REVIEW OF 2008
‘Ain’t No Easy Way Out’
As 2008 draws to an end I’m wondering what 2009 holds. For me it’s been a year of musical highs and lows, for most of us it’s been the year that revealed the shallow and short-term nature of politics;
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“Missiles” by The Dears (Dangerbird Records)
For those of you not familiar with The Dears, they hark from Montreal
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The Hours Live
The Hours: 1 December 2008, Ruby Lounge Manchester
There’s a new kid on the block.
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Hanoi Rocks: Is This The End?
Hanoi Rocks are a Finnish band formed in 1979, “The rock band that changed the course of rock.
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Gibson Guitar Launches Dark Fire!
The Most Remarkable New Guitar In 50 Years.
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V Festival 2007!
In preparing for my day at V, I clicked onto the BBC Weather forecast to find a little round symbol depicting a day of rain and eventually sunshine. Now being an optimistic soul (you have to be as a photographer) I plumped for boots rather than wellies and lighter clothing rather than snow gear. As I drove out of Wrexham the rain part of the forecast proved accurate; it was pissing down as dark clouds besieged the town. But being and optimistic soul I thought that as I got closer to Weston Park, some forty miles away, things must get a little brighter (it always rains in Wrexham anyway). And for a while things looked quite promising. My optimism persisted as I found out from a clewed up journo at Weston Park that an unknown band called 606, appearing early on the V Stage, was in fact Dave Grohl in acoustic guise. I was then met by the smiling, attractive faces of my female minders from Cake Media by which time my optimism was at its peak – lovely and friendly young ladies, Grohl, light drizzle. On inspecting the performance schedule for the day I established that the Sunday line-up was the pick of the festival, and an opportunity to see certain acts for the first time, including, Sinead O’Connor, Terra Naomi, Pink, and Juliette & The Licks. My list of must-see acts also included The Editors, Snow Patrol, 606, and the Foo Fighters.
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V Festival 2006!
Here’s a flavour of the V Festival 19 & 20 August 2006.
My associates at Burn magazine covered the metallic Download 2006 leaving me to cocoon myself in the pop-rock of this year’s V Festival. Now between you and me I welcomed the opportunity, and primarily because Radiohead is the only great band I have not photographed in many years of attending live shows. But it didn’t stop there. What’s Paul Weller like live? Can Imogen Heap replicate live what she does so brilliantly on record? Does The Feeling deserve the hype and sales? Can Faithless still lift spirits? Will Razorlight raise the roof? How many punters will prefer to watch Kasabian than pay homage to Radiohead? What are the Editors like? There’s an underground buzz surrounding Crimea - why? Are The Dandy Warhols still one of the best live bands around?
These and many more questions were answered at V Festival 2006. Last year I fried, this year I drowned. Yup, day one was very wet and the rain refused to budge. While my associate wandered off to catch unknown Gavin De Graw I waited for The Dandy Warhols and was rewarded with a ‘best-of’ show of supreme quality. I remember the first time I witnessed the band live in Manchester and buying two of the band’s albums at the merch stand immediately after the show. This was a polished performance devoid of animation but overflowing with artistry and great songs.
Earlier this year Morning Runner released a great but criminally overlooked debut album. V provided the opportunity for many to witness just how good the band and the album are, and the guys grasped the opportunity with one of the performances of the festival.
There’s a major buzz around The Feeling at the moment and a debut album that stormed the charts reaching number one. Not having heard the album I was eager to suck and see. I was impressed. The lead lad performed with heart and soul, the band was as tight as fuck, and every one of the songs was recited by the excited audience. There was something special going on here that earned this little gig a top V fest rating.
Hard Fi hit the main stage running with lead lad Archer leading the onslaught although appearing to be in some discomfort, while bass man Stephens seemed impervious and invisible in his nifty black optics. It was a good show, but not a great one.
Imogen Heap is an eccentric, enigmatic singer/songwriter who in 2006 has released one of our albums of the year. So it was to the JJB Tent that I swam to catch my first glimpse of the lady live. A tent full of devotees that share the secret were treated to a festival highlight. Surrounded by banks of electronics, and brilliant coloured blooms an unpretentious Heap proceeded to chat and sing her way into my personal performance history book. It was an extraordinary exhibition of new album tracks crammed with instrumental dexterity, and a voice of quite stunning quality and range.
Let It Bleed: The Book Of The Tour!
The Rolling Stones: Let It Bleed, The Book Of The Tour! limited to 2600 copies, each signed and numbered by author/photographer Ethan Russell.
In 1968 Ethan Russell was a young American with a Nikon camera living in London and hoping to become a writer. His hobby was photography. A few years later he was one of the foremost rock photographers in the world. From his early, almost accidental, photo sessions with John Lennon and Mick Jagger he went on to photograph the legendary Rolling Stones’ “Rock n Roll Circus,” the single time that John Lennon, Eric Clapton, Keith Richards played in the first “supergroup.” He documented the Beatles “Let It Be” from start to finish. He leapfrogged America with the Stones in the tour of 1969 and again on the celebrity studded 1972 tour. He is the only photographer to create covers for the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Who. For fifteen years, Russell photographed real moments with extraordinary people in a way that pulled timeless portraits from the flow of events.
In the world of high-end collector volumes, Rhino distinguishes itself in this debut release with the same passion and dedication that has made it the leading caretaker of musical legacies for three decades. Crafted to the highest standards using superior materials, this signed limited edition is not just defined by its exceptional content, but the quality of paper, binding, inks and printing. It is only natural that Rhino’s legendary care for the musical history would translate into such a well-crafted and luxurious volume as Rhino extends its music expertise to visual culture.
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Shakenstir Photo Supplement |
DPK: Digital Press Kit |
Europe |
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