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It all becomes clear. It makes perfect sense now. The reason we make ‘new years resolutions’ is to try to prevent ourselves from recreating the events of Christmas which are still so fresh in our minds, if even just for a few weeks.
Christmas day was the usual quiet day at home with the family, a couple of beers, some wine over dinner followed by a movie - Garden State. Yes I don’t even watch T.V. at Christmas.
Each year, however, I look forward to Boxing Day more than the day preceding it. On this day my whole extended family goes to my Auntie and Uncle’s house; drink, eat, be merry and give out presents to each other. When I was younger I loved it for all the presents I would end up bringing home with me, but now that I’m older, and a little more mature, I enjoy being around my family, the kids, and the drink.
All the kids running around makes it so much fun. Always up to something, or saying something funny.
By 10:30pm, having polished off quite a few glasses of wine and taking plenty of photos, it was time to head out with my cousin Helen, and a few of her friends.
A couple of years ago I decided I would never go to the Limelight again - for the club thing anyway, only gigs. The last time I was there was Boxing Night 2006. It takes me a year to remember why I don’t go back. The next time will be Boxing Night 2008.
It was both good and bad. Though had I been a little more sober there may night have been the slight bad in there just for good measure. I may also not have had to walk home in the rain.
The following day all I could taste was melon Schnapps.
Of course I do try to go with the motto ‘No Regrets’, and regret my night I do not. Live and Learn. It’s all about experience.
So have I got new years resolutions? In a similar vein to Andy Goodonpaper, they will likely be more aims than resolutions. First, and probably the hardest, will be to quit smoking.
Many of these I will take from my big list of life-long aims I first created 2-3 years ago over at 43things.com. Many are psychological things, like improving my general personality, but I guess that’s the same with many resolution-makers.
Becoming more confident and self-assured, is something that I am slowly improving in myself - I will say that I am a hell of a lot more confident than I was 3 years ago, but that can always be improved upon.
To become a better photographer will be a big one for this year. To take more meaningful photographs too. The photography thing in general will be a big one for this year.
To learn to cook. That’s also quite a big aim. To make it more achievable I will go for setting goals, such as learning a new meal every 2 weeks, something like that’s gotta do the job.
Managing money better. I have put quite a bit of effort into this one in the last few months - much more to be done to be perfected.
One for the next few months; get a new job.
Have a great weekend and New Year’s Eve whatever you do!
So. It’s here. Christmas. You may be reading this on Christmas day. What are you doing on the Internet on Christmas day? Family sucks? Guess its the problem a lot of people have. Understandable. Boxing day? Again, why aren’t you opening all those boxes? Not believe in Christmas? Again, Family suck? It’s okay, I understand.
Yeah Christmas has come once again. It always comes quicker than expected. It’s really only in the last two or three years that I have begun to realise the real meaning of Christmas - though I can’t help but put a pause in that sentence and ask for a hands-up for all those who really celebrate Christmas today? Very few of you, I’m not entirely surprised. I’m not big fan of the real meaning behind Christmas, though I am a fan of the fact that family will always play a big part in the meaning of Christmas for me.
Though in this Christian country and time of Christian celebration I feel that it would be a good time to think of all those who will not get presents in this time of giving. Yes, lets take some time to reflect all those who will not be given gifts by their loved ones. Lets think about the non-Christians.
It’s a strange thing to think about, though having recently, be-friended someone of a non-Christian up-brining, it has made me think about those who don’t know of Christmas and the traditions that revolve around it. I have never known someone who didn’t know of Christmas and the ways in which it works. Simple things like Christmas Crackers - I was even asked what the meaning was behind them. I’m going to guess it’s just a part of the celebration, happiness and so forth - and probably of pagan origins.
I believe we should spend time reflecting on those who don’t have anything to celebrate on this Tuesday…
Well, in the last week or so there have been a few gigs, I had my last few days of work until this Friday, a whole week off work, and general partying. Having spent the the last three nights drinking, plus tonight if you include the wine I polished off.
