Its not KraaK
AAtma
17/9/2016
Are you looking for Kraak? Is probably not a question you should ask a group of lads in a dark alley in manchester. Thank fully they knew what I meant and were pleased to have found the venue.
Aatma is the new name for the Kraal gallery although nothing has changed it still feels a bit wrong, dodgy and secret as you walk down the alley through an unmarked door and up a flight of stairs.
As you enter the room the familiar face of MR Peeps promoter and lover of real music. The night was advertised as MR Peeps podcast Live. His podcasts are a great selection of new music and bands that you will enjoy.
Aatma is one room stage at front, bar at the back it is no nonsense which suited the night and Mr Peeps style.
Bang on time Mr Peeps jumps onto the stage informs the already full room "Don't stand talking or looking at your phones this is old school have a dance. This approach was continued through the night with exactly 15 minutes from one band finishing to the next starting no noise solid quality music.
Types played a great set and didn't disappoint tonight. A great set with quality songs had the place moving from the first song, At the end of the set the places under the air con were popular as the full venue was up to temperature.
Ist Ist are a great manchester that Louder than War described as " A melancholy sledgehammer" and they are usually right.
Set included: Brutalise, White Swan, Heaven, Emily, Nights Arm, Rats, Never, One to One, Heart Belongs to the Sea
The Jade Assembly also a favourite band from Blackthorn kept the quality and tempo high as the swaying mass of bodies moved and bounced as well as singing along with this band.
Set: one Last Time, Feel the Reign, Time for a Change, PMOTC, Show me the Sun, Got My Sun, Colossal
No Hot Ashes I have reviewed before and if you haven't taken my advice and seen or at least listened to them yet I wobble my head in despair. All the songs were known by the crowd and song at a great volume. I moved to photographing from the back of the room as it was obvious something had to give as the set built and built.
Isaac the lead singer turned his back to the crowd crouched and then launched himself onto the outstretched arms. As he surfed the crowd I frantically tried to get the shot.
Set: Cigs, Smooth, Bellyaches, Skank, New 1, EZ Peeler, Cool Cat, Goose
After the set ended I headed for the door to see the bands stood chatting to fans and signing merchandise and tickets. Mr Peps was busy pouring shots for anyone that wanted to celebrate a great night of music.
It really was a special night with lots of familiar faces and a top set of bands.
Thanks to the bands for entertaining me, friends for tolerating me and Mr Peeps for inviting me
Also Happy Birthday for latter this week to the TOP TOG 'Trust A Fox Photography'
Turned On
Turned On
Dawn my friend and fellow photographer obtained me a wrist band to Blackpool Lights Switch On.
We stood on the comedy carpet facing the stage as a young local singer performed to the ever increasing crowd.
The night consisted of performances from singers, DJs and dancers.
The performances of the night were by Fatman Scoop who whipped the crowd up the crowd to do anything he asked. Diversity danced and threw themselves around the stage in their Special way.
The lights were switched on by Dame Barbara Windsor. She had been evacuated to Blackpool from London as a child and it was obvious she has a soft spot for the town.
Thank you to Dawn for the wristband. Thank you to the organisers and staff for a well run event.
Skin, needles and Knives
A lady stands on stage breathing fire, behind me are booths filled with people having the most intricate designs inked onto their bodies and it's only 11 in the morning.
It's my first visit to annual Tatcon held at the Norbreck Castle.
Event takes place over four days and I attended on the Sunday. I collected my wrist band and entered the first room of the convention. It was set out with stalls and tables and chairs as a chill out zone. The stalls ranged from cake and fudge producers, clothing, skin treatments and a company that makes custom chairs for tattoo studios. Along one side of the room was a shooting gallery with the chance to let rip with air soft pistols to fully automatics.
The corridor to the main room contained a table full of taxidermy birds of all shapes and sizes. They would not suit my home decor but they did look great.
When I entered the main room the scale of the convention hit me there are rows of booths each with a different tattoo artist and their set up. It was interesting to look at the portfolios of the artist and the quality of the work was staggering. As I walked along the lines of booths the breadth of styles became obvious the only constant was the quality.
At the end of the room was a large stage and the first act on was burlesque dancers. The act included fire breathing, balloon swallowing and sword swallowing.
The noise that the knife made as it hit the thick wooden board left me in no doubt about the danger of the act. The board that they embodied in was held across the torso of the glamorous assistant. If the knives were not dangerous enough the act progressed to very solid looking axes thrown either side of the assistant.
I took another tour of the booths and again was really impressed by the quality of the artwork and also the chilled attitude of the recipient. One man was actually asleep as the artist continued to work on a large back piece.
It was now my turn to pick up the needle. I pulled on a pair of black disposable gloves tested the foot peddle and dipped the vibrating needle into the small pot of black ink. My left hand stretched the skin as my right directed the needle to complete the lettering. I finished the lettering with a new respect for the artists. I did enjoy the piece of banana left from the skin I had just tattooed.
On the main stage a band played classic tracks with the guitarist striking some great rock star poses.
