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I took today off work ‘cos (a) it sucks and (b) I have lots of photographs to organise and edit. It has been a very productive day!
I had another jolly good weekend on this the 26th weekend so far this year. Friday consisted of alcohol, though thanks to my wonderful friends, I got some free alcohol. Then rum…
Saturday, was spent chillin’ in front of a big flatscreen TV watching You’ve Been Framed, (which I’m surprised is still going but I suppose that’s besides the point).
That night the Oh Yeah Building was opened for a special Super Sweet Sixteen birthday party, and I was there to capture it. What I wasn’t expecting however was so many scantily dressed girls, making me feel weird taking photographs, though someone made a good point, that it would be worrying if I didn’t feel weird in that situation. It was a fun night, and the kids seemed to enjoy it - even though there was no alcohol, the kids still went nuts. I dunno how they did it.
Things really got started when the Olympic Lifts took to the stage. I remember the first time I saw them thinking… “wait a second, I’m not supposed to like rap… but I like this… ahh I’m confussed.” This confusion resulted in my brain suddenly exploding all over the walls of Auntie Annies, even getting in peoples drinks. I was approached by bouncers who dragged me out the door, but I escaped their evil hold to hear the rest of the set. At which point I ran home crying, not knowing what to do if I liked rap now. Then I listened to The Game lots.
They even have the coolest dj, who bought his dj clothes before learning how to do all the scratchy shit.
(crap photos follow so as minors are indistinguishable)
DJ Jen kept the kids entertained once the band finished
and they danced the night away…
As a new project designed with under-18s in mind, this night has been evident that it could very well work, it was also an opportunity for the kids to see the venue who didn’t go to the open day in May.
So whats the plan for this week you ask?
Tuesday
Auntie Annies - Up In The Attic with Boathouse and Cars in Walls. Boathouse are just awesome and Cars in Walls, from their myspace tracks, sound awesome so I’m hoping this will be a good one.
Wednesday
The Vagina Monologues - The Black Blox (Cathedral Quarter, Belfast). This is being performed tonight (Mon), Tues and Wed this week, though on the final night there will be an auction of vagina inspired artwork (VaginART) with proceeds going to the Belfast Rape Crisis Centre, including this piece by myself.
Thursday sees the launch of The Delawares long awaited E.P. titled ‘The Space Between Us’ at the Empire Music Hall.
Support comes from The Cartoon Thieves, The 45s and The Greeters
Weekends are never to structured, and thats the way I like it. Anything can happen. As always, there will be weekday updates, if time permits.
The longest day of the year, and indeed the brightest and warmest of this week. Coincidence? I call conspiracy. Global warming, daylight savings time? Its the government trying to make us think they’re smart by making up these crazy ideas that no one really understands. I mean, does anyone really understand the whole daylight savings time stuff, GMT, British Summer Time. NO! So stop confusing me. One minute we are four hours ahead of NYC, the next its 5… or is it. I don’t know!
The fact that I think outside of the country I live in should be good enough for anyone. I know very few Americans (if you actually know me, don’t be offended, if you don’t know me, I don’t really care) who know how many hours difference it is in Ireland/UK at any given time. All I know is. I its a little bit sunny outside yet though my blinds are closed in my “dark room” cos I’ve just been working on some photos. White you say, yeah I know, I’m a photographer, I don’t see much day light. It has a ring to it.
Anyway, enough crap. This week was filled with much non-sense, a lack of electricity, a computer that is a pain in the ass (and no I will not get a Mac!), enjoying hanging out with friends, hating my day job a little more, and not reading that book that sits on my desk eying me up each time i wander from the screen.
Kitty and the Can Openers, the best new band to come from Belfast, had their first, and certainly not last gig in Lavery’s Bunker on Monday night.
Followed closely by a relaxed gig in The John Hewitt.
Alongside the Half Stoned Cowboys, whom I had not seen before, though heard about. As a fan of country music I thoroughly enjoyed their takes on some of the best country and folk songs.
It was before all of this that I decided to photograph the house in which 3/4 of Kitty and the Can Openers reside. This house, off the Lisburn Rd in South Belfast, has been the home to many a musician and artist. Now home to four of my good friends I pop round for tea, when they have no coffee, and to watch some tv, as I have not got one of my own, and to generally use their electricity when I run out.
This house is filled with much character and anyone can tell that it has been a happy home for many throughout the years. Many odd items and artifacts can be found, the origin or which is often unknown to the current residents.
I like the colours which are created by the light coming in the window
A stress ball?
Well read…
A cold wind…
A pretty ashtray…
Norwegian playing cards…
Finally… poor fishes…
Kinda just realised that a track on a mix tape (ok cd) I made for a female friend had some pretty odd lyrics. It is a song by the awesome Future Sounds of London, by the name of Mello Hippo Disco Show. Those odd lyrics:
Sells electric ego
Slo-mo on the dildo
Life’s a flow flow flowMumbo Jumbo, slow fellatio
Mumbo Jumbo, slow fellatio
Mumbo Jumbo, slow fellatio
Mello Hippo Disco Show
If you have not heard this band, I do urge you do get a hold of their album entitled, The Isness.
Thank fuck for the weekend. Photographs and photography. 50 hours in which to think about photography and nothing else. It makes me happy.
In a sick sort of way I really like the rain. I love the sun, don’t get me wrong, but I like the rain too. The main reason is that when it rains I get more work done. Disgusting isn’t it.
I always say that if I lived in a hot country I wouldn’t use a computer, or at least a very minimal amount. Of course I wish it was generally warmer here, and more often though I’m all for a bit of rain after a period of sun.
Thanks to the great weather over the last week - rain - I got work done without all the sunny temptation of sun and stuff.
Secondly, I enjoy a bit of rain. Walking slowly in the rain - unless its torrential hail, then I’ll walk fast - is something I enjoy. Almost like walking when its not raining. Rain is a part of our climate. Why hide from it. We won’t melt. Embrace the rain!
I don’t understand where all the people who make remarks such as, “well, that’s the Summer over,” have been living all this time. This is Northern Ireland. Since when did we have sun from May to August? How long did you expect it to last? Have you never heard of global warming? The earth is getting warmer! The sun will be back. Hell, its only June! If you believe Summer starts at the solstice, 21st June, then it ain’t even Summer yet. Or, if you want to stick to the “official” meteorological definition, the Summer has only just started 17 days ago.
Thankfully this week went fairly quickly, I reckon partly due to the fact that on Monday I booked my flights to the Big Apple! I leave Dublin airport at 11:15am on 25th August, arriving in JFK later that evening. 68 days, 10 hours, but who’s counting. ME! 3 whole weeks of struggling to have enough power in my battery and enough space on my memory card ‘cos I know I will not have the camera out of my hand for very long over the course of the 21 days. Sun, trains, buses, overpopulated cities, tall buildings, lots of traffic and maybe a beach or two as I travel between New York, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Washington DC, Philadelphia, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida and maybe more, time and funds permitting. I cannot wait!
Ronan left on Thursday to spend the whole Summer in New Jersey in a camp for under-privileged inner city kids. It’s something I would love to do, and whenever I break free from this 9-5 working malarkey, hopefully I will.
On Tuesday we had a surprise party for Ciara. A surprise to those involved too, as I was told about it 3 hours prior, though it went off successfully, she was surprised. I’ve never been apart of surprising someone with a party before. It was fun. After we had blown up the balloons we sat making idle conversation, filling time, and out of boredom started eating the crisps and chocolates that were bought last minute, waiting in anticipation for the key to be put through the door. When the moment arrived, we crowded the overwhelmed recipient with party poppers and shouted “happy birthday.” It worked, she was surprised.
After a few drinks someone had the clever idea of touching someone’s balls, someone else decided to look shocked, and so various poses were performed. I had the camera.
On Thursday Gifted at The Empire Music Hall, was the final live performance for Belfast band, The Winding Stair before they hit the big time. On 24th June, they are playing the Acoustic stage at Glastonbury.
Support came in the form of Tom McShane, When Pilots Eject and Living:Stone
On Friday I had a great evening with some friends in Common Grounds Café, the venue for acoustic gigs each week. This week Julip and Geoff Gatt made the coffee taste so much better.
I live each and every day for the evening. I think of nothing but how many minutes it is until I can leave work, that place that does nothing to me but give me more motivation to become better at the thing that I love so I can get out as soon as possible. I had a joyous, relaxing weekend in the company of good friends and flatmates.
Now to buy a Fathers Day present. Shushh.
A work colleague of mine who lives in Larne told me on Friday that there was photographable stuff happening in the town. A car show and other outdoor activities. Even though I ended up having a late night, I got up early and got the 10:06am train. I had never been to Larne before, or been on the Larne railway line. The scenery along the way was beautiful.
When I got to the town I followed the signs and the traffic cops to the town centre and Main Street where there were lots of people enjoying the sun and going about their business or whatever they do in small towns when its sunny. Over the course of June the town is host to ‘Larne Alive‘, a small festival celebrating… well Larne really. Various family and children orientated activities simply celebrating being Larne.
I caught the tail-end of the first parade.
I followed them to the car park of the adult education centre where they were all parked.
Shortly after that the first performance by The Barren Carrousel began in the square, or Broadway as its called.
Then a photographer sat right in front of me. Hoping to get a better shot, thankfully he didn’t stay for long.
I thought about asking the other photographers why they were there, I’m assuming it was a local paper thing. I made the most of their presence though and stole their promo setup shots.
When they had finished, two “statues” appeared nearby. Their costumes were brilliant and they pulled it off well, moving occasionally, and generally entertaining the younger kids. The light trees around them made a great backdrop too.
Soon after lunch was the second car parade.
Followed by the second performance by The Barren Carrousel.
Later I got to drive in a nice 1996 Toyota in the third and final parade.
This was followed by a 10 minute tour of the town before my train home. The strangest thing about this town are the paintings on the side three apartment blocks.
Yes, that is a plane on the side of this building! Hindsight is a great thing.
To most people Larne is just a harbour which leads to Stranraer via ferry. We just happened to be at the right place at the right time when this one was approaching.
I had a good day, and although I put on some sun cream, and had it with me, I still managed to get a little burnt on my nose and cheeks. It was a fun way to spend a Saturday. Where to next?
I woke up yesterday morning with an itchy armpit… Eventually it stopped itching. Around the time that I left work and had that brilliant walk home. Another one of those glorious days. I was sweaty. On my way home I passed Botanic Station and asked how much it costs to get a train to Larne. I heard form a colleague that there is a motor show there today with lots of classic cars doing laps of the town, finally stopping to be gawked at, and photographed.
Of course I can find no one to join me - but again, its their loss, heh.
I had my first weekday hangover in quite a while. Though it was quite mild, with not much drink drunk, my head still hurt a little. Its just one of those things thats done every once in a while. All you want to do all day is sleep. Instead I played pool during lunch, and lost, of course. On the way home I sang the Eels ‘Losing Streak‘.
“Meeting every day with the rising sun
Looking up it’s looking like
My losing streak is done”
Getting a tattoo is something that has occasionally floated around my mind, normally around the time a friend gets one. I sometimes say or think to myself that it would be cool to get one someday. So that when I am 40 and driving around in my chopper I might look a little bit cool.
As for the tattoo idea. If I was to get something I would, like everything else, have to put a heck of a lot of thought into it. It couldn’t be something arbitrary, a name of a band, a symbol, or something really generic like a barcode or heart with the word “mother” inside, or a tribal design.
There is really only one thing that has been constant for in my life for long enough to mean anything; music. Everything else changes frequently. So maybe a musical note or two? Though that is a little lame and unoriginal. If I could get something that moved I would get the globe, but until that is invented I wouldn’t want the same half of the earth on my skin for ever, what if I get bored with that half?
Moods change, tastes change, beliefs change, people change.
Thats not to say that other people don’t choose some great tattoos. For a cat lover like my good friend Sarah, a paw print on each foot was the perfect idea for a tattoo.
As for me. I will have to think about that one for another few years.
Have a great weekend!
Not normally an “alternative” live music venue, the Botanic Inn, was the setting for a charity fund raiser on Tuesday night for the Special Olympics Ireland team to partake in the World Games in Shanghai in China at the end of September 2007.
The lineup was Boathouse
and The Dregs.
Geoff Gatt played a few songs between bands and was joined on stage by Ciara O’Neill for a song or two.
Each one a very talented local band, and although many of the crowd would not normally be seen upstairs in the Bot, it was described by all as a great night and a good venue. Good luck to the Special Olympics team!
Last night was the launch of The Little Girl With Brown Hair, a book written by the late Eolath Magee, and illustrated by Alice McCullough.
The book, which deals with issues not normally touched in children’s literature, includes the wonderful artwork by Alice McCullough. It is this artwork which is currently being displayed in the Waterfront Hall in Belfast.
Alice was signing copies
There was wine (no pictures included)
There was live music
There were speaches and thank-yous
More live music
…and more live music
If you get a chance you should see the The 13 original full–colour illustrations which feature in the book, on display on the first floor of the Waterfront Hall until 29th June 2007.
“The book is non-profit, with donations going to two charities- ‘The NSPCC’ and ‘Desert Elephant.’ The book has been printed in memory of the author, Eolath Magee (1946 – 2005). ‘The Little Girl With Brown Hair’ illustrates the therapeutic process of healing the wounded child within. It will touch and inspire children and adults alike who may have suffered bullying and abuse, whether in the playground or at home.”
Today I got a sexy new toy.
I can already tell I’m going to have fun with this beast.
Plan for the week ahead:
Monday - Exhibition and Book Launch - The Little Girl With Brown Hair. Book written by Eolath Magee (1946 – 2005) illustrations by Alice McCullough.
Tuesday - Special Olympics Charity Gig, The Botanic Inn
Wednesday - Tree, The Jahm Band and Mantic at Auntie Annies
Thursday - Stephen Duffin’s Debut EP Launch at The John Hewitt
Friday - Blind Friday + EXIT + Colenso Parade at Lavery’s Bunker
One shouldn’t be allowed to look inside themselves so intensely as that. It was crazy. I didn’t know whether I was coming or going. It has made me quite confused. I began to see in every aspect of my life dissected; seeing through myself and how strange I am.
As the feeling begins to fade slightly, and normality is setting in, finding the words to describe those feelings is proving a little more difficult.
I often find that my own desires to be an individual make me too different from what is often perceived as the general ‘norm’. Too different? But that doesn’t matter of course, ‘cos what is normal, and no one really cares about it anyway, right? The problem occurs when I am so much inside is my own head that I end up thinking things over so much that making a move to do anything is impossible because first comes what to do, then how to do it, how to say it, no not like that, or that, no that won’t work either, that sounds stupid, that will never ever work. Then it never gets done or said.
Life is a one-man game. You know like those First-Person Shooter games we have all played at some point. The biggest example being Doom. Okay so I don’t walk around with a gun, killing aliens, collecting coloured keys to open doors and moving on through the levels. Life does come with “aliens” in various forms, sometimes “keys” to open metaphorical doors, there may even be “levels”. Unfortunately, no guns. Well okay, but thats not something everyone considers an option - I don’t consider a gun to be an option! Being alone in this “game” they call life is hard.
Not sure how much of a good move watching Good Will Hunting was. I honestly don’t think I have cried so much during one film. Every part of it just seems to provoke such a reaction. Besides the part about having such great intelligence, I somehow manage to relate to it a little too much.
Right, fuck it. I am going to be more impulsive! No more thinking. The next thing I say will have no thought put into it at all. Or it will be made to seem that way at least…
Long flowing hair… flowery dresses… a beautiful smile… Ah yes, it’s summer. The sun is still shining and every female looks like the essence of summer itself. Conclusion; I want a Summer Girl. To run along the beach with, lie in the park with, eat ice cream with and to lavish with summery flowers and such. Generally doing a myriad of summery things with.
Think of a bee. You are its knees. You waft through me like a summer’s breeze. Can I come round on Tuesday please? - Bernard, Black Books; Fever.
