It’s rare that my lovely wife and I get to head along to a show together. For the second time this year though, it happened. The 90′s boyband extravaganza known simply as NKOTBSB provided such an opportunity, and covering the event for Faster Louder I was curious to discover if all photographers would be made to don white suits and take photos in a highly choreographed manner. We weren’t. Gallery: NKOTBSB |
Kaiser Chiefs (UK)
Whilst not even 12 months have passed since their last visit, Leeds lads the Kaiser Chiefs took to the same stage in Melbourne they’d played last August to deliver a hit-packed set. Promoting their singles retrospective Souvenir, the 5 piece had the whole stage to themselves whilst in the middle of festival slots for the annual Groovin’ The Moo Festival. |
Prince (USA)
Prince (14th May 2012, Rod Laver Arena)
No photos from Prince tonight, but a killer show deserves, at least, a few lines written about it.
After Prince’s first Australian shows in 8 years had finished up in Sydney, and the reviews were hitting the press, it was interesting to read a mixed bag of amazement, bewilderment, and at times criticism.
One of the main charges levelled at Prince, the 2012 edition, is that his show was ‘self indulgent’ . To head to a Prince show and expect anything less is like turning up to a Britney Spears show only to be shocked that she actually mimes. With no support act, the sold out Rod Laver Arena crowd sprung into action when the rolling 80s videos on the overhead screens stopped and purple thunderstorms crackled into action.
In the centre of the self styled ‘Love Symbol’ shaped stage, guitarist Andy McKee delivered an acoustic instrumental version of Purple Rain which captivated the crowd, before returning to beneath the stage. Replacing McKee on the stage was the man himself, his (rather generously credited) 5’2” frame, accentuated by customary stillettos received the reception you’d expect, and ripping straight into Gold the little man with the big back catalogue brought the funk.
Flanked by his NPG backing singers, and backed by an incredible band, Prince announced Melbourne was about the witness the Jam of the Year, and delivering the song of the same name it was difficult to argue.
Having reportedly rehearsed over 100 songs for the tour, it was still the ubiquitous Prince hits that kept the crowd on their feet. Let’s go Crazy, 1999, Delirious, Little Red Corvette and Raspberry Beret all featured in the first half of the show, but it was the middle block of songs: Cream, Cool and Sometimes It Snows in April that would prove the night’s highlight. Without a planned setlist as such, Prince’s live show suffers at times from peaks and troughs – there’s no gradual change of gear but rather immediate tempo and energy swings. The almost 5 minute long single note intro to Love They Will Be Done, where Prince takes up the bass guitar duties, is tedious – though the song made famous by Martika in the 1980s delivers on all fronts once it’s allowed to kick in. – more –
Kimbra
Kimbra made a triumphant return to Australia after months spent touring the US. Armed with a killer voice, some new songs, an incredible band and staging to match, she delivered a set that thrilled her growing fanbase. The full gallery is available here. |
The Darkness (UK)
No pass tonight so just a few shots from the crowd of UK crazies The Darkness playing the first of two dates at The Palace. A handful of shots available by clicking through to the gallery. |
Groovin’ The Moo
The town of Bendigo laughed in the face of the bad weather down in Melbourne, and turned on a beautiful day for the annual Groovin’ The Moo Festival. In keeping with other years, variety was a huge drawcard for the event, with plenty of music genres covered throughout the day.Here’s a selection of photos, with a more extensive selection available by clicking through to the gallery. |
Pond
Joseph Ryan, Pond - Northcote Social Club, 22nd April 2012
A Sunday night in Northcote saw the first of 2 sold out shows for West Australian psychadelic rock outfit Pond. The brainchild of a fair chunk of Tame Impala folk have built quite a following, and having caught them once before (as support for The Flaming Lips) I was pretty keen to catch them again.
Arriving early – or so I thought – the Northcote Social Club looked anything but sold out. Seems the set times posted on Facebook had the lads taking the stage at 11:20pm. Turns out they were on at 10:00pm. No doubt some unhappy campers arrived part way into the show.
Nevertheless, there were plenty of folk in at the NSC as Pond took to the stage, launching into an instrumental cacophony of sound, driven primarily by heavy bass and delay filled guitar work from Joseph Ryan.
Henry Rollins (USA)
Henry Rollins - National Theatre, St Kilda, 18th April 2012
Life after music has been good to Henry Rollins. On tour for almost 300 days a year, the American spoken word maestro kicked off his Australian tour in earnest at St Kilda’s stately National Theatre.
A short warmup from deadpan one-line merchant Bruce Griffiths was really well received (“I bought a packet of jelly babies. They got taken by a packet of jelly dingos”), before Mr Rollins strode onto stage, grabbed the mic, and kicked off proceedings.
Sadly I’m not able to say too much more. After 3 minutes (yup, 3 minutes), it was time to pack up shop and get the hell out of there. But the 3 minutes I saw made me want to hang around.
How’s that for an in depth review? – more –
Last Dinosaurs
Sean Caskey, Last Dinosaurs - Phoenix Public House, 17th April 2012
Life is on the up up and up for Brisbane lads Last Dinosaurs. Having carried the mantle as the only ‘confirmed’ Splendour in the Grass act for a couple of months (by virtue of their song soundtracking the promo video), Melbourne fans planning to travel north in July got a taste of what they can expect.
While it won’t be their first trip to the festival, it’s by far their highest profile visit. It’s fair to say, the Byron Bay Festival-goers are in for a treat.
Taking to the stage over their ambient track Satellites, the laidback style of frontman Sean Caskey is immediately evident tonight. Breaking his (brand new) guitar strap during band opener Hawaii, he chats to the crowd as he waits to borrow a guitar strap from support act Millions.
2012 Australian Athletics Championships
Joshua Ross, Men's 100m Final. Australian Athletics Championships
Gallery: 2012 Australian Athletics Championships
A change of pace – and lighting – this week. I headed out to the Lakeside Athletics Stadium for The Runner’s Tribe to cover the 2012 Australian Athletics Championships.
A beautiful day in Melbourne certainly hadn’t helped crowds any – throughout the afternoon the day had the feel of a Little Aths carnival – however there were some notable big name performances scattered throughout the day.
Commonwealth Gold Medallist and Olympic medallist Jared Tallent was never troubled in the 5000km Walk, and his wife Claire Tallent made it a Tallent show as she won the same title in the Women’s event. – more –