The last act that I watched really made me want a drink. The performer swallowed swords allowing a member of the crowd to remove it demonstrate it was a solid metal sword. He also was able to hit a straw held in a volunteers mouth with a bull whip.
I would like to thank the organisers for the invitation and for looking after me during the day. I have nothing but for respect for the skill of the tattoo artists.
Also thank you to the clients who were happy for me to watch and photograph them as they received new tattoos.
It was also really good to meet up with members of Ican who were supporting the event and the fellow photographers had plenty of opportunities.
Thanks again to all at Ink Den Tattoo Blackpool.
Live Room
I was asked to shoot a gig at The Live Room Manchester. It was my first visit and I like it. It reminded me a lot of a night club I frequented in Preston. The walls are black and it has low ceiling. There is a separate VIP area with a great view from the side of the stage.
Unfortunately one of the acts had to pull out, fortunately Doug Brickhall stepped up and took the first slot of the night. He showed his class by borrowing a guitar and playing a great set. I could have pulled up a chair grabbed a pint and listened to him play and sing all night.
Look forward to hearing him play again soon.
Kath and the Kicks really do kick it with a hard rock/punk sound. Kath dominated the stage with a great voice, quality guitar and slight snarl. She is backed by 2 great musicians. There are a lot of videos on you tube of Kath and the band. She also has a new CD out. Look out for Lazy days, All My Time and Catch the Storm if you check them out live.
It was an interesting venue to shoot at due to the lighting system. The ceiling is a mass of colour change LEDs constantly moving and changing in patterns to the music. The area behind the performers is one large scrolling message board displaying the artists name in LEDs. This combination gives a great effect for the crowd watching but makes it very tricky to shoot.
I really enjoyed the night and the venue and look forward to more nights here in the future.
Thank you to the bands for asking me shoot the night.
Thanks to Live Room for the hospitality.
Lab rat
Parental Advisory Notice
BEFORE YOU READ ANY FURTHER THIS BLOG DOES CONTAIN FILTHY DIRTY NAUGHTY WORDS. IF THIS WILL OFFEND PLEASE DONT READ FURTHER.
I went to a gig without my camera as the show was being photographed by a fellow photographer Trust a Fox Photography. I have also had a few late nights editing lots of poppies and crafty vintage shots. It was officially a night off.
The night was held a pub I had not been to before called The Old Nags Head in Manchester. I arrived at the venue and was pleased to a see a space just before it to park in. I headed into the pub to find the walls covered in framed photographs unfortunately I didn't have time to study them as I wanted to catch all the gig.
The first act was a lady called Kate Bendelow. She is a great poet and also had some great banter between poems. Anyone with children or who have been forced to spend time with them will appreciate her humour. She provided a great opening and set a high standard for the night.
Ryan Jarvis is well known on the Manchester music scene and has recently supported some big acts. There is no hiding his Manchester roots and his thought provoking lyrics and brilliant delivery make him great to watch.
Marvin Cheeseman is a poet that I was really looking forward to seeing. I had watched clips of him and found him to be brilliantly entertaining. He contrasts the in your face hard hitting compare JB Barrington with his quiet gentle delivery style. He read his great poems one of my favourite being his take on "If". Have a look online or ever better go and see him perform.
Mike Sweeney is a radio Dj also front man for Salford Jets and traditional Salford bloke. If the younger generation believe they invented the "No Fucks Given" they have never met or heard Mike tell his stories. Don't be fooled into thinking that as he has been around for a while thats all in the past I get the feeling he would love it to kick off just so he could get involved! He told brilliant stories of his musical past during a questions and answers session with JB Barrington. He then sang several songs and explained the art of song writing/theft. His rendition of Woody Guthries "This Land is your Land" with his own last verse sounded great with combined voices of most in the room.
JB Barrington was the host for the evening and his rule for the evening was "when someone is performing you shut the fuck up". This no nonsense approach and ability to say what everyone is thinking sums him up. His poems mix nostalgia, humour, observation and medical conditions. There are some great clips on you tube. He also has a book out with many of his best poems. He reads his poem in a fantastic way with his salford accent brilliantly hitting every word despite the speed of delivery.
Steve Harris should not be allowed out. He made me laugh at things that I simply shouldn't laugh at. Im not going to repeat his jokes but they included issues such as his MRs, spitting on bees, upsetting US Marines and fat people. One of the funniest things involved the man mountain of a bouncer if you had been there you could have enjoyed it. There was an attempted heckle that was slammed with the line "They said comedy would make me a sex magnet, well I have just attracted a cunt.
The landlord of the pub joined the action by going on stage and reciting a poem about his best mate. It went down well and he seems a top guy.
The last laugh of the night is on me. I left the pub out the door down the street and my car was gone. I walked up and down the street swearing and stomping like a nutter with tourettes. I then noticed I was on the wrong street. I went back through the pub and out the opposite door to my waiting laughing car.
Huge thanks to all the acts for such great entertainment.
Thanks to all at the Old Nags Head for great hospitality in a proper pub.
All photographs are provided by and remain the copyright of Trust a Fox Photography. Please do not copy or use without permission.