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Archive for June, 2009
Monday, June 29th, 2009
Three awesome days that can only be appreciated with the total lack of sleep that goes with it, as after work there are drinks and after drinks there is… editing of course. Expect some hectic updates on the Hard Rock Calling festival backstage coverage, if I manage to go through the thousands of images before the next gig (crossing fingers for Madonna). But for the time being, The Boss of all who Rock, not a single little pause in over 3 hours of intense performance, huge respect to Mr Springsteen!!
 Bruce Springsteen backstage at Hard Rock Calling 2009, London June 28 2009
Tags: bruce sprinsteen, Hard Rock Cafe
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Friday, June 19th, 2009
More of my top list heroes with these two geniuses that are Omar RodrÃguez-López and Cedric Bixler-Zavala and the whole Mars Volta crew. Ever since I saw At The Drive In years ago the first time, that was a free gig at my ‘local’ in Poitiers (the place was barely big enough for the band itself, that was a totally explosive show!) they became one of my first inspirational act. Mars Volta is a completely different story musicwise but the adrenaline is still there and these two are well crazy on stage. Great to see them play in such a small venue, even if I have to say the sound wasn’t the best but that was fantastic all the same. Oh and Thomas Pridgen is probably the best drummer the world has, gobsmacking!
Ok I know I have already been ranting about lack of light lately but that one wasn’t exception, lol.
 Mars Volta at the ICA, London - 18 June 2009
Tags: el paso, mars volta, progressive rock
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Thursday, June 18th, 2009
I had missed out on a few metal events lately but last night made up for it with none other than thrash metal heroes Anthrax for an intimate show at the ULU (University of London Union). Now performing with their new frontman Dan Nelson the band performed a monster of a set, old and new songs, in front of a full on audience of sweaty headbangers, a constant flow of crowd surfers as well as members of Anvil. Huge.
 Anthrax performing at ULU, London - 16 June 2009 They were supported by Suicide Silence, deathcore from California, I arrived only just in time to get a few shot.
 Suicide Silence performing at ULU, LOndon - 16 June 2009
Tags: heavy metal, metal, thrash metal
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Saturday, June 13th, 2009
Some more ol’ british punks last night at Shepherds Bush Empire with the ‘3-4-1′ tour fronted by The Damned. Well it’s 2-4-1 for me as I miss the first act – Henry Cluney. Then came The Alarm (originally formed as ‘The Toilets’ in 1977) fronted by Mike Peters.
 The Alarm at Shepherds Bush Empire - June 12 2009 And The Damned invaded the stage and rocked through a long set and encore, Dave Vanian styled like a Tex Avery wolf (or it actually reminded me of Olrik from ‘Blake and Mortimer’ – for those who know about Edgar P. Jacob  ). And the Captain as his Sensible self, sporting his own T-shirt, rocking like a fool and being abused by traditional chants from the audience. I only received a few pints on my back – being in the pit during a show from The Damned is at your own risks, hehe.
 The Damned at Shepherds Bush Empire - June 12 2009
Tags: 1977, captain sensible, damned, dave vanian, punk, Shepherds Bush Empire
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Friday, June 12th, 2009
Originally lined up for a metal night shooting Faith No More in Brixton, it turned out they were not accrediting photographers so I inherited another pretty cool show to go to: the Buzzcocks! Good thing the overground wasn’t on strike and even though it took me a while I was on time at the Forum although I missed John Cooper Clarke opening for this MOJO Honours awards show. Again lucky no beer (or cider) reached my camera when The Fall started their set, a reminiscence from a few years ago when I shot them and someone emptied 2 pints, one by one, on my head as soon as the show started, nice. But what was common to last time was the complete lack of lighting, except the red/blue darkish lighting. Is it me or while camera ISO’s get higher gigs get darker? Grumpy Mark E. Smith was walking around the stage, playing with his musicians’ amps and fiddling with his 2 or 3 mikes, loosing them here and there on his path. Depspite the light that was a pretty good set really, hey I even saw MES smile, when he exchanged a look with his wife Elena, on the synths .
 The Fall - HMV Forum, London 10 June 2009 Then The Buzzcocks ran onstage and Steve Diggle never stopped jumping around and striking punk rock poses his Rickenbacker high in the air for a good explosive set.
 The Buzzcocks - HMV Forum, London 10 June 2009 … and took me ages to get back home.
Some more cult punkrockers tomorrow night, stay tuned!
Tags: Forum, Mark E Smith, Pete Shelley, punk, Steve Diggle
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Saturday, June 6th, 2009
I forgot to update last week with the latest shots, a mix of genre starting with American pianist Robert Levin, rehearsing for his performance at Queen Elizabeth Hall. It was a bit surreal to be the only other person present in the venue, a bit self conscious about the sound of my shutter.
 Robert Levin rehearsing in Queen Elizabeth Hall - 30 May 2009 After enjoying a nice meal on a sunny Southbank terrace (that was like the sunniest day of the year so far) I went for my second assignment, another rehearsal/soundcheck of Paris based Vietnamese singer Huong Thanh with Hong Nguyen on sen luth, zither and percussion, and Xuan Vinh Phuoc on moon lute, nhi and monochord.
 Huong Thanh at the Purcell Room, Southbank center - 30 May 2009 Followed by a nice and lazy end of afternoon enjoying the sun on a deck chair in front of the Foyle’s astroturf terrace, brilliant . Next day was for something completely different again: John Barrowman performing at the Royal Albert Hall!
 John Barrowman at the Royal Albert Hall - 1st June 2009 I have a feeling the next few entries will be a bit more, er.. metal. Stay tuned .
Tags: a, classicl, haydn, piano, recital, Royal Albert Hall, traditional, vietnam, world music
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