On Thursday I made the decision to go to Gifted in the Empire. Starting promptly at 9:30pm, Geoff Gatt got the small crowd warmed up for what was to come, with a full band, so to speak; camel on lovely vocals and occasionally gazing lovingly into the eyes of Geoff as he sang songs likely to have been inspired by her. He was also joined by Bongo John on the bongos and Cully of the Delawares on bass guitar. This was I’m sure an attempt to create a fuller sound for the Empire’s large hall, though so early in the night and with so few punters through the door as would soon cross the threshold it wasn’t as well received as it one day will be, though none of that could possibly have taken away from the Geoff the great entertainer.
Cat Malojian, were next to the stage, hailing from Lurgan they have a brilliant sound which I have longed to hear since first seeing them perform in May of this year as part of the NIMIC CD launch in Custom House Square. They were great.
I hadn’t heard of Kryon and The Strangels before just a few weeks ago, though having listened to their Myspace tracks a few days before the gig I found myself singing along, which was nice, and doesn’t often happen. Check out the tune ‘Walking My Dog’!
The Delawares. Not to seem blasé about them. In fact not in the slightest. If I ever say ‘they were as good as ever,’ I mean that with the deepest respect and love. For I do love their music immensely, and each time they play I don’t understand why they are not bigger that they are. Well in a way I do, if analysed, maybe something to do with the fact that it’s not completely ‘mainstream’ music. But that is the idea. Their music is not mainstream at all. They never claim to put under that huge umbrella of ‘popular’ music. But someone please see the large audience, and potential audience they have!
On Friday Boathouse played at Common Grounds Café. They were superb as always.
Serpentine Smile also played, I’ve only managed to see them since beginning a few months ago. Paul’s song writing is great and the music that goes with it is enjoyable to listen to. He likes to keep busy with various projects, this one is an odd mix of guitar, vocals and drums, though you can’t go wrong with Bongo John’s drumming.
Saturday was spent at my own house, when the crew from Common Grounds, as I live with 2 current employees and one ex-employee, I guess it made perfect sense.
On Sunday I began my Christmas shopping. Went to a party. Left my phone there. Went to Auntie Annies for Cutaways, Panda Kopanda and Clone Quartet. Such a great lineup.
Soon it was Monday. Christmas Eve. Hard to believe. I woke up, hungover, and with less than 50% of my shopping complete, I had to get into to the city centre as quickly as possible. Within three hours of leaving the house, I was back again and chillin’ with two of my house-mates, with a beer in my hand.
I could finally relax. And here it is. It is Christmas Day. I hope you all have a great one!
Do not get me wrong, I am all in favour of a thriving local music scene, I believe that is certainly got on our hands. There are so many great bands, and I’m not just saying that, but when a good handful of bands have gigs I would go out of my way to see then, telling everyone about them along the way - hoping that I will be presented with a CD of their finest tracks when I arrive so that I can listen to them to my heart’s content.
Alas some of these great bands have yet to record these great works, let alone to be heard by the rest of the population.
Lately it seems that most days of the week there will be one of these bands/artists playing their music for the general public to hear in the live music venues dotted around Belfast. My week is usually planned around the gigs that are happening. But what do I do when there is a clash? Multiple bands of pure awesomeness on the same night in different venues!
Such a predicament. I never know what to do.
Previously I have run between two venues. The last time it was between the Empire and Lavery’s which are only 3 minutes from each other. However, the distance between The Limelight and The Empire is just too great to be running between them all night, and so I must make a decision.
The Empire is hosting Gifted, the often monthly, often bi-weekly, local music night that seemingly all bands want to play. The lineup, Geoff Gatt, Cat Malojhian, Kyron & The Strangels and The Delawares. The only band I have not seen previously is Kyron &The Strangels, though as I listen to the myspace tracks I find myself singing along (I don’t lie).
The Limelight on this Thursday is host to Two Step, a similarly “premier” monthly live music club, this week featuring Cutaways, And So I Watch You From Afar and Kowalski.
Seven fantastic bands in one night! A decision must be made.
