Large Joy

22 January 2009

I know, I know: long time no see.

Sure, it’s not as though this place is full of tumbleweed slowly ambling by but the fact remains I haven’t written a proper post in donkeys years. I have – of course, as ever – been really busy. Work is very busy in that “it’s all really great stuff but I’d like to breathe more then once a fortnight” kind-of-way (more on some of that soon) but the real reason is that I’m busy beavering away on a new design for this site.

It’s much better then this one.

Anyway, whilst not doing that last night I went to my first gig of the year – Little Joy at Dingwalls in Camden. Little Joy – for those that don’t know – are a three piece featuring Fab Moretti from the Strokes but don’t pass them off as a mere side project; they’re much more then that.

I wouldn’t blame you if you did though; it’s exactly what I did on first hearing about them. Why would the drummer from the Strokes’ band be that interesting. Couple with that the slightly gentle nature of the music and you have something that’s very easy to pass you by but that would be a real shame – give it time and it reveals itself to be something incredibly charming.

The live show is much the same; I went along with low expectations – part there to take photos, part there just because I hadn’t been to a gig in a while – which were utterly blown away; they were fantastic. The crowd were really into it, the band were really into it – and genuinely humble – and it all gelled brilliantly. It was the perfect start to the live music year – exactly the sort of thing I go to gigs for.

Of course, there are photos – oh so many photos. Over the break I’ve upgraded slightly, now wielding a Canon 40D (which is great – such a step up from the 400D) and a Canon 135mm f/2.0 L. The 135mm L is a revelation – I had worried that it would be too long and maybe it is but I quite like that. I’ve never really been too concerned with taking ‘traditional’ live shots that get everything in at once and would look good next to a gig review – I think I’m more trying to shoot portraits that happen to be taking place at a gig and the 135mm L is perfect for portraits. So sharp and quick to focus – I just wish it wasn’t quite so heavy…