CONSTRUCTION TIME AGAIN

Reviewing all past, and present and looking towards future posts.

PERFORMANCE 

LIFE ON EARTH: What is that and; what does it look like? 

The CURE | BAND MEMBERS | ROBERT SMITH

GUITARS and VOCALS 1976–present

It just occurred to me, especially as its the year we lost David Bowie, that I I'd been a fan long before I even knew The Cure and certainly they released any Albums.  I am essentially, from the same generation as Robert Smith and its no surprise that an artist from the previous generation, had been an influence, was common to both of us. I know that there are other artist, like Joy Division and equally other's that we would disagree on, from all sorts of reasons, I am sure too!  

It's also true I think, that whoever you find inspiring, entertaining and enjoyable to listen too, have influences from their childhood/youth, which are always worth checking out. And whether one likes or doesn't like the results, always changing, building on things from the past, is important, avoiding things becoming boring, predictable etc.  Whilst there are some common thematic and musical threads, in some albums, singles etc, The Cure's albums, always attempted to break the mould, of previous releases and the same, goes for live performances. 

ALBUMS[All]: Three Imaginary Boys | Seventeen Seconds | Faith | Pornography | The Top | Head on the door | Kiss me Kiss me Kiss me | Disintegration | Wish | Wilds mood Swings | Bloodflowers | The Cure | 4:13 Dream  

Postscript 

Other Instruments [live & studio] Keyboards, Synthesiser, Violin, percussion, flutes, cello

[Selected] Other bands|projects:
Siouxsie and the Banshees
The Glove

[Selected] Live & Studio Collaborations:

Yesterdays Gone [Song from Reeves Gabrels Album Ulyseses]

A Forest [The Cure Song] [Song & remix Blank & Jones]

[TBC] 

Reflectons VIVID Live 2011 | The first time I had opportunity to photography.  

REFLECTIONS | Vivid Live | Sydney Opera House 2011

The tour program: The Sydney shows, were intended to be one off, recorded, filmed and released.  They were so popular, that shows in London, New York and LA were also performed.  As part of a charity fund raiser, they intended to print a program for these additional shows and was asked to contribute images, from Sydney. Sadly, this didn't get done, in time for the tour and whilst disappointed, was glad to be asked!  

The CURE | BAND MEMBERS | JASON COOPER

The CURE | BAND MEMBERS | JASON COOPER 

DRUMS and PERCUSSION 

1995–present

ALBUMS Wild mood swings | Bloodflowers | The Cure | 4:13 Dream  

Jason has also appeared on a number of non-album singles, b-sides, live albums, videos and soundtrack songs, including Wrong Number (which also featured Reeve's Gabrels first contribution to The Cure). 


Postscript 

IMDB: http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1873623/?ref_=fn_nm_nm_2   Jason has written/co-written film + Tv scores, as well as playing on songs featured in film + Tv.

The CURE | BAND MEMBERS | ROGER O'DONNELL

The CURE | BAND MEMBERS | ROGER O'DONNELL  

KEYBOARDS and TAMBOURINE 1987–1990, 1995–2005, 2011–present

Albums Disintegration | Wild mood swings | Bloodflowers | The Cure

Roger, has also appeared on a number of non-album singles, b-sides, live albums, videos and soundtrack songs. He first toured, for the Kiss Me Kiss me Kiss me album [1987].  


Postscript


Solo work & Collaborations Roger has a well established solo body of work, which has included fully electronic work (including all Moog Synths), acoustic based collaborations, hybrid of the two, in both recorded, as well as live settings.  

Roger O'donnell Website   

Roger O'Donnell Facebook Page 

Roger's current keyboards &  Stand 

Website description of touring rig as at 2012 http://www.rogerodonnell.com/2012/06/news-55/

Talking synths in the period prior to Roger rejoining The Cure in 2011, I am remembering, we had a few myspace chats, about our various bits of synthesiser related gear (my first two bands and in the 1980's were as a synth player, analogue drum/bass programmer). I think the highlight, was when Roger said he remembered the model of mono synth (OSCar) I owned, which he said "looked like a car bumper", which was quite a fair, accurate and funny description.

The CURE | BAND MEMBERS | SIMON GALLUP

The CURE | BAND MEMBERS | SIMON GALLUP 

BASS GUITAR 

1979–1982, 1985–present

ALBUMS Seventeen Seconds | Faith | Pornography | Head on the Door | Kiss me Kiss me Kiss me | Disintegration | Wish | Wild Mood Swings | Bloodflowers | The Cure | 4:13 Dream  

Simon has also appeared on a number of non-album singles, b-sides, live albums, videos and soundtrack songs/music (including pre-show films).  

His bass parts, have always complimented and supported the songs of The Cure, where there is a certain depth, texture, warmth to them.  He has also contributed to the writing music for songs, where there is a definite pop sensibility to them eg Love Song, from the Disintegration Album. 

Postscript 

Schecter Guitars Website:http://www.schecterguitars.com/ 

The CURE | BAND MEMBERS | REEVES GABRELS Part 1

Reeves Gabrels | Audio kitchen amp | Messa Boogie speaker cabinet  and Reverend Guitars 'Spacehawk'. 

REEVES GABRELS electric, acoustic; six-string bass guitar | 2012 to present

I first came across Reeve's work when he was a member of TIN MACHINE, in the late 1980s and after which, there was the next decade, with his work along side DAVID BOWIE [RIP], throughout the nineties. 

He first worked with The Cure on their 1997 single Wrong Number single in 1997  and Robert Smith sang on the song Yesterdays Gone, from his solo 1999 solo Album ULYSSES.

There is his solo body of work [Including his band REEVES GABRELS & HiS iMAGiNARY FR13NDS .
It was through a comment on my Facebook Album Photo, was made aware the the amazing AUDIO KITCHEN AMPS and especially, what goes into their being made.  I looked a little deeper and found a video on their website:  http://www.audiokitchen.co.uk/about-us/  and this resonated not only because of the clear passion the maker[s] have for the amps they make, but also its strong connection with musicians, but it also reminded me of my past.

Growing up at home, there was always soldering irons, wires, printed circuit boards, along with, screw drivers, pliers, stripping and cutting tools etc, around the garage/workshop.  I even worked two summers*, in last two years at school, at the Electrical Engineering faculty, of The Institute of Technology, Sydney [aka UTS], where my father was the Lab manager. 

A few years later among other projects, I built a 2 RCA in 1 out RCA 'mixer' which combined with two cassette decks, became my first attempts at recording  'multi-track' music.  It may have sounded rough, at  the end, but it was a lot of fun!. 

Bespoke amps I think this is why, coming across such beautiful, hand made amps and where the sum of the parts, literally and figuratively speaking, become greater then the whole. Sometimes perhaps, its not just the music, but also what surrounds it, that can connect with the past, especially if you play, write, perform music yourself.  Coincidentally, it was taking a few test shots, before the band came on stage, that I captured a shot of the amp [see below] 

Who knows, all these years later, as I finally re set-up my little home studio, might put some things together myself, what's the worse that could happen?  Soldering iron on standby! 



  

AUDIO KITCHEN AMP 

POST SCRIPT

The CURE | BAND MEMBERS | REEVES GABRELS Part 2 COMING SOON 

[*Excerpt from Institute of Technology, Sydney Reference}: 
Electronics workshops: assisting in the fabrication of connecting leads, of various types, decade capacitance boxes, power supply units: and construction of transistor curve tracers. Assembly of several types of laboratory trainers for student experiments.  Mechanical Workshop: assisting with sheet metal fabrication for laboratory equipment and fitments. Teaching Laboratories: assisting with annual check, repair and calibration of equipment and instruments. Assisting with laboratory alterations.
Blog coming SOON! 





 

PHOTOGRAPHING THE CURE at QUDOS BANK ARENA, SYDNEY 2016

THE CURE | SYDNEY  | 2016  

Robert Smith | Vocals and Guitar  

Tonight  was  always going to be, one of those memorable nights, where it went way beyond, just getting the photograph a performance.  I was attending with a close friend, who we've been to many shows and long term fans of the band.  We also got to experience, some of the unexpected moments, for example where a couple, offered to share there table in the eatery and then we shared stories as fans of the band, as well as music in general. Its moments like this, that are special and something that you can never plan, but need to embrace.  

Photographing:  It was a joy to photograph the first three songs of performance, partly because I am along term fan and partly because the venue security, other photographers and production crew, interacted in a professional manner.  Creatively, you always have to make the most, of the amount of time, shooting vantage point (That is, the 'pit' area, between the audience barrier and stage) and awareness of where the band members are, something you can connect with at show and/or researching clips from current tour.  


The Band  

Robert Smith | Vocals and Guitar 

Simon Gallup | Bass 

Roger O' Donnell | Keyboards and Tambourine 

Jason Cooper | Drums and Percussion 

Reeves Gabrels | Guitar 

The Show 

Sound and lighting each song had its own unique combination, of lighting design, live camera projection, film and/or backdrop. In many ways, from the way I experienced it, was production design, was more an extension of each song and less about a show, with a set narrative running through it.  

Audience was an eclectic group of people, spanning age groups, lifestyles, cultures and relationships. I expected nothing else, from a The Cure show and where it only adds to the experience, of being at a live show.  

Unexpected moment[s] It was during Love Song, that a member of the audience, moved next to where I was standing and was wearing a wedding dress.  Which immediately reminded me, of the song Just Like heaven video clip.  The next song started and it was that very song!.  I was during the piano solo, that I turned and saw them dancing, swirling around and the swoosh of the dress, to the rhythm of the music. A few songs later, they had disappeared and so one of the more surreal moments that night.  
  



Set list

Plainsong | Pictures of You | Closedown
High
A Night Like This
All I Want
Push
In Between Days
Primary
Like Cockatoos
The End of the World
Lovesong
Just Like Heaven
From the Edge of the Deep Green Sea
Want
The Hungry Ghost
One Hundred Years
Disintegration

Encore 1:
It Can Never Be the Same
Burn
A Forest

Encore 2:
Shake Dog Shake
Fascination Street
Never Enough
Wrong Number

Encore 3:
Lullaby
Hot Hot Hot!!!
Let's Go to Bed
Sleep When I'm Dead
Friday I'm in Love

Encore 4:
The Lovecats
The Caterpillar
The Walk
Close to Me
Why Can't I Be You?
Boys Don't Cry

 Thanks to Setlist.fm and all those that contribute to creating such lists.  

Robert Smith and Simon Gallup 

Post Script

It's a testament to a band, where they can play 36 songs, all of which I knew and where there were still songs, I'd loved to have heard. However, having seen a band many times, have heard most songs before.  



Date 25th July 2016


Location:  Qudos Arena, Olympic Park, Australia http://www.qudosbankarena.com.au/

Tour Promoter | Live Nation https://www.livenation.com.au/  all the people I interacted with, could not have been, more helpful, friendly and fun.  Special thanks to 'Primary International International'. 

Equipment:  Camera Canon 5D [Classic] & Lens 70-200mm f2.8 IS 



________________________________________________________________________

TBC | PART 2 : The Band   

POWERHOUSE MUSEUM [MAAS] BASEMENT TOURS

  

Location: Powerhouse Museum, Pyrmont 

When: May, 2011 

1. 20th Century Fashion 

 

2. Rare Cameras 

VIVID 2011 Street performers

STREET PERFORMANCE

Location: Circular key promenade 

•   Bendy Em  

•   Psycho Sam  

•   Bike Boy  

COLM MAC CON IOMAIRE

COLM MAC CON IOMAIRE  [The Frames | The Swell Season ]  

Sydney Festival 2011 

Sutherland Entertainment Centre 

Background The Frames | The Swell Season 

PART A Sutherland Entertainment Centre

Date  22 January 2011 from 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM

USAGE  

ORDER IN THE SOUND 

http://www.orderinthesound.com/22-january-2011-sydney-au-sutherland-entertainment-centre 

COLM MAC CON IOMAIRE Facebook page: 

https://www.facebook.com/ColmMacConIomaire/photos/a.206845526092066.41630.206808689429083/206846762758609/?type=3&theater

COLM MAC CON IOMAIRE WEB SITE [2016] 
https://www.google.com.au/search?q=david+vagg&espv=2&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwiLvomipLzQAhWItpQKHZOfBfoQ_AUICCgB&biw=1745&bih=1003#imgrc=wfMXnvmK8SLfxM%3A

PART B Spiegeltent, Hyde Park 

Date  26 January 2011 from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM

USAGE  

A TREE IN NAROOMA

This my first photo story,  a place where I plan to share important moments in life and work, that give further insight into my world of photography.


One memory of my childhood, was spending relaxing holidays, on the South Coast of New South Wales (Australia).


It was during these trips, I got some of my first tastes for photography. This photo of a tree in Narooma, I took with a manual Polaroid Land Camera (Black & White, it was long time ago.....).

RED CLIFF | MR WOO CRUISE

Mr John Woo (Director)

BIO  "John Woo Yu-Sen is an internationally and critically acclaimed film director and producer woo (pun intended) is widely known for his stylised movies, which are renowned for their balletic action sequences, Mexican stand-offs, and use of slow-motion. He's born in china, but has grown up in Hong Kong, where he made his film career, before he went to Hollywood."

Event: A social night, whilst promoting the film: RED CLIFF  

Location: Sydney Harbour 

Year: 2009

The brief: was to capture candid shots of the night, along with Head Shots,of guests with Mr Woo.   

It was early June and I received a call, asking if I wanted take photos on a cruise around Sydney Harbour, for the Director John Woo (who was in Australia promoting the film Red Cliff). Being familiar with and a fan of his films (Face off. Mission Impossible II, Pay Check and Hard boiled), was motivation alone to taking up such a great opportunity.  


I arrived early where the boat was moored (Rushcutters Bay, Sydney Harbour) and met my contact at Icon Films (The films Distributor).  Slowly the small group of guest arrived. 


Mr Woos arrival

Mr Woo and daughter 

As Mr Woo (accompanied by his daughter, who works as his personal assistant)arrived, the guest who were on the back of the boat, formed a semi-circle. He stepped onto the back of the boat and as I was the closets person to him, he greeted me informally, before the official introductions were made. The marketing manager of Icon Film Distribution, then took Mr Woo around the circle, where the formal introductions were made. From this point and for the remainder of the cruise, this was a man who was clearly humble, sociable and happy to relax during the evening.  

The cruise 
This was also during the ‘Vivid Festival’, which had Brian Eno’s work lighting the Sydney Opera house, so to see from the advantage point of a boat something not to miss.  And no doubt, the many other landmarks, including the city scape and bridges, were among many highlights of the cruise, which Mr Woo and guest enjoyed during the first part of the journey around the harbour.   

The Conversation  
To witness guest interact with Mr Woo, was an incredible to witness, where Mr Woo remain attentive, gracious and animated. The guest were clearly familiar with Mr Woo's body of work, as well as genuine fans.  

Mr Woo: In Conversation

Head Shots (Selected) 
Quite a number of guest, wanted their photos taken with Mr Woo, on what was a unique opportunity, with one of cinemas greatest action film directors.