Going into a new year!

So after a long period of time and without a post since I shot W.A.S.P at the Leeds O2 Academy, I thought I had better update my blog and let you guys know (well those that are interested in knowing) what I've been up to in the past few months!


Firstly I got an email confirmation saying I had an AAA pass for the Human League's XXXV tour... which is always a good email to get in these harsh winters. I wanted to shoot one of the show's so I went to a few of the shows before I shot the show in Sheffield to get to see what the lights were like and get prepared. I travlled up to Nottingham to see them at the royal concert hall and then the next day I travlled up to Halifax to see them at the Halifax theater which, if I don't say so myself, was a LOT better than Nottingham. The crowd was more livey and the band were in full swing.

It came to the night of the Sheffield show and I was all prepared to shoot! There was no one else in the pit apart from a friend of the bands keyboard player, Neil, who was a photographer called Tracey Welch. No paper or website had commision for the show which was a nice feeling and I could shoot the entire show from where I wanted plus have the usual 3 songs from the pit. Another success that came from having no other photographers there was that if anyone needed any photos they had to come to me for them... I was in luck! The lighting and set design company wanted a photo of the set being used in action and I made a sale.

Next up for me was shooting a much loved band of mine... the mighty Thin Lizzy who I had previously missed out on earlier this year when they played the city hall in Sheffield. This time I was at the Leeds O2 again and after shooting W.A.S.P there a few months back knew how difficult it was. The pit is about 3 feet wide and the stage is quite tall for an O2 academy so I was litrally shooring up Scotty's nose! I got 3 songs from the pit and then was told I could shoot the rest of the shot from anywhere else. It was a good job as well as the lighting for the first 3 songs were shocking! The first song 'Are you ready' I wouldn't say was a song as it doesn't last that long then the band kicked into the Lizzy classic 'Jailbreak' to which the crowd jumped up and down in time clapping (I missed some wothwhile shots there).

All in all this year has gone well for me and I hope that my exams in the coming year don't stand in the way too much so I can still shoot some awesome stuff! I'm hoping to get on the NME tour photo list :-P Let's hope I do.

Brit Floyd Live Sheffield City Hall 2012

Now usually I’m not one to go and see a tribute band, after all why see a cheap tribute when you can pay decent money and go see the real thing in a big arena packed full of people and that has a great atmosphere. Tributes are made up of musicians that try to act like the band member from the official band and usually do a very poor job trying pulling it off, they can’t sing like the original band can nor can they pull of some of the crazy solos that their guitar heroes can pull off. Tributes are just awful. Enter Brit Floyd, the number one tribute to Pink Floyd. These guys have been all the way round the world and have actually played the big arenas playing everything from ‘Money’ to ‘Comfortably numb’ and in front of thousands.  They have the looks, the personality and the feel that Pink Floyd had back in the 70’s and 80’s and if you shut your eyes you would not be able to tell the two bands apart. Pink Floyd was once one of the biggest bands in the world and still to this day sell millions of records and have the 2^nd best ever selling album titled ‘Dark Side of The Moon’. To become a Pink Floyd tribute you have to get it right 100% and have no room for error.

I had seen adverts for this band all over the internet and through posters in Sheffield and with each one was attached a snippet of a review and a 5 star rating attached to every one of them. Well I can tell you the band was a 5 star tribute; they had brought everything with them that you would expect a true Pink Floyd band to bring including Pink Floyd’s light show and the projections that shine down onto the stage and the backdrop, I was shocked at the supreme quality this band had managed to deliver to us, the audience. They had the effects and stage production of Pink Floyd down to a tee and I was blown away. The only thing they were missing, only because they were playing such a small venue, was the inflatable pig and school teacher otherwise their stage production was fantastic!

The band itself was made up of guitarist/singer Damian Darlington, bassist/singer Ian Cattell, lead guitar Bobby Harrison, drummer Arran Ahmun, keyboard player Rick Benbow, sax player Carl Brunsdon and backing singers Emily Jollands, Rosaleen O'Connell, Jacquie Williams and Ola Bienkowska. The 4 female singers did a great job at singing the backing vocals to all the songs and when singer Ola Bienkowska stepped up on her own to sing the powerful Great Gig in The Sky she blew the audience away. I’ve heard people try to sing this song but I have heard no one with a voice powerful enough to sing it and reach them high notes without being out of tune and it sounding like a cat getting run over. She had it and it was raw and energetic and was topped off with a standing ovation from the whole of Sheffield city hall. The rest of the band too were fantastic and bassist and singer Ian Cattell, who I presume was meant to be the Roger Waters of the group, did a terrific job at playing his part. What stood out mostly for me was when Ian sang ‘Comfortably numb’ dressed in a doctors outfit and dealing with a patient sat in a chair on stage, it was the song I thought really brought out the band’s stage production. Damian took over Gilmour’s part at the vocals and the two together were like the last two pieces of a jigsaw, they fit perfectly! At the point where it was time for Gilmour’s solo in the song Damian was ready and pulled it off note for note, it could have been the real thing up there playing this but no it was someone who had literally just mastered it and didn’t go wrong once. This was accompanied by the whole hall lighting up and a disco ball hanging from the ceiling that added to the already therapeutic atmosphere that was inside the hall, I couldn’t have been more relaxed if I wanted to be.