It may have already been made…
It was to be a rather calm, relaxing weekend. The only thing planned was a dinner on Friday evening. That happened. There were two, we headed to Scalini’s on Botanic Ave. I love that restaurant. The food is excellent.
There was only one other plan. To see Black Eye Friday at the Errigle bar.
But the night turned out to be much bigger than we had thought. The headline act was NI Soul Troop, led by Donal Scullion, there was a lot of energy in the room, with many people dancing and, the oddly mixed crowd for a local gig, really enjoying themselves. Of course I didn’t go straight home afterwards.
Only a few hours prior to sleeping I had no plans for Saturday, though of course this changed, and I found something to keep me from sitting in (and doing work).
Oppenheimer, not long back from touring with They Might Be Giants, the duo behind the awesome ‘Birdhouse in Your Soul‘ and ‘Particle Man‘, played not one but two shows on Saturday. The first, an all ages gig in which about 120 youngsters, many of whom knew not of their music, but from what I hear enjoyed the gig. The second show, was a packed 18+ gig - with many a local personage present to enjoy the beautiful sounds, electronic madness, and surround sound air horn solos.
Support came from Dublin based Neosupervital. I was looking forward to a cover of Van Halen’s Jump ever since they played the intro in sound-check, but alas they didn’t have time. Look out for it though, I’m sure it would sound great.
Also on support was We Are Knives, featuring a very angry Hornby on guitar and angry angry vocals, Steve on bass and Craig on drums. Which their bass-heavy sounds and technical picking, and angry expressions they have a presence on stage that’s not to be messed with.
After the fantasticness of Oppenheimer, who never disappoint, there was a party for a friend’s birthday. I attempted to play Beethoven’s Für Elise, of course quite badly. Someday I will learn to play it all again.
The weekend ended as well as it started, at my Granny’s house for a superb Sunday dinner. You can’t go wrong with Granny’s cooking - ever.
of…
two female drummers in one night
two quite attractive drummers at that.
Since September of the year two thousand and seven - though really 4.55 billion years (plus or minus about 1%) but lets not get too technical about it at this point - sweet Elizabeth has been successfully running an acoustic night each and every Tuesday in clements coffee shop at Queens Students Union.
Although I have meant to go before now, I have either forgotten - and been very annoyed at myself - or been otherwise preoccupied. Last night, however, I made it.
First up was the Virginia-born Rachel Austin, with her beautiful voice she sounds a bit like Regina Spektor and Martha Wainwright - who I haven’t listened to, but thats what I was told.
Next up was half of The Delawares; Dominic, Katie, and Owen. 3 vocals, 2 guitars. 1 banjo (for one song). It was such a relaxed version of their normally much more lively set, but their music suits each setting perfectly.
The unfortunate thing about the venue was that I wasn’t asked for coffee enough. Possibly a good thing as I would have more than likely actually bought coffee and ended up not getting to sleep at all. So after one I moved on to some delicious hot chocolate, which is served in a bowl, surely the most awkward way to drink anything, right?
It was good though.
After sacrificing sleep last night for Grey’s and the Interweb, I went with some friends to St Georges ‘Christmas’ Market. It had been years since I had been to the market, and although it was near closing by the time we got there, it looked like it would have actually been good during peak hours. Of course I didn’t find anything I really thought suitable for anybody, for either Christmas or birthday, both are coming up within my immediate family.
Ronan did amuse us by falling over backwards as he sat on the ‘Fun Bag’
There was a small brass band blasting some classic christmas hits for the resting on-lookers. It really helped with the christmas atmosphere, which was definitely in the air.
I found some colourful items:
Then finally we stopped for a delicious crêpe
I do enjoy markets. There’s often a great atmosphere, strange odds and ends that wouldn’t be found in the average high street store; perfect gifts for anyone. I know this market is open all year round so I think I will go more often.
Unfortunately it is only open on Fridays and Saturdays. Fridays is the Variety Market, open from 6am to 1pm, “a range of products are sold at the market including food, antiques and clothes”. Apparently it dates back to 1604, with 248 stalls, including 23 fish stalls. Unfortunately my working on a Friday morning interferes with that.
