This week, I’ve had the sublime and wonderful Scary Mansion staying at my place while they play a bunch of London dates to promote second album “Make Me Cry”.

I also had chance to start playing around with HD video for the first time during some of their songs. The first results, recorded on this very [...]]]>

This week, I’ve had the sublime and wonderful Scary Mansion staying at my place while they play a bunch of London dates to promote second album “Make Me Cry”.

I also had chance to start playing around with HD video for the first time during some of their songs. The first results, recorded on this very page, are quite stunning. For best results, hop over to YouTube and get it full screen and best quality.

A great – and badly kept ’secret’ – headline show from We Are Scientists on Sunday night, following a house-storming set from The Chapman Family was a brilliant way to finish to the weekend. Testing out new drummer Andy Burrows for the first time ever in front of a paying audience, the Barfly was packed [...]]]>

A great – and badly kept ’secret’ – headline show from We Are Scientists on Sunday night, following a house-storming set from The Chapman Family was a brilliant way to finish to the weekend. Testing out new drummer Andy Burrows for the first time ever in front of a paying audience, the Barfly was packed to capacity with loyal WAS fans staking their place in the front rows from the moment doors opened.

I realised last night that I don’t do as many black and white shots as I used to. I think this comes from both the demand for colour and my own avoidance of black and white – I used to overdo it somewhat as a way of patching over underexposed shots. Now, I tend to prefer the more obvious challenge of colour (although some might disagree with that statement).

Anyway, in honour of my flatmate James, who reminded me how iconic black and white can be, here is Keith Murray from We Are Scientists.

An utterly epic Sunday night bill at The Barfly. Original headliners The Chapman Family had We Are Scientists added to the bill as their ’secret’ club show to  - and their first with new drummer, the ex-Razorlight Andy Burrows.

I’ll be putting up a picture of We Are Scientists later today but here’s on of my [...]]]>

An utterly epic Sunday night bill at The Barfly. Original headliners The Chapman Family had We Are Scientists added to the bill as their ’secret’ club show to  - and their first with new drummer, the ex-Razorlight Andy Burrows.

I’ll be putting up a picture of We Are Scientists later today but here’s on of my favourite shots of The Chapman Family for starters – the legendary Pop Chapman, who I’ve posted shots of before, simply a brilliant subject for any music photographer – a different haircut and set of clothes every single time I’ve taken his picture.

Why isn’t this boy being championed as the new face of alternative British style. Get on it Vice!

So So Modern call their music “futuristic schizoid noise pop” which doesn’t really tell you anything, does it? Like when Gram Parsons called his thing “cosmic american music” but all it really sounded like was very pretty electro-country.

Still, I’m not knocking musicians for manipulating the nomenclature of genres – there’s very little that’s new under [...]]]>

So So Modern call their music “futuristic schizoid noise pop” which doesn’t really tell you anything, does it? Like when Gram Parsons called his thing “cosmic american music” but all it really sounded like was very pretty electro-country.

Still, I’m not knocking musicians for manipulating the nomenclature of genres – there’s very little that’s new under the sun anyway and the standard definitions are a little tired and useless. A bit of inventiness goes a long way in drawing your attention.

So here you are: So So Modern are from New Zealand and, in my ears, they sound like angular/loopy/pseudo-math/bubblegum/frenetic/spacy cowboys. Or something. Listen to ‘Berlin’ on their myspace and see what you think, or buy their debut album, which is rather wonderful.

Pure Groove and Rough Trade lead the way in London, if not the UK, for outstanding instore shows. Rough Trade might have the edge on bigger names (the recent Blur show springs to mind) but the Farringdon-based Pure Groove is on the ball with newer and arguably more interesting bands, such as Surfer Blood. The [...]]]>

Pure Groove and Rough Trade lead the way in London, if not the UK, for outstanding instore shows. Rough Trade might have the edge on bigger names (the recent Blur show springs to mind) but the Farringdon-based Pure Groove is on the ball with newer and arguably more interesting bands, such as Surfer Blood. The Florida band play a low-fi retro indie rock with aural nods to the likes of The Pixies, Van Dye Parks and JAMC.

Oh and above is percussionist and keyboard player Marcos Marchesani, arguably the most visually interesting member of Surfer Blood. And he has the best hair.

Brighton’s Esben and the Witch are probably my latest obsession. I’ve listened endlessly to their (free) mini-album 33, which you can download if you rummage around at their myspace. Great live shows too – full of visual interest, very real energy and the amazing voice of singer Rachel, who looks like the indiegirl version of [...]]]>

Brighton’s Esben and the Witch are probably my latest obsession. I’ve listened endlessly to their (free) mini-album 33, which you can download if you rummage around at their myspace. Great live shows too – full of visual interest, very real energy and the amazing voice of singer Rachel, who looks like the indiegirl version of Kate Winslet.

I got some ace pictures from last week’s Ja Ja Ja night at The Lexington. My first time at the night – it’s clashed with other things these last few months – and the Nordic turnout was incredible. Certainly, way more than at any similarly themed night I can recall in London. It’s good to [...]]]>

I got some ace pictures from last week’s Ja Ja Ja night at The Lexington. My first time at the night – it’s clashed with other things these last few months – and the Nordic turnout was incredible. Certainly, way more than at any similarly themed night I can recall in London. It’s good to see other areas of Scandinavia represented when Sweden tends to take all the glory and attention, however much I love the place.

Anyway, Denmark’s Simon Says No! were sandwiched between Iceland’s Leaves and Sudden Weather Change. A slightly lacklustre performance from Simon Say No! meant the middle of the night dipped a little but Leaves were solid enough as an opener.

I grabbed a quick listen to Sudden Weather Change before heading out and nothing really leapt out at me. I did , however, see a couple of live shots that looking kinda interesting and hinted at something real special. They didn’t let me down – hitting the stage running with an infusion of cackle and mania straight out of 1970’s Detroit, they immediately re-energised the crowd and played like their lives were on the line. Perfect stuff – and two vocalists, which is always an interesting proposition.

Only thing is another post-gig listen makes me think they’ve got a long way to go on record to avoid sounding like Just Another Band.

Now this girl is a dream to shoot – a real hair shaker, pose striker, someone who entirely loses themselves in the moment. Think of Screaming Jay Hawkins crossed with PJ Harvey and you’re somewhere close. Or a reverse White Stripes perhaps – they certainly exhibit all the energy, promise and attitude of Jack and [...]]]>

Now this girl is a dream to shoot – a real hair shaker, pose striker, someone who entirely loses themselves in the moment. Think of Screaming Jay Hawkins crossed with PJ Harvey and you’re somewhere close. Or a reverse White Stripes perhaps – they certainly exhibit all the energy, promise and attitude of Jack and Meg White’s early years and yet debut ‘Nests’ is far more developed than the Stripes’ first record.

What’s more, I can’t recall a gig that I enjoyed so much as a picture-taking experience. Some bands just pop out when you start snapping. Larrabee is a woman who clearly enjoys the spotlight and embraces the dramatic/diva side of herself in a very appealing way, coming across as neither selfish nor self-absorbed but simply a born performer.

As last night’s Memory Tapes show at The Social was his second ever gig – the first being two night’s back in Manchester – I am honoured with being one of the first people to reveal a live shot of Mr Memory Tapes, although I think it fair to note that I share this honour [...]]]>

As last night’s Memory Tapes show at The Social was his second ever gig – the first being two night’s back in Manchester – I am honoured with being one of the first people to reveal a live shot of Mr Memory Tapes, although I think it fair to note that I share this honour with the esteemed Anikainlondon.

The Memory Tapes live experience is brilliantly transported from the wonderful Seek Magic album to become a whole new beast altogether – it’s more visceral and inventive rather than a simple attempt to reproduce the sound and songs of the album. More guitar heavy, with some ace live percussion and a perfect melding of the synthetic and the organic – just brilliant. He’s playing again tonight at The Luminaire and I’ll be there again and even more expectant. Good times ahead etc.

I’m excited beyond all reason to be taking pictures of Memory Tapes tonight at what is his first london show (courtesy of the wonderful Ill Fit night) and his second ever live performance. His first long player ‘Seek Magic’ was pretty much the only thing I listened to throughout December and [...]]]>

Picture taken from http://www.myspace.com/memorytapes

I’m excited beyond all reason to be taking pictures of Memory Tapes tonight at what is his first london show (courtesy of the wonderful Ill Fit night) and his second ever live performance. His first long player ‘Seek Magic’ was pretty much the only thing I listened to throughout December and it’s always kinda cool when you get to see/meet/take pics of the source behind such a thing.

Heading down to the venue for soundcheck late afternoon to say hi to Mr Tapes (aka Dayve Hawk, which is such an awesome real name, you wonder why he changed it) and hang out. If any of y’all are coming along tonight, it’s free and the doors open at 7 but this is gonna fill up fast! I’ll also be at The Luminaire tomorrow night shooting the show for The Fly (tonight’s show is for Stereogum and Something in Construction)