The set-list that these guys played was based on the new Pink Floyd hits album named “A Foot in The Door” which was released back in November 2011 and features mostly the hits from “Dark Side of The Moon”, “The Wall” and “Wish You Were Here” albums. The album also contains hits from other Pink Floyd albums such as ‘High Hopes’ from “The Division Bell” and ‘Learning to Fly’ from “A Momentary Lapse of Reason”. The set-list included the obvious hits such as ‘money’, ‘Another Brick in The wall’, ‘Pigs’ and ‘Run Like Hell’ which was the band’s closing song and was the song that got people on their feet clapping and cheering on the band. This 45 date UK tour also concentrated on another one of Pink Floyd’s hits albums named “Echoes” which was released November 2001 and features a wider variety of Pink Floyd hits unlike the “A Foot in The Door” album which is a more condensed compilation album. They got the set-list just right, taking a mix of songs from both these albums. They enjoyed playing it and most importantly the crowd loved watching it! 

Overall this band were jaw dropping to say the least, they were very authentic and came with the whole package. The show and the stage production were outstanding and the lighting was unbelievably great!! If you are going to become a tribute band to really pay respects to a world class band especially one as successful as Pink Floyd, then you need to do it right and I can say with all honesty... Brit Floyd you did just that! What an unforgettable night and a breathtaking experience 11/10 for all you guys!

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Press pass for Brit floyd

Just a quick update to say I have got a press pass for the Brit floyd show at the Sheffield city hall. I have also been given a pair of tickets to show (how nice of the promotors). I will upload a full review and pictures after the event which is next thursday on the 24th. Till then...

Alice Cooper No More Mr. Nice Guy Live tour review

Live Review: Alice Cooper plus special guests The Treatment

It’s a stormy night in Sheffield city centre and people have come from miles around to witness the rebirth of the king of shock rock and the price of all things dark and ugly, Alice Copper. Alice Cooper, now 63, has risen from the grave to give Sheffield the show of a life time on his Halloween Night of Fear tour and for one night only.

Backing Mr. Cooper himself on this road trip from hell was the London band “The Treatment” who in my opinion, were an 80’s wanna-be old school metal band. For nearly all of their set the crowd were sat down and didn’t really take that much interest in what these guys had to offer. I thought they were very good and could have related to the old school Iron Maiden as lead singer Matt Jones weaved in and out of different singing styles just as Paul D’Anio had done back in 1980. These guys gave you blood, and in the words of AC/DC “If you want blood, you got it!!”

Since becoming famous back in the 60’s for his “Schools out for summer” single, Alice “Vincent” Cooper has become one of the most iconic performers on this planet mixing his take on theatre and somewhat un p.c songs and putting them together into one show-stopping act. Since the 60’s Alice has been through a few changes in line up but has brought back one of his original guitarists Steve Hunter for his Halloween tour. He also has recruited Michael Jackson’s would be guitarist 25 year old Orianthi. Together along with Glenn Sobel, Tommy Henriksen and Chuck Garric they make the ultimate team of terrors.

As the house lights dimmed the big curtain at the front of the stage lit up and Vincent Price’s voice sounded through the whole room and the certain dropped to reveal Cooper stood on a big podium with horrifying spider’s arms coming out of him. Now usually when people go to a Cooper show they expect a big bang for the first song but Alice had decided to do one of his early songs “The Black widow” from the Welcome to My Nightmare album, a less thrill- seeking song. At either side of the stage stood the band mates and in the centre Cooper’s Servants. Alice stands at the top of the podium arms spread to reveal each spider arm and leers down at the crowd. Without even doing anything Alice always seems to get the crowd going as almost every person in the room was trying to get as close as they could to this creature of the night.

As Alice Cooper said his first words the room felt the chill go up their spines and they knew he meant business. One of the best things you get when you buy a ticket to see Cooper is that you know you’re getting what you paid for... a show that could wake the dead! He is able to communicate with his audience without having to talk between songs, each song flows from one to the other, almost all of them been ended with Alice beating his fists to the final bloodcurdling beats.