The Saturday market, however, does sound enticing: “The City Food and Garden Market takes place every Saturday from 9.00am until 3.00pm. The market offers a huge range of local, continental and speciality foods.”
This sounds like something worth investigating further before the year is out.
Thanks to the help of my good friend, Andy, I have a nice new website for you to marvel at, with an updated portfolio.
Check it out at www.philokanephotography.com
Stay tuned for more updates over the next few weeks.
Yesterday was the official launch of the ‘Out To Lunch‘ festival - a mini festival as part of the Cathedral Quarter Arts Festival - which runs in January 2008.
What better time then to announce that I will be exhibiting a small selection of my work with local bands and musicians throughout the festival which launches at 7pm Friday 4th January 2008.
This is my first exhibition and I am super pleased, excited and extremely grateful to have been given this opportunity. I have so many people to thank, so many people who have been supportive of what I do and helped me, by often just being awesome. I have so many great people all around me whom I love with all my heart.
My friends who have been there for me and helped me; supported me through the good times and bad times, and put up with the camera always being around. My family; for their support and the home-cooked meals.
I hope you will be able to make it!
While at the launch of the first solo exhibition of the excellent local artist Alice McCullough at the Safehouse Gallery on Monday 26th November I was asked whether I consider myself an ‘artist’. This got me thinking…
According to the Dictionary.com:
pho·tog·ra·phy - n.
1. The art or process of producing images of objects on photosensitive surfaces.
2. The art, practice, or occupation of taking and printing photographs.
3. A body of photographs.
To me, photography is, by default, an art, though many photographers do not consider themselves ‘artists’. I guess it’s a frame of mind. Many people don’t like the idea of wanting to be part of that crowd of ‘artists’, often seen as being “extremely pretentious”, spending their days and nights with praising each other and their work, as well as rude, arrogant, demanding etc etc. Do I want to be associated with that?
Well, my first hand impression of artists, at least those in Belfast, is that of my own friends, all of whom are great people, whose talents range from musicianship, poetry, painting, acting, writing, singing, comed and of course photography. Each one is truly dedicated to their medium, to the art that they create. Each one is honest, true, loving, and make me happy to be involved in what they are doing. According to Wikipedia:
“Art refers to a diverse range of human activities and artifacts, and may be used to cover all or any of the arts, including music, literature and other forms. It is most often used to refer specifically to the visual arts, including mediums such as painting, sculpture, and printmaking. However it can also be applied to forms of art that stimulate the other senses, such as music, an auditory art.”
Shelley Esaak at About.com states that:
“Art is form and content” means: All art consists of these two things. Form means (1) the elements of art, (2) the principles of design and (3) the actual, physical materials that the artist has used. Form, in this context, is concrete and fairly easily described - no matter which piece of art is under scrutiny.
Though there is a general consensus that there is no single definition to sum up art. From the University of British Columbia:
- the product of conscious intention,
- a self rewarding activity,
- a tendency to unite dissimilar things,
- a concern with change and variety,
- the aesthetic exploitation of familiarity vs. surprise,
- the aesthetic exploitation of tension vs. release,
- the imposition of order on disorder,
- the creation of illusions,
- an indulgence in sensuousness,
- the exhibition of skill,
- a desire to convey meanings,
- an indulgence in fantasy,
- the aggrandizement of self or others,
- illustration,
- the heightening of existence,
- revelation,
- personal adornment or embellishment,
- therapy,
- the giving of meaning to life,
- the generation of unselfconscious experience,
- the provision of paradigms of order and/or disorder,
- training in the perception of reality,
- and so on.
As a photographer I do not consider myself a ’snapper’ or one who simply takes photographs, then trundles home again. I photograph that which I have great interest in, that which I love. I take care over each photograph, the end result and what happens to that photograph.
Art is a state of mind.
I am a photographer.
In the words of Marilyn Manson “I’m not an artist, I’m a fucking work of art” - (s)AINT
Alice’s Exhibition runs until 12th December 2007