Speed Beaver Music

Some bands really know how to throw you a curve ball and Great Imitation are without doubt experts in this field.  Opening the Musician Stage at Leicester’s Summer Sundae Weekender, they started out with some funky mash-ups of well known tracks such as MC Hammer’s Hammertime and Kanye West’s Goldigga with a style that falls somewhere between camp vaudevillian comedy and  rap/rock crossover with a good sprinkling of R&B to confuse anyone foolish enough to think they know what’s coming.

It was all good light-hearted entertainment, perfect for a sunny start to one of the most relaxed easy-going boutique festivals around.  Then lead singer James Scott announced there were just two songs left and that the next song would be a little different.

“Real Men Hit Things” was indeed different, a bleak story of domestic violence performed with an intensity that left people gobsmacked and more than a little choked as the story reached it’s predictable tragic climax.

A band that can play with an audience’s emotions to this level are surely bound for greater things than simple imitation.

BANDS: Great Imitation – Images by mike gatiss

Sometimes my heart sinks a little when a mate says “come along and see my brother’s band. Uh, OK. We turned up to the Water Rats a tad late due to some preparatory beer over the road and I immediately ducked downstairs to get rid of it again. There, I heard a very reassuring not at all straight 4 kick drum beat pounding through the ceiling. Things were looking up! Once upstairs and camera set up, I still took the time to enjoy some really nice proggy indie-ish rock. Maybe with some catchier hooks and populist songs they could take another step up. Nice one.

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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!

Last night was 80′s night in Camden. With pounding Human League and Durannies downstairs, the Minus IQ guys brought it back upstairs with rather more jumping about than the originals usually managed. It wasn’t rammed but with a posse of photographers and a line of fangirls at the front it certainly had a buzzy feel about it. They’re at the Fly again next week. Should be much more intense then.

Minus IQ myspace.
More pics here.

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

Got a soft spot for these guys. First shot them maybe four years ago in the assorted vaults and pubs of Bath back when they were in short trousers metaphorically. With a new album just released, they’ve taken a step forward from the previous over-Buckleyesque stuff finding their voice more. Tonight’s gig even contained cheeky bass and drum solos. Recommended. Sadly the lights were crap and I had to flashy thing them but I think it turned out OK.

Maybe there’s something about being told a band is good predisposes one to like them? Maybe there’s something to that but the band has to deliver. Bleech did. They’re a really nice tight three-piece. Yes, having two pretty girls helps, but they produced the goods. Definitely one to watch.

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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