Speed Beaver Music

I love shooting bands who put on a good show! Yes, it’s hard work and actually quite difficult, but the results can be awesome!

Last night I went to the Barfly to shoot Aussie rockers Shake and it was possible the best gig (resulting in the best pictures) I did all year! The band rocked so hard that the singer ended up cutting his face and had to be taken to hospital covered in bloody by ambulance. Now that is Rock n Roll! What is it about the Aussies that makes them so special?!

Shake have moved to London about 6 month ago to broaden their fanbase (and possible horizons). Last night was their last gig with the current line-up as sadly two of the members are going back to Australia. I can’t wait for a new Shake line-up to get ready and back out there!

The lights at the Barfly have been hit and miss lately and last night we had everything good and bad lumped into the bands 30 minutes set. I ended up trying lots of different thing with and without the flash. In the end Shake made it easy for me by just being energetic, posing nicely and just being incredibly brilliant! Thank you!

I didn’t even notice that Sam was bleed while I was taking these shots. When I checked the pictures on my camera on the way home, I actually clenched my fist and let out a little “YES!” I think it came out a bit louder then I anticipated because when I looked up, people where looking at me funny :$

More pictures of Shake
Shake on Myspace

Last time I saw Life in Film was at the end of last year and they blew me away with their brilliant songs and sweet harmonies. Since then, the band have release a single (as a free download, so get it!) and are about to release a second.

I had been to Hoxton Bar and Kitchen once before (without my camera) and the thing that really stuck in my mind was the spinning disco ball that reflects little light balls onto the floor and walls and makes the room look like it’s spinning. Bad BAD idea! Especially after you had a few to many drinks :$

More Life in Film pictures
Life in Film Myspace

On Saturday, I went to The Fly again. This time to see a band who are managed by a friend of mine. The night was a bit of a disaster with one band not showing up and another turning up without a drum kit.

Isn’t it custom for the headline band to bring the kit?

Not if the headline band are an electronic outfit who use loops, you twat! And there I was, thinking it was custom to ask. Silly me!

Somehow a drum kit was found at another venue and the night could go on.

I am so glad I don’t have to deal with stuff like that anymore!

Black Market Karma are a great sounding band and they look the part too! They even have their own Bez!!!

More from Black Market Karma
Black Market Karma on Myspace

As Minus IQ are a very active band on stage, to get anything sharp at all, I have to use the flash and as The Fly is notorious for bad lighting, I decided to have some fun with the flashgun. I slowed down the shutter speed to almost one second and let the speed of the flash capture the action. I think I got some very interesting results, different to my usual stuff, but I quite like it.

The band played a brilliant set and I found myself dancing along to their infectious disco/rock songs. I do apologise to the band and their fans who had to witness this atrocity! Sorry!

I came across Rawfox a couple of month ago when they played on the same bill as Run Don’t Walk and was quite impressed by their Who infused rock n roll and energetic drumming. The band seemed to like the couple of snaps I took of them on the night and asked me to come along to Bar Rumba to take some more pictures for them.

I had never been to Bar Rumba before and my expectations where low. But I was pleasantly surprised to find a spacey basement club with a stage and a lighting rig. Apparently the sound system was originally in the now closed Metro club on Oxford Street. I still decided to shoot half the gig with the flash to try and get away from the overly used red light.

More Rawfox pictures
Rawfox Myspace

After only getting back from Germany on Tuesday morning (where I spend a rather Rock ‘n Roll long weekend), I was feeling a little tired but there was no way I was going to miss The Foxes play in London.

I had high hopes for the Islington Bar Academy but things didn’t start well. With seven bands on it didn’t take long for things to run behind schedule. I was starting to wonder if I’d be able to see the band at all or if I had to leave to get the last train home. Yes, that’s how late things ran.

And then there where the rubbish lights! Yes, here we go again! Another venue, another moan about rubbish lights. I decided that I wasn’t going to take anymore and use the flash. So there!

The Foxes played a blinder of a set! In fact I’d say the band is getting better with every gig I see them. And they where great the first time I saw them!

More pictures of The Foxes
The Foxes Myspace

Last time I saw Gareth Icke and his band I promised I’d take some promo pictures of them at their next London gig. So on Thursday night I packed my gear plus my light stand and umbrella and headed off to the Barfly.
When I got there I gathered the band together upstairs in the backstage area and set up my stuff.
Doing promo shots at a venue before or after a band goes on stage is never ideal, but I think I did OK in the 10 – 15 minutes we spend on different poses and line-ups.

Later on I took some pictures when the band played their headline slot. The light was the worst I had EVER seen at the Barfly and I was close to getting my flash out. I ended up converting a lot of pictures to black and white due to the washed out purple stage light.

More pictures of Gareth Icke and his band
Gareth Icke Myspace

What a brilliant night! Run Don’t Walk played a blinding set, impressing the crowed with their sweet harmonies, passionate power pop songs and their rocking riffs.

The venue lights on the other hand…Well sadly, some things never change! One day I will get nice lights for this band!

More Run Don’t Walk pictures
Run Don’t Walk Myspace