chats to people she thinks she recognises in the crowd, stuffs a toy down her pants and wears a hat she is given by an audience member - and then she will sing and the crowd just watches on in awe.
My entire set of Sia photos @
Flickr
