Friday 27 August 2010

Arab Strap is dead

The first time I saw Arab Strap play was when I was 18, around about this time at Reading festival, ten years ago. Having heard Girls of Summer played by either John Peel or The Evening Session when I was about 15, I remember getting up hurriedly hitting the record button on me little hifi system (when I used to tape songs and sessions off the radio so I could listen to them back and get to know all the new bands - this was how I first happily stumbled across Mogwai too) not knowing what I was listening to but instantly knowing I'd fallen in love with it. When I saw both Arab Strap (and incidentally Mogwai, which is still one of my ultimate live highlights of all time) at that Reading two years later after having bought and avidly listened to the first record, I was totally blown away and in fear of sounding utterly ridiculous, fell completely in love with their music, already more so than having listened and enjoyed both bands' first records. Since then, and many more Arab Strap gigs later (including their last London show) I've been ranting to anyone who'll listen that Arab Strap are truly amazing... if you ever get me in a place where there's access to Arab Strap, a word of warning - I will sit you down in silence and make you listen to choice moments, or the whole of Mad for Sadness as an introduction in realising that Arab Strap should be one of your most favourite bands, live AND on record.

Anyway, as brilliant as Arab Strap were as Mister Moffat says "All good things eh...."

This is a stroke of genius, a very moving film to coincide with the reissue. This made me laugh, erm, I mean weep, a lot...


Now, can someone please buy me the reissues??

Saturday 21 August 2010

Steve Gullick...

(Steve Gullick speaks to Dan in his study © Lucy Johnston)

In fear of sounding dramatic, its difficult to find the words to explain how inspiring I found it to talk to Steve Gullick, who has for a long time been a great inspiration to me. All I can say is that it was a real honour to talk to this man about his work, inspirations and concerns. Again, good tea was drunk and Dan very kindly let me speak very excitedly about things I love with someone whose work I deeply admire. It was genuinely a very positive afternoon and me and Dan came out of it talking excitedly, completely buzzing, having just met a very decent and extremely talented fellow.

Here are a few of the usual snapshots I take on my little LC-A.




The journey homeward...

Dan pondering:


Blurry me, demented facial expression very excited by the prints Steve very kindly gave us within my grasp:


And here is a photo I took between Steve's house and the station...



Friday 20 August 2010

Esben and the Witch


In this brief moment that I find myself with internet connection (my silence thus far is that I've, alongside moving flat with no internet connection, have also been on Scandinavian adventures and spent recent days pool-side, on night occasions staring at the firmament, doused in nothing but sunscreen and cricket song, photographing a wedding in the Spanish mountain tops) I would like to tell you about the brilliant Brighton based band Esben and the Witch. Yesterday was the day they announced to the world their signing to the wonderful Matador record label (lookie here!) and showed the world their new, rather powerful video (not for the faint hearted) to the haunting magnificent Marching Song. Brilliant I think you'll find...


I was very lucky to shoot the band last year for The Stool Pigeon and some of the photos below ended up being used for the band's promo shots. Now there's a new start and may I add some beautiful new shots taken by the very talented Jonathan Hyde and Adam Kola, I thought I'd put some of these old ones up on here.



Black and white shots photographed on Kodak TriX expired film on my Holga.




And here a few snaps I took at the recent Field Day 2010...




And then a few snaps shot backstage taken on my little LC-A+...



I seriously urge you to go see them play or listen out for the upcoming album (due out next year)... I think its going to be something really special.