New Year's Eve

What's interesting, is that going into this year I had no plans at all to do anything. In fact, my plan was pretty much to keep my head down and just get on with the status quo.

Instead, I've been to Vancouver, Alaska and Paris, become a published photographer, bought a house and adopted a couple of cats. If you'd told me that I'd have shot Depeche Mode at the MEN Arena this time last year, I'd have laughed. And if you told me that was just the last of more than 70 bands I'd shot officially this year, or that I'd have been published in the national press and internationally, I wouldn't have believed it.

So I'll close the year with one from my favourite set of the year, Florence & The Machine, shot back in June outside St Phil's Church, Salford. The day before we went to Vancouver en route to Alaska, and the day before we completed on the house.



Hopes for 2010? More of the same would be fine. Would be happy to just keep shooting bands (although a new body would be nice - I'm saving for a 7D) and hopefully open a few more doors and get more shots published.

Everything Counts

With Depeche Mode at the MEN Arena tonight, I think that's 2009 done for me. Hard not to be pleased with what I've done this year. Will try and compile a list of the bands I've shot before the end of the year, but I'm anticipating it'll be 50+

Nancy Boy

I've always been quite a fan of Placebo, and I've seen them live a few times. My general feeling is that they blow hot and cold, which makes it a shame that I was reviewing them tonight - one of their cold nights, it must be said. They hadn't done much by way of ticket sales (£5 from a tout was the best offer for my spare - and when I saw the half full venue, I understood why) and their insistence on playing a hit-light set to a big venue really disappointed me.

Essentially - look at what the crowd did when you played Every You, Every Me. Look at what the crowd did when you played three off the new one in quick succesion? Get it? In the words of the poets, "Do some old".

And no Nik Kershaw cover this time? Boo.

Lungs

Another night with Florence & The Machine. Only stayed for my allotted three songs, which is a shame, as I really wanted to catch the whole set, but I've been tired all day and there's no point making the situation worse.

Also, curse you, evil purple light.

(There's Gonna Be A) Showdown

New York Dolls last night at Liverpool Academy. I enjoyed what little I saw of them, although I had a bit on unpleasant encounter with an audience member. Conversation ran thusly "Don't block our photos". "OK, we'll be gone after three songs anyway". "We've paid, don't block us, or we'll get you after".





Honourable mention for the support act, Urban Voodoo Machine. While I might not run out to see them, they were a good, high energy opener and great fun to shoot. And their drummer was dressed as a zombie. Frankly, what's not to like?

December in New York

Terrific show from Thea Gilmore tonight at Band On The Wall, and a great venue, which fills me with confidence for the David Ford show in a few weeks.

Surprise appearance from Mark Radcliffe for a duet on Fairytale Of New York really rounded off the evening nicely, not to mention an appearance from a choir midway through.

Picture To Burn

Taylor Swift at the MEN Arena for the nice folk over at The Music Fix

Smile

It's been a bit of a weird few days since shooting Lily. I've had shots in print in the Sun, the Mirror and the Sport. I've also had shots on websites for the Sun, Mirror and Heat, along with at least three overseas uses.

Here's The Sun using three shots on one page.



Obviously I've got fairly mixed emotions about the whole thing and whether I'd do it differently next time. Off to shoot Laura Marling tonight, so normal service will be resumed.

(IE pretty pictures that nobody publishes)

Everyone's At It

Lily Allen at the Apollo tonight. Bit of an odd evening - I had a ticket and had planned to watch the show but then got the call up to shoot. Was asked to rush in a few shots for possible inclusion in tomorrow's papers. So I threw some over - one of her pulling a pint, another with a silly face, one where she's giving another photographer the finger, and a couple of more sensible shots where she's just a girl looking pretty in a dress.

Didn't know that the one where she was making a silly face was because she was slightly exposed until a closer look later. I expect the papers won't notice said wardrobe malfunction (I didn't, was too transfixed by the goofy look on her face) but you never know.

Here's a couple of non-malfunctioning shots.

Sainthood

Appropriately (considering this blog is named after one of their songs), here's Tegan & Sara from tonight's Manchester Academy show.

Started Out With Nothing...

Seasick Steve at Manchester Apollo. Always comes across as such a genuine guy, right back to when we caught him by accident at Glastonbury a few years back.

The Sun Always Shines on TV

A-Ha tonight at the MEN Arena.

21st Century Breakdown

A real pleasure to shoot Green Day tonight at the MEN Arena. One of those bands I never thought I'd get a chance to shoot, and I'm very happy with the results.

Remedy

Little Boots in Preston last night. Photos didn't come out as well as I thought they might have, given the available light.

Crystal

Further adventures in bad lighting this evening, but still a pleasure and a privilege to shoot a local legend. Here's Bernard Sumner fronting Bad Lieutenant at the Ritz.

Kid Fears

Shot the Indigo Girls tonight at Manchester Academy. Worst. Lighting. Ever.

Two Suns

Shot Bat For Lashes last night, and felt they were 200% better than the shows I saw earlier in the year. Feels like the new band has really gelled.

Photograph

So the marathon last week ended with Nerina Pallot - shot both her Friday and Saturday shows and had a brief shoot with her afterwards (and indeed one of my Dizzee Rascal shots appearing in Friday's Star).

You can see the shoot by clicking here

And here are a couple of my favourites from the shows.

Bonkers

The marathon continues (night off tomorrow, thankfully) with Dizzee Rascal at the Apollo.

License To Kill

Insanely last minute photo gig today - sent a speculative mail to my agency saying "haven't been able to sort this out, so I'll forget about it" and they sprung into action and sorted it.

So here's Gladys Knight (still has an amazing voice)





and Tito Jackson

Should've Kept My Eyes Shut

For the record, Paolo Nutini does not appear to open his eyes on stage, I wasn't just being inept.

Teardrop

Shot Massive Attack tonight at Manchester Apollo. Definitely the trickiest lighting I've ever had to contend with. Got a few that I'm happy with, but was grateful for the five songs they gave us!

Drumming Song

Shot Florence & The Machine again tonight. Despite reports of dodgy lighting on previous dates, we were given enough to work with this evening and I think I acquitted myself decently.

The set itself was good, although uneven, and quite a lot of the nuance of the record is lost in the live delivery. Compared to the crowd at St Phil's, I had to wonder how many of them really knew who Florence was, or whether they were there because she's received so much attention recently, as some of them didn't seem to be enjoying it.

The album remains one of my favourites of the year and at this point seems unlikely to be unseated. Here follows random notes, then. There's something about it that feels like a coherent whole record, so I'll overlook the dubious gender politics of Kiss With A Fist.

It could almost take that album of the year mantle for Blinding alone, which tonight was delivered with none of the album's subtlety and an unnecessary squall of feedback. It's a perfect ending song (not least because of the whispered "Someone's slipping through the hidden door"? part) but it didn't feel right tonight and I don't know why.

Leaders Of The Free World

Shot Elbow last night at the MEN Arena. Lighting was 'a bit tricky' to say the least, but got a few good shots.