Speed Beaver Music

These guys were a bit of a rum do. Firstly, the singer appeared to have forgotten any trousers and what looked like some particularly funky hose was actually poetry inscribed on her leg. Then the drums. Two kits back to back sharing a kick drum and two drummists going at it hammer and tongs. This was a short-notice gig so their audience was sparse but still pressed up against the stage dutifully and interacting with the band. Interesting stuff.

Myspace here.

Last time I saw them, it ended with the singer covered in blood and ending up in hospital. This time he merely made full use of the vacant space at the front of the stage and the gent’s toilet to augment the pitiful stage size. As well as blatantly eyeing up my girlfriend. All’s fair in love and rock and roll I guess. Still, she scored a promo CD.

Rocking band, should go far!

Myspace here.

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.

More pics
Myspace

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

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

The Electric Boys played at the Camden Underworld last week, as a warm-up to their stint supporting Thunder on three dates of their farewell tour. More recently seen in Ginger and the Sonic Circus and Hanoi Rocks, it’s great to see Conny Bloom occupying the position of frontman once again, making use of every inch of the Underworld’s stage. As usual, the lighting at the Underworld is challenging, with a strobe behind the drumkit, but it makes for some interesting shots. My biggest problem (as always with bands that I really enjoy) is trying to keep still enough to take pictures. This was a very welcome return by some of Sweden’s finest.

More Electric Boys on Flickr
Electric Boys 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

A St. Trinians style outfit is never a bad start and these girls didn’t disappoint: fast, thrashy and plenty of attitude. Sadly, they cleared the room, reflecting more on the audience more than the band. They’re new and raw but given some more gigs, they’ll definitely shape up into something deserving of a better crowd. Definitely one to watch.

Myspace here.

More pics here.