“Brutal Planet” followed as Alice stepped down and puts on a studded jacket with his previous tour’s “No More Mr Nice Guy” written on the back and strutting up and down the stage glaring at the crowd. The whole atmosphere changes as whoever was behind the lighting controls knew how to make a good scene. As the song ends Cooper picks up a huge crutch and “18” begins to play to which the crowd, thirsty for blood, erupt. Cooper staggers around on stage with this massive crutch supporting him and when it comes to the chorus’s lets the crowd scream out the lyrics. Out of all the shows I have attended I have never heard a crowd have so much energy when it comes to singing along. 18 is one of Alice’s old classics and he stands looking proud as people, young and old chant his words back to him. More classics such as “No More Mr Nice Guy” and “Billon Dollar Baby” follow to which Alice turns on his theatrical charm. At the start of “No More...” Cooper thrusts his cane out to the crowd and looked delighted at the carnage he had caused as the crowd fought for it.

The solos that came from his band members were very impressive and gave you what you wanted when you came to a rock show, especially Orianthi’s solo at the end of “Billion Dollar Baby” to which a bright spot light hit her as she stood in the middle of the stage and belted out a screeching solo that made blood pour out every hole in your body. For a 25 year old she did very well to get this far. As the show progressed it was clear to me that Cooper, for this show, was concentrating on the songs and the energy rather than the whole stage show, which after 2 years of his “Theatre Of Death” tour I reckon he should have.

It was now time for what the crowd had been wanting, which was to hear a song from his new album “I’ll Bite Your Face Off” to which Cooper emerged wearing a leather jacket with the words I’ll bite your face off on the back. The crowd seemed to love it and when Cooper sang that chorus I really wouldn’t have gotten too close. During the rhythmic guitar solo Cooper took of his jacket to reveal a bloodstained shirt underneath and as he turned the words “New song” were printed on the back. The new song was a success as everyone was trying to get the words right as they tried to sing along.

So far the night had been a great comeback for Cooper in Sheffield’s eyes as not one person was sat in their seat but the crowd knew things were coming to a slow end. The lights dimmed and a very worn out Cooper was seen sat on a small stool on stage ready to sing the Ballard “Only Women Bleed” to which he passionately serenaded and kissed a “women” doll at the end. This song merged into his questionable and un p.c “Cold Ethyl” to which he turned into the wicked man he is and rags the doll round the stage, does unthinkable gestures and sings about Ethyl who’s great in bed and she should be because Ethyl’s dead! Alice does a great job at doing this song and after meeting the legend himself after the show back at the stage doors I can tell all you readers that all the actions he does in the song is purely his persona “Alice”. A second pre-recorded voice filled the sweaty hall as feed my Frankenstein starts and for the first time we get to see some of Alice’s Stage charm as he and “Egor” bring to life a 15 foot monster which chases the bloodstained Cooper round the stage singing along to his own song. This generated a few gasps from the crowd as never before had Cooper attempted this level of stage trickery. The 15 foot beast was truly hypnotic as the crowd didn’t dare to peel their eyes away in case they missed anything. 

The band exited the stage and remerged all dressed as Alice to do a song from the less successful album of “Flush the Fusion” which afterwards may prove to be a song that they now do on every tour as the crowd had obviously not heard this live before but had proved to be a definite win. “Wicked Young Man” proved itself also as Cooper’s Torturous stage antics returned to have him stab a camera man. Next comes one of Coopers most famous gimmicks, the head chopping act to which a drum roll beats to his death and the crowd lifts their hands as a token of respect to the dead rocker.

Schools out brought it altogether for one last rock out, a bell rang out and Alice is seen stood there with his head down and raises it to begin the ultimate rock anthem “Schools Out”. Alice is now equipped with his trusty cane again and has the best costume change of the night, a silver jacket and top hat. To the audiences surprise the middle of the song contained an extract of pink Floyds Another Brick In The Wall to which after Alice screams it’s party time in Sheffield and it was indeed as about 20 balloons the size of beach balls were launched at the crows releasing confetti and glitter. The band gave their final farewells and were ready to rest again but not before one final song and elected was the chosen one. Cooper marched onto the stage with a tribute to the United Kingdom... a giant union jack flag and for the first time all night spoke out to the crowd after screaming out the song “Elected”.

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SCHOOLS OUT SHEFFIELD!!

Thin Lizzy Live reviw at Sheffield city hall

In 1986 a man called Phill Lynott died of heart failure, on the 6^th February 2011 a close friend of Phil’s died of heart attack this man was called Gary Moore. Together these two along with Scott Gorham, Brian Robertson and Brian Downey made the Irish born rock band Thin Lizzy. Thin Lizzy made they're big debut back in 1972 with the single “whiskey in the jar” and from then on they continued to grow and grow until the death of lead singer, front man and bassist Phill Lynott, died after years of drug use and drinking. The band stopped and then saw Gary Moore take on a very successful solo career as a blues guitarist and who played on the same stage with BB King and Albert King. In 1996 Scott gathered members to reform a “new” Thin Lizzy which included original drummer Brian Downey.

The last time Lizzy played Sheffield prior to tonight was in 2007 when they played the memorial hall. Unfortunately I had missed that chance to see them so seeing them come back and play again was more than I could have asked for. The supporting bands for the night were Triggerfinger (a 3 man band consisting of vocalist Ruben Block, bassist Paul Van and drummer Mario Goossens. When I arrived these guys were just going off stage so I didn’t get a chance to see them but from what I heard when I asked the people next to us is that they did put on a good show and apparently had people on their feet (which is not what support bands usually do at a small venue like Sheffield). Thin Lizzy also had another support band for the night called Clutch who I had heard of before and maybe some of you readers may know them if I were to mention the song “electric worry” which including a strong blues riff accompanied with a killer harmonica solo! I have to say these guys I would quite happily see play without another band supporting them. It was a shame though that they didn’t have a organ player with them as some of their album songs have really good blues riffs played on a rock organ that would have sounder amazing in the city hall thanks to the brilliant acoustics the venue has.

At 9:15 the lights went out and a the city hall erupted with cheers and whistles and shouts and the Thin Lizzy logo was shown on a big white curtain, beamed onto it by a lazar and a loud voice shouted out “ARE YOU READY!” the curtain dropped and their stood the band all surging into “are you ready” taken from their album Life released in 1983. I was disappointed at first as everyone was still sat down when the band came on and no one was stood up, that’s not what the band wants to see and they weren’t taking any of it, as soon as the first song was over they said “if you want more then you’re going to have to stand up and sing with us!” to which everyone did stand and the band kicked into “jailbreak” which I have to say has to be one of my favourite Lizzy songs. Following these was more classic hits such as “Bad Reputation”, “Killer on the Loose” and “Dancin’ in the Moonlight” (not to be mistaken with the cheesy song by Toploader!! When I had heard that Lizzy had gotten back together again in this new line-up and with a new singer I was doubting whether Scotty had managed to find a singer as good as Gary or Phil and... He did it. He had recruited Belfast boy Ricky Warwick who sounded exctually like Phil and could sing every song note for note!

This new line up of Thin Lizzy also included guitarist Damon Johnson and for those people who go to regular gigs at the city hall may know him from Alice Cooper shows there as he spent many years touring with him and to see him in Lizzy saw him ditch the eyeliner and horror makeup and see him become the great guitarist he was equipped with Garry Moore’s personal choice of guitar... the famous Les Paul. The band gave Johnson the honour of playing the famous intro to “Whiskey in the Jar” to which every person in the hall cheered and got their phones and cameras out. The city hall is known to be quite strict when it came to rock concerts but even the security guards couldn’t stop the hundred or so people down in the stalls from jumping up and down and dancing around with each other, it was a great moment for someone of my age to witness.... seems as though all the people there had most likely been listening to Lizzy since they were my age and were now in their 60’s. The band must of known that this would have been the big hit of the night as this was the song that the band used to “toy” with the crowd. They let everyone sing the chorus on their own and the amplitude of people’s voices was crazy, it echoed all over the place and the man next to me had tears down his face (no joke ha-ha).

The band was reaching the end of their set-list now but they saved their most famous song till last... with no count in or warning one of the most famous rock intros boomed through the speakers “The Boys Are Back In Town” from out of nowhere like they hadn’t even been there everyone in the balcony seats and even the 4 people who were sat in the top balcony stood up and started dancing to this, the boys were really back in town! Glitter and confetti poured from above and created a wild snowstorm around the whole of the stalls. The best thing about hearing this song live is hearing the harmonised solo that Damon and Scotty played together; it is one of the most iconic solos ever created. Thin Lizzy was actually one of the first bands to have 2 lead guitarists in it and to play together in nearly all their solos. For me I couldn’t have wanted more, it was all too good to be true. After the song was over the band all gathered and took a bow only to the sound of groans and moans from all around... the crowd would not settle for just that, they wanted more!! The band walked offstage and the Thin Lizzy logo lit up behind them and the cheers for more continued and got louder and louder. After leaving the crowd waiting a few minutes the band walked back on stage and played the encore consisting of “Emerald”, “Rosalie” (a Bob Seger cover) and finally ending the night with “Black rose”. After the encore the band did one last bow together and blew kisses of gratitude to everyone and walked off shaking a few hands along the way. I think everyone could say that the whole band, even those new to Thin Lizzy, did Gary Moore and Phil proud that night!

This review goes out to Gary Moore who the world lost almost a year ago, a talented guitarist and musician R.I.P

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