As well as taking the usual digital photos at Brisbane Sounds 2009, as previously posted here, I also took a couple rolls of Ilford HP5, rating the ISO400 film at ISO1600 and then developing them for 14 minutes in ID-11 developer.  The results are very grainy, as was expected, although slightly less than the photos from the middle Saturday at the UnderExposed when the film was rated at ISO3200.

A few more on Flickr.

Screamfeeder

Gentle Ben & His Sensitive Side

Vegas Kings

It was only when I started processing these photos that the significance struck home; as a photographer you wait years, a lifetime perhaps, for that one perfect split second moment to create an icon, construct the legend or fuel the myth. 

I know that every few blog posts I end up including a link to this photo; as a music photographer it’s inescapable.  Let’s call it ‘The Pennie Smith Moment’.  As music photographers will forever be posting in Flickr forums, historically the great music photos were not hindered by stupid music industry rules and conditions that are inescapable in the modern age.  ‘The Pennie Smith Moment’ happened because she was on tour with The Clash, had access all areas and was free to photograph for as long as she wanted, from wherever she wanted.

When opportunity presents itself you need to read the situation, anticipate what is going to happen next and be ready for when it does happen.

“I remember thinking something was wrong, realising Paul was going to crack – and waited. The shot is out of focus because I ducked – he was closer than it looks” – Pennie Smith

With the generously suppplied AAA pass from The Zoo, I find myself side of stage at the end of the Vegas Kings‘ set.  The band are building to an end of set noisy climax, Pete and Ben swinging their guitars around and holding them aloft as the end of the last song builds up to a crescendo. And then Ben has the guitar above his head and without warning  hurls it guitar neck-wards towards the stage.  Being the main guitar I’ve seen him over the last few years and with Vegas Kings also being in the studio recording a new album I just wasn’t expecting it to happen, expecting him to feign a throw and just swing it around.

So with the combination of not anticipating it, being a single shot photographer as opposed to a machine-gunner and the darkness of the Zoo I end up with a close-but-no-cigar single shot – an underexposed, not-quite-in-focus, noisy, red light lit photo that could only really be saved by making it monochrome, with Pete’s guitar lead dangling down the middle – and a yearning for another once in a lifetime photo opportunity, another ‘Pennie Smith Moment’ to come my way sometime soon.

More photos on Flickr.

Screamfeeder

Gentle Ben & His Sensitive Side

Vegas Kings

The Blackwater Fever

New Jack Rubys

The Mercy Beat

The first, and indeed last, time I saw Rocket Science was when I photographed the first Come Together festival at Luna Park in Sydney in April 2005. This was when it was a one day festival of smaller indie/alt Australian bands, before it became a two day metal/emo festival with Australian and International bands (although the 2008 bill, is one day of indie, one day of metal/emo). After that day they seemed to completely disappear.

Although they have had their share of mishaps over the years, not least singer/organist/theremin-ist Roman Tucker’s head injury/induced coma back in 2004, it seems like they’ve being doing the marriage, children, extra-curricular band thing for the last couple years.

Good to see them back and sounding so good. In typical fashion the Zoo lighting was rubbish, although not as bad as the recent My Disco gig. I only stayed for half their set as the May Day holiday on the Monday meant that the Rave deadline was midday on Friday and, as I don’t have access to Photoshop at work, I had to sort out the photos and send them in before I went to bed.

Gentle Ben & His Sensitive Side were first band on the night but weren’t at their best. Obviously missing Texas Kate who had flown off to Germany earlier in the day for the start of the Texas Tea European tour. I Heart Hiroshima were the main support and are doing the whole tour with Rocket Science. When I first saw them, back in maybe late 2005/early 2006 I thought they were a fantastic band and tipped them for great things on certain Australian music websites. Don’t know why but they’ve never been the same since Mel left. Seem to be doing ok for themselves though, with lots of high profile tour supports and festivals.

Some more photos on flickr.

Rocket Science

I Heart Hiroshima