I went to a gig yesterday. my first since about this
time last year.

it was also the first time I've taken any photos since the
iliketrains gig the week I got back from new york. It's
definitely the longest I've gone taking gig photos since 
I started doing it - and last year had the least amount 
of gigs I've ever seen in a year since I started going to 
gigs. 

at one point I didn't think I had seen any gigs last year
and was almost obsessed to remember that there must
have been one ... I just couldn't have had it that I had 
not seen one gig during the whole of the year ... but then 
I remembered I'd seen Simple Minds in Leicester - and 
even though it's silly, I was kind of relieved ... that there
had been one.



so I saw JAWS were playing Leicester and wanted to see
them after reading a small gig review in nme.

it's the first time I've been to the cookie. its a very small
venue (150 capacity) I got there as the first band was on, 
it was completely full!! I was right at the back, I thought 
that was it, I'll never get near the front. my hope was 
people would move as the support act finished, and they 
did! I soon made my way forward, getting a nice spot on 
the right.

2nd band Haus are pretty upbeat, jaunty with foals-like 
beats ... Surf had had a tiny bit of that, but they had other 
songs that I liked even more, when it all went a bit more 
widescreen sonically and touched upon a shoegaze vibe. 
but I enjoyed both bands. good stuff. 

I purposely didn't check out anything by JAWS before 
the gig, I like the feeling you get when a band impacts 
you when you see them live for the first time. and they 
were even better than I could have imagined. I was 
expecting them to be more scrappy and pop-punk(y)
but they were a mix of all my favourite bands, like if
I'd put together my perfect band ... disintegration-era 
cure, my bloody valentine, ride, slowdive, the smashing 
pumpkins, pixies ... yet sounding like their very own 
band, and not any kind of revivalist retro band ... I was 
hugely impressed. the lead singer had said something 
that he hadn't had a very good day that day, and this 
gig was making it a whole lot better for him. well I hope 
he realises the impact his music is having on people. 
I'm kind of intrigued though, if I feel this way after
just having heard the songs once live. how will I feel
when I know them inside out.

here are some videos. I'm really impressed how the flip
handles being right in front of the speaker, and doesn't 
sound all distorted ... when I last filmed something (on 
my blackberry) it sounded like *this*



   above - first song



   above: listen to the crowd singing along!

   the crowd got a bit lively!! ... I was glad I was tucked away
   near the speaker and the wall ... keepin the camera outta 
   harms way!



   I really enjoyed the whole night and realised how much I've missed
   talking photos. it's such a huge part of me and I have actually really
   missed the feeling that I get from it. ... I enjoyed the night so much 
   I've just got my ticket for this:



   SHONEN KNIFE!!!
   SHONEN KNIFE!!!
   SHONEN KNIFE!!!

   that will be packed for sure. I never saw them the last time they 
   came to Leicester, so am looking forward to seeing one of Kurt's 
   favourite bands. I don't even mind if I don't get any photos.

   not too keen on having to venture into the town centre on a 
   friday/saturday/sunday (a bank holiday weekend too!) and 
   encounter hoardes of drunk/loud/annoying people(!) but it 
   will be worth it. lots of bands playing all over. should be real 
   good.



   I'll be doing some updates the following day from the night 
   before, with little videos etc. so check back saturday morning 
   for the first.

   p.s. I've heavily got back into listening to the cocteau twins
   lately (I do this a lot with bands) ... and for the majority of 
   the time, it has just basically been me going back and forth 
   between these 2 songs (1 +2)

   anyone else like the cocteaus??