A Good Friday down at the Temple

Finally, after three years I’ve picked up some work from the Unsigned Guide.  To be fair finding a photographer in there is one of those needle in a haystack missions. A ‘must have’ for all aspiring artists the Unsigned Guide is a giant tome containing just about every music industry contact in the business including yours truly.  So it was a nice surprise to get a call from Manchester based Maria Jordan asking for photography for her new EP.  As it happens she has been described by Skope Magazine as “THE needle in the haystack” of female singer songwriters, so clearly this was meant to be.

However, finding a space to photograph Maria on Good Friday was not easy.  My Tower Works studio is not quite ready and the Round Foundry, my usual fallback, had shut up shop for the Easter weekend.  Fortunately, Temple Works is just around the corner and they have played host to loads of music vid shoots.  For £25 an hour they were happy to have us although it was clear we were small fry.  The guy showing us round had the air of an official tour guide…’this is the main room, used by BBC and the like….probably not in your price range’  What a cheek!  Maria has been on the same bill as Newton Faulkner and James Morrison. And her sister, Nadia (joining us from London) is currently doing makeup for the tour of Strictly Come Dancing.

Fortunately, we’re not precious and actually he did give us the choice of several areas that worked really well.  In one instance there was no power so I worked with available light but with an entirely white canvas that turned out fine.

The EP is coming out soon and images will also be on the website http://www.mariajordan.com.  BBC Introducing have cited Maria as ‘one to watch’ so clearly I’m hoping she is ‘the next big thing’.  Then maybe we’ll go back to Temple Works and book that main room…then again…

Flying high with Reverend and the Makers

One look at these pictures will tell you that this week’s blog does not feature James Morrison, who completely blew me out last week.  I got to the venue and thought this is all a bit quiet, and there it was…a sign in the door – “hang on to your tickets – tour postponed”.  No reason given. No – “tell Tracey I’m really sorry and I’ll make it up to her…”.  I hope we’ll be able to pick up where we left off later in the year but James, you’re on a yellow card.

The bonus though is that you get to hear about my Sunday night with Reverend and the Makers at the Motorpoint Arena.  If you’re not familiar with them they’re a Sheffield band and I’ve known founders Jon and Ed for ages.

Anyhow, they’re currently on tour in the run up to the launch of new album ‘@Revernd_Makers’, supporting Noel Gallagher’s High Flying Birds. For the whole of this tour the photography pit has been designated a no go zone.  Oftentimes this has meant that photographers have been consigned to the sound desk area, which, in the Arena, would have meant standing miles back from the stage.  Fortunately that didn’t happen and we were allowed to use the walkway to the side .

As I strolled along to find my spot I looked up into the audience to see if there were any familiar faces and saw a hand waving back at me. When I peered up I could see it belonged to Richard Hawley.. how lovely. Then a bit further along another  wave – this time two hands – Pete McKee and his wife.  Talk about small world Sheffield. I’d not been in the best mood on Sunday so they properly cheered me up!

As I got into the job, I got some decent shots of Ed and Jon – Ed, I’m liking the new ‘do’ btw, that quiff is definitely working for you – then turned my long lens to the drummer and was surprised to see yet another familiar face.  I know Ryan Jenkinson from the Skeletons but had no idea he’d switched bands.

He came round from backstage afterwards and we had a bit of a catch up [and hes already come back to me that he likes the pictures!].  All good fun but I guess I should give a mention to Noel and co who were also on top form.

So, all in all my Sunday night’s work turned into a pretty good social and the void left by Mr Morrison was well and truly filled.  I’m not promising anything for next week though…don’t want to jinx it….

Into the blue with the Kaisers

I’ve seen and shot the Kaiser Chiefs on numerous occasions, at festivals and gigs. You may remember the last encounter was Kirkstall Abbey just before Christmas.  They’re always good value but the only noticeable progression as far as I can tell is in the hair which has evolved perhaps more than the music over the last couple of years.

The other main difference is in lead singer Ricky Wilson. What has happened to him these days?? He used to be as bouncy as Zebedee and I’d be running round like a headless chicken trying to catch him mid bounce – timing was everything if I didn’t want to end up with a portfolio of shoes or conversely the kind of mug shots you get in photo booths when you’ve forgotten to wind the seat up.

These days he’s a lot more reserved and that gave me more time to concentrate on everything else…like the fact that the O2 Sheffield lighting is still what can only be described as shocking.  The LEDs just don’t deliver enough power and what light there was on Saturday was mostly blue.

Anyhow, as always we carried on regardless and I got what I was after. I was particularly pleased with a couple of shots of Ricky which I think kind of capture the spirit of the performance.

And fortunately the O2 team redeemed themselves slightly by being much more on the ball with their social networking, re-tweeting my tweet about the gig to all their followers…which was nice!

My cousin David was there, legitimately I should say, I didn’t smuggle him in as a tripod carrier.  We’d never have made it past those over zealous bouncers. He texted me later on to say that he absolutely loved it.  According to David “they just get better and better”.  So there you go – a satisfied punter and I’m sure there were many more.

So, thanks to the Kaisers for a great gig.  Coming uo in next week’s blog – I’m at the O2 Leeds for James Morrison!!!  Ive never seen him before and..I make no apologies here…I’m getting quite giddy already.  In the meantime here’s a rare Zebedee moment from Mr Wilson.