Given that I work a full time job during the day, and then do things like photograph bands and generally have a life late at night, it’s difficult for me to class myself as either a morning person or an evening person, but between the two, ‘nightowl’ would be my classification of choice, and it seems that Alice Wignall over at the Guardian feels the same way, in her piece ‘Morning Has Broken Me‘.
Having experimented with altered sleeping / working patterns a number of months ago, and even going so far as attempting to adopt a biphasic sleeping pattern in order to accomodate my most unsociable of working hours, I know all too well the stresses that competing sleep / work / play priorities can put on the body, and the mind. What I did discover though is that the body can manage with scarily little sleep - as low as 4.5 hours was the furthest I could go, and still feel functional, and I think that had I stuck with it, I could have kept it up, and turned it into a success. Sadly, however, it’s just not sociable. A 90 minute nap at 8pm does nothing to endear you to friends and family, who just don’t seem to understand.
Given that research released today suggests that the most creative time of day is 10:03pm, shouldn’t more people think about burning the midnight oil? Just think of what we could achieve… Mornings? Pah!
Categories: ramblings
Tagged: sleep, biphasic, guardian
The reggae legends headlined the Boss Sounds Reggae Festival this past weekend, and put in a quality performance. Special mention must also go to The Pioneers, who just about managed to steal the show. Shots from the Sly & Robbie set are up on my flickr now if you fancy taking a look.
Click here for Sly & Robbie on Flickr
Sly & Robbie - Carling Academy Newcastle 18-10-08
Categories: Uncategorized
October 20, 2008 · 1 Comment
A great show from British Sea Power. Sadly I didn’t get any shots of the giant bear at the end! As usual I’ve put the shots on my Flickr. Hope y’all like them!
Click here to see my British Sea Power set on Flickr
British Sea Power - Newcastle University 09-10-08
Categories: Portfolio · music · photography
Tagged: music, photography, british sea power, newcastle, gig, live music
Inspired by Ernest Hemingway’s famous six word story (”For sale: Baby shoes. Never worn.”) Ol over at coldclimate.co.uk is looking for six word story submissions through a new online app he’s put together. I’ve thrown a couple into the mix, so why don’t you give it a go? http://www.coldclimate.co.uk/6words/
Categories: Uncategorized
In Dead Miles we have yet another storming young band from the North East, and this photoset was taken at their show with High Rise Diaries last Saturday. It was a great set, and this is definitely be a band I’ll be keeping an eye on.
Dead Miles - The Cluny, Newcastle - 02/08/08
Take a look at the Dead Miles Myspace for music, tourdates and stuff.
Categories: Portfolio · music · photography
Tagged: dead miles, photography
Newcastle’s music scene at the moment is fit to bursting with cracking young bands, but High Rise Diaries have to be one of the best. I had the pleasure of seeing them this evening in The Cluny, the city’s premier small venue. Take a look at some of the pics on my Flickr, and here’s a little sample.
High Rise Diaries - The Cluny - 02/02/08
Categories: Uncategorized
This is getting silly. I am, after all, allegedly, a grown man. Five days before I head off to Glastonbury though I am sitting here wishing the days away like a kid waiting for Father Christmas. It’s surely not healthy? Maybe coming home from the pub and putting the DVD on wasn’t a great idea in my condition, but hey, I thought it may make the time pass a little quicker…
Keep reading →
Categories: music · ramblings · rants
Tagged: efestivals, festival, glastonbury, music
There’s something inherently wonderful about a well made piece of graffitti. The anarchistic beauty of the form has the ability to enthuse and anger in equal measure, and to an extent that no other artform can hope to match. There is a wonderful piece which has just popped up outside the Mushroom Works gallery and studios in Newcastle Upon Tyne, England, which ticks all the boxes, and is a little bit of a gem in one of the ugliest parts of the city.
Drop me a line if you see any good examples, and I’ll get them featured.
Categories: Uncategorized
Sorry to anyone that has been wondering if I’d fallen off the face of the planet - the good news is that I haven’t. Very busy? Yes. Dead? Thankfully not. Work has been unbelievably hectic, and I have a few new commissions lined up, which will hopefully keep the wolf from the door a little while longer.
One thing I must let people know about is a band I saw last night by the name of The Ballarats. Coming from my hometown of Newcastle, and riding high on the indie-punk wave, this lot are certain to go places. Their live show was the most exciting I have seen in a long while, and when they finally start bothering the UK charts, I promise I will not say ‘I told you so’.
Check ‘em out: http://www.myspace.com/theballarats
Categories: Uncategorized
By yours truly, for narcmedia.com
The first time I saw Babyshambles was in a half empty tent at Leeds festival, and everything about the performance suggested that it wasn’t just a clever name for a band. A couple of years and many line-up changes later, and I am sitting in the Green Room in Newcastle’s Metro Radio Arena with guitarist Mick Whitnall and drummer Adam Ficek, discussing just where it all went right for the band your gran loves to hate.
Click here to read more
Categories: Portfolio · live reviews · photography
Tagged: babyshambles, live, music, photography
