PART 1: POLYPHONIC SPREE, FNM, SOUNDWAVE, AMANDA PALMER, AND LOADS MORE

February and March were pretty crazy. I was on such an adventure, new places, new people, great music, and there was always something going on! So this blog is a few things, firstly - very late, secondly - about much more than just photography, and thirdly - partly a way for me to remember some of the awesome things during these amazing few weeks.

This is Part 1:

Polyphonic Spree SoCo Carnivale @ Thebarton Theatre 24.02.2010

I applied to shoot this gig even though I knew I was flying to Melbourne the next day, partly because I knew it would be a fun gig to shoot, but also there is such a slim chance that you will get the gigs you apply for that I just had to take a chance. Well, I got it. And it turned out to be great! I saw someone on Facebook mention earlier that day that there had been a lot of free tickets going around Adelaide because apparently it wasn't selling very well. So I brought along a friend, and when I picked up my pass I asked if there happened to be any +1 with that. To our delight we were told with a wave of the hand, that would be fine and so we both headed in to the SoCo Carnivale!

Thebbie looked amazing! I have never seen it like that before, giant masks up on the walls, a bar on the GA floor space (that should always be there!), and people wearing the free headdresses, slap bands, and masks that were being given out as you enter.

I hadn't really heard much music by The Polyphonic Spree before, but I had an idea of what they were like. They totally blew me away. It was so much fun to watch and hear them. And we stayed until nearly the end of the show, but with an early rise to catch a flight in the morning we had to leave before the end, which was a little sad.

Faith No More @ Festival Hall 25.02.2010

We arrive in Melbourne about 10am the next day, and we had a little flutter in our heart and our stomachs. About a month earlier I had seen Roddy Bottum of Faith No More announce on Twitter that there was a second FNM show in Melbourne, but it would be the day before the original show (to which we did not get tickets and was sold out). I mentioned back that we wish we could go etc, and that we are big Imperial Teen fans (Roddy's other queer/pop/rock band). Would you believe that Roddy wrote back and said to message him on the day of the gig about getting in to the show.

Well... today was that day. I left it for an hour or so and then sent of the message. Later on that day he replied asking for my details, and then later than afternoon we got word that we indeed were on the door to see Faith No More that night! There were some issues with the road manager not putting some names on the door and I had to show my tweet to numerous people as proof, but we got in and got to watch an amazing gig by an amazing band!

What a great start to our Melbourne adventure!

Amanda Palmer @ The Forum 26.02.2010

The next day ended up consisting of some soul healing tea and vegan banana muffin, a semi-naked photo shoot with an amazing photographer Mad Dame, and then Amanda Palmer at The Forum. As we walked in the doors we caught the last song by a duo called The Jane Austen Argument. Little did we know that the lives those two talented people would intertwine with ours in just a few days! Mikelangelo was up next, crazy cross between Morrissey and, well, I don't even know - but it was entertaining none the less!

Amanda came on stage and it was bizarre! Having followed her on Twitter for so long now it was kind of like seeing an old friend on stage, rather delightful. She kicked some ass, as she always tends to do - and we were treated to one of the most amazing things I have ever seen. Not only did she get Paul Kelly up on stage with her for a cover of one of his songs, but she also pulled up Mick Harvey of the Bad Seeds, along with Paul Kelly for a cover of Henry Lee! Seriously. I have no words!

The night ended, we caught a tram the 3 blocks to the hotel (we were tired, ok!) but only after getting some Lord Of The Fries, again, and getting an awesome compliment on my tattoo from a sweet boy. Tomorrow was going to be a big day.

Soundwave Festival @ Bonython Park, Adelaide 27.02.2010

Up and out of the hotel before check out, we left our bags there and headed out get our last serve of vegan fastfood goodness from Lord Of The Fries (it was right near our hotel, ok! And vegan food is hard to find. Shut up!) and then hit the aquarium to kill some time. Had a brilliant time with the penguins and then on to the airport to head back to Adelaide. Straight from the airport to Soundwave after dumping our bags in my car which was parked in long term airport parking. I arrived a few minutes too late to shoot Placebo due to our taxi driver being a total douche. I gave the ticket that I had bought to someone who was sitting outside listening to the festival after I picked up my comp ticket and awesome fluorescent orange vest and we headed inside the gates.

First band I got to shoot was AFI.

I had never heard their music before, but they were a fun band to shoot. Lots of glittery goodness and a lead singer who liked to put on a show. This was my first experience of shooting music during the day! I had some harsh light at times from the afternoon sun, but it was a nice change from the usual lighting issues!

The lead singer looked very different to what I had seen in photos. So much so that I didn't even realise it was the same person until I did some investigating online when I got home!

See more of my AFI photos @ Metal Obsession

My entire set of AFI photos @ Flickr

Next was Jane's Addiction. I had tickets to their cancelled solo show from last year, so I was excited to not only get to see them but also shoot them this time around.

Of the four bands I shot today I think this was the most fun and the best set of pics. Plus I got to be about a meter away from Dave Navarro for 15 minutes! Nice.

Perry Farrell is so entertaining to watch, and with some gorgeous dancers up the back of the stage, the whole show was a pretty wonderful spectacle.

I managed to get a few really nice shots of Perry and Dave together as well, which made me happy. And the great thing about Adelaide was that once I was done shooting I was still able to get a great spot close up to the stage to watch the rest of the gig!

See more of my Jane's Addiction photos @ Metal Obsession

My entire set of Jane's Addiction photos @ Flickr

Jimmy Eat World were the second to last act on the main stage and I really have no idea why. I know they were a last minute substitute for My Chemical Romance (who would have been amazing to shoot, even though I'm not a fan - they have some great visuals!) but seriously this band were dull and boring, and I think it was a bad call having them so high on the bill.

Half the photographers left the pit before the 3 songs were up, there wasn't really much going on that was worth shooting.

See more of my Jimmy Eat World photos @ Metal Obsession

My entire set of Jimmy Eat World photos @ Flickr

Then it was time for the main event. Faith No More. I felt to lucky to be down the front shooting this set, the lighting was pretty crap and there was smoke thrown in to the mix also - so it wasn't my best set of pics for the day. But just the chance to be down there, watching, shooting, dancing and signing - it was great!

See more of my FNM photos @ Metal Obsession

My entire set of FNM photos @ Flickr

Soon to come: Part 2