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.