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Making Monsters

Honestly, I hadn’t heard too much of Combichrist’s catalogue but what I had heard, I did like. Add to the fact that they were a highly visual act, which would hopefully make for some cool shots, that left me in high anticipatory mode for the show! Oh yeah, I’m easily excitable!

A few days before the gig I prepared somewhat, looking over some YouTube videos of the band just to see exactly where they all stood and what sort of choreography I could expect. As far at YouTube clips go – yeah, they looked totally cool so I got a feel for what I would expect tonight.

The Devil’s Rain

It was with great excitement and anticipation that I got the call up to shoot The Misfits. Whoa dude! The Misfits! The band hasn’t toured these shores for the better part of 5 years and they were always a band whose name I had hastily scribbled onto a natty piece of paper and ceremoniously dumped into the old bucket list of bands I’d love to shoot!

With or without the mighty Evil Elvis Glenn Danzig, the Misfits still are a classic legendary punk band and I for one, was super excited about the opportunity to be in their photo-pit tonight.

Artists From The World Of Tattoo

I’m gonna be brutally honest here, when it comes to event photography… I suck! I suck a lot! Chuck me in the most violent of mosh-pits and I can handle that with ease. Getting to ask someone if I can take their pic? Fergetaboutit! I really don’t like doing this sort of photography because I am not good at it and I am as uncomfortable as one could possibly get when shooting in such a scenario.

Which is a crying shame because if I told you of some of the photographic opportunities I have forfeited due to this phobia, you’d be astounded.

The Ugly World Tour

Can’t say I have ever been to a gig at Melbourne’s Palace that I haven’t enjoyed. Whether there as a punter or a photographer, each and every show has been nothing short of kick ass. Totally! The vibe is always blistering, the lighting is just perfect and more often than not – every band that plays there seems to regularly deliver the goods!

It was a veritable who’s who in the photo pit with plenty of familiar faces tho for some inexplicable reason, there was a dude amongst us shooting the gig in the pit with an iPhone. Ummm, yeah ok dude. ‘Scuse me whilst I try to get a decent shot or two!

I Walked With A Zombie!

“City authorities in your area have reported that the bodies of the dead are rising from the graves and attacking the living…”

I’ve lost count, but I think this was the fourth Melbourne Zombie Shuffle I have photographed and easily – it was the biggest.

Going Out In Style

I first shot the Dropkick Murphys back in 2009. It ranked as one of the first gigs I had ever shot and the photos were pretty much stamped with all sorts of newbieness! So much so, the gig that night was shot with my 450D as I didn’t have the more fanciful gear at my disposal. You do what ya gotta do! Cut your teeth and learn from each and every experience! Well, that’s what I keep telling myself!

I was a rookie. A total newbie – but I have fond memories of that night as it was a predictably crazy gig by both band and the rabid fans the Murphys seem to have accumulated over their career. Having said that, the gear might have improved since that night and a veritable feast of gigs since then has elevated me away from total novice, but I still feel there is along way to go as a photographer.

Jet Boy

I only found out that I was shooting this ‘secret gig’ a few hours before the legendary New York Dolls were to stomp out onto the Cherry Bar stage in Melbourne’s hallowed ACDC Lane. When an opportunity such as this arises, one doesn’t sit back and pontificate if they’re ready… you just say ‘yes’ and get your ass over to the Cherry post-haste!

The New York Dolls are currently in Australia as part of the Buroughs NYC Culture Festival. The Buroughs is a boutique New York City inspired arts and culture festival and no one screams NYC more than the seminal and influential punk rock gods, the New York Dolls.

Got It In Black?

First of all, before we kick things off here, I gotta thank the promoters Blunt, Metal Obsession and Soundwave – for allowing the photographers to stay in the venue after our respective three song allotment for each of the four acts on tonight’s bill: Machine Head, Hatebreed, Bleeding Through and Emmure. You made our lives a helluva lot easier and we didn’t have to endure the stupidity of being escorted out of the venue after the first three songs. (As was the case for the Lamb Of God, Devil Driver, Shadow’s Fall & Hire On Fire gig back in December).

Bumps, grinds, falls, spills, speed and all out gusto!

For quite a while now, I have wanted to attend a Roller Derby bout. For whatever reason, the planets have never quite aligned so I have always missed out when the Victorian Roller Derby League held it’s matches… or bouts as they are called.

Not this time. I bought a couple of tickets for my gal and me a week in advance as I was determined I was not going to miss the opening of the 2010 season. Lucky for me I did get the tickets early, because within days the event had well and truly sold out.

Hevy Devy

It’s kinda hard when you are shooting an act who you really, truly dig! It is sometimes hard to divorce yourself from the sheer magic that is pouring off the stage when a band is pounding through tracks you have played to death many, many times over in the past and concentrating on getting your shots – becomes somewhat difficult.

Tonight was no exception.

Nutbush City Limits

I think I inhaled enough second-hand dope smoke tonight, that I will wake up in the morning and the world, no doubt, will be spinning!

You know it is going to be a damn hot night of pure Southern Rock the minute you walk into the hallowed grotty floor of the Espy. You can feel it in your bones even before the band, in this case, Nashville Pussy, have even set foot on the stage.

Where The Wild Things Are

Having attended the past two Circa Nocturna events in 2009 and 2008, I was eagerly awaiting for this year’s gala to arrive and this time, shooting on an official capacity. The past couple of years I have only been in the audience with my camera and have had restricted view etc. It was hard to get a decent shot.

This year, I was granted an official pass and boy, was it a ton of fun shooting at this amazing event.