Flicking the V

I've often wondered why band's tour managers insist on 'first three, no flash', especially when the stage lights are strobing and fans in the crowd directly behind us are happily flashing away with their cameras. One suggestion is 'because they can', meaning that it's just an exercise in control and power.
Lady GaGa at V this weekend had an even stranger set of instructions. We were allowed into the pit for three songs, no flash (so far, so normal) - but could only shoot the first ninety seconds of each song. So we'd snap away for ninety seconds, then get a tap on the shoulder and have to stand there like lemons for the rest of the song, before shooting the first ninety seconds of the next! I could've understood if something happened after ninety seconds, like pirotechnics or something they didn't want photographed (like when Lady GaGa exposed her crotch getting off a motorbike at a previous gig) but there wasn't. As far as I could see there was no reason for us to stop after ninety seconds of each song except control-freakery. Combine this with the low light, harsh back-lighting and huge amounts of smoke and we were hard pushed to get anything at all let alone something good.
The Killers were even more restrictive. Only three photographers were allowed to shoot their headline slot, and even they were only allowed to shoot from the back of the stage. And despite being the official photographer for the festival, I wasn't one of the three granted the privilege of snapping Brandon Flower's arse. I was, however, allowed to shoot from the disabled platform, in order to get some nice crowd shots and wide views of the stage, and I was told that there would be some explosive light-show in the last two songs - which meant I had to stand there for the entire set. I'm not a Killers fan, so that's an hour and a half of my life I'm never getting back!



The Noisettes were a new discovery for me, and since coming back from V I've already bought the album. Shame she got so much lipstick on her teeth, as she's a gorgeous woman, but it gave her a slightly scary look.
Scoop of the weekend was Amy Winehouse's surprise appearance onstage with The Specials. I was hastily whisked into the pit to get some publicity shots for the festival. The result of this was that all the other snappers presumed I had prior knowledge of it and that I had the 'inside track' of gossip at the festival. When Oasis pulled out of playing on Sunday, and Snow Patrol were promoted to headliners, photographers were told that we could snap them at the beginning of their set AND the encore. This started speculation that there might be another surprise guest-appearance, notably Noel Gallagher. The more I was asked, and the more I said I didn't know, the more people thought I was bluffing - to the point that I even started to wonder.Of course, there was no surprise guest, but Snow Patrol did play a couple of Oasis songs, and looked so genuinely chuffed to be headlining, that it made for a rousingly emotional ending.

Don't put chewing gum on the chair

Trident chewing gum are running a promotion to win tickets to see Beyonce at the O2. To publicise this they left folding chairs around London with a gold envelope marked 'Open Me'. If you read the instructions inside you were told to take that chair to Westfield that afternoon for a giant game of musical chairs, the top prize being a private box for 15 people at the Beyonce gig. It was really funny watching people's reactions to the chairs, from oblivious disregard to nervous intrigue. The snag we discovered was that often people would open the envelope, read the instructions, but not take the chair - so a new envelope would have to be added after they'd gone.
The musical chair game was entertaining, as 300 people scrambled, all desperate not to lose. At one point as the chairs became scarce there was a funny but potentially dangerous pile-up of bodies. But kudos to the chap who gave up his seat to a lady, when it looked like she was going to be 'out' - he was justly rewarded for his gallantry with a Beyonce ticket anyway.

BLT

Macmillan Cancer Support held their first 'Brick Lane Takeover' to raise funds and awareness for the charity. They had 41 gigs in one night, spread over 6 venues around Brick Lane.The highlight of this for many was Noel Fielding's new collaboration with Dave Brown (Bollo from the Mighty Boosh), an act called Doctor and the Pencil. This involved Dave DJ-ing (dressed as a giant pencil) while Noel drew sketches on a flip-chart and generally pranced around in a blood spattered lab coat.
They took a bit of a slating in the press, for not really doing much - but I quite enjoyed Dave's set (predictable crowd pleasers, maybe, but this part of the crowd was pleased all the same). And regardless of what Noel did or didn't do, there were guys and gals all screaming for him. It's got to be a nice feeling when all you have to do is stand up and raise your hands for the room to go mad.
The night ended with Get Cape, Wear Cape, Fly (aka Sam Duckworth) playing an acoustic set at the after-party. The more I see him, the more I like his relaxed style. Mates and strangers were invited up to join in the singing, and he'd regularly break off from songs to chat to someone in the crowd. The epitome of an intimate gig.

Toy cameras

I've always had a fondness for 'toy' or novelty cameras: Lomo's, 3D cameras and wee plastic ones that take 4 striped images on one frame and wind on by pulling a string - I've got them all. I like the fact that they are a bit crappy and give unpredictable effects, and their lack of control is the antithesis of my day job. But now I need only carry one novelty camera: my iPhone. It's well known that the iPhone is no great camera, but instead of bemoaning what features it lacks, I'm enjoying it in the way I like my toy Cameras. I EMBRACE it's crappiness. And with an assortment of apps I can have all my toy cameras in one: there's a Lomo effect, Holga, Polaroid and even a multi-shot app. The shot above was taken of my pal Ash with a green hue Lomo effect.
EMBRACE THE CRAPPINESS!