Tag Archive for "The Blackwater Fever"
The +1 Records showcase at The Zoo provided a chance to catch up some local bands that I hadn’t seen for a while.
Having said that, Black Mustang were one of those bands that I had never gotten around to seeing, although they had one of the best songs on the Brisbane Sounds 2009 compilation, ‘Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea‘. As it’s the only song of theirs that I know it’s the obvious highight in their set.
The Blackwater Fever disappointed me when I saw them last time at Brisbane Sounds 2009, mainly because I think there are better two-pieces covering similar ground. Tonight they frustrate me by playing in near darkness with no front lighting and very little back lighting, meaning that their set becomes an exercise in trying to second guess when there might be an occasional flash of light in which to take a photo.
I can’t remember the last time that I’d seen Mexico City, but have a feeling that it might have been at The Rev, a venue that became an R&B club at least a couple of years ago. There’s been a change in their line-up, with Tanzie from Giants of Science now playing bass for them and they seem to have a lot harder sound than I remember them having but maybe I wasn’t paying full attention, concentrating on trying to get some decent photos at the usually poorly lit Rev.
I have always enjoyed Rollerball when I’ve seen them, the last time being at the Ding Dong in Melbourne last year. As well as being a showcase for their record label, the band is also launching their new album, ‘Submarine‘, tonight and so play a fairly substantial set, although I think it’s probably too long and they would have been better off playing a shorter, punchier set. More photos from the night on Flickr.
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.Â
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
