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Neutralize The Threat

After last week’s killer gig by Frankenbok at the Corner Hotel, I was hopeful there would be decent lighting to work with again. Last week, the ‘Bok were superbly lit and it made my life so much easier.

Arriving at the Corner just as In Trenches were to hit the stage, I noticed the one solitary red light they we’re being lit with. Yep, was gonna be a long night in the trenches if this was a sign of things to come.

HEAVY Magazine’s 1st Anniversary

Marking the 1st year anniversary for Australia’s definitive Heavy Metal magazine HEAVY was always destined to be a superb night.

So it was with great pleasure that I accepted the invitation to attend tonight’s celebrations (camera in tow of course!)

Imaginaerum

After the debacle that was the Marduk shoot a few days ago, I wasn’t feeling too passionate about tonight’s Nightwish/Sabaton gig. But I needn’t have been too concerned. The Palace as a venue, is about a million times better than the Hifi and production values are improved tenfold.

The venue was packed to the brim when openers Sabaton took the stage. I made it into the photo-pit just in time to hear my fellow photogs rib me about the Marduk shoot and the ensuing bitching I put forth after the show! (as you do!)

Into Second Death

The less said about this debacle the better. In short, no photopit. No room to move. No fuckn lights (at least for the headliner who may as well have been lit by candlelight).

A total waste of time and effort.

Don’t laugh too hard at the ‘photos’.

Are You Ready For Some Darkness?

When Turbonegro are in town, you know from the outset it is going to be a big night. A big fuckn night! With the Hifi Bar long sold out for this gig, a classic night of bonafide hard and fast Punk Rock was set to be delivered to Melbourne’s branch of the Turbojugend.

The denim jackets and sailor hats were plentiful at the Hifi Bar long before Turbonegro hit the stage.

A Story Of Death And Survival

Quite simply put, one of the most disturbing exhibitions I have ever witnessed. Unfortunately, I didn’t get to fully enjoy it, as the stench from the rotting carcass’ of dead animals drove me out. I thought I had seen it all, experienced it all, but I couldn’t last more than 10 minutes without coming so close to losing my lunch… twice.

Hailing from Ghent, Belgium, Roa is quickly establishing himself as one of the premiere street artists in the world. His paintings depict wild animals and can be seen all over the world and now in Australia.

The Secrets Of The Black Arts

I first photographed Dark Funeral on their last Australian tour back in early 2010. Now they were back with some new blood in the band and ready to render the Corner Hotel into utter smithereens!

Again, I always find it an absolute treat when the band has gone to some effort to produce a show. Rock N Roll should always be about theatre as well and on the visual front, Dark Funeral deliver in spades.

Up The Irons!

Back in my musical formative years, Iron Maiden (along with Judas Priest & Black Sabbath) were one of the first Metal acts I truly got into. And I’m talking 1980/81 here when Paul Di’Anno was at the helm and Maiden delivered a couple of their finest moments – the debut album and the classic ‘Killers’ a year later. Albums which to this day, get plenty of rotation and are probably, along with ‘Number of the Beast’, Iron Maiden’s definitive work.

So it was a little on the surreal side getting to see the frontman of those two albums, Paul Di’Anno, live for the very first time – even if he had been on these shores several times before.

Tattoo You

Day 2:

This was the second Tattoo & Body Art Expo held in Melbourne. I attended last year’s and came away a little unimpressed as the bogan and bikie quotient was extremely high and the whole event just didn’t have that good a vibe.

Having said that, this year’s expo was a million times better. Easily. Better organized. Better events. A much better and friendlier vibe although the Melbourne Convention Centre is a little on the stale side compared to the Royal Exhibition Building where the Rites Of Passage Festival is usually held.

Supersonic Swingers

I’ve honestly lost count on how many exhibition openings I have done for Outré. There’s been heaps and although event photography is certainly not my forte or something I am really comfortable doing, I enjoy doing stuff for the Outré gang nonetheless.

A typical night begins slowly. I try to get to the gallery as early as I can so I can shoot some of the exhibited works before mayhem is unleashed. I’ll photograph the displays and if the featured artist is there, we’ll do a couple of photos before the crowd is let in.

The Dead Shall Inherit The Earth

I’ve lost track of the amount of Melbourne Zombie Shuffles I have shot, but without fail, it is one of my fave shooting assignments of the year. It’s always a ton of bloody fun and of course, 2012 was no exception.

Melbourne unleashed a glorious Spring day and that ensured that an even greater throng of the undead would be at Carlton Gardens.

Fear Is The Mind Killer

You prepare hard for a photo shoot at any given music venue. No two venues are the same and now that I have been doing the Rock photography for several years, you begin to know the intricacies of each venue and pretty much know what you will expect from the get-go.

Having said that, Melbourne’s Hifi Bar is always a venue I have struggled in. The lighting is the worst you will have to deal with so it is a given, it will be a hard, frustrating shoot almost always. In the rare case the ‘lighting’ guy actually uses the front lights and (shock, horror) lights the stage, it can be a fun venue to shoot in. But those instances seem to be few and far between.