Photos of Exit Calm at Manchester Moho (28th Nov 2008)
Here’s a photo from Exit Calm’s gig at The Aftershow at Manchester Moho last night (Friday 28th Nov 2008):
Take a listen to Exit Calm’s MySpace
Manchester In The City 2008 photos
I was an official photographer for Manchester In The City 2008 during the festival in October. I shot photos of the following bands:
Saturday
Little Engine, Lead Balloons
Sunday
John Head, Loose Salute, Edwyn Collins, Romeo Stodart, Cherry Ghost
Monday
Lord Auch, Circus Electric, The Cordels, Josh Weller, Keith, Ray Summers Band
Tuesday
The Mood, Les Gars, Run Toto Run, Little Boots, El Condorez, Broadcast Radio, Bo Pepper, The Jessie Rose Trip, Jarvis Cocker
If the band/concert you’re looking for hasn’t been uploaded yet, feel free to email me. Please bookmark the site and/or subscribe to my RSS feed to keep up to date with the latest site uploads and updates.
Photos of The Jessie Rose Trip at Manchester Chicago Rock Cafe (7th Oct 2008)
Tonight I’ve uploaded photos of The Jessie Rose Trip‘s ITC showcase gig at Manchester Chicago Rock Cafe (which took place on the last night of the festival – Tuesday 7th October 2008)
The band were voted as one of the hottest bands of the In The City weekend (attracting the attention of Jarvis Cocker, who watched the band from the audience)… as a result they were asked to play a ‘Best Of ITC’ gig at the Camden Barfly last night (27th Oct)
Photos of Little Boots at Manchester Bar 38 (7th Oct 2008)
I’m afraid to say I missed all but the last 60 seconds of Little Boots‘ set at Manchester Bar 38 during In The City (Tuesday 7th October). By the time I pulled out my camera Victoria Hesketh (aka ‘Little Boots’) was already on her way offstage. Luckily she was kind enough to pose for me after the show:
Click here to view the full gallery »
I totally recommend checking out the Little Boots official Youtube channel as there’s some quality cover versions created using an incredible instrument called a Tenori-on (eg. this Hot Chip cover). I’m just gutted I missed the opportunity to see these skills live :(
Photos of Run Toto Run at Manchester Moho (7th Oct 2008)
Run Toto Run at In The City… here is my review in 2 words: utterly spellbinding.
and here are a few more observations…
I don’t think I’ve ever been so affected by a girl’s smile in my life. As lead singer (Rachael Kichenside) stares down the lens during the opening number, and cracks a smile that is both enchanting and playfully cheeky, my knees almost go weak… either that or the 4-day cumulative hangover of 5am boozing sessions in the Midland is finally starting to kick in :)
The stage is ornately decorated with an exquisite selection of instruments (violin and double bass, keyboard with tubey thing (lol).. recorder, glockenspeil, guitars and a laptop), cut-out letters (which I guess should spell out the band’s name, but all I can make out are the letters T,U and N) and a turquoise blue birdcage… which you imagine wouldn’t look out of place onstage with Bat For Lashes.
The gig is being filmed for Channel M and the venue has absolutely gone to town with the incredible neon vertical strip-lighting that frame the band and regularly douse them in colourful clouds when the smoke machine kicks in.
In between songs the banter from Rachael is mischievous and amusing… when one of her band members walks offstage to grab a capo, she informs the crowd he probably has stagefright and needs the toilet. She also recounts the previous night’s antics ‘Japanese People plus free beer equals fun fun fun!’ or words to that effect.
I’m glad Run Toto Run played two shows at ITC because it’s difficult trying to see everyone you want, especially when the venues are so spaced out around town – clusters around the Northern Quarter and Peter Street, and the Deaf Institute utterly miles away. By all accounts last night’s set at Bedlam went down well with the delegates and it’s not hard to see why.
The influences listed on Run Toto Run’s MySpace – Surfjan Stevens, Mum, The Postal Service – should give you an idea of what to expect if you go and see them live…. combine those intricate sounds with hushed, breathy, whispered vocals … along the lines of Beth Orton, Regina Spektor, Natasha Khan and you’re almost there.
Lead singer Rachael seems to delight in delivering her songs individually to the audience members (when the Channel M stagelights occasionally dim enough for her to see out)… her eyes track the faces of the crowd, that beatific and enigmatic smile almost demanding one in return… it makes the whole experience so much more personal.
What follows is a wonderful set that gently eases the crowd into the final night of In The City. Outside after the gig it looks like we’ve happily just avoided a torrential downpour, and as we splash through the puddles for yet another long walk to the Peter Street venues on the other side of town, Run Toto Run have warmed our hearts a